The Snares of Death [Hardcover]

Kate Charles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1993

The team of Lucy Kingsley and David Middleton-Brown investigate the murder of a zealous Evangelical clergyman in a staunchly Anglo-Catholic English village, in the sequel to the well-received A Drink of Deadly Wine. 12,500 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

American-born Charles reaches new heights of Anglophilia in the second adventure (after A Drink of Deadly Wine ) to team up London artist Lucy Kingsley and Norfolk solicitor David Middleton-Brown. Bob Dexter is a loutish evangelical clergyman soon to be installed as pastor of St. Mary the Virgin, a High Church parish in Norfolk. Insisting on being called "Bob" and often referring to himself in the third person, Dexter is set on removing all traces of "idolatry" and Papistry from his new church, causing much consternation among the parishioners. When he's found bludgeoned to death in the church, fingerprints point to a young Anglican priest who hires David to defend him. Lucy and David must sort through various Anglo-Catholic and evangelical clergy and laity, animal-rights activists and the victim's browbeaten family to find the killer, all the while trying to determine the future of their own relationship. Two additional deaths and the seduction of a young woman also occur--in keeping with the book's tone of high gentility, offstage--before David and Lucy determine who did what to whom and why. Charles entertains with well-drawn characters, a serviceable plot--though no real surprises--and a deftly explored High Church milieu.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Rev. Robert Dexter, the victim in this instance, also appears to have many enemies. He purposely accepts a new post in South Barsham, Norfolk, knowing full well that his blatant Evangelical stance will grate on the village's traditionally Catholic parishioners. When someone kills him shortly after he "renovates" the church, David Middleton-Brown, a solicitor interested in church architecture, investigates with his artist girlfriend. (This team previously appeared in A Drink of Deadly Wine , Mysterious Pr., 1992.) Typical village settings, a singular sleuthing team, and well-written prose typify this captivating series title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Pr; First Edition edition (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892964987
• ISBN-13: 978-0892964987
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,682,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent C of E cozy, April 13, 2000

By 

Sheila L. Beaumont (South Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snares of Death (Mass Market Paperback)

Readers who like cozy mysteries, especially those with a Church of England setting, will enjoy this book. In it you'll find the High Church vs. Low Church controversy, an extremely obnoxious Evangelical vicar who is determined to remove the statues and all that smacks of "idolatry" from the local church, a group of animal-rights activists, and plenty of eccentric characters. This, along with "Evil Angels Among Them," is the best of a very good series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treat for English-cozy lovers, March 29, 2000

By 

Sheila L. Beaumont (South Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snares of Death (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Snares of Death" is the second, and one of the best, in Kate Charles' delightful Book of Psalms series. Readers who like English-cozy mysteries, especially those with a Church of England setting, will find much to enjoy here. There is never a dull moment, with continual goings-on involving the High Church vs. Low Church controversy, animal-rights activists, lots of interesting and likable characters, and a very unlikable murder victim.