Richard Coles (1) (1962–)

Beautifully written, raw, tender, heartfelt memoir of the loss of the author’s deeply loved husband, and the way grief both isolates people and connects us to each other.

There has been a flurry of celebrities entering the murder mystery genre in recent years, with mixed degrees of success. Richard Osman certainly nailed it with his two novels (The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice) which have been runaway best sellers combining viable plots and charming characters, set against a ‘cosy’ background reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works. The Reverend Richard Coles, who has certainly had a portfolio career so far, encompassing roles as a show more member of a successful band in the 1980s, a long spell as an ordained vicar in the Church of England, and latterly as a reality television star, participating in MasterChef and Strictly Come Dancing among others.

I suppose, therefore, that it was inevitable that he might try his hand at writing a novel, and he has also come close to mailing it. I found it a bit of a slow burner, with athe opening chapters setting the scene occasionally veering off towards the ponderous, but once the murder had occurred, it all fizzed along very merrily.

He is very good at characters, and I particularly enjoyed the slightly strained relationship between the protagonist, Canon Daniel Clement, rector of the local church in Champton, and his brother, a famous actor who is on his way to becoming a ‘national treasure’ as a consequence of his role in a popular soap opera. I also enjoyed Coles’s portrayal of village life with its priorities that might seem wholly alien to city dwellers. There are shades of Gabriel Chevalier’s Clochemerle in the opening chapters when Daniel suggests that the Parish Church Committee might consider the installation of a lavatory inside the church. It seems that such a scandalous suggestion had never previous been uttered, and the Committee is riven.

The murder, when it is discovered, is handled artfully, and further divisions within the village, even deeper than those threatened by ‘Toiletgate’ emerge. Taken all together, this is a very accomplished and enjoyable book, and I am hopeful that it might turn out merely to be the first in a series. show less

There has been a flurry of celebrities entering the murder mystery genre in recent years, with mixed degrees of success. Richard Osman certainly nailed it with his novels (The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed) which have been runaway best sellers combining viable plots and charming characters, set against a ‘cosy’ background reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works.

The Reverend Richard Coles, has certainly had a portfolio career so far, show more encompassing roles as a member of a successful band in the 1980s, a long spell as an ordained vicar in the Church of England, and latterly as a reality television star, participating in MasterChef and Strictly Come Dancing among others. I suppose, therefore, that it was inevitable that he might try his hand at writing a novel, and he has also come close to nailing it.

I had enjoyed his first novel (last year’s Murder before Evensong) although I found it a bit of a slow burner, with the opening chapters setting the scene occasionally veering off towards the ponderous, but once the murder had occurred, it all fizzed along very merrily. This time around it all flows much more easily.

Since the events of the previous novel, Canon Daniel Clement has acquired an assistant vicar (not a curate, but a fully trained and ordained fellow clergyman), who has taken over responsibility for some of Daniel’s parish, which had recently expanded to take in nearby villages. The assistant is Chris Biddle, who is accompanied by his wife Sally and twin children Joshua and Lydia, who mare both aspiring Goths.

The Biddles are not exactly dysfunctional, but there are clearly tensions within the family unit. Joshua is rebelling against family life, and is cynical about his parents’ religious beliefs. Lydia is more accommodating, but has her own behavioural challenges. Meanwhile Daniel finds his own domestic arrangements subject to change as one of his pet dachshunds is about to deliver an unexpected litter.

Coles manages to combine a well-constructed plot and plausible characters which a keen insight into life in rural Britain in the late 1980s, with Margaret thatcher still in Downing Street, and discord abounding throughout the country. He also gives an amusing account of the changing social hierarchies in village life. The local squire still holds a prominent position in everyday life, but is not without challenge in the gradually evolving social and political ecosystem. show less

I have come to really enjoy Richard Coles’ Canon Clements stories. There’s a cosy crime feel about them. I’ve come to appreciate the various threads Richard Coles weaves into his stories.

There’s a superficial simplicity in the writing that belies the detail contained within the stories. There’s much to be learned about the ceremony of the Church of England and perceived stereotypes in English country villages. These details are crafted in a very easy to read way, not hammered into show more you. In addition to all that there’s also the comedy of manners with the lord of the manor and his family.

This book is a novella. Much of the story is concerned with the Christmas business of the canon in the church, the comedy of manners that inviting the lord of the manor, and his unusual family, to Christmas dinner provokes, and of course the murder.

Consequently the murder is late in the book, being about two-thirds the way through. It seems some found this unsatisfactory from other reviews. This didn’t bother me too much as I was enjoying the comedy of the story. I’ve only given four stars as the front cover and blurb led to different expectations from the book.

It does help if you have met the main cast before and have some understanding of their various characteristics and flaws. This is probably needed as the character development is limited in a story of this length.

The denouement follows the murder reasonably promptly…but may leave some unhappy. I’ll say no more. It isn’t of a ‘Christie-esque’. I did guess the method and murderer quite quickly. A Christmas present from Richard Coles for those with post Christmas dinner fatigue?

Overall a great Christmas read. Seasonal, relatable (to anyone who has ever had people over for Christmas dinner) and funny. show less