Customer Reviews

Evil Intent (Callie Anson Mysteries)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's always difficult when you anticipate loving a book. I'd say that this book met my expectations except for one criticism, and that is something that bothered me less than it might bother others. I'd say the focus of this book was more on the issues that the Church of England (and the Episcopal Church in the US) are dealing with, and at times the murder mystery seems secondary. This is particularly true at the end, when the whole thing gets wrapped up in one short chapter -- too abruptly, I thought, and the denouement did not really emerge as the result of police procedural work as usually happens in this genre. But this book is less about mystery plots and more about issues and people, and Kate Charles presents that very well. It is perhaps the characterization and atmosphere that I love best about her work -- makes me want to get on a jet to London so that I, too, can go for a walk in Hyde Park.

The plot involves conflicts within the Church of England (like Trollope, Kate Charles sets her books in the Church of England) over the issues of the ordination of women and the status of homosexuals, particularly gay clergy. I know the situation in the American church pretty well and thought she portrayed the issues and people well and believably -- complete with the conservatism of the African churches and the lack of charity displayed by so many of those most upset about these issues.

A very conservative African-born priest is murdered in this book, strangled in the sacristy/vestry with a stole. He had just been involved in a heated exchange with a pair of priests, one of whom had thrown a glass of wine at him after he made some offensive comments. Guess who the chief suspect is? This wine-throwing suspect is the good friend and mentor of Callie, probably the central character in this mystery. She is a newly ordained transitional deacon and the newly appointed curate at a church where her welcome is not entirely hearty. The vicar is less than enthused about having her there, but being rather lazy, welcomes the help. His wife does passive aggressive very well. Some parishioners tell her they don't "believe" in women priests, etc.

Then there's the gay issue running through the book. Callie's brother is gay, and some parishioners learn that their son is gay. There are closeted gay clergy and clergy who are appalled at the very idea.

The police are investigating the murder and interviewing various clergy, as it seems likely that it was someone at the deanery meeting the night of the murder who is the killer. Callie is convinced of her friend's innocence and would like to see that proven.

If you haven't discovered Kate Charles yet, and you like British mysteries, I think you'll really enjoy this.

The most frustrating aspect of Kate Charles's mysteries: they're hard to find. Until recently, they were shelved in obscure mystery bookstores alongside other high-priced "British novels."

So I was delighted to find this novel in plain sight on a library bookshelf, published by an American house. I've enjoyed most of the church mystery series, where author Charles deftly communicates the sense of an upscale, intellectual religion, with more emphasis on institution than doctrine.

Here we meet a newly ordained Anglican deacon, Callie Anson, and an assorted cast of interesting characters. When a conservative priest has been murdered, suspicion turns to Callie's friend and mentor Frances Cherry. And once I got into the story, I found the book hard to put down. The pace moves faster than Charles's previous books and I really wondered how she'd come to a solution. We get clues about parts of the ending, but I'm not sure we're offered a true whodunit where readers can play detective.

As other reviewers note, the ending is far too abrupt. I would prefer a more satisfying confrontation and a hint of what happens next.

Still, we can mostly fill the blanks ourselves. I am pleased to see this novel published by Poisoned Pen Press - at least it's American. The real mystery: Why hasn't this author been picked up by a mainstream house, such as Harpers? She's as good as or better than many of the more famous best-sellers.

Kate Charles is an American living in Bedford, England, who writes chillingly cozy ecclesiastical mysteries. Evil Intent is her tenth novel.

Callie Anson has come to her profession late in life, after the death of her father. In the hospice she met Frances Cherry, a woman priest who is working as a hospital chaplain. Frances becomes her mentor and good friend.

Callie goes to seminary and falls in love with fellow seminary student Adam. She is dumped by him just as she takes her first job, as a Dean, near his parish.

Callie meets hostility from Jane, the wife of her parish priest (and boss) Brian, and some of her parishioners; and is surprised by the depth of the hatred she meets from local nearby conservative parish priests. At a clergy Chapter meeting, she encounters vicious Father Joseph Adimola, who calls Callie and Frances "spawn of Satan" and "an abomination."

Frances snaps and tosses her glass of wine in his face. Later, Father Adimola is found strangled with a liturgical stole wrapped tightly around his neck--Frances' liturgical stole.

The press goes crazy, targeting Frances and her good friend Father Leo, a single and celibate closeted gay priest, who is up for possible promotion. The body was found in his church, and he and Frances are each other's alibi.

Callie has a new policeman friend, who keeps her informed about the investigation that seems to be closing in on Frances and Leo, spurred on by a nasty press. Twists and turns to the plot make this an exciting read, right up to the sudden, surprising and bloody climax.

Armchair Interviews says: Kate Charles' excellent characterizations and knowledge of the Anglican Church make this a very interesting read.

THE BOOK WAS WONDERFUL! PLOT WAS GREAT, IT IS KATE CHARLES BEST YET! MORE PLEASE!

The plot is worthy of a medieval passion play: the good folk are so good and the bad folk are so so so bad. The Church of England looks very bad here, and justly so, its superficial liberalities failing to mask a deeply evil intent to privilege men - straight men - above all other people. There are many interesting characters, but we don't get to spend much time with them, as the shadow of Coincidence (no more plausible for being cloaked as God's Will) falls over the narrative and things conclude very quickly, leaving many subplots hanging for, one can only suppose, a sequel.

$15 is a lot for an afternoon's read.

The issues some of the characters faced in the story were very real and the characters themselves were believable. However unlike another reviewer, I did feel I was being manipulated by the author, which was odd really because I already agreed with her views, therefore didn't need manipulating. It seemed to me that the author was on a personal crusade to bring these issues to the forefront and persuade the reader to be sympathetic. I'm not knocking Kate's highlighting of the issues concerned (homosexuality, racism and women priests) but felt that the 'argument' was very black and white i.e. if you're a rational, modern, intelligent person you will think one way and if you're archaic, narrow minded and bigoted you'll think the opposite. In my experience, life isn't that simple and people often struggle with how they feel on some of these issues. The only characters who were shown to do that were Elsie and Dennis Harrington.

This didn't spoil my enjoyment though. It was interesting to understand some of the terms and traditions associated with the Anglican Church and refreshing to see the clergy portrayed as normal.

In London, newly ordained Anglican minister Callie Anson has enough emotional problems to deal with since she ended her engagement with Curator Adam Masters. She has been named as curator of All Saints' Church in Paddington struggling to remember names of those who greet her. Worse she is learning first hand how nasty even in a holy place congregational and church politics can get. On top of that the evangelicals and several Anglo-Catholics are irate over the ordination of women and homosexuals in general so will dissect her every word and action to disparage her.

Callie is prepared for the worst, but not the murder of Father Jonah Adimola, an outspoken critic of anything that frees women and an acerbic censor of her appointment; feminism is the devil's work in the late Jonah's mind. The police suspect Callie's mentor Deaconess Frances Cherry killed the outspoken Nigerian Father as she has been a major defender of women as priests. Callie turns to her faith to guide her as she sets out to prove that Frances did not kill anyone.

This faith-based amateur sleuth inquiry combines nicely with a more professional police procedural so that fans of homicide investigations will enjoy this solid tale. Perhaps more interesting is the inside looks at the Anglican Church especially the split over women and homosexuals being ordained and that an African is a priest. Kate Charles recognizes many readers will be surprised by the internationalism of the Anglican Church so she provides an educating short author's note that clarifies much. EVIL INTENT is a strong look at the schism inside the church leading to murder as the resolution.

Harriet Klausner