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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
When the Sidney Chamber books were made into a TV-series in 2014, I was thrilled as it seemed to exude the same atmosphere as the books. The second season, however, had a much grimmer atmosphere and deviated from the books in storyline as well. So I was glad to return to the real stuff in this fifth instalment of the Grantchester mystery series. As usual it did live up to my expectations.
Sidney is a bit older now and has been appointed Archdeacon of Ely. Nevertheless, he still struggles with his own frailties. His tