Reviews

Godfellas, by Nicola Whyte

Newly ordained priest Matthew Linley is excited to take up the position of curate in a seemingly perfect parish, but his fresh start is ruined when he finds a dead body his first night in town.

What was presumed to be an accident is soon proved to be murder, and as the victim’s double life is exposed, Matthew’s own past catches up to him. He finds himself under suspicion from the police and under pressure from his new boss, Reverend Frank Maguire, who is not all he appears to be. Reverend Maguire oversees more than Sunday services and before long, Matthew is mixed up in a series of bizarre criminal schemes – all run by Frank and his aging flock.

As the police close in, Matthew may very well have to commit a crime and solve one if he’s to hang on to his new life. But is it truly possible to shepherd a flock while also flouting the law?

I enjoyed this book immensely. When Matthew Linley accepts his first position as a curate in a quiet village miles from home, he thinks it will be a new start, never expecting his past to not just follow him, but already be there. Matthew hopes for a chance to start a new life but he never expects that his new boss, Reverend Frank Maguire has extracurricular plans for him. Poor Matthew has to tussle with the philosophical dilemma of deciding if it’s all right to break the law in order to do something morally right. He also has to navigate a cast of parishioners who are not always who they appear to be, try to placate an inquisitive Detective Inspector, juggle masters of the underworld and settle into his new role as curate.

This book is highly entertaining and the plot twisted in ways I didn’t see coming. The characters are brilliantly drawn and I laughed many times at the gentle humour in this delightful cosy crime mystery.