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Callie Anson #3
Deep Waters
In a culture obsessed with celebrity, baby Muffin's death is big news. Crib death - or something more sinister? Everyone wants to know, including the police. Whatever the truth, the bereaved parents - celebrity couple Jodee and Chazz - live in curate Callie Anson's parish. And despite the disapproval of her vicar and his wife, Callie becomes involved with funeral arrangements.
It's a high-profile case, all right. Detective Inspector Neville Stewart is even recalled from his honeymoon to investigate - with disastrous personal results. And journalist Lilith Noone's professional future is on the line as she is sucked more deeply into her own flirtations with celebrity culture.
But for police family liaison officer Mark Lombardi, the death of baby Muffin is eclipsed by another death much closer to home. He soon finds himself in an impossible position, torn between his loyalty to his family and his growing love for Callie.
Deep Waters takes an unflinching look at our ambivalent relationship with the celebrities we make...and discard.
It's a high-profile case, all right. Detective Inspector Neville Stewart is even recalled from his honeymoon to investigate - with disastrous personal results. And journalist Lilith Noone's professional future is on the line as she is sucked more deeply into her own flirtations with celebrity culture.
But for police family liaison officer Mark Lombardi, the death of baby Muffin is eclipsed by another death much closer to home. He soon finds himself in an impossible position, torn between his loyalty to his family and his growing love for Callie.
Deep Waters takes an unflinching look at our ambivalent relationship with the celebrities we make...and discard.
332 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 3, 2017
Enjoying this series of detective stories on a background of the Church of England. Easy reading with likeable characters. As soon as I finish one I download the next so that's got to be a recommendation!
November 5, 2025
Likeable audiobook. This is my first Kate Charles book, but I'm open to reading more of the Callie Anson series. I have a thing for books featuring religious women sleuths. This one is British and against the backdrop of the Church of England.
September 28, 2023
Less about crime than about family, this pulls on the emotions and again about family, the damage of human weakness, naivety and celebrity.
May 17, 2009
Deep Waters is the third in Kate Charles's Callie Anson series. I call it the Callie Anson series because the publisher does, but the truly wonderful thing about this series is how Ms. Charles uses changing points of view not only to keep the reader turning pages to find out what's happening to each character, but also to involve us in the lives of a whole ensemble of interconnected people who swirl around Callie, a Church of England curate, and her boyfriend Mark, a Family Liaison Officer with the police. Each character is so individual that this never becomes confusing. The only other author who comes to mind who has done this was Ed McBain with his 87th Precinct series, different though that is.
In Deep Waters, the two criminal cases are related through the main characters who are dealing with them, but also because celebrity -- and specifically the celebrity created by reality-TV shows -- is an important factor in each. I'm sure one could poke holes in the plots, but it didn't matter to me as a reader because the characterization was so good and the social commentary so insightful. Although these books feature a clergy sleuth and an ongoing love story, I wouldn't call them "cozy" -- the keen eye Charles casts on contemporary society takes them out of that category. Highly recommended.
In Deep Waters, the two criminal cases are related through the main characters who are dealing with them, but also because celebrity -- and specifically the celebrity created by reality-TV shows -- is an important factor in each. I'm sure one could poke holes in the plots, but it didn't matter to me as a reader because the characterization was so good and the social commentary so insightful. Although these books feature a clergy sleuth and an ongoing love story, I wouldn't call them "cozy" -- the keen eye Charles casts on contemporary society takes them out of that category. Highly recommended.
July 5, 2016
Not sure how 'deep' these waters actually are.
Media driven celebrity onslaughts make for pretty shallow pools spread as they are all over the world and about skin deep. In that sense the theme is topical and Kate Charles uses her multi-faceted POV deftly with sympathy for her characters.
For someone who should surely demonstrate some strength of mind to have chosen the path she has taken, protagonist Callie comes across as rather boringly average. Too late now, but it would have been far more interesting if her character had more chutzpah to mix religious metaphors.
