I'm not quite sure why this one took me so long to get through, since the material was somewhat familiar. This is a rare case in which I've seen the filmed version of the story before reading the book, and indeed I hadn't even heard of the book until I watched the show. I enjoy the show, so I thought if pick up the book. Sidney Chambers is a bit of a hapless, accidental detective whose first calling is to the priesthood. His investigations are all coloured by his faith and his role as a clergyman. His two fast friends are a local police detective and a friend of his sister's, with whom he shared a mutual attraction and equally mutual understanding that they are destined never to be together. In the show she ends up married, and I'm curious whether she will be so in the books also. She does find herself mixed up in Sidney's investigations from time to time, at least once with very disturbing consequences. But generally these short mysteries are pretty light fare, quickly resolved and not very nasty in nature. I'm sure I'll pick up the next volume eventually. ( )

After watching Grantchester I was interested in the original stories the show was based on. Listening I has assumed that they were old. They are very low key, very little blood or violence. The style is similar to other mysteries written in the 40's or 50's I'm familiar with. But they aren't old, written in the 2000's. It's great to find something written so well that it stands on it's own, not relying on violence, sex, profanity, or fast paced action. ( )

I would be lying if I said that I enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed watching the first season of Grantchester. Don't take me wrong, I enjoyed this book and its six short stories (some better than the others), but still, I liked the TV-show better.

Why? Hmmm let's see Sidney Chambers, Vicar played by James Norton. He looks like a young Robert Redford. He is a great character and I like him in the book, but I truly enjoyed watching him on the telly...


Then we have Inspector Geordie Keating played by Robson Green. I loved him since I first saw him on Wire in the Blood. Geordie Keating is a real plus in the book, a police inspector and a vicar that works together...brilliant!



So read the book if you like cozy British mystery books, but watch the show if you want to be dazed by the hotness of these two men...and great stories of course! ( )

Really 6 short stories rather than 1 novel. I really enjoyed the first 5 but could have done without the 6th. ( )

Interesting premise, the priest is a detective. The writer ventures into cultural aspect of the 1950s in addition to some thoughts on literature and morality. No deep theology here but a rather gentle narration of the thoughts of a man of the church.
The book is a series of short cases, with some more interesting than others. ( )