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The Grantchester Mysteries #0.5
THE ROAD TO GRANTCHESTER
The captivating prequel to the treasured Grantchester series follows the life, loves and losses of a young Sidney Chambers in post-war London
It is 1938, and eighteen-year-old Sidney Chambers is dancing the quickstep with Amanda Kendall at her brother Robert's birthday party at the Caledonia Club. No one can believe, on this golden evening, that there could ever be another war.
Returning to London from the war seven years later, Sidney has gained a Military Cross, and lost his best friend on the battlefields of Italy. The carefree youth that he and his friends were promised has been blown apart, just like the rest of the world - and Sidney, carrying a terrible, secret guilt, must decide what to do with the rest of his life. But Sidney has heard a call: constant, though quiet, and growing ever more persistent. To the incredulity of his family and the derision of his friends - the irrepressible actor Freddie, and the beautiful, spiky Amanda - Sidney must now negotiate his path to God: the course of which, much like true love, never runs smooth.
The touching, engaging and surprising origin story of the Grantchester Mysteries's beloved Archdeacon Sidney Chambers, The Road to Grantchester will delight new and old fans alike.
It is 1938, and eighteen-year-old Sidney Chambers is dancing the quickstep with Amanda Kendall at her brother Robert's birthday party at the Caledonia Club. No one can believe, on this golden evening, that there could ever be another war.
Returning to London from the war seven years later, Sidney has gained a Military Cross, and lost his best friend on the battlefields of Italy. The carefree youth that he and his friends were promised has been blown apart, just like the rest of the world - and Sidney, carrying a terrible, secret guilt, must decide what to do with the rest of his life. But Sidney has heard a call: constant, though quiet, and growing ever more persistent. To the incredulity of his family and the derision of his friends - the irrepressible actor Freddie, and the beautiful, spiky Amanda - Sidney must now negotiate his path to God: the course of which, much like true love, never runs smooth.
The touching, engaging and surprising origin story of the Grantchester Mysteries's beloved Archdeacon Sidney Chambers, The Road to Grantchester will delight new and old fans alike.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2019
292 people are currently reading
2383 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
April 13, 2019
I thought with Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love did the series end, However, James Runcie decided to go back in time and write about Sidney Chambers life before the stories in the first Grantchester book. And, what a treat this book was. To get to know a young Sidney, his experiences in the war, his call to be a priest, how he discovered his love for jazz. And, of course, his friendship with Amanda. I quite enjoyed this part of the story, Amanda being the little sister of his best friend and how she become such an important person in his life.
It's such a fabulous novel. I listened to the audio version of this book and I enjoyed the book immensely. This is not in any way a crime novel, like how Sidney helps Geordie Keating in the rest of the books. There is death in this book, but it's not a mystery novel. It's a novel about how Sidney Chambers become the man we met in the Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. If you are a fan of this series, or the TV series is this a must read book!
It's such a fabulous novel. I listened to the audio version of this book and I enjoyed the book immensely. This is not in any way a crime novel, like how Sidney helps Geordie Keating in the rest of the books. There is death in this book, but it's not a mystery novel. It's a novel about how Sidney Chambers become the man we met in the Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. If you are a fan of this series, or the TV series is this a must read book!
March 21, 2019
Structured in four parts – War, Peace, Faith and Love – The Road to Grantchester allows the author to explore and illuminate the back story of the Sidney Chambers readers will meet in the first book of the series, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. Although I’d heard of The Granchester Mysteries TV series, I’d never actually watched any of the episodes (which having read The Road to Grantchester I’m now rather regretting). Neither had I read any of the books on which the series is based but thankfully this prequel makes that unnecessary (although it’s now pretty likely I will read them in future). However, readers familiar with the books and/or the TV series will still find lots to enjoy about The Road to Granchester, such as the first sight of characters who will appear in later books or spotting references to future events that I will have missed.
In the first part of the book, Sidney is exposed to the harsh realities of war as he is caught up in the brutal Battle of Monte Cassino. Described in gritty and authentic detail, this part of the book will particularly appeal to fans of historical fiction set in World War 2. The death of his best friend, and the circumstances of that event, have a profound effect on Sidney and leave him struggling with his faith and with feelings of guilt. Only the wise advice of army chaplain, Rev Nev, and Catherine, a nurse, persuade Sidney that, having survived the war against all expectations, he has a duty to use ‘the reward of peace’ wisely.
Back in London, Sidney still struggles to believe that he has a right to happiness or that he deserves the accolade of hero. Gradually, the conviction grows that his vocation lies in the Church although this decision brings unexpected reactions from family and friends. His father greets the news with surprise and bewilderment and Amanda, the sister of his best friend, Robert, regards it as a personal betrayal. Only Sidney’s friend, Freddie responds with any degree of positivity. As it transpires, Freddie will soon be grateful for Sidney’s support (and Sidney’s nascent deductive instincts) when Freddie is involved in a tragic event.
As Sidney commences his theological training, the reader gets lots of factual information about the process of ordination. Assigned to the position of curate in war-damaged Coventry, Sidney gains experience of the pastoral duties of a priest, encountering social and moral issues in the manner of Call the Midwife…but without the need to deliver babies.
The final section of the book explores the slightly spiky, quirky relationship between Sidney and Amanda. Only readers of the later books or viewers of the series may know why Sidney puts up with Amanda’s at times hurtful, dismissive or downright accusatory comments but to me it just proved he clearly has the patience of a saint! However, in a neat role reversal, she does finally become the recipient of his confession about the thing that has weighed on his conscience since the death of his best friend.
A spiritual element runs throughout the book. Sidney’s sincere belief in God is conveyed clearly but the author manages to keep it just the right side of being ‘preachy’. Rather than the reader feeling like they are on the receiving end of a sermon, it comes across as an authentic insight into Sidney’s character, values and principles.
The Road to Grantchester is the perfect example of a prequel to my mind. For fans of the series, it provides more background on a character they have grown to love and an insight into the life experiences that have formed him. For readers coming new to the series, it’s a useful sampler and, I suspect, the enticement they need to add the other books in the series to their wishlist. I know I have. It’s a terrific read and one which works equally well as a character study of a young man affected by his wartime experiences or as an introduction to a historical crime series.
In the first part of the book, Sidney is exposed to the harsh realities of war as he is caught up in the brutal Battle of Monte Cassino. Described in gritty and authentic detail, this part of the book will particularly appeal to fans of historical fiction set in World War 2. The death of his best friend, and the circumstances of that event, have a profound effect on Sidney and leave him struggling with his faith and with feelings of guilt. Only the wise advice of army chaplain, Rev Nev, and Catherine, a nurse, persuade Sidney that, having survived the war against all expectations, he has a duty to use ‘the reward of peace’ wisely.
Back in London, Sidney still struggles to believe that he has a right to happiness or that he deserves the accolade of hero. Gradually, the conviction grows that his vocation lies in the Church although this decision brings unexpected reactions from family and friends. His father greets the news with surprise and bewilderment and Amanda, the sister of his best friend, Robert, regards it as a personal betrayal. Only Sidney’s friend, Freddie responds with any degree of positivity. As it transpires, Freddie will soon be grateful for Sidney’s support (and Sidney’s nascent deductive instincts) when Freddie is involved in a tragic event.
As Sidney commences his theological training, the reader gets lots of factual information about the process of ordination. Assigned to the position of curate in war-damaged Coventry, Sidney gains experience of the pastoral duties of a priest, encountering social and moral issues in the manner of Call the Midwife…but without the need to deliver babies.
The final section of the book explores the slightly spiky, quirky relationship between Sidney and Amanda. Only readers of the later books or viewers of the series may know why Sidney puts up with Amanda’s at times hurtful, dismissive or downright accusatory comments but to me it just proved he clearly has the patience of a saint! However, in a neat role reversal, she does finally become the recipient of his confession about the thing that has weighed on his conscience since the death of his best friend.
A spiritual element runs throughout the book. Sidney’s sincere belief in God is conveyed clearly but the author manages to keep it just the right side of being ‘preachy’. Rather than the reader feeling like they are on the receiving end of a sermon, it comes across as an authentic insight into Sidney’s character, values and principles.
The Road to Grantchester is the perfect example of a prequel to my mind. For fans of the series, it provides more background on a character they have grown to love and an insight into the life experiences that have formed him. For readers coming new to the series, it’s a useful sampler and, I suspect, the enticement they need to add the other books in the series to their wishlist. I know I have. It’s a terrific read and one which works equally well as a character study of a young man affected by his wartime experiences or as an introduction to a historical crime series.
November 19, 2018
I haven’t read any of the Grantchester mystery books or seen the TV series so came to this story completely fresh. In fact, if I didn’t know this was a prequel to those books I wouldn’t have guessed that solving mysteries was the way Sidney’s career would progress. This one stands alone perfectly.
This is a thoughtful and moving portrayal of a young man’s experience of war, loss and guilt, and the struggle he has to find a purpose to his life afterwards. I’d read one of James Runcie’s books before, East Fortune, and knew that his strength lay in creating engaging, believable characters so it was no surprise to find myself immediately immersed in Sidney’s story, his relationships with his childhood friend Robert, with Robert’s sister Amanda (and their family) and with school friend and wartime comrade Freddie. I do hope these continue into the later books and am tempted to embark on the series just to find out how things turn out for these two.
Just as important, of course, is Sidney’s relationship with God. I was completely caught up in his doubts and fears while coming to the decision to become a clergyman - a process that takes him the bulk of the second half of the book - and the effect this has on his friendships, particularly with Amanda. Sensitively written.
A really satisfying read that I’d recommend highly. With thanks to Bloomsbury via NetGalley for the opportunity of an ARC.
This is a thoughtful and moving portrayal of a young man’s experience of war, loss and guilt, and the struggle he has to find a purpose to his life afterwards. I’d read one of James Runcie’s books before, East Fortune, and knew that his strength lay in creating engaging, believable characters so it was no surprise to find myself immediately immersed in Sidney’s story, his relationships with his childhood friend Robert, with Robert’s sister Amanda (and their family) and with school friend and wartime comrade Freddie. I do hope these continue into the later books and am tempted to embark on the series just to find out how things turn out for these two.
Just as important, of course, is Sidney’s relationship with God. I was completely caught up in his doubts and fears while coming to the decision to become a clergyman - a process that takes him the bulk of the second half of the book - and the effect this has on his friendships, particularly with Amanda. Sensitively written.
A really satisfying read that I’d recommend highly. With thanks to Bloomsbury via NetGalley for the opportunity of an ARC.
February 23, 2019
What the Dickens?!
I adore the TV show Grantchester. I love the characters, the dialogue, the mysteries, etc. Sadly, the actor of the main character, Sidney Chambers, has left the show recently and so they've had to replace him with a new main character, who I don't dislike, but I do miss Sidney so I'd been considering reading the books to get my Sidney-fix.
This book is actually a prequel to when the show (and the first book) began, so I thought it'd be a good introduction to the books. Although it could easily be read as a introduction to either the books or the show, I really enjoyed reading about Sidney's journey to get to where he winds up in the rest of the series having already known him and some of the other characters. It explains a lot about Sidney's character and his relationship with Amanda, with all the charm, witty dialogue, and depth of character I've come to expect from the show. It didn't really have the usual mystery element, it's much more about the characters, but it was still just as enjoyable.
Advanced review copy from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Historical Readings & Reviews
I adore the TV show Grantchester. I love the characters, the dialogue, the mysteries, etc. Sadly, the actor of the main character, Sidney Chambers, has left the show recently and so they've had to replace him with a new main character, who I don't dislike, but I do miss Sidney so I'd been considering reading the books to get my Sidney-fix.
This book is actually a prequel to when the show (and the first book) began, so I thought it'd be a good introduction to the books. Although it could easily be read as a introduction to either the books or the show, I really enjoyed reading about Sidney's journey to get to where he winds up in the rest of the series having already known him and some of the other characters. It explains a lot about Sidney's character and his relationship with Amanda, with all the charm, witty dialogue, and depth of character I've come to expect from the show. It didn't really have the usual mystery element, it's much more about the characters, but it was still just as enjoyable.
Advanced review copy from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
Historical Readings & Reviews
February 15, 2019
People have feelings. Real feelings. You have to live your life by taking account of other people.
On my blog.
Actual rating 2.5
Rep: gay side character
Galley provided by publisher
The Road to Grantchester is a prequel. So it at least aims to give some background to Sidney Chambers, before he became the vicar of Grantchester. And before he began working cases with Geordie Keating.
And that’s probably why I didn’t like this book as much as I might have. It’s more of a character study of Sidney Chambers pre-Grantchester than anything. There’s not a lot of plot, and that was a problem for me. I don’t have the patience with books that don’t have that much going on. That’s not to say this was a bad book – it’s a wholly personal issue this – but I arguably would have enjoyed it more.
But, I did mostly like the characters, so it wasn’t like it was such a huge slog. I know more of Sidney from the ITV series than from the books, but it was nice to see that the characterisation was pretty similar (Sidney is still a complete dumbass when it comes to girls). I liked him, and I liked seeing his whole family. But what this book managed to do was make me dislike Amanda Kendall even more than I did watching the show (even as I was incredibly bitter by how much she got screwed over with her characterisation in that). She just felt kind of shallow and selfish, and while I could understand her motivations in some cases, often I was just irritated by her.
One thing I wanted from this book was to get some insight into Sidney’s trauma (which ITV introduced in series 1 and subsequently brushed under the carpet). And I guess I got that? In a way? But at the same time I kind of wanted it to go a little more in depth than it did. It felt kind of superficial almost. You have all of what happens to Sidney in the war, then he comes back to London, and he doesn’t seem particularly affected by what happened. Restless and discontent, maybe, but when you find out at the end what his real conflict is, it feels almost like it’s sprung out of nowhere. And there could have been such good angst there, but I didn’t really feel enough of an emotional connection to it.
A final thing: I didn’t quite get why everyone thought Sidney entering the clergy was such a big deal. They were pretty much all horrified, and gave some response along the lines of either “are you sure” or “that’s not like you”. But is entering the clergy really a huge deal? Especially the dominant religion clergy. So, yeah, I was confused.
But, obviously, all the things I didn’t really like about this book were personal ones. It is a good book. It’s well-written, and it has compelling characters. Ultimately, though, I just needed something more.
November 20, 2024
مکالمه ومفاهمه ما ( اگربتوان اسمش رامکالمه گذاشت ) به اندازه شش صدوبیست ویکسال از غرب عقب تراست :). دربهترین داستانها وفیلمهای ماکمتریک مکالمه مفید وعقلانی می بینیم حتی درحد داستان ونه واقعیت جامعه.
April 8, 2019
Sidney Chambers unveiled!
This is the prequel to the wonderful series that is Grantchester. But here's the thing of art and form, of image and words. I love the tv series. Because I'm addicted to the visual presentation of Grantchester, I adore Sidney and all the other characters. I ask myself a question. How to divorce that exploration of the visual senses from the literary imaginative senses? Need I?
Bother! I can't! I keep seeing the actors doing their thing. I hear their voices in the prose. Should my already imaged characters be different from my imagined literary characters? Does it lessen the story's ability to stand in its own right? Well you can't put the genie back in the bottle! That's enough of a convoluted thought process, I just have go with what I've perceived through all the mediums. Hopefully one informs and enhances the other.
It's pre war 1938 London and the story opens with Sidney's best friend, Robert Kendall's eighteenth birthday dance. Sidney dances with Robert's sister, fifteen year old Amanda. Amanda decides that she will call him Chambers. And this marks the beginning of them knowing each other.
Five years later we see Sidney as he's about to enter the European Theatre of World War II. In Italy to be precise.
We experience Chambers sense of loss as those beside him die in unspeakable conditions and in nightmarish battles. With him we rage at the hopelessness of soldiers being fodder, sent up mountainsides only to be repeatedly mowed down. We understand how all this is shaping Sidney into what he will become.
As he tries to make sense of it all the idea of why, and the justness of a God looms large.
The buildup, despite the horrors is steady but it's really only in the last chapters that more is revealed as Sidney realizes his calling to be a man of the cloth, under the umbrella of the Anglican Church. He struggles to capture his view of God, his relationship with God, and how that might inform his actions.
The tension between Amanda and Sidney, the way their relationship just never quite gets the ground, the lost opportunities, is marked by Sidney's hesitations. He's always to measured, too late.
The secret for that is unveiled.
This prelude does indeed point the way for us to know more deeply the Sidney we love. To how he comes to be in Grantchester where the friends he surrounds himself with become ours, and to the never ending question of his relationship with Amanda.
I enjoyed the journey.
A Bloomsbury ARC via NetGalley
This is the prequel to the wonderful series that is Grantchester. But here's the thing of art and form, of image and words. I love the tv series. Because I'm addicted to the visual presentation of Grantchester, I adore Sidney and all the other characters. I ask myself a question. How to divorce that exploration of the visual senses from the literary imaginative senses? Need I?
Bother! I can't! I keep seeing the actors doing their thing. I hear their voices in the prose. Should my already imaged characters be different from my imagined literary characters? Does it lessen the story's ability to stand in its own right? Well you can't put the genie back in the bottle! That's enough of a convoluted thought process, I just have go with what I've perceived through all the mediums. Hopefully one informs and enhances the other.
It's pre war 1938 London and the story opens with Sidney's best friend, Robert Kendall's eighteenth birthday dance. Sidney dances with Robert's sister, fifteen year old Amanda. Amanda decides that she will call him Chambers. And this marks the beginning of them knowing each other.
Five years later we see Sidney as he's about to enter the European Theatre of World War II. In Italy to be precise.
We experience Chambers sense of loss as those beside him die in unspeakable conditions and in nightmarish battles. With him we rage at the hopelessness of soldiers being fodder, sent up mountainsides only to be repeatedly mowed down. We understand how all this is shaping Sidney into what he will become.
As he tries to make sense of it all the idea of why, and the justness of a God looms large.
The buildup, despite the horrors is steady but it's really only in the last chapters that more is revealed as Sidney realizes his calling to be a man of the cloth, under the umbrella of the Anglican Church. He struggles to capture his view of God, his relationship with God, and how that might inform his actions.
The tension between Amanda and Sidney, the way their relationship just never quite gets the ground, the lost opportunities, is marked by Sidney's hesitations. He's always to measured, too late.
The secret for that is unveiled.
This prelude does indeed point the way for us to know more deeply the Sidney we love. To how he comes to be in Grantchester where the friends he surrounds himself with become ours, and to the never ending question of his relationship with Amanda.
I enjoyed the journey.
A Bloomsbury ARC via NetGalley
June 6, 2019
The Road to Grantchester feels like the book that James Runcie was always meant to write. It’s a deeply moving and absorbing novel of an Englishman at war in WWII, England struggling with the peace afterward, and a man’s search for identity when so many friends are gone. The cast of characters is small enough to draw the reader in, while deep enough to enliven and intrigue, encompassing a range of victims and survivors, from the weak to the brave, the nervous to the strong, the easily accepted to the easily outcast, and beyond. Like the Grantchester mysteries, the story welcomes characters of different class, different background, different faith and different sexual orientation. And, like the Grantchester mysteries, it includes an almost peripheral mystery that hides the truth in its heart.
The protagonist’s road from casual belief to deep questioning and convicted faith is convincingly portrayed, with fascinating sections of thought-provoking dialog along the way. It’s probably not the book for someone radically opposed to Christian faith, but for someone who wonders (or is willing to wonder) how faith might blossom from despair, or how an up-and-coming young man might end up as a vicar, it’s a truly absorbing read. It’s also an achingly real depiction of war, misery and loss; an evocative retelling of a world in recovery; and a heart-warming tale of love in its various forms.
I was surprised to find the novel doesn’t quite tie in with the mystery novels set around the same character, though it ties in perfectly with the television series. The discrepancies really don’t matter though, and almost add verisimilitude as no one remembers or retells the same story the same way. Whatever, it’s an excellent read and highly recommended.
Disclosure: My husband saw it had been released and immediately bought me a copy!
The protagonist’s road from casual belief to deep questioning and convicted faith is convincingly portrayed, with fascinating sections of thought-provoking dialog along the way. It’s probably not the book for someone radically opposed to Christian faith, but for someone who wonders (or is willing to wonder) how faith might blossom from despair, or how an up-and-coming young man might end up as a vicar, it’s a truly absorbing read. It’s also an achingly real depiction of war, misery and loss; an evocative retelling of a world in recovery; and a heart-warming tale of love in its various forms.
I was surprised to find the novel doesn’t quite tie in with the mystery novels set around the same character, though it ties in perfectly with the television series. The discrepancies really don’t matter though, and almost add verisimilitude as no one remembers or retells the same story the same way. Whatever, it’s an excellent read and highly recommended.
Disclosure: My husband saw it had been released and immediately bought me a copy!
August 26, 2019
To lay my cards on the table, I am Grantchester (novels) fan and when I heard that this ‘prequel’ novel was to be published I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.
This is certainly a suitable jumping off point for what has been previously known as the Sidney Chambers series. Should you wish to start from here, this novel gives a good overview of Sidney’s life through important events from his experience in the war in his early twenties through life decisions which ultimately tell the story of his progression to the parish of Grantchester and the stories that follow. However, this really is a book for Grantchester fans and it is they who will get the most from this novel. Through this novel Sidney’s backstory is fleshed out and we are given a greater insight into the forming of his character and his life choices that led to his vocation.
We know from the previous novels that Sidney has lived and has a past but what was previously alluded to has now been made more tangible in the form of this prequel novel. It is always interesting when an author reveals the past that has affected a character that you have come to know and love but it can also be worrying as we may not like what we find there or we may be simply disappointed. Neither is the case with this novel. In a format similar to the previously published Grantchester novels, we are guided through a number of short stories which together form a central narrative. In this case the four sections which make up the book are very different in tone and are titled and relate to the subjects of War, Peace, Faith, and Love. This allows for the development of the main characters but (particularly in this book) keeping distinct sections of the protagonist’s life distinct. I was particularly impressed with the writing of the ‘War’ section of the book. It was told in a serious and fitting manner and in a simple, laconic and almost poetic style which felt profound and important and quite different from the normal ‘Grantchester’ style. The whole novel is written with genuine compassion love and touches on many important themes but always with a lightness that allows the story to continue without becoming maudlin.
In the end, what I love most about the Grantchester novels and what still feels refreshing is that Sidney (the main protagonist) is presented as having a faith and a moral code by which he lives, but he is certainly not a ‘wet’ or sanctimonious Christian vicar. Instead Sidney is presented as a normal, balanced, humane individual trying to make the best of his life and the lives of those he cares about.
I am yet again charmed by these stories and by the characters in the stories. And while this may be the last opportunity we have to share in Sidney Chamber’s life, once again we are uplifted by his company.
This is certainly a suitable jumping off point for what has been previously known as the Sidney Chambers series. Should you wish to start from here, this novel gives a good overview of Sidney’s life through important events from his experience in the war in his early twenties through life decisions which ultimately tell the story of his progression to the parish of Grantchester and the stories that follow. However, this really is a book for Grantchester fans and it is they who will get the most from this novel. Through this novel Sidney’s backstory is fleshed out and we are given a greater insight into the forming of his character and his life choices that led to his vocation.
We know from the previous novels that Sidney has lived and has a past but what was previously alluded to has now been made more tangible in the form of this prequel novel. It is always interesting when an author reveals the past that has affected a character that you have come to know and love but it can also be worrying as we may not like what we find there or we may be simply disappointed. Neither is the case with this novel. In a format similar to the previously published Grantchester novels, we are guided through a number of short stories which together form a central narrative. In this case the four sections which make up the book are very different in tone and are titled and relate to the subjects of War, Peace, Faith, and Love. This allows for the development of the main characters but (particularly in this book) keeping distinct sections of the protagonist’s life distinct. I was particularly impressed with the writing of the ‘War’ section of the book. It was told in a serious and fitting manner and in a simple, laconic and almost poetic style which felt profound and important and quite different from the normal ‘Grantchester’ style. The whole novel is written with genuine compassion love and touches on many important themes but always with a lightness that allows the story to continue without becoming maudlin.
In the end, what I love most about the Grantchester novels and what still feels refreshing is that Sidney (the main protagonist) is presented as having a faith and a moral code by which he lives, but he is certainly not a ‘wet’ or sanctimonious Christian vicar. Instead Sidney is presented as a normal, balanced, humane individual trying to make the best of his life and the lives of those he cares about.
I am yet again charmed by these stories and by the characters in the stories. And while this may be the last opportunity we have to share in Sidney Chamber’s life, once again we are uplifted by his company.
March 21, 2019
Having read most of the Grantchester Mystery series this was a must read book, the one that tells how it all began. The year is 1938 and Sidney Chambers at 18 years old has his whole life to look forward to. Amanda Kendall, a character that is constant in future novels is as majestic and captivating as ever, that together seem even then to sit on a delicate balance as to where their special relationship should go.
Only a year after Sidney and his best friend Robert, who is Amanda’s brother, set off to war with a group of friends that have been ill prepared for the reality that they are thrown into. James Runcie pulls no punches with his descriptions of the trenches and the maiming and ultimate death of so many of these young men, including Robert. Now Sidney on his return has to face Amanda and her parents with the details of how he died.
This is such a hard-hitting chapter to read as Roberts’s mother needs to know that her son didn’t suffer. Each question Sidney answers truthfully in his own mind before giving Robert’s mother a much altered version because if he didn’t he knows she would be a broken woman. There is one thing that he doesn’t reveal, a secret only he has been shouldering since it happened.
Amanda is a confident woman who gives Sidney so many opportunities to declare his love for her but he has found a new love, one of the church. A shocking choice for his family and friends at first. Sidney Chambers is a superb character that has a sort of little boy innocence about him but at the same time he connects with people at all levels no matter who they are. Before his final commitment to the church he has to tell someone his secret, one that could have huge personal costs to him and his future.
It doesn’t really matter which way round you read this book, be it before or after this already very established Grantchester series. Either way this is a truly splendid addition that is a must read for any current and future readers.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Only a year after Sidney and his best friend Robert, who is Amanda’s brother, set off to war with a group of friends that have been ill prepared for the reality that they are thrown into. James Runcie pulls no punches with his descriptions of the trenches and the maiming and ultimate death of so many of these young men, including Robert. Now Sidney on his return has to face Amanda and her parents with the details of how he died.
This is such a hard-hitting chapter to read as Roberts’s mother needs to know that her son didn’t suffer. Each question Sidney answers truthfully in his own mind before giving Robert’s mother a much altered version because if he didn’t he knows she would be a broken woman. There is one thing that he doesn’t reveal, a secret only he has been shouldering since it happened.
Amanda is a confident woman who gives Sidney so many opportunities to declare his love for her but he has found a new love, one of the church. A shocking choice for his family and friends at first. Sidney Chambers is a superb character that has a sort of little boy innocence about him but at the same time he connects with people at all levels no matter who they are. Before his final commitment to the church he has to tell someone his secret, one that could have huge personal costs to him and his future.
It doesn’t really matter which way round you read this book, be it before or after this already very established Grantchester series. Either way this is a truly splendid addition that is a must read for any current and future readers.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
May 16, 2019
This series is thoughtful, gentle and powerful. Here, we see Sydney Chambers in World War II with his friend Robert, Amanda's brother. The men have been best friends their entire lives. Runcie shows the power of faith, love and friendship on every page and how courage is necessary every moment. And at one brief point, solves a mystery.
My only disappointment is not with the books, but the television series. By giving Sydney a completely different personal life, it changed the nature of the characters and the ongoing stories. The books are always better.
My only disappointment is not with the books, but the television series. By giving Sydney a completely different personal life, it changed the nature of the characters and the ongoing stories. The books are always better.
February 6, 2019
I love the PBS series Grantchester. The main character, Sidney Chambers, is portrayed as a flawed man struggling with his faith and vocation. His becoming a priest has alienated him from his worldly friends who don't understand his choice. He must cope with the strictures of the organized church. He is flawed and understands human frailty in others.
I have wanted to read the novels by James Runcie, and even bought the first in the series, but reviewing new books keeps me busy and it has languished in the TBR pile.
But now I am not sorry because I can start at the very beginning with Runcie's newest novel in the series, a prequel titled The Road to Grantchester.
How did the attractive, intelligent, lover of jazz end up in the priesthood? This novel shows us the events and internal anguish that brought Sidney to change his life.
The first section of the novel begins with Sidney and his London friends enjoying theater and fancy dinners and dancing. A quick jump five years later finds Sidney on a transport ship to Salerno. He is with his best friend from university, Robert Kendall, and Freddie Hawthorne, a theatrical star. These bright young men are thrown into bloody battle, Sidney set to being a sniper. They experience the destruction and misery of war.
The Episcopal priest Rev Nev is with the soldiers. "What does a priest do in the midst of this?" a friend asks him."I believe there is no higher calling than to be a priest in the service of God and God's people; to offer some kind of stability in a bewildered world," he explains. The soldiers are more than bewildered for the evil of war feels overwhelming and faith in a loving God flees. The men contend daily with mud and cold, their comrades shattered and dying, and they long for the simple pleasures of clean dry clothes and a hot bath. And mostly wonder what it is like to have no enemy. The pleasant days of dancing with Amanda Kendall is a distant memory.
They arrive at the Gustav Line, a flooded valley without cover which they must cross to make their way up Monte Cassino with enemy fire raining down from the monastery at the top where the Nazis have buried in. During the battle, Robert Kendall dies, leaving a heartbroken Sidney with survivor's guilt and questions of culpability.
It is Rev Nev who helps Sidney, explaining the mystery of faith in a broken world, and how to accept the mystery of life. At war's end, Sidney realizes it is grace that he needs. His friends note the change in him. Oh dear, Freddie exclaims, either you've had too much to drink or you really have got religion.
I know about these battlefield faith experiences from my friend Floyd Erickson, a WWII veteran who was in the 10th Mountain Division. They were in Italy and had to climb Monte Belvedere at night. While advancing across the Po Valley in the foothills of the Apennines, his best friend was killed in a blast that left Floyd deaf in one ear. While under fire, Floyd prayed to God for protection, offering a lifetime of service if he survived. Floyd made it home and changed his life. I knew him as a revered family man and leader in the local church. (Read more here.)
Part Two follows Sidney back home to England, facing Robert's grieving family and Amanda who can't reconcile a loving God with her brother's death, and his own family's expectations for Sidney's post-war career. Sidney lives with Robert's ghost.
While Amanda and Sid's other friends only want to forget the war and have fun, Sidney finds that kind of life deadly and meaningless. He longs for a life with purpose. It's more than depression that ails Sidney--he is searching for peace. He continues to turn to Rev Nev for spiritual guidance.
"I need to change my life," Sidney explains to Amanda. And in Part Three, Sidney explores faith and a vocation as a priest.
There is a lot of God talk and faith talk in the novel. It is after all about Sidney's journey to the priesthood. I discovered that Runcie's father was Archbishop of Canterbury, which explains the depth and realism of Sidney's journey. The rejection suffered from friends is also realistic. Amanda is unable to accept Sidney's choice and accepts the proposal from another man. I love that Freddie, who is gay, is the one friend who seems to 'get' Sidney and supports his decision.
Several episodes show Sidney's ability to understand people and know how best to counsel them, and his native ability to notice what other's don't see, both traits important to his ability to solve puzzles and crimes.
My favorite scene is Sidney's ordination which takes place in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. A charred cross "symbolizes determination, survival, and above all, the possibility of Resurrection." He is presented with a cross made of nails gleaned from the ruins. The symbolism is vivid. Britain has suffered greatly, the world is broken. In taking orders, Sidney dedicates his life to the rebuilding of faith and hope in a devastated people. From these ruins, he is to raise up God's love to light the path forward. Sidney is trying to heal himself. He trusts he will also become a vehicle of healing to his flock.
I was impressed with Runcie's ability to show Sidney's path to his vocation, from the hard to read horror of war to the emptiness of frivolous pleasure, the questionings and embracing the mystery, and the bafflement of old friends who stereotype the priesthood.
I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I have wanted to read the novels by James Runcie, and even bought the first in the series, but reviewing new books keeps me busy and it has languished in the TBR pile.
But now I am not sorry because I can start at the very beginning with Runcie's newest novel in the series, a prequel titled The Road to Grantchester.
How did the attractive, intelligent, lover of jazz end up in the priesthood? This novel shows us the events and internal anguish that brought Sidney to change his life.
The first section of the novel begins with Sidney and his London friends enjoying theater and fancy dinners and dancing. A quick jump five years later finds Sidney on a transport ship to Salerno. He is with his best friend from university, Robert Kendall, and Freddie Hawthorne, a theatrical star. These bright young men are thrown into bloody battle, Sidney set to being a sniper. They experience the destruction and misery of war.
The Episcopal priest Rev Nev is with the soldiers. "What does a priest do in the midst of this?" a friend asks him."I believe there is no higher calling than to be a priest in the service of God and God's people; to offer some kind of stability in a bewildered world," he explains. The soldiers are more than bewildered for the evil of war feels overwhelming and faith in a loving God flees. The men contend daily with mud and cold, their comrades shattered and dying, and they long for the simple pleasures of clean dry clothes and a hot bath. And mostly wonder what it is like to have no enemy. The pleasant days of dancing with Amanda Kendall is a distant memory.
They arrive at the Gustav Line, a flooded valley without cover which they must cross to make their way up Monte Cassino with enemy fire raining down from the monastery at the top where the Nazis have buried in. During the battle, Robert Kendall dies, leaving a heartbroken Sidney with survivor's guilt and questions of culpability.
It is Rev Nev who helps Sidney, explaining the mystery of faith in a broken world, and how to accept the mystery of life. At war's end, Sidney realizes it is grace that he needs. His friends note the change in him. Oh dear, Freddie exclaims, either you've had too much to drink or you really have got religion.
I know about these battlefield faith experiences from my friend Floyd Erickson, a WWII veteran who was in the 10th Mountain Division. They were in Italy and had to climb Monte Belvedere at night. While advancing across the Po Valley in the foothills of the Apennines, his best friend was killed in a blast that left Floyd deaf in one ear. While under fire, Floyd prayed to God for protection, offering a lifetime of service if he survived. Floyd made it home and changed his life. I knew him as a revered family man and leader in the local church. (Read more here.)
Part Two follows Sidney back home to England, facing Robert's grieving family and Amanda who can't reconcile a loving God with her brother's death, and his own family's expectations for Sidney's post-war career. Sidney lives with Robert's ghost.
While Amanda and Sid's other friends only want to forget the war and have fun, Sidney finds that kind of life deadly and meaningless. He longs for a life with purpose. It's more than depression that ails Sidney--he is searching for peace. He continues to turn to Rev Nev for spiritual guidance.
"I need to change my life," Sidney explains to Amanda. And in Part Three, Sidney explores faith and a vocation as a priest.
There is a lot of God talk and faith talk in the novel. It is after all about Sidney's journey to the priesthood. I discovered that Runcie's father was Archbishop of Canterbury, which explains the depth and realism of Sidney's journey. The rejection suffered from friends is also realistic. Amanda is unable to accept Sidney's choice and accepts the proposal from another man. I love that Freddie, who is gay, is the one friend who seems to 'get' Sidney and supports his decision.
Several episodes show Sidney's ability to understand people and know how best to counsel them, and his native ability to notice what other's don't see, both traits important to his ability to solve puzzles and crimes.
My favorite scene is Sidney's ordination which takes place in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. A charred cross "symbolizes determination, survival, and above all, the possibility of Resurrection." He is presented with a cross made of nails gleaned from the ruins. The symbolism is vivid. Britain has suffered greatly, the world is broken. In taking orders, Sidney dedicates his life to the rebuilding of faith and hope in a devastated people. From these ruins, he is to raise up God's love to light the path forward. Sidney is trying to heal himself. He trusts he will also become a vehicle of healing to his flock.
I was impressed with Runcie's ability to show Sidney's path to his vocation, from the hard to read horror of war to the emptiness of frivolous pleasure, the questionings and embracing the mystery, and the bafflement of old friends who stereotype the priesthood.
I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
January 18, 2019
I’ve never seen the Grantchester TV show nor read the previously published books in the series, but had heard about both and was interested in the origin story.
Turns out The Road to Grantchester is a much more deeply felt and engaging book than I had expected, one I really enjoyed and think works very well as a stand alone story. The first half, set during the Italian campaign in World War II, is gripping and very well written (some of the best depictions of battle and the life of an infantry soldier that I’ve read, in fact), introducing main character Sidney Chambers and his friends—fellow Cambridge alum Robert Kendall and West End actor Freddy Hawthorne—and setting up the reasons for Sidney’s journey to become an Anglican priest during the second half of the book, which also further develops Sidney’s relationship with Robert’s sister, Amanda. I don’t know if these secondary characters recur in the Grantchester series but I hope they do, as their interactions and repartee are interesting and engaging. I was often tempted to read synopses of the later books to find out what happens between these characters, but thanks to my experience with this introduction to the series, I’m sure I’ll be back to read the rest.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review; thoroughly enjoyable and recommended.
Turns out The Road to Grantchester is a much more deeply felt and engaging book than I had expected, one I really enjoyed and think works very well as a stand alone story. The first half, set during the Italian campaign in World War II, is gripping and very well written (some of the best depictions of battle and the life of an infantry soldier that I’ve read, in fact), introducing main character Sidney Chambers and his friends—fellow Cambridge alum Robert Kendall and West End actor Freddy Hawthorne—and setting up the reasons for Sidney’s journey to become an Anglican priest during the second half of the book, which also further develops Sidney’s relationship with Robert’s sister, Amanda. I don’t know if these secondary characters recur in the Grantchester series but I hope they do, as their interactions and repartee are interesting and engaging. I was often tempted to read synopses of the later books to find out what happens between these characters, but thanks to my experience with this introduction to the series, I’m sure I’ll be back to read the rest.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review; thoroughly enjoyable and recommended.
November 26, 2021
Liked this book set before the TV series. Will look for more books to read and will start watching on iPlayer.
February 18, 2019
For those of you who love the Sidney Chambers books, be warned, this book is not like them. It's the backstory of Sidney as we meet him as an 18 year old man, and then follow as goes to war with his best friend Robert Kendall. It chronicles his war times and then, back home, as a troubled man as he tries to work out what to do with the rest of his life, having been much changed by what he saw and experienced in his war days. Yes there's a fragment of what is to come eventually for Sidney as he does get involved in a death, well, more than one, but no more speak of that here for fear of spoilers!
Obviously we know what path he eventually takes but it this book tells of how and why he made the difficult, for him, decision to give his life to God and His service.
Being a big fan of both the books and the TV series, which diverge quite early on, I absolutely loved this book. It was great going back and seeing Sidney pre-church and follow what he did in the war and how that experience influenced him. Especially when we hear of one rather shocking revelation.
I was held captive throughout my reading, never wanting to put the book down but, at the same time, not wanting my time with Sidney to come to an end, as it has with the TV series. Reading about what made him tick really did enhance my overview of Sidney, especially his relationship with Robert's sister Amanda and her family. Lots of things do seem much clearer now that I am privy to this part of Sidney's journey and I now feel I have the full picture of him and just admire him all the more. He is, like the books/TV portrays, a troubled soul at times but always with his heart in the right place, even if sometimes he falls from grace, as we all do. He's wonderfully flawed but a lovable character and one that I am really going to miss.
What I really loved about this book especially is the way that it is written with great sensitivity and Sidney's angst and frustration spills off the page. It all feels very real; more biographical than fiction at times. There's also a lot of humour interspersed amongst all the sadness and frustration. Rev Nev is an amazing character and the sentence about his fictionally imagined future family had me in stitches! And there is also tenderness, especially around Sidney's friend Freddie.
All in all, the perfect introduction to Sidney for those who haven't met him before, or the perfect background to his fans. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Obviously we know what path he eventually takes but it this book tells of how and why he made the difficult, for him, decision to give his life to God and His service.
Being a big fan of both the books and the TV series, which diverge quite early on, I absolutely loved this book. It was great going back and seeing Sidney pre-church and follow what he did in the war and how that experience influenced him. Especially when we hear of one rather shocking revelation.
I was held captive throughout my reading, never wanting to put the book down but, at the same time, not wanting my time with Sidney to come to an end, as it has with the TV series. Reading about what made him tick really did enhance my overview of Sidney, especially his relationship with Robert's sister Amanda and her family. Lots of things do seem much clearer now that I am privy to this part of Sidney's journey and I now feel I have the full picture of him and just admire him all the more. He is, like the books/TV portrays, a troubled soul at times but always with his heart in the right place, even if sometimes he falls from grace, as we all do. He's wonderfully flawed but a lovable character and one that I am really going to miss.
What I really loved about this book especially is the way that it is written with great sensitivity and Sidney's angst and frustration spills off the page. It all feels very real; more biographical than fiction at times. There's also a lot of humour interspersed amongst all the sadness and frustration. Rev Nev is an amazing character and the sentence about his fictionally imagined future family had me in stitches! And there is also tenderness, especially around Sidney's friend Freddie.
All in all, the perfect introduction to Sidney for those who haven't met him before, or the perfect background to his fans. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 27, 2020
The thoughts Sidney processes before, during, and after the War sound to me like what a person would experience when contemplating a career in the church, although his certainty that there is no alternative might be a little rare. I found his theological contemplations moving, especially his thoughts on the road to Emmaus passage, an episode which I have thought about a number of times. We are given glimpses of the sort of events which Sidney will become involved with: he examines a possible murder only to realise and prove it is a suicide, he becomes completely confused about Amanda and their relationship, Robert becomes an ever present ghost in his head, and Sidney is introduced to Sidney Bechet's music. In the last scene Mrs. Maguire and Geordie appear so we're all set for the opening of the first Grantchester mystery.
(There is a mention of 15th century pews, but I don't think churches had pews in the 15th century, at least not for the general congregation.)
This was very good indeed, particularly the part about the war in Italy.
(There is a mention of 15th century pews, but I don't think churches had pews in the 15th century, at least not for the general congregation.)
This was very good indeed, particularly the part about the war in Italy.
April 13, 2019
I have to confess that I was a little disappointed with this novel but I think that my expectations were unrealistic, this being a prequel. It tells the story of Sidney Chambers as he fights in the Second World War and the struggles he encounters upon his return to London. I think it is very important to realise that this is not a mystery novel (which is what I was expecting). It is instead an interesting exploration of one man's path to faith and the road it takes him upon. Unfortunately for me, I didn't really like the writing style and found the dialogue a little stilted at times. I also struggled with some of the character motivations and behaviours that didn't really jibe with the character as written, in my opinion. There is a simple linear plot, which was fine and there were some high points, but overall, I just felt that the narrative was a little bit lacklustre.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 30, 2024
James Runcie knows how to see beauty and describe beauty. He knows how to set the scene. I've never found his mysteries to be as strong as others but that doesn't stop me from buying them and enjoying them because there is so much more going on.
This one, plays more like an historical fiction. It covers Sidney's war years, with all of its attendant violence. Runcie gives the reader a break, as we spend time with Sidney just after the war, reassimilating back into his life, a life, and as he goes through the mental processing of his decision to become a priest.
We also see a realistic relationship with Amanda, perhaps a few minor-but-forgivable inconsistencies. I appreciated seeing Runcie in a different genre, however adjacent, and hope to see more going forward.
This one, plays more like an historical fiction. It covers Sidney's war years, with all of its attendant violence. Runcie gives the reader a break, as we spend time with Sidney just after the war, reassimilating back into his life, a life, and as he goes through the mental processing of his decision to become a priest.
We also see a realistic relationship with Amanda, perhaps a few minor-but-forgivable inconsistencies. I appreciated seeing Runcie in a different genre, however adjacent, and hope to see more going forward.
July 11, 2019
This is a story in two parts - a soldier's experiences during WW2 and then his life after during peacetime. The crux of the novel is the death of Sidney's best friend Robert in a battle that he was also involved in and his struggle to come to terms with his death. Sidney is friends with Robert's family so this complicates his relationship with them. This book is an interesting psychological study about all the major character involved. A solid book of fiction.
March 20, 2020
Even though this is book number 7 in the series, it is a worthwhile prequel for all those who have watched the Grantchester series on tv. Only one murder which is solved within 3 pages (by Sidney of course) but the book gives a good insight in Sidney's experiences in Italy during the war and how he came to the decision to become a priest.
November 5, 2019
Having been a avid fan of the PBS Series since the beginning, this book appealed to me at once. And the writer did not disappoint.
January 21, 2021
This story explained why Sidney decided to go into the seminary and become a clergyman.
I love the BBC series so I thought I would give the books a go.
I love the BBC series so I thought I would give the books a go.
January 11, 2019
I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I love Grantchester. The books, the TV show, the characters, the setting, the mysteries. All of it. When I learned author James Runcie had written a prequel explaining everything I’d always wondered, I had to read it. And I was not disappointed. In fact, I’d consider “The Road to Grantchester” perhaps a love letter from Runcie to his fans – his opportunity to reward us with answers to the questions we’ve puzzled over while immersing ourselves in the delightful world he has created.
We learn it all – why did Sidney Chambers choose ministry, why does he never feel adequate, why does he doubt he’s a good man, why can he not stay away from sorting out a good mystery, why does he have such a cautious relationship with long-time friend Amanda…
The other Grantchester mysteries books feel more like short stories to me – each installment is a collection of mysteries featuring Sidney and all the wonderful characters Runcie has created. This time, “The Road to Grantchester” is a full novel. And, it is a rather dark novel at times.
After an odd, kind of jumpy start to the book that begins with young Sidney and Amanda sharing an awkward dance, all of a sudden, we are thrust into World War II with Sidney as he has enlisted in the Scots Guards. We are taken through battle with him – all of it, the grit, danger, fear, heartbreak, questions. And then he returns home. What follows is an authentic story of reintegration. How can Sidney carry on with his life, make amends for what he has done, earn what others have sacrificed?
Along the way, we watch Sidney’s journey to the priesthood and learn how he ends up in Grantchester. There is a good murder mystery in there (or is it murder at all? Sidney figures it out!). And we even briefly meet Mrs. McGuire and Inspector Keating (important characters in the Grantchester mysteries books). Sidney also drops a heartbreaking bit of information on Amanda that really illuminates why he always doubts himself and his adequacy as a human being and perhaps why the pair have such a delicate, perhaps confused relationship. I’d use the word “shocking” to describe what he tells her.
But, in the end, as Amanda reveals to us, Sidney simply wants to earn “the gift of survival so that (he) can be useful to others.” He is still the good man we know him to be (even if he doesn’t think so). And while this book definitely takes us on a journey that is dark, heavy, difficult, shocking at times, it ends as an uplifting, cozy tale in trademark, wonderful Runcie style.
Everything about this book is what I had hoped for as a Grantchester fan. I did miss Dickens, though (Sidney’s faithful dog, a gift from Amanda in the first Grantchester mysteries book).
For those who love Grantchester, this book is a must-read. It answers so many questions in such a satisfying way while also leaving plenty of room for each reader to experience Sidney and his journey (and his relationship with Amanda) in his/her own way and interpretation. For those new to the series, it is a fantastic introduction. But, I’d suggest reading the Grantchester mysteries first and then this prequel. I thought it was fun to have all the answers revealed after reading the mysteries. For those who love the TV show (and maybe haven’t read the books), “The Road to Grantchester” also is for you! I wonder very much if the story arcs in the TV series (which in many ways are vastly different than in the books) influenced this novel. Either way, this is a great book – one I will enjoy reading again.
I love Grantchester. The books, the TV show, the characters, the setting, the mysteries. All of it. When I learned author James Runcie had written a prequel explaining everything I’d always wondered, I had to read it. And I was not disappointed. In fact, I’d consider “The Road to Grantchester” perhaps a love letter from Runcie to his fans – his opportunity to reward us with answers to the questions we’ve puzzled over while immersing ourselves in the delightful world he has created.
We learn it all – why did Sidney Chambers choose ministry, why does he never feel adequate, why does he doubt he’s a good man, why can he not stay away from sorting out a good mystery, why does he have such a cautious relationship with long-time friend Amanda…
The other Grantchester mysteries books feel more like short stories to me – each installment is a collection of mysteries featuring Sidney and all the wonderful characters Runcie has created. This time, “The Road to Grantchester” is a full novel. And, it is a rather dark novel at times.
After an odd, kind of jumpy start to the book that begins with young Sidney and Amanda sharing an awkward dance, all of a sudden, we are thrust into World War II with Sidney as he has enlisted in the Scots Guards. We are taken through battle with him – all of it, the grit, danger, fear, heartbreak, questions. And then he returns home. What follows is an authentic story of reintegration. How can Sidney carry on with his life, make amends for what he has done, earn what others have sacrificed?
Along the way, we watch Sidney’s journey to the priesthood and learn how he ends up in Grantchester. There is a good murder mystery in there (or is it murder at all? Sidney figures it out!). And we even briefly meet Mrs. McGuire and Inspector Keating (important characters in the Grantchester mysteries books). Sidney also drops a heartbreaking bit of information on Amanda that really illuminates why he always doubts himself and his adequacy as a human being and perhaps why the pair have such a delicate, perhaps confused relationship. I’d use the word “shocking” to describe what he tells her.
But, in the end, as Amanda reveals to us, Sidney simply wants to earn “the gift of survival so that (he) can be useful to others.” He is still the good man we know him to be (even if he doesn’t think so). And while this book definitely takes us on a journey that is dark, heavy, difficult, shocking at times, it ends as an uplifting, cozy tale in trademark, wonderful Runcie style.
Everything about this book is what I had hoped for as a Grantchester fan. I did miss Dickens, though (Sidney’s faithful dog, a gift from Amanda in the first Grantchester mysteries book).
For those who love Grantchester, this book is a must-read. It answers so many questions in such a satisfying way while also leaving plenty of room for each reader to experience Sidney and his journey (and his relationship with Amanda) in his/her own way and interpretation. For those new to the series, it is a fantastic introduction. But, I’d suggest reading the Grantchester mysteries first and then this prequel. I thought it was fun to have all the answers revealed after reading the mysteries. For those who love the TV show (and maybe haven’t read the books), “The Road to Grantchester” also is for you! I wonder very much if the story arcs in the TV series (which in many ways are vastly different than in the books) influenced this novel. Either way, this is a great book – one I will enjoy reading again.
November 16, 2021
I've only read a couple of the Grantchester mysteries written by Runcie, the son of the former Archbishop of Canterbury but have watched the entire series. So. I have James Norton in my reading head for this book. Runcie stated that he had created this backstory over several books and decided to write the darn book. Divided into four sections - War, Faith, Peace and Love - it covers the war years of Sidney Chambers with all it's horrors, then the return to London where he as well as everyone else is changed by the experience. Amanda is a 15 year old when he leaves for southern Italy and 20 when he returns. Having some powerful moments in Italy and with the company chaplain, he feels a call to the priesthood and ordination and, after a short time in Coventry, the the move to take the vicar position in Grantchester. If you are a fan of the series and/or books, this is well worth your time.
January 12, 2019
4 stars
This prequel to the Grantchester series is a telling of just how Sidney got from carefree Cambridge student to wartime hero to an Archdeacon in the Church of England.
The short paragraphs make this book fly by. It was very interesting hearing about Sidney’s war years and his subsequent battle with faith. The loss of his closest friend Robert in the war really hit him hard. His decision to join the church I think came as almost a surprise to him. I’ve seen the Grantchester series on television and I must say I was quite taken with the show. This is my first actual James Runcie book and I was very pleased with both his writing style and the clearness with which he presented his story. I will most definitely look into his other Grantchester book on Amazon.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
This prequel to the Grantchester series is a telling of just how Sidney got from carefree Cambridge student to wartime hero to an Archdeacon in the Church of England.
The short paragraphs make this book fly by. It was very interesting hearing about Sidney’s war years and his subsequent battle with faith. The loss of his closest friend Robert in the war really hit him hard. His decision to join the church I think came as almost a surprise to him. I’ve seen the Grantchester series on television and I must say I was quite taken with the show. This is my first actual James Runcie book and I was very pleased with both his writing style and the clearness with which he presented his story. I will most definitely look into his other Grantchester book on Amazon.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
January 26, 2019
Having read several of the Grantchester books, I was excited to learn about Sidney’s early life, and the Road to Grantchester did not disappoint. From the beginnings of his relationship with Amanda Kendall, through the horrors of his war experience with her brother Robert, to his decision to join the church, James Runcie’s tale flows along at a good pace throughout. Being a prequel, the ending was already known, but it was fascinating to see how Sidney became the man he is in the Grantchester series.
The attention to detail was maintained during the whole story, especially in the description of the battle of Monte Cassino and the traumas faced by the soldiers involved.
A book that’s easy to read and one you won’t want to put down,
The attention to detail was maintained during the whole story, especially in the description of the battle of Monte Cassino and the traumas faced by the soldiers involved.
A book that’s easy to read and one you won’t want to put down,
March 28, 2019
I love Sidney Chambers, but the first section of this book, during World War II and its aftermath, really dragged for me. It was only in the second section, when Sidney reconnects with Amanda, that the book picked up, and I enjoyed the end, as Sidney comes into his own as a priest. HOWEVER, there are no mysteries here, so it was a bit disappointing toward that end. Even though Runcie's other books often put more emphasis on character and emotion than on the crime at hand, there were crimes there to be solved.
July 12, 2023
As a stand-alone, this book would work just fine. However, as a prequel to an existing series, it fell a little flat. Timeline facts, certain established character details, and the narrative tone all deviate too much from the canon of the Grantchester series for real cohesion. It felt like the author forgot what he wrote in the past and didn’t refresh before starting this novel. While there are moments of levity throughout, overall I feel like I read a book about a different (more dull) Sidney Chambers.
October 1, 2019
Oh, Sidney! I have read all the Grantchester book and watched all the Grantchester television shows. They are as different as different can be.
Runcie has written this volume as a "prequel" which features Sidney as a young man before, during, and just after the War. I recognize Sidney's future person quirks in their making. There is more proselytizing about how/when/where Sidney gets his calling to the priesthood.
Good background.
Runcie has written this volume as a "prequel" which features Sidney as a young man before, during, and just after the War. I recognize Sidney's future person quirks in their making. There is more proselytizing about how/when/where Sidney gets his calling to the priesthood.
Good background.
August 16, 2024
I did not think when I started reading this novel that it was going to be a story about discernment of vocation, but it is, and James Runcie has a deft touch. He smartly divides his protagonist's life into four sections (War, Peace, Faith, and Love). Sidney Chambers and his friends are thoroughly English, and thoroughly believable. The best thing about this novel, to my mind, is that it handles religious faith with a surefootedness that keeps Christianity from sounding saccharine or irrelevant.
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