She certainly needs a firmer backbone if she's going to tackle the C of E with any determination. Similarly as if like-finds-like, her stereotypical Mama's boy "love" (where's the passion?) interest comes across as wimpish as well. Aside from the random frisson of friction between Callie and her temporary host, the sulky vicar's wife, and a detective's fiance's temper tantrums there's little tension to spread around. Unfortunately for those of us who simply do not care one iota about celebrity drama, the rest is irrelevent, however timely the topic might be for others.
Author Kate Charles' Psalms series seems to pack punchier plots and more vivid characters. In this series the writing is competent but almost bland and the plot solution is somewhat convenient. Is Charles holding back a little too much on the Callie Anson scenarios?
While personally not interested in reading mysteries charged with gruesome stuff in either criminal or sexual acts, this series seems overall to lean a tad too far into the PG category for me.
Media driven celebrity onslaughts make for pretty shallow pools spread as they are all over the world and about skin deep. In that sense the theme is topical and Kate Charles uses her multi-faceted POV deftly with sympathy for her characters.
For someone who should surely demonstrate some strength of mind to have chosen the path she has taken, protagonist Callie comes across as rather boringly average. Too late now, but it would have been far more interesting if her character had more chutzpah to mix religious metaphors.
She certainly needs a firmer backbone if she's going to tackle the C of E with any determination. Similarly as if like-finds-like, her stereotypical Mama's boy "love" (where's the passion?) interest comes across as wimpish as well. Aside from the random frisson of friction between Callie and her temporary host, the sulky vicar's wife, and a detective's fiance's temper tantrums there's little tension to spread around. Unfortunately for those of us who simply do not care one iota about celebrity drama, the rest is irrelevent, however timely the topic might be for others.
Author Kate Charles' Psalms series seems to pack punchier plots and more vivid characters. In this series the writing is competent but almost bland and the plot solution is somewhat convenient. Is Charles holding back a little too much on the Callie Anson scenarios?
While personally not interested in reading mysteries charged with gruesome stuff in either criminal or sexual acts, this series seems overall to lean a tad too far into the PG category for me.
Read
February 2, 2009Angering his bride, Detective Inspector Neville Stewart cuts his honeymoon short to investigate when celebrity television reality couple Jodee and Chazz Betts’ infant daughter is found dead in her crib. Is it crib death, neglect, or murder? Meanwhile, Anglican curate Callie Anson must move in with the vicar and his wife (who is not very fond of her) when her home is damaged in a storm, and the two are annoyed when Jodee and Chazz request Callie to officiate at their daughter’s funeral. Callie’s boyfriend, Mark Lombardi, is the police liaison for the case, but then a family tragedy disrupts his life and begins to cause a rift between him and Callie. The well-drawn cast of main characters of professional and amateur detectives works through their relationship issues while solving two crimes in this third of a series. Details of celebrity life, police work, and the Anglican Church add to the story, and the series will appeal to those who enjoy Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne mysteries.
September 4, 2016
Deep Waters is an old fashioned type of mystery in that there are no gory bits in the two cases that are featured. Police are brought in to investigate the crib death of an infant whose parents happen to be reality TV celebrities who gained fame on a Big Brother like show. Family Liaison Officer Mark Lombardi is assigned to support the family and fend off the press while the investigation is ongoing. Lombardi's girlfriend, Callie Anson, gets involved as the parents live in her parish. When Lombardi's brother-in-law suffers a heart attack, he steps away from his duties and Callie.
The final outcome for the second case the police become involved in is lame. It felt like Kate Charles was ready to wrap it up and did so. However, I will let that go because Charles has developed strong primary and secondary characters in what is the third book in a series. That and some tabloid cheesiness made Deep Waters an enjoyable read for me.
The final outcome for the second case the police become involved in is lame. It felt like Kate Charles was ready to wrap it up and did so. However, I will let that go because Charles has developed strong primary and secondary characters in what is the third book in a series. That and some tabloid cheesiness made Deep Waters an enjoyable read for me.
November 7, 2009
This was perhaps the best yet in this series, starring Anglican curate and soon-to-be-priested Callie Anson, and her policeman boyfriend, Marco Lombardi.
Besides a very interesting story that intertwines two mysteries, there is a great deal of exploration of sticky issues: celebrity and what it means; relationships and whether they can truly be sustained by two equal and career-minded people in the modern world; the effect that an affair has on a long-standing marriage and the couple's children; difficult decisions that clergy people need to make when two parties are at odds and making competing demands; and the role of family in an adult person's well-being. This list only scratches the surface...do read the series and check this book out for yourself!
Besides a very interesting story that intertwines two mysteries, there is a great deal of exploration of sticky issues: celebrity and what it means; relationships and whether they can truly be sustained by two equal and career-minded people in the modern world; the effect that an affair has on a long-standing marriage and the couple's children; difficult decisions that clergy people need to make when two parties are at odds and making competing demands; and the role of family in an adult person's well-being. This list only scratches the surface...do read the series and check this book out for yourself!
December 19, 2009
Very pleasant little book. This is my first Kate Charles read, and I enjoyed it. I'll be looking at the library for more. The characters are good: Callie, the female deacon in the Church of England who is stuck staying in the miserable guest room of the Vicarage; Mark, the Italian policeman who is Callie's boyfriend; their friends, family, and co-workers. There are two concurrent death investigations going on, with Callie deeply involved in one, and the other in Mark's family. The various "CSI" and "NCIS" and "Law and Order" shows have had a wide-ranging effect on the world culture. The characters in this novel keep saying, "I watch television. I know how this works." Of course, I was thinking the same thing. This is a very nice read for you before sleep relaxer. Go for it!
June 20, 2009
Neville Stewart's honeymoon is disrupted when he's called back to London to investigate the crib death of Muffin, child of two reality television stars. Mark Lombardi is the family liaison officer, and he involves his sweetheart, curate Callie Anson. When an autopsy shows something suspicious about the death, both Callie and Mark believe the anguished parents. The media, however, viciously attack. Then a tragedy strikes Mark's family, and he is involved in their problems, to the extent of pushing Callie away. Neville, meanwhile, has problems with his new wife Triona.
November 2, 2009
I liked this one a lot--the people have grown; they still make me angry but I like them. This series is definitely more about the characters than the mystery. Protag. is an anglican curate, has an Italian SO who is attached to his family, her boss (the priest) is dim, his wife hates her. Should be read in order. FA
--adding source for books: RF (recommended family/friends) FA (favored author)RDL (recommended Dorothy L) RR (review, e.g. NYT) BC (by chance)
any other suggestions?
--adding source for books: RF (recommended family/friends) FA (favored author)RDL (recommended Dorothy L) RR (review, e.g. NYT) BC (by chance)
any other suggestions?
September 4, 2010
I enjoyed making Callie Anson's acquaintance again. I sympathized with Mark in his relationship with her. I disliked the Rector and his wife all over again. He reminds me of that despicable Father Tim all over again. The story is first rate with many possible villains. Enuf said -- a fair read.
June 2, 2013
Another great book, with plenty of human beings and some wonderful characters! (and some happiness too - what more can a good crime novel want?!) looking forward to the next one so it had best be written soon!
July 3, 2015
Pleasant reading about the adventures of a young female curate who is dragged into the death of the infant daughter of two reality-show celebrities in London. In the cozy tradition, the romance/relationship issues are given as much attention as the crime.
March 26, 2009
I enjoyed this book. Like many of Kate charles's book, the crimes were almost incidental to the relationships. I hope in future books, we will learn more about Jane.
May 6, 2009
Interesting story about celebrities the death of their baby, the news media and how they cover the story, and romance.
November 3, 2009
This turned out to be book 3 in the series, which is so annoying.
January 1, 2017
I had read this book previously but enjoyed reading it again.
August 27, 2010
Good British mystery
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March 30, 2016Suspense right through to the last chapter.
April 13, 2017
A compelling mystery, but the C of E customs, traditions and internal differences are a bit overdone.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews