A Dead Man Out of Mind 'A woman priest at St Margaret's? Over my dead body!'
Dolly Topping, head of the national organisation 'Ladies Opposed to Women Priests' and wife of one of the churchwardens, feels that strongly about it. It is unfortunate, therefore, that Father Julian, the well-loved curate of St Margaret's, should have been killed in a burglary gone wrong. And doubly unfortunate that the Vicar, upwardly-aspiring William Keble Smythe, should choose to appoint a woman to replace him. From the moment that Rachel Nightingale enters the serene Anglo-Catholic world of St Margaret's, tempers and emotions run high; Christian charity is not much in evidence, even among those who espouse it most loudly. Meanwhile, solicitor David Middleton-Brown finds his life complicated by difficult clients and a trying visit from Lucy Kingsley's teenage niece Ruth. Then he becomes involved as an unwilling pawn in a dangerous game of bluff and double bluff between a pair of scheming churchwardens and a Vicar with an agenda of his own. Why are Martin Bairstow and Norman Topping determined to sell the church's silver? Why is Father Keble Smythe prepared to allow them to do it? And what does it all have to do
with the new female curate? Most importantly of all, perhaps, why has no one told David about what happened to their last curate?
Then another 'accidental' death at St Margaret's unites its parishioners in new heights of hypocrisy, and leaves Ruth Kingsley crying 'murder'. But David remains sceptical - until he learns about Father Julian's death. With the encouragement of the Archdeacon and interference from Ruth, he and Lucy embark on a search for the truth about the 'dead man out of mind', and discover more than they ever wanted to know about greed, hypocrisy, ambition - and the cost of love. "The modern ecclesiastical mystery ... is a fast-growing sub-group of
whodunnitry; no one is more skilled at it than Kate Charles. With the
lightest of touches, she weaves the goriest murders into a convincing and
provocative backdrop of clerical politics. ... Thoroughly entertaining,
even to those of no religious bent." (The Times [London])
"The plot is absolutely gripping, and what's more, a few of the
characters actually display Christian charity." (Church Times)
"Bless her for elevating our spirits with this unorthodox work." (The New
York Times Book Review)
"Along with its adroitly drawn main characters, this gripping novel
offers a finely etched supporting cast." (Publishers Weekly [starred
review])
"Charles portrays the Church of England as more bitchy, and with more
egotistic pretty boys, than a Julian Clary lookalike convention. Shades
of Agatha Christie machinations, but with rather more attention to
character." (Yorkshire Post)
Paperback - Headline
Appointed to Die Death at the Deanery - sudden and unnatural death. Someone should have seen it coming. For even before Stuart Latimer arrives as the new Dean of Malbury Cathedral, shock waves reverberate through the tightly-knit and insular Cathedral Close, heralding sweeping changes in a community that is not open to change. And the reality is even worse than the expectation - the Dean's naked ambition and ruthless behaviour alienate everyone in the Chapter: the Canons, gentle John Kingsley, vague Rupert Greenwood, pompous Philip Thetford, and especially Subdean Arthur Brydges-ffrench, a traditionalist who resists change most strongly of all. Others in the Close have reason to fear the Dean as well: Jeremy Bartlett, the Cathedral Architect, who is playing a dangerous game of double-dealing; Evelyn Marsden, the spinster whose home is at stake; Rowena Hunt, head of the Friends of the Cathedral, whose own ambitions drive her into an unholy alliance with the Dean; and even Police Inspector Michael Drewitt,
who spends more of his off-duty time in the Close than a married man
should.
Financial jiggery-pokery, clandestine meetings, malicious gossip, and
several people who see more than they ought to: a potent mix. But who could foresee that the mistrust and even hatred within the Cathedral Close would spill over into violence and death? Canon Kingsley's daughter Lucy draws in her lover David Middleton-Brown, against his better judgement, and together they probe the surprising secrets of a self-contained world where nothing is what it seems. "Her pointed satirical style produces amusing characters and wonderfully
awkward moments in the life of a community so stultifyingly inbred that a
festival of flower arranging counts as blood sport." (The New York Times
Book Review)
'No fireworks. No histrionics. Just a tantalising unfolding, like a good
story told over companionable tea-cups." (Eastern Daily Press, Norwich)
"Fascinating behind the scenes cathedral politics." (Sunday Telegraph)
"Here is a superior example of the modern mystery novel in which
atmosphere, characterisation and setting cast an unbroken spell." (The
Irish Independent)
"A disarming comedy of clerical manners ... What you'd expect if Trollope
decided that what the Barsetshire novels needed to juice them up was a
tincture of illicit (albeit well-bred) passion and homicide." (Kirkus
Reviews)
"An absorbing, complex book worth reading." (CADS)
Paperback - Headline
The Snares of Death Everyone agrees that Bob Dexter, the prominent Evangelical clergyman, has a great deal of personal charisma. Those who know him realise that he also has an unshakable faith in his own righteousness, and a real talent for rubbing people up the wrong way.
It is no surprise, therefore, that someone should want to kill him. In
fact, when the Reverend Dexter moves to a small Norfolk parish,
traditionally Anglo-Catholic, and begins remoulding it in his own image, it seems only a matter of time. The real question becomes: who will get to him first?
His distraught parishioners are not the only ones with good reason to want to remove him - permanently. Dexter has also fallen afoul of a group of ardent animal rights activists, and his heavy-handed efforts to take over the leadership of an Evangelical protest movement have made him very unpopular with its founder. And there are undercurrents in his seemingly tranquil home life: both his downtrodden wife Elayne and his adored daughter Becca have secrets that Dexter does not even begin to suspect - until the fateful and eventful day of his death. Solicitor David Middleton-Brown and his artist-friend Lucy Kingsley step in to investigate. Their search for the truth culminates at the annual National Pilgrimage to Walsingham, where Anglo-Catholic pomp clashes with heated Evangelical protest, and feelings run perilously high. Too late, perhaps, David realises the danger: will he be in time to prevent a second murder? "The writing is elegant ... to match the apparently normal little English
town beneath which lurks the kind of emotion that stirred murder
throughout the works of Agatha Christie." (Sunday Telegraph)
"There is real tenderness ... in her detailed portraits of the faithful,
from the sensitive student of church architecture who functions as sleuth
to the dear old church biddies who arrange the flowers and spread the
gossip with as much relish as the witches in Macbeth." (The Sunday New
York Times Book Review)
"Charles deftly mixes religious rites and politics with her own insight
into human behavior. Discerning mystery readers pray for good books like
this one." (Orlando Sentinel)
Paperback - Headline
A Drink of Deadly Wine Father Gabriel Neville has everything going for him: intellectual
prowess, physical beauty, a wife who adores him and beautiful twin
children; he also has a prestigious church job at St Anne's, Kensington Gardens, in London, and the prospect of promotion to Archdeacon. But his perfect world is shattered when he receives an anonymous letter threatening to expose a dangerous secret from his past - something that could destroy his career and his marriage - something that no one could possibly know.
The only person Gabriel can turn to is David Middleton-Brown, an old
friend and a man with a few secrets of his own. Against his better
judgement, David comes to London to stay with another old friend, Daphne Elford, the Sacristan at St Anne's.
Discreet enquiries bring to light a whole host of suspects: the eccentric church organist, Miles Taylor; gossip Mavis Conwell; the disapproving Dawson family; Churchwarden Cyril Fitzjames, in love for years with Gabriel's wife Emily; even Emily Neville's charming and talented friend, the artist Lucy Kingsley. In his efforts to help Gabriel uncover the blackmailer, David hauls some skeletons out of cupboards, and enters into a web of relationships that threaten his own peace of mind.
And then one of the suspects is found dead - is it suicide or murder?
And what does this death have to do with Gabriel's dilemma? David goes looking for secrets - and finds much more than he bargained for ... "A bloodstained version of the world of Barbara Pym ... could make one
late for Evensong." (The Guardian)
"Characters dotty enough to have wandered in from an Angela Thirkell
novel ... pomp and pageantry ... and a neatly contained plot.' (New York
Times Book Review)
"Thoughtful, mature, and mesmerizing ... a mystery very reminiscent of
Pym." (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"A stunning debut. The author ... brilliantly lures the reader down one
track, then another, always managing to surprise." (Chicago Sun-Times)
"Charles ... [mixes] sex and ecclesiastics in her complex first mystery."
(Publishers Weekly)
"A fine debut by a talented writer ... secret lives, shady pasts and
intrigue ... a neat twist at the end ... a good read." (Belfast
Telegraph)
More Praise For Kate Charles "Her main character, David Middleton-Brown, is a complex and enormously
appealing man ... Ms. Charles has a unique flair ... delightfully
off-centre." (Mainly Murder)
"Charles's mystery was well received when published in England, although
not everybody was happy with the plot. She lost her job as a parish
administrator in her own church, but now is devoting full time to
writing. The Church of England's loss is the mystery fan's gain."
(Abiline Reporter-News)
"Charles entertains with well-drawn characters ... and a deftly explored
High Church milieu." (Publishers Weekly)
" ... delicious sense of humour and compassion ..." (Church Times)
"Captivating ... A singular sleuthing team and well-written prose."
(Library Journal)
"Religion, politics and sex can be sensitive subjects, but Kate Charles
ingeniously mixes all three." (Deadly Pleasures)
"Long may Kate Charles write!" (Deadly Pleasures)
"Her characters are well drawn, her plot convincing." (The Houston Post)
"Vintage village mystery buffs will adore the prissy parish spinsters,
the long-suffering vicar's wife and the fortuitously dropped bits of
gossip." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Charles continues to produce a masterful blend of rich characterization
and authentic backdrops." (Booknews from the Poisoned Pen)
"Witty and worldly" (The New York Times)
"Well-crafted stories with deeply and strongly drawn characters ... Full
of charm." (Pen & Dagger)
"I couldn't put the book down; in her bulding up and sustaining of
suspense, Ms Charles goes from strength to strength." (Church Times)
"A finely constructed murder plot ... I had missed out on Kate Charles
until now: I shall look out for her and recommend her in future."
(Publishing News)
"Thank heavens for Kate Charles." (Orlando Sentinel)
"No matter what the reason, there's no question author Kate Charles'
mysteries are fascinating." (Mary Campbell, Associated Press)
"... a page turner. For mystery readers everywhere, that means prayers
are answered indeed." (Houston Chronicle)
"The complicating twists unravel with masterful skill; a real joy to
read." (Library Journal)
"It is the first time I have come across this author, but the classic
exposition of the plot of this very English whodunit, and the fast-paced
story, make me want to read the other books in the series." (Jersey
Evening Post)
"Charles's characterizations are entertainingly venomous and penetrating,
with just enough believable goodness to balance the equally believable
evil at play." (Publishers Weekly)
"With a keen eye for motivation and a thorough knowledge of church
politics, the author delivers a clever, thoughtful story ... Fans of
Barbara Pym ... should enjoy this series." (Library Journal)
"Charles creates marvellous characters familiar to readers of British
mysteries. She is definitely a writer to read." (Ohioana Quarterly)
"Her carefully crafted books ... have enormous relevance to the world
today, and are highly recommended! (Booknews from the Poisoned Pen)
"Kate Charles brings a decided elegance to the English countryside."
(Pomp & Circumstantial Evidence)
A Dead Man Out of Mind
A Dead Man Out of Mind