Cover image for Sidney Chambers and the forgiveness of sinsSidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins by James Runcie

Reviewed by: Diane Soffietti, Reference Assistant

Genre: Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about?: This latest book in a series tells the tales of an Anglican priest solving mysteries in Cambridge, England during the 1960’s. The title character fought in World War II, is single, and is the friend of Cambridge police detective, Inspector Geordie Keating. The series started in the 1950’s with the title, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, and there have been four published books to date with the series titled the Grantchester Mysteries. James Runcie loosely based Sidney on his father, and uses the format of six crimes solved in each book, similar to short stories. In this book, Sidney contends with a murderer who is seeking sanctuary, an accidental death by a Steinway piano, schoolboys who destroy the science lab of their school, and being accused of stealing a priceless painting while on a holiday. Sidney works through these mysteries in addition to his work as a priest, besides his conflicting friendships with two very different women, Amanda and Hildegard.

My Review: I became interested in this series, because I watched the dramatization of it on PBS, entitled the Grantchester Mysteries. I enjoy British culture and history, and therefore, I liked this book, as well as the others I have read in the series. There is a progression with the main character, which makes reading them in order more important than with some other series. The format of short segments in each book makes them read quickly. Although these are not suspense mysteries, they are more like Chesterton’s Father Brown or an Agatha Christie mystery, with human nature and influences solving the crimes rather than Sherlock Holmes’ scientific logic. So if you are an Anglophile or like a who-dun-it along the lines of Miss Marple, then I suggest that you try this series of books by Runcie.

Rating: 4/5

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About FDL Reads

FDL ReadsWelcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.  Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available.  If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently.  We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!