Shandi Sturgill

 A highly entertaining series airing on PBS inspired the selection for this review. Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death is the first book in the Grantchester Mystery Series by James Runcie. Sidney Chambers, the protagonist of the series, is a Vicar in the Village of Grantchester who reluctantly gets caught up in solving crimes. This involvement in crime solving is set in motion when Canon Chambers officiates the funeral of a local lawyer who committed suicide. However, everything is not as it seems and the cause of Mr. Staunton’s death may be more sinister than previously imagined. Sidney works alongside his friend, Inspector Geordie Keating, to solve this, as well as five other mysteries, over the course of the book’s 400 pages.

What is interesting about these stories is that they are not just who-dun-it, but why-they-dun-it. Since the protagonist is a man of God, morality plays a significant role in the mysteries. The villains get a moment to explain what caused them to compromise their moral compass. The reasoning ranges from revenge, to love, to a misplaced sense of protection. The highlight of this set of mysteries, though, is the character of Sidney Chambers. It would be easy for Runcie to write a character that falls into the pitfalls of goodness and perfection. However, he gives us a dimensional character with as many faults as virtues. Sidney’s faith is, obviously, a huge part of who he is; yet he isn’t above telling a white lie when need be. Canon Chambers is also a bit of a flake, often neglecting his duties as a priest for the excitement of working with Geordie.

Readers will have a hard time putting down the accounts of Sidney and Geordie’s adventures. With the combination of Geordie’s experience and no nonsense attitude and Sidney’s affability, the two make a wonderful team. Runcie mixes in other elements to the stories as well; for example, characters ponder the nature of love and marriage, morality, and life. There is certainly a little something for everyone in this book.