Mystery Book Reviews

Book Review: Wicked Autumn

By Sandy Amazeen Aug 6, 2011, 0:52 GMT

What could be more dangerous than cozy village life in the English countryside? Max Tudor has adapted well to his post as vicar of St. Edwold\'s in the idyllic village of Nether Monkslip. The quiet village seems the perfect home for Max, who has fled a harrowing past as an MI5 agent. Now he has found a measure of peace among urban escapees and yoga practitioners, artists and crafters and New ...more

On the surface, the backcountry English town of Nether Monkslip appears quiet and unremarkable, not the sort of place for a diabolically sinister murder. Head of the Women’s Institute of Nether Monkslip, Wanda Batton-Smythe is a force to be reckoned with. Unhappy in her marriage and entertaining notions that she is far better then anyone else in the community, Wanda is getting ready to move on to better things just as soon as the local Fayre she’s been organizing is over. Although several people would cheerfully throttle Wanda if they could, her death during the Fayre came as a shock.

The good looking, seemingly mild mannered Reverend Maxen Tudor enjoys the relative serenity of Nether Monkslip but appearances are deceiving. Max has a past that he has worked hard to put behind him but when Wanda’s death is ruled a murder; he will need to dust off old skills to unmask the devious perpetrators lurking in their midst.

First of a new series, this charming English village mystery quickly draws readers into a finely drawn setting where the pace is just a bit slower, strangers are few and family ties can be deadly. The many characters are fully developed with clear, distinctive personalities and motives that make their actions plausible while creating a fun read.