Enjoyed the characters, will read more if there is more ( )

I first came in contact with the Max Tudor series when I read the previous book, DEVIL'S BREATH, and I liked it very much. When I got the chance to read IN PRIOR'S WOOD, I was thrilled over the prospect of once again reading about Max Tudor, ex-spy, vicar of St. Edwold's Church in the village of Nether Monkslip. A vicar that now and then solves crimes...

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Not my favorite in the Max Tudor series set in the English village of Nether Monkslip, but still a good one! The audiobook narrator is great with the different characters' voices. Like an Agatha Christie village mystery (but with much more character developement) the books in this series aren't quite cozies, but aren't quite NOT cozies, either. (This is #7, so don't start with this one.) ( )

I’ve finished this series to date. This book had a pretty intriguing plot line, and a good mystery, it kept me fairly interested. I give it an extra star for that. It takes place largely in the main village of Nether Monkslip, which I find to always be a plus. Whenever Malliet’s capable writing focuses on the the lives of everyday people, it is very strong. But I always find I want to like this series more than each actual book. I mean what’s not to like about a dashing vicar detective, his Wiccan wife, and a charming English village in the bizarrely named county of Monkslip?
Alas, while reading the series I noticed it takes me forever to finish a single book. The series doesn’t grab me in an obsessive kind of way. I think Malliet is a solid writer, but I’ve noticed she has problems with the pacing of the books. The intros can drag on too long, or sometimes I’ll notice a paragraph that is very similar to a paragraph I read a few pages ago. I think she falls a little too in love with her characters—the upperclass can be very doltish and funny, but sometimes it is too over the top to be believable. And she has particularly fallen in love with her sympathetic characters—Max is unbelievably handsome, kind and oblivious to his charms. His wife, the perfect Pagan goddess. Particularly odd is the build-up of hero worship in the relationship between Max and DCI Cotton. Thank god Malliet seems to have pulled back on that in this installment. My final bone of contention is that the anticlimax of the book, the final explanation of motive, the tidying up of exposition can take chapters and chapters! And sometimes some new element of danger appears at this point when you really just want to be done with it all.

So I still recommend this series to lovers of English cozy mysteries, but I think those friends are less tenacious in keeping current with the series than I am. ( )

IN PRIOR’S WOOD: A MAX TUDOR MYSTERY is written by G. M. Malliet. This title is Book #7 of the Max Tudor Mystery series.
Max Tudor, a retired MI5 agent, is a parochial vicar at St. Etwold’s Parish in Nether Monkslip. All thoughts of putting his past behind him and enjoying the tranquil life of an Anglican ‘priest’ is soon put to rest, as he is called upon to help investigate and solve several local murder cases with DCI Cotton.
IN PRIOR’S WOOD, the lady of the local manor house is found in a suicide pact with her (supposed) young lover.
I like the writing, the plots, the interesting and complex characters, and the locations. I like that there is a map of Nether Monkslip and a cast of characters. I also like the way past history is brought up in the context of the current case. **** ( )