A Drink of Deadly Wine

Book of Psalms Mystery #1

by Kate Charles

Father Gabriel Neville has everything going for him as vicar of St Anne’s, Kensington Gardens: intellectual prowess, physical beauty, a happy family life and the prospect of promotion to Archdeacon. But his perfect world is shattered when he receives an anonymous letter that has the power to destroy his career and marriage, by threatening to expose something that no one could possibly know.
The only person Gabriel can turn to is David Middleton-Brown, an old friend and a man with a few secrets of his own. Against his better judgement, David comes to London, where his discreet enquiries bring to light a whole host of suspects. There’s the eccentric church organist, Miles Taylor; the gossip Mavis Conwell; the disapproving Dawson family; the Churchwarden, Cyril Fitzjames, who’s in love with Gabriel’s wife Emily; and the charming and talented artist Lucy Kingsley. In his efforts to help Gabriel uncover the blackmailer, David hauls numerous skeletons out of cupboards, and enters into a web of relationships that threaten to shatter his own peace of mind.

Genres: Mystery, British Literature, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about this author from an article about Barbara Pym, the very underrated twentieth century British novelist who chronicled the often ordinary everyday lives of ordinary people. The author of that article listed Kate Charles as having a similar style and storyline. This is a mystery and Pym only wrote one sort of mystery (which was more of a spy story) but the setting, a quiet and understated church parish in a neighborhood of London, is very Pym-like, as are the characters: spinsters, clergy, and the busy bodies who meddle. I thought for sure I knew who the killer was (and was prematurely and wrongly disappointed) when the story took a completely different turn. I enjoyed the exploration of Pym-like characters' lifestyles (including the stigma of homosexuality) and the ending was superb. This is the first in Kate Charles' mystery series featuring David Middleton-Brown and it won't be my last. For all mystery lovers, this is a treat.

[Julie Golding Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery was not only in my favourite genre (ecclesiastical mystery) but it also featured life in the Anglican Church, with which I identify strongly because I myself am an Anglican priest. If that shared world weren't enough, the book also had compelling characters who were revealed or developed in significant ways throughout the story. And the mystery itself was interesting. Even more than that, this book had an intriguing development: this is the first book I've ever read which "starred" two homosexual characters who had either chosen, or were considering choosing, a heterosexual relationship by the end of the book. I have not read the subsequent books in the series yet, but whatever happens next, this story twist is a counter-cultural and fascinating one. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author, Kate Charles.

[Tawallah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has been a challenge to read. On one hand, it captured well the typical characters you can find in the Anglican/Church of England. They are well described with all their idiosyncrasies. Some are quite humorous even if many are stereotypical. With the well described characters, London is well described. Even the epigraphs using certain psalms to set the tone for the chapter was great way to show that the book of Psalm can handle any aspect of life.

This book deals with gossip and blackmail, hence the title. The well loved vicar with the seemingly perfect family receives a poisoned letter about a past event. This event threatens his job and family as no-one should know about it. Clearly there are nuances to this well-loved vicar as well as other characters which are touched throughout the novel. But, it is the unraveling of this component and the final denouement that fail to hit the high note I expected. The secret and its exploration felt unrealistic and pulled me out of the story. When it was mirrored in another character, it felt gimmicky and unrealistic. And the ending just felt almost irrelevant to the story.

Unfortunately, I am unsure if I want to continue this series.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The location of Kensington Gardens in London would give the impression that it was a very ‘city’ based story. This could not be more wrong. The parish of St. Anne’s, although in the heart of the city is very tight knit and you could easily be mistaken in thinking that it is a village parish. All of the congregation gather for not only services but events like ‘village’ fetes, tea in the vicar’s garden etc. The Vicar Gabriel Neville is loved by all around him; he has a lovely devoted wife and twins one boy one girl. Everything is idyllic, or so it seems. When Gabriel has a letter that causes him concern he has only one person to whom he can turn, his friend David Middleton-Brown. Gabriel has not seen David for ten years and their reunion is somewhat awkward but David agrees to try and help Gabriel sort out the contents of the letter. As David digs into the lives of the parishioners he unearths quite a few secrets and there are more than one or two people on the list of suspects for the crime that is committed.
I would describe this as a mystery in the style of Joanna Trollope, with the quiet Church of England atmosphere on the surface and an awful lot going on underneath. I look forward to reading many more books by Kate Charles.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently I was reading some bios of mystery writers and realized that Kate Charles, who wrote two series based around British clergypersons, was born in Cincinnati. I was surprised that her book titles didn't ring any bells, so I took the first one out and began reading. Yes, it did take me almost fifty pages in but I realized I knew the characters who were just being introduced and I knew the scenes and who did and who didn't do it. When they were first published in the 1990s I read the "Book of Psalms" series about various male Church of England clergy and then her second series about Church of England clergywoman Callie Anson. While they were all good, no need to re-read them. Other newer books await.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this, although it might not appeal to you if you haven't encountered the spiky end of the Church of England at close quarters. (I have, in London, and at the time in which the book is set, so felt quite at home). Also it is pretty slow to begin with, and although I recognise the situation of the Vicar whose gay past comes back to haunt him I found it quite hard to believe that he would be so keen on having his former gay lover to come and stay in the parish when he is being blackmailed about his past (he hasn't been in touch with him since his marriage), and also had some doubts about Gabriel not having been open about the said past with his wife. The book was moving so gently that I was quite surprised when the first death took place! This series was originally published in the 1990s, and in the new preface for this reprint the author points out some things which have changed since then (not as much as one might think when it comes to attitudes). Good to see some lost titles coming back into print recently courtesy of Marylebone House: the print is a bit small, but then my eyesight isn't what it was in the early 1990s perhaps!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off slow with an introduction of too many characters but then it completely absorbed my interest. The mystery plays second fiddle to the characters and their relationships. A good lesson in how there are many loves and no love is bad, as long as it is true.

[Rona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent whodunnit which kept me thinking I was just ahead of her, but finding I wasn’t! Excellent observation of character. I think this book will be really engaging for people who understand higher Church Anglican traditions, but might be a bit baffling for those who don’t.

Although I understand this book was written quite a long time ago, some of the prejudices and themes still felt really uncomfortable (homosexuality and suicide especially ). I say that because I thank God that we’ve moved so far in our welcome to others - gender, neurodiversity, mentally unwell, sexuality, even commenting on other people’s appearance (unattractive I mean). Goodness we’ve improved society in the process! But reading what we thought was acceptable fairly recently made me wince. Frequently.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this back in the 1990s, and enjoyed it as a modern take on Barbara Pym (plus a mystery). The author is a Pymmite and a former head of the Barbara Pym Society.

When I craved something to read that was light but not too light and cozy but not cloying, I remembered this and gave it another go. It turned out to be just as enjoyable nearly 30 years later. I am not a churchy person—I’m not even a Christian—and sometimes the characters’ preoccupation with Anglo-Catholic (that is, very high Anglican) ritual got tiresome, but the humanism at its base was reassuring in these very far from humanistic times. I did have a problem with the mystery’s solution, but this was a first novel, and I’m optimistic about the author’s chances for improvement.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I enjoy ecclesiastical mysteries so much, but I really do. This was just the ticket, though a bit on the overly gentle side for me, especially towards the end when it turns out the murder is a suicide and the blackmailer didn't mean it! The main attraction was the characters - some of them lovely, some of them odious - and their rich web of relationships within a high Anglican/Anglo-Catholic parish. I have to say I wish Gabriel got more of a comeuppance especially after it turned out that he basically trapped his wife into marriage. I will be reading more of this series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I was looking for a new mystery series to get into, but this book was underwhelming. Prose was much too flowery, dialogue was weak, and the mystery didn't hold up. It held my interest enough to finish it, so it wasn't terrible, but I was distracted by the thousands of adjectives and adverbs substituting for good storytelling.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved David, Emily, Daphne, and Lucy. Loathed Gabriel utterly. I don't mind feeling that strongly about characters. It's a sign that something was happening there for me to latch onto.

This started very slowly and it took some real perseverance to get into it, but it finally got rolling and I found it quite enjoyable.

The ending, though, just didn't work for me.

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read mystery set in a high Anglican Church in London. The author does come across as a bit of a snob but nevertheless an enjoyable story.

[Andrew Hixson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read anything quite like this. A character driven mystery with believable situations and people. Now being a regular church goer, I recognised some of the behind the scenes politics. Loved it.

[Clara Baker Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a story with many interesting characters. Didn’t see #2 at first glance, but hope there is one.

[Kim]

Great fun made we ant to read the whole series

[Nicola Royan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect distraction reading

[David Allen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I like this author and I will be reading more of her work.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. I am really on the fence about the portrayals of a couple of the characters.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A "book of Psalms" mystery.
Charming & enjoyable. The plot strictly followed the standard rubric for mysteries, but did it so charmingly that I forgave the author! I loved the Psalms quote before each chapter, & also the setting in an Anglican church.

[Sara Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never come across the author before but I am glad I decided to read one of her books. I will, almost certainly, bread more of Kate Charles's books. This is a cosy mystery which is very well written. The characters are believable and the plot moves at a steady pace. I did not guess whodunit but the solution was credible. I had a lot of sympathy for Gabriel, David and Emily. Some of the minor characters veered very close to being caricatures but that does not spoil a good story. There was enough detail in the story to keep you engrossed and it was an easy read.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lawyer David Middleton-Brown is summoned to St. Anne’s church in London by its pastor, Gabriel Neville, ostensibly to advise on the restoration of one of the church’s chapels. He is also there at the behest of Gabriel because of the blackmail letters Gabriel has been receiving about his homosexual past, part of which included David. A woman found hanged in the sacristy adds to the mystery which is solved perhaps a little too neatly, but still in a satisfying manner.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery set in London with well developed intercharacter relationships. As the blackmailing and death mysteries are being investigated, the past and developing relationships between the central characters in both the mystery play an increasingly important role in the story line. Serving as the story background is a parish church, its congregation, and minister.

[Kathryn P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of mystery

Although it's not a crime story as such, it is different to the kind of books I usually read. Churches and religion not being my thing, I did enjoy it though. The plot was different, intriguing, and some of the characters were quite odd, well very odd in fact

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible debut entry in the Book of Psalms series. Complex and nuanced characters, plot full of twists and turns. Final resolution of the mystery was weak but the rest of it was so good, the mystery almost didn't matter.

[KA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly complex, plot-wise. Not at all, language-wise. But I loved the Psalm quotes at the beginning of each chapter - it really illustrates how all-purpose the Psalms are.

A fun vacation book.

[Elderberrywine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young up-and-coming Anglican priest is desperate to halt rumors of his homosexual past, and who better to call on for assistance than his former lover, jilted but still carrying a torch? Well-drawn characters, but flawed by a no-way! conclusion.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the modern Church of England, of which some portions are more Catholic in their traditions and practices than modern day Roman Catholics. A tidy mystery of church politics and dirty personal laundry.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very light read and wonderful! There is a background of the Church of England to ass interest to the mystery.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting books. Learn a lot about worship style, Church of England behind the scene government.