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Canons
At dawn on a July morning, the body of a Roman Catholic priest, Duncan Aster, is found in the shallows of a lake in Cumbria, UK. His final email refers enigmatically to a woman called Susan and an Anglican priest from Ontario. The priest, Andrew Moore, turns out to be Aster’s last known contact. He won’t assist the police inquiry nor will he speak about the matter with his bishop.
As the battleground between Bishop Azikiwe and Reverend Moore develops, Cumbria Police decide to send an officer to Canada to observe a disciplinary hearing held in Hamilton, Ontario; a court of canon law. Sergeant Harriet Calder hopes to find out the reason for Aster’s death. What she discovers is as much about fear of exposure, addiction recovery and forgiveness as about any criminal act.
As the battleground between Bishop Azikiwe and Reverend Moore develops, Cumbria Police decide to send an officer to Canada to observe a disciplinary hearing held in Hamilton, Ontario; a court of canon law. Sergeant Harriet Calder hopes to find out the reason for Aster’s death. What she discovers is as much about fear of exposure, addiction recovery and forgiveness as about any criminal act.
310 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2019
About the author
Allan Jones
19 books5 followersI grew up in Merseyside, England, became a chemist, moved in the 1980s to Canada and recently retired. I started creative writing several years ago.
Oct 2019 update. My newest novel is a 'stand alone', not part of the Catrin Sayer series. Called 'Canons', it is set partly in the Lake District UK, partly in Hamilton, Ontario. A key element is a modern church trial; a court of canon law. But it begins with a body in a lake near Keswick...
My published novels so far are about a young Welsh detective, Catrin Sayer, who works in an Art Crime Unit at New Scotland Yard. 'The Chinese Sailor' is partly set in North Wales. The second in the series, 'The Scottish Colourist' is in Glasgow and the third, 'The Falmouth Model, moves the events to Cornwall and, towards the end, Malaysia. The fourth in the series, 'The Carnforth Double' picks up the end of the third but moves quickly to London, and an investigation of the theft of paintings from a merchant bank. The last novel published in November 2016 deals with a strange painting found in mid-Wales - 'The Powys Deacon.
The series follows the life and career of Catrin Sayer, both the ups and the downs, from her decision to become a police officer in London after graduation from university with an arts degree. I try to make both the characters 'real people' as each art mystery unfolds; no macabre violence, serial psychopaths or detectives with no life outside work. But interesting characters, I think, nonetheless, some of which crop up in each book.
I hope you have a look at them if you like traditional British detective mysteries.
Oct 2019 update. My newest novel is a 'stand alone', not part of the Catrin Sayer series. Called 'Canons', it is set partly in the Lake District UK, partly in Hamilton, Ontario. A key element is a modern church trial; a court of canon law. But it begins with a body in a lake near Keswick...
My published novels so far are about a young Welsh detective, Catrin Sayer, who works in an Art Crime Unit at New Scotland Yard. 'The Chinese Sailor' is partly set in North Wales. The second in the series, 'The Scottish Colourist' is in Glasgow and the third, 'The Falmouth Model, moves the events to Cornwall and, towards the end, Malaysia. The fourth in the series, 'The Carnforth Double' picks up the end of the third but moves quickly to London, and an investigation of the theft of paintings from a merchant bank. The last novel published in November 2016 deals with a strange painting found in mid-Wales - 'The Powys Deacon.
The series follows the life and career of Catrin Sayer, both the ups and the downs, from her decision to become a police officer in London after graduation from university with an arts degree. I try to make both the characters 'real people' as each art mystery unfolds; no macabre violence, serial psychopaths or detectives with no life outside work. But interesting characters, I think, nonetheless, some of which crop up in each book.
I hope you have a look at them if you like traditional British detective mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 7, 2020
If you like mystery and sitting at the edge of your seat in suspense, this is a book for you. Canons is highly detailed, with many elements to it. Two priests from two Christian denominations, turn a simple confession into a big fiasco, sending lawyers and bishops into a frenzy. Alcoholics Anonymous and a addiction recovery house show the human side of our society and play with our emotions. Three main places in England and Canada, give a splendid backdrop to the story, leaving lots of room for a creative imagination, to see the beauty of these places. Many characters, with a wide range of occupations, get involved with the main story line of who did what and why. Canons illustrates the grey region, between Canon Law and Civil Law, where a priest in question is offending one or both of these two laws. I recommend this book, as it is interesting, detailed, suspenseful and emotional.
Kind regards
Bruce Maynard
Kind regards
Bruce Maynard
March 20, 2021
After Catrin Sayer (police officer/artist), Jones gives us Harrier Calder (police officer/preacher), also an interesting character. The plot proves that canon law can be as tricky for the lay person to penetrate as civil or criminal law. I thought the big reveal when it finally came was a bit weak. I would have liked to have learned more about Duncan and Susan (via flashback?)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews