Oh dear

My sympathies lie with Ronald Knox, who must be spinning in his grave. Having read all of Knox's detective fiction, I'm at a loss to know why there is so much religion in this book. Knox never put any into his. He did put his religious views into the books but as logic not as prayer or idiotic pleas to any god.

I'm sure this book has a plot, I was just unable to find it (as were most of the characters). By the time the book is over, so many people are murdered that it's obvious whodunnit. The writing is all over the place, clues are not well defined at all and I doubt this was written by anyone who had read any Golden Age books.

On that point, I doubt the "author" is English. There are points of etiquette in the book that are totally wrong - no Englishman of that era would take such liberties as calling a woman by her first name after a day or so of knowing her, let alone kissing her. It's all wrong. Also there is a passage in the gardener's cottage where there is a reference to "menfolk" - not an English term.

All (or nearly all) Knox's rules are broken which makes the title a bit silly.

The one saving grace is Simon Vance's narration and I'm not sure he would be proud of having read such drivel. The narration is perfect, well paced and well voiced.

I would suggest to this "author" that they read a LOT of English works before trying again, learn about plotting and leave the prayers out of it. They add nothing to the book. If one wants to write a book about sermonising, do so. If one wants to write a detective book, leave the prayers out of it.

This book was a sad disappointment. I'm surprised any publisher touched it without a lot of editing.

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