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Glittering Images
New York Times
The first novel in the Cathedral of Starbridge saga about the history of the Church of England—and those who serve it.
1937. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Reverend Dr. Charles Ashworth goes on an undercover mission to investigate the possibility of scandalous behavior by the Bishop of Starbridge, Dr. Alex Jardine. A powerful critic of the Church of England's hardline position on divorce, Jardine presents a mystery which threatens to unmask the secrets of Ashworth's own private life. Meanwhile, Ashworth himself is struggling to understand the baffling triangle formed by the dynamic bishop, his pretty but featherbrained wife, and his wife's alluring companion, Miss Lyle Christie.
Love and frustrations, desperate longings and the failure to resist them; dark realities behind glittering images—Ashworth must confront his own desires and recall past sins that threaten to consume him, body and soul.
"Bold and exciting." — Los Angeles Times
"Passionately eloquent. . . . [A] tale of God, sex, love, self-analysis and forgiveness . . . the dialogue throughout this book is brilliantly crisp." — The Philadelphia Inquirer
"A terrific story. . . . Glittering Images is driven by passion, emotional and spiritual, and its spiritual antagonists are brilliant characters." — San Jose Mercury News
1937. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Reverend Dr. Charles Ashworth goes on an undercover mission to investigate the possibility of scandalous behavior by the Bishop of Starbridge, Dr. Alex Jardine. A powerful critic of the Church of England's hardline position on divorce, Jardine presents a mystery which threatens to unmask the secrets of Ashworth's own private life. Meanwhile, Ashworth himself is struggling to understand the baffling triangle formed by the dynamic bishop, his pretty but featherbrained wife, and his wife's alluring companion, Miss Lyle Christie.
Love and frustrations, desperate longings and the failure to resist them; dark realities behind glittering images—Ashworth must confront his own desires and recall past sins that threaten to consume him, body and soul.
"Bold and exciting." — Los Angeles Times
"Passionately eloquent. . . . [A] tale of God, sex, love, self-analysis and forgiveness . . . the dialogue throughout this book is brilliantly crisp." — The Philadelphia Inquirer
"A terrific story. . . . Glittering Images is driven by passion, emotional and spiritual, and its spiritual antagonists are brilliant characters." — San Jose Mercury News
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Susan Howatch
80 books577 followersSusan Howatch (b. 1940) is a British novelist who has penned bestselling mysteries, family sagas, and other novels. Howatch was born in Surrey, England. She began writing as a teen and published her first book when she moved to the United States in 1964. Howatch found global success first with her five sagas and then with her novels about the Church of England in the twentieth century. She has now returned to live in Surrey.
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March 29, 2026Good book, but...
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters felt real. Dialog sparks on the page. The one unfortunate drawback has to do with the ebook. I have never encountered so many typographical errors as I did with this particular ebook.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters felt real. Dialog sparks on the page. The one unfortunate drawback has to do with the ebook. I have never encountered so many typographical errors as I did with this particular ebook.
May 25, 2026
Brilliant satire and serious theological debates, allowing all the clergy to be real human beings, with unusual jobs. Love the Starbridge Series by Susan Howatch. They get better and better
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews