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The Reaper
Fine in fine dust jacket. SIGNED hardcover first edition - Little Brown,, (2000). SIGNED hardcover first edition -. Fine in fine dust jacket.. First printing. A stand alone novel published just after Lovesey was awarded the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement by the British Crime Writers, this is the story of an apparently charming and very popular rector who also happens to be a serial killer. One of his first victims, an apparent suicide, is the Archbishop who discovers that he has been skimming the church's money. SIGNED on the title page. 310 pp.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2001
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About the author
Peter Lovesey
295 books643 followersPeter Harmer Lovesey, also known by his pen name Peter Lear, was a British writer of historical and contemporary detective novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath. He was also one of the world's leading track and field statisticians.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 20, 2021
if only murder was always so tidy, elegant, dryly amusing... i'd commit it all the time! this is a cozy, charming tale written in the classic English Golden Age Mystery style - but with a very modern narative twist and several very surprising turns. The Reaper features two amusing audience-identification points: a greedy, psychopathic serial killer (who is also a kindly young reverend) and his sweet, quick-thinking Moral Black Hole love interest (a put-upon wife who enjoys baking and tending her garden). the fun being that the two anti-heroes and the rest of the cast are all quite clearly loveable, stereotypical English village types. gosh those English are adorable when they kill each other!
December 23, 2020
I saw this book in a charity shop and it caught my eye straight away, The Reaper, by Peter Lovesey, an author I confess to never having heard of, but after this pleasant surprise I would definitely read more of his work.
Reverend Otis Joy is an extremely popular young clergyman at the local church, he's also a thief and a murderer.
When the Bishop calls in Otis to let him know he's onto him about Otis's embezzling of church funds, it's the biggest mistake he could make, as he turns up dead, and his reputation in tatters (thanks to Otis making him look a sex fiend).
Then when the old fella who does the accounts wants to retire, this complicates Otis' situation, so he too ends up dead.
When Otis gives the new accounts position to unqualified Rachel Jansen, (who is besotted with Otis), and when her husband turns up dead (this wasn't down to Otis), the rumours really start flying, particularly with the dullard Burton Sands, who insists he is more qualified for the position.
Burton Sands, (whom Otis despises) starts to dig into the rumours, first started by a local Walter Mitty figure in the village, who nobody listens to, though Burton seems to believe him, and rumours of Otis Joys young wife dying a mysterious death when he was at his previous parish.
Burton, however has no charisma and his efforts seem to be in vain, yet theirs no smoke without fire, and even the local Policeman seems to eventually look into the rumours.
This was an easy read, a highly entertaining book and despite its dark nature, was quite light hearted in many ways and their was some comical moments often with the dull bafoon Burton Sands, and despite his murderous nature their was something likeable about Otis Joy.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, it's a shame it seems to be almost unheard of and so few have read it, Lovesey has done a great job here and this deserves to be well known.
Easily ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/4 Stars, strong recommendation.
Reverend Otis Joy is an extremely popular young clergyman at the local church, he's also a thief and a murderer.
When the Bishop calls in Otis to let him know he's onto him about Otis's embezzling of church funds, it's the biggest mistake he could make, as he turns up dead, and his reputation in tatters (thanks to Otis making him look a sex fiend).
Then when the old fella who does the accounts wants to retire, this complicates Otis' situation, so he too ends up dead.
When Otis gives the new accounts position to unqualified Rachel Jansen, (who is besotted with Otis), and when her husband turns up dead (this wasn't down to Otis), the rumours really start flying, particularly with the dullard Burton Sands, who insists he is more qualified for the position.
Burton Sands, (whom Otis despises) starts to dig into the rumours, first started by a local Walter Mitty figure in the village, who nobody listens to, though Burton seems to believe him, and rumours of Otis Joys young wife dying a mysterious death when he was at his previous parish.
Burton, however has no charisma and his efforts seem to be in vain, yet theirs no smoke without fire, and even the local Policeman seems to eventually look into the rumours.
This was an easy read, a highly entertaining book and despite its dark nature, was quite light hearted in many ways and their was some comical moments often with the dull bafoon Burton Sands, and despite his murderous nature their was something likeable about Otis Joy.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, it's a shame it seems to be almost unheard of and so few have read it, Lovesey has done a great job here and this deserves to be well known.
Easily ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/4 Stars, strong recommendation.
August 12, 2021
I am not sure I can ever be okay with the ending of this book. I don't know what was the point of this story. A serial killer getting away with murders of innocent ppl. No element of mystery, no justice. Wth was even the point? The only good part was that I liked the writing style. But it left me unsatisfied. And the summary at the back of the book was misleading too. :/
June 5, 2020
I’m always open to reading something weird, and The Reaper was perfect for me. It’s not usually something I would pick up, as there wasn’t much to suggest what I would be given, but I’m glad I jumped in. As soon as I started this one, I had to finish it in a single sitting.
The Reaper was a crime story filled with the kind of dry humour I adore. There was no real mystery with this one, instead it was a story that let you watch the pieces unfold. There was the expected and unexpected, ensuring everything kept you coming back for more.
Without a doubt, this was a hidden gem I adored.
The Reaper was a crime story filled with the kind of dry humour I adore. There was no real mystery with this one, instead it was a story that let you watch the pieces unfold. There was the expected and unexpected, ensuring everything kept you coming back for more.
Without a doubt, this was a hidden gem I adored.
December 7, 2017
I have to declare an interest here. I am a fan of Peter Lovesey and therefore may be a bit biased. I have read all of the Peter Diamond series and a few stand alone novels too. I am running out of his books to read and ration myself with those I have left.
Only a few books have the ability to hook me as quickly and as securely as this one did.
I enjoyed the well written story about the much liked Parish Rector and the day to day story of the church.
The descriptions of the scenes of the story made them easy to imagine and follow and I could picture most of the characters immediately. I am sure that one of each exists in most parishes.
There was a certain casualness about the way some of the twists in the tale were revealed - which I liked.
The story was almost spoiled for me by errors (at around 47% in my Kindle edition)- when the timing of the funeral seemed very suspect. Not to give anything away that will spoil the plot but on a day after a death on a Saturday, the funeral was set for the Tuesday ( only two days ahead.)
I am not sure when the story was set but a funeral so soon after a death would have been most unlikely, certainly in my memory. But it was mentioned that the crowds that attended the funeral wer swelled by "the story in the Sunday tabloids" but as the funeral was first being discussed on the Sunday at 10-30, surely that would have been impossible. In the same section we were told that "Later after the cremation......" even though it had been carefully explained that a cremation would not have been possible and that the body would have to be burried.
I have the greatest of respect for Peter Lovesey but some publisher and proofreader appear to have screwed up here. However, the author is responsible for the credibility stretch if we are expected to believe that Joy's hobby has been totally financed in the way suggested. I have been involved in the finaces of a couple of parishes and could say that their total income over several years would not have bought his pride and joy, let alone the dribs and drabs of extra cash that Otis was using to fund his 'expenses' account.
That was perhaps why I didnt manage a 5* for this book, but hey, may be I am being too pedantic. I still really enjoyed it.
I have one more book on my shelf and my wife has discovered a couple more. With good rationing they should keep me going until I can get hold of the new Peter Diamond due out this month.
Only a few books have the ability to hook me as quickly and as securely as this one did.
I enjoyed the well written story about the much liked Parish Rector and the day to day story of the church.
The descriptions of the scenes of the story made them easy to imagine and follow and I could picture most of the characters immediately. I am sure that one of each exists in most parishes.
There was a certain casualness about the way some of the twists in the tale were revealed - which I liked.
The story was almost spoiled for me by errors (at around 47% in my Kindle edition)- when the timing of the funeral seemed very suspect. Not to give anything away that will spoil the plot but on a day after a death on a Saturday, the funeral was set for the Tuesday ( only two days ahead.)
I am not sure when the story was set but a funeral so soon after a death would have been most unlikely, certainly in my memory. But it was mentioned that the crowds that attended the funeral wer swelled by "the story in the Sunday tabloids" but as the funeral was first being discussed on the Sunday at 10-30, surely that would have been impossible. In the same section we were told that "Later after the cremation......" even though it had been carefully explained that a cremation would not have been possible and that the body would have to be burried.
I have the greatest of respect for Peter Lovesey but some publisher and proofreader appear to have screwed up here. However, the author is responsible for the credibility stretch if we are expected to believe that Joy's hobby has been totally financed in the way suggested. I have been involved in the finaces of a couple of parishes and could say that their total income over several years would not have bought his pride and joy, let alone the dribs and drabs of extra cash that Otis was using to fund his 'expenses' account.
That was perhaps why I didnt manage a 5* for this book, but hey, may be I am being too pedantic. I still really enjoyed it.
I have one more book on my shelf and my wife has discovered a couple more. With good rationing they should keep me going until I can get hold of the new Peter Diamond due out this month.
October 6, 2022
This is a book that keeps you surprised . Quite a dark, devilish read filled with black humour which I liked well. I did like the protagonist Otis Joy , a great character suited for the thriller novels . I could easily see him in an Inspector Morse type tv series.
The novel was beautifully complicated with the killings , and the relationships with the characters and I would never have wanted to visit Foxford - it would be too risky .
The novel was beautifully complicated with the killings , and the relationships with the characters and I would never have wanted to visit Foxford - it would be too risky .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2009
In addition to his Inspector Peter Diamond series, Lovesey writes other equally literate crime novels. This one reminds me of those written by James Cain in the fifties. Its truly despicable villain is the Reverend Otis Joy, Rector of St. Bartholomew’s in Wiltshire. Joy likes to have a good time, and to do so requires a steady source of money. Where better to find it than the church coffers? That he is popular with the parishioners does not hurt to allay suspicions, but finally the bishop makes the mistake of confronting Joy about the very strange discrepancies at Joy’s previous assignment. Joy, naturally wishing to remain at his post with ready access to his extraordinary income, bashes in the head of the bishop, throws him over a cliff, makes calls to a famous sex phone service using the bishop’s credit card, and leaves a remorseful note to explain the suicide. When the elderly treasurer, with whom he had a nice little arrangement to keep his slush fund secret, wants to resign, Joy manages to poison the old man so that it looks like a heart attack.
Accountant Bernard Sands, miffed at being passed over as the church treasurer and a detail freak, is suspicious and begins to wonder why and how the rector’s first wife had died. An investigation reveals that she died of a freakish bee sting while in the shower, something Sands finds hard to believe (ironic, because we learn later, she is the only one of several wives Otis had not killed).
In the meantime, Otis enlists Rachel Jordan, unhappily married, and desperately infatuated with the good reverend. And he really is a great parish priest. Everyone loves him; he has a great sense of humor, and really enjoys being a parish priest. He just has this problem of killing people who might reveal any one of several secrets he has. He kills Rachel’s friend Cynthia when she follows him on his day off and discovers that Otis owns a magnificent forty-foot yacht. Rachel, in the meantime, despairing over her relationship with her husband, poisons his spicy curry with monkshood, a plant that grows wild and was used decoratively in gardens. It contains aconite, a virulent toxin called “stepmothers’ poison” in the Middle Ages. It was so commonly used to eliminate the unwelcome and unwanted during Roman times that the Emperor Trajan forbad its cultivation. It eventually fell out of favor because the vicious neuropathic symptoms were so obvious, but it could also be confused with a heart attack.
If you are looking for a Hollywood ending, this book is not for you, unless you like rooting for the bad guys. Lots of fun.
Accountant Bernard Sands, miffed at being passed over as the church treasurer and a detail freak, is suspicious and begins to wonder why and how the rector’s first wife had died. An investigation reveals that she died of a freakish bee sting while in the shower, something Sands finds hard to believe (ironic, because we learn later, she is the only one of several wives Otis had not killed).
In the meantime, Otis enlists Rachel Jordan, unhappily married, and desperately infatuated with the good reverend. And he really is a great parish priest. Everyone loves him; he has a great sense of humor, and really enjoys being a parish priest. He just has this problem of killing people who might reveal any one of several secrets he has. He kills Rachel’s friend Cynthia when she follows him on his day off and discovers that Otis owns a magnificent forty-foot yacht. Rachel, in the meantime, despairing over her relationship with her husband, poisons his spicy curry with monkshood, a plant that grows wild and was used decoratively in gardens. It contains aconite, a virulent toxin called “stepmothers’ poison” in the Middle Ages. It was so commonly used to eliminate the unwelcome and unwanted during Roman times that the Emperor Trajan forbad its cultivation. It eventually fell out of favor because the vicious neuropathic symptoms were so obvious, but it could also be confused with a heart attack.
If you are looking for a Hollywood ending, this book is not for you, unless you like rooting for the bad guys. Lots of fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2015
The Reaper is the fifteenth book I have read by Peter Lovesey and it is possibly the best. The setting is St. Bartholomew's Church in Foxford, Wiltshire, England with Otis Joy as the rector. He receives a visit from the the Bishop who says to the young priest facing him, "You're the worst case I've come across. A wicked young man." Otis Joy was in his twenties and decidedly wicked. The bishop had driven to the rectory with a bulging briefcase containing evidence that the young priest had been stealing from his church. The bishop refused a handshake and whiskey and when a bishop refuses a whiskey, look out. When he tells Otis that he must leave the church, and has already printed a form for Otis to resign, Otis grabbed a heavy copy of St.Paul's Cathedral and swung it with tremendous force at the back of the bishop's head. Then twice more just to be certain. He wrapped the body in an old Wilton rug and took everything from his pockets except two twenty pound notes, car keys, one credit card, and his Bible. He drove to Somerset, bought a copy of Men Only, used the Visa credit card to call a sex line, wrote a suicide note, drove to a quarry and pushed the body off.
Two major characters are Rachel Jansen and her best friend Cynthia who help cook for all special occasions in the church. She is asked by Otis to keep the books since the bishop had killed himself, thinking she could be manipulated. Otis is an extremely popular rector who devotes all huis time to his parish. That is except his day off when he drives to his two hundred thousand boat that he used church funds to purchase.
Rachel has her own secret: She has poisoned her husband who has just returned from a vacation to New Orleans in America. She has always bullied her and it has taken a violent turn. She strikes her and demands a curry with flavor like the ones he enjoyed in New Orleans. She gives him the curry poisoned with monkshood that grew wild in her garden. Luckily, he had angina and had recently seen a doctor and the cause of death goes down as heart attack.
Lovesey has created a microcosm of humanity within the small town of Foxford and the reader reaps the enjoyment of recognizing the varying inhabitants.
Two major characters are Rachel Jansen and her best friend Cynthia who help cook for all special occasions in the church. She is asked by Otis to keep the books since the bishop had killed himself, thinking she could be manipulated. Otis is an extremely popular rector who devotes all huis time to his parish. That is except his day off when he drives to his two hundred thousand boat that he used church funds to purchase.
Rachel has her own secret: She has poisoned her husband who has just returned from a vacation to New Orleans in America. She has always bullied her and it has taken a violent turn. She strikes her and demands a curry with flavor like the ones he enjoyed in New Orleans. She gives him the curry poisoned with monkshood that grew wild in her garden. Luckily, he had angina and had recently seen a doctor and the cause of death goes down as heart attack.
Lovesey has created a microcosm of humanity within the small town of Foxford and the reader reaps the enjoyment of recognizing the varying inhabitants.
November 1, 2014
The Reaper by Peter Lovesey
Well I have to hand it to Peter Lovesey for this one. I fell for Otis Joy he is a man of God but he's so handsome and fun and far to young for me but he is charming and has such a way with him that makes you feel he is there just for you.
The church he is the rector at is doing really well and that is so surprising in this day and age with church's empty and closing. The church is full every meeting and chairs have been added to the back of the church.
This means that the church is handing over large amounts to the diocese, or would be if Otis did not have a very special way with saving money that the Bishop does not know about, or does he!
The problems start when the bishop turns up unexpectedly and lays out before Otis the evidence he has amassed from the church Otis preached at before coming to his present one. The books just don't add up and he has evidence pointing to Otis. The Bishop demands Otis hands in his notice and no longer be a part of the church, Otis does not agree and decides to take things into his own hands and kills him.
The Treasurer dies and the new Treasurers husband dies and suspicion starts to permeate the village.
Also there is a question 'where does he go on his day off, leaving the village before everyone is up and not coming back till late.
The thing is he is well loved by many members of the community and some of the single ladies feel they should be considered for his wife.
The book keeps you reading, you want warn him when one of the village's starts looking into his past life and asking questions at his last church and talking to a local know it all.
Village life is described and you can smell the flowers in the gardens and the scones baking in the ovens and at Christmas you can hear the carol singers as they go around the village.
there is an unexpected end to the story.
I Loved this book.
Well I have to hand it to Peter Lovesey for this one. I fell for Otis Joy he is a man of God but he's so handsome and fun and far to young for me but he is charming and has such a way with him that makes you feel he is there just for you.
The church he is the rector at is doing really well and that is so surprising in this day and age with church's empty and closing. The church is full every meeting and chairs have been added to the back of the church.
This means that the church is handing over large amounts to the diocese, or would be if Otis did not have a very special way with saving money that the Bishop does not know about, or does he!
The problems start when the bishop turns up unexpectedly and lays out before Otis the evidence he has amassed from the church Otis preached at before coming to his present one. The books just don't add up and he has evidence pointing to Otis. The Bishop demands Otis hands in his notice and no longer be a part of the church, Otis does not agree and decides to take things into his own hands and kills him.
The Treasurer dies and the new Treasurers husband dies and suspicion starts to permeate the village.
Also there is a question 'where does he go on his day off, leaving the village before everyone is up and not coming back till late.
The thing is he is well loved by many members of the community and some of the single ladies feel they should be considered for his wife.
The book keeps you reading, you want warn him when one of the village's starts looking into his past life and asking questions at his last church and talking to a local know it all.
Village life is described and you can smell the flowers in the gardens and the scones baking in the ovens and at Christmas you can hear the carol singers as they go around the village.
there is an unexpected end to the story.
I Loved this book.
January 31, 2013
This book was...unexpected, and rather delightful. I can't say much because even though there aren't really any secrets, there are still some moments of suspense. The story - about a village rector whose congregation seems to suffer some appalling luck - moves along nicely and kept me wanting more. I liked it so much, in fact, that I went ahead and bought four more Lovesey books (the first couple of books in two of his series). If you're in the mood for a cozy but want something a little different, I recommend it.
****SPOILER****
Just a word to the wise, though: if you're asked whether anyone else knows whatever bit of damning information you think you have, or if anyone else knows you're here, for crying out loud, always say "YES!" Sheesh!
****SPOILER****
Just a word to the wise, though: if you're asked whether anyone else knows whatever bit of damning information you think you have, or if anyone else knows you're here, for crying out loud, always say "YES!" Sheesh!
June 10, 2017
Perhaps the author intended this to be humorous or witty, but I found it rather uninteresting.
October 19, 2018
For me, Peter Lovesey is at his best when he indulges in blackly humorous satire of detective novel conventions. A murderous clergyman wreaks havoc in a quiet village, despite his tendency to eliminate those who inconvenience his larcenous pillaging of church funds, he is a charming fellow and very good for local church attendance. Will local busybodies be able to convince the authorities that Otis Joy is truly an psychopathic serial killer? Who will be next?
Twists and turns of plot aside, what works so well here as in the brilliant The False Inspector Dew is the amused tone that makes it all grand fun.
Twists and turns of plot aside, what works so well here as in the brilliant The False Inspector Dew is the amused tone that makes it all grand fun.
February 8, 2019
This is a real HOOT of a crime novel, with a totally implausible fake-but-not-fake Anglican village clergyman as serial killer and even a gullible, youngish, female parishioner who not only has the hots for the clergyman but, in a fit of pique, even does away with her unappreciative hubby! The novel comes across as a wonderfully readable potboiler, hugely entertaining unless you think that the Church of England is a sacrosanct institution -- which good old Peter Lovesey obviously doesn't. Like all of his crime fiction, unputdownable!
March 27, 2019
Over the last 40 years, I have read a number of Lovesey’s books, although I wouldn’t claim to be an avid reader of his work. I was a little surprised by ‘The Reaper’ as it wasn’t really what I expected from Lovesey. It’s a structurally sound black comedy which twists and turns quite nicely. However, it lacks the degree of charm and whimsy that would make it a compelling read. It is a little too clinical and detached to really make the genre work.
Overall, it’s enjoyable enough and certainly a break from the normal run of subjects.
Overall, it’s enjoyable enough and certainly a break from the normal run of subjects.
November 24, 2023
Faced with the threat of being found out, the well admired and respected vicar, Otis Joy must find a way to get the bishop of off his back without raising suspicions.
With the Bishop dead, Joy finds himself starting to relax again, but with time, more bodies start to fall and rumours start to be spread around the quiet village, but most just brush them away as being foolish, after al, your local parish priest would be the last person who you would suspect of murder and possible embezzlement.
With the Bishop dead, Joy finds himself starting to relax again, but with time, more bodies start to fall and rumours start to be spread around the quiet village, but most just brush them away as being foolish, after al, your local parish priest would be the last person who you would suspect of murder and possible embezzlement.
April 2, 2025
A very enjoyable darkly humorous stand-alone thriller.
Otis Joy is the Rector in a countryside parish.
All is well until an elderly man who lived in Joy’s old parish moves into the village to live with his sister & starts spreading rumours about the reverend’s financial improprieties & even murder.
After a spate of deaths in the parish more tongues wag but with 2 women in love with him & a chap (aggrieved at being passed over for the job of parish treasurer) determined to bring the perfect vicar to justice things heat up.
Otis Joy is the Rector in a countryside parish.
All is well until an elderly man who lived in Joy’s old parish moves into the village to live with his sister & starts spreading rumours about the reverend’s financial improprieties & even murder.
After a spate of deaths in the parish more tongues wag but with 2 women in love with him & a chap (aggrieved at being passed over for the job of parish treasurer) determined to bring the perfect vicar to justice things heat up.
August 9, 2025
Terrible cover (at least on my library copy, which matches the image I see here on GR), but another excellent book by Peter Lovesey. How have I never heard of him before now? Why did no one tell me???
I have realized that when I like a book it can fall into three categories - books I enjoy reading, books I look forward to reading, and books I can't wait to get back to. This was one of the latter. Now to begin his Peter Diamond series, which Louse Penny recommended by way of an enthusiastic introduction. Clearly this man can do no wrong.
I have realized that when I like a book it can fall into three categories - books I enjoy reading, books I look forward to reading, and books I can't wait to get back to. This was one of the latter. Now to begin his Peter Diamond series, which Louse Penny recommended by way of an enthusiastic introduction. Clearly this man can do no wrong.
March 23, 2022
Oh my. This mystery kept me going all the way to the end and then... hmmm...
Otis Joy is a slick clergyman who knows how to play the game and get away with it. When he is caught out for embezzling by the bishop, his solution is far from the repentance that the Bishop desires.
One after another, Otis 'takes care' of those who discover his secret life. The ending was a disappointment to me but the entire book sure kept me going! A fast read.
Otis Joy is a slick clergyman who knows how to play the game and get away with it. When he is caught out for embezzling by the bishop, his solution is far from the repentance that the Bishop desires.
One after another, Otis 'takes care' of those who discover his secret life. The ending was a disappointment to me but the entire book sure kept me going! A fast read.
November 15, 2025
Fastest DNF ever. Committed to about 100 pages and things did not improve from the beginning. Boring. Predictable. Boring. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Boring that’s literally all I have. Sorry that’s very negative but life is too short to read books that literally make one want to unalive oneself. Hopefully someone else will enjoy after I ditch to a charity shop. And I shall move quickly to a more suitable book for me.
December 19, 2023
First read this book 4 years ago and enjoyed it again . I liked the story line and the characters , the depiction of life and tensions in a village based round the church . There was also plenty of humour and banter , which I felt added to quality of the writing. Lovesey is a great story teller with good characters , excellent development of the story and a real ear for dialogue .
May 21, 2024
Overall, a fairly average read.
In summary, a book with a murderous vicar in a sleepy Wiltshire village.
Quite slow to start, but picks up and then is fairly enjoyable. A few little niggles along the way, with no real context behind any of the said murders but interesting nonetheless.
Three out of five.
In summary, a book with a murderous vicar in a sleepy Wiltshire village.
Quite slow to start, but picks up and then is fairly enjoyable. A few little niggles along the way, with no real context behind any of the said murders but interesting nonetheless.
Three out of five.
July 4, 2019
Otis Joy is the church vicar. Loved by the majority but a few are suspicious of him.
Several people have died suddenly. Otis carries on doing funerals and visiting widows.
Are these deaths a result of natural causes, illness, accident, or murder?
Very interesting story!
Several people have died suddenly. Otis carries on doing funerals and visiting widows.
Are these deaths a result of natural causes, illness, accident, or murder?
Very interesting story!
April 23, 2021
Lovesey must have bathed in whimsy before writing this one. Less edgy than an episode of the Vicar of Dibley. Serial killer rector, if only Agatha Raisin was there. Think I'll stick to Cribb and Diamond
January 12, 2023
Evenly paced and wickedly funny, this book keeps you engaged from the very first page. Taking turns every few chapters and changing it's point of view, this will end exactly as you want it... if you have a devilish sense of humor!
October 9, 2017
Stand alone by the same author of the Peter Diamond series. This was very entertaining.
January 27, 2019
Off balance
What a fun adventure. I was always a quarter turn off from where the Author was planning to take me. And he finished the tale perfectly too!
What a fun adventure. I was always a quarter turn off from where the Author was planning to take me. And he finished the tale perfectly too!
May 23, 2019
Picked this up at the library 50-cent book sale, so had no expectations, but gosh if I didn't thoroughly enjoy this! Off to find more Peter Lovesey...
August 18, 2019
Fun premise
Story moved along with twists and turns providing smiles as the multiple plots thickened. Quick enjoyable read with well developed voices.
Story moved along with twists and turns providing smiles as the multiple plots thickened. Quick enjoyable read with well developed voices.
November 7, 2019
Amusing, as always, but implausible and not one of his best.
January 5, 2020
A fun little mystery filled with devilish people in a small British town. A bit of a surprise ending which makes it even more interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews