Grantchester #1

This collection of short story mysteries featuring Sidney Chambers was enjoyable although not anything special. Each of the mysteries was fairly basic due to its length, and I think that overall I'd prefer the TV series. I did quite like the reversal of roles where Amanda (a friend of Sidney's) keeps paying for things when they go out for lunch once she learns just how little Sidney makes. The fact that he lets her and doesn't get hung up about it is nice too.

Here's an amusing excerpt from one of their conversations:

So the family have money and Eddie’s a decent enough sort but he’s awfully dull. I don’t think I could last more than ten minutes with him before running off with the nearest blacksmith.’
‘Do they have blacksmiths in Bath?’
‘I imagine so.’
‘And did you tell your father this?’
‘I did, as a matter of fact, and do you know, he was quite cross with me? “After all I’ve done for you,” he said, before going on and on for so long that I had to stop listening. The gist was that he didn’t want me to be a disappointment like my brother.’

"Do you know, he was quite cross with me?" Snicker.

I tried to do little commentaries on each story as I went along, but I'm not entirely sure it was a success.

Honourable Men

Someone is murdered on stage during an amateur theatrical production in which Sidney is taking part, so he naturally helps to investigate.

Previous updates:

The Lost Holbein (83 %)

A Matter of Time (70 %)

First, Do No Harm (54 %)

A Question of Trust (36 %)

The Shadow of Death (21 %)

9 %

My copy seems to have acquired an alternate cover:

The Lost Holbein

This story of a lost Holbein that was replaced with a fake takes a very weird turn.

A Matter of Time

A girl is murdered at a jazz show that Sidney attends and he gets pulled into the investigation. The story was alright.

First, Do No Harm

This one was more than a bit anti-climactic but I did enjoy the arrival of the puppy. I prefer the name Archie to Dickens though.

Some wisdom from Mrs Maguire (@ 39%):

Grantchester may look like a typical English village, Reverend Graham, but I am telling you now that, in reality, it is a nest of perfidious vipers.

A Question of Trust

The lead into this one was a bit dull, but the question of who stole the engagement ring at the New Year's party was interesting even though I guessed the culprit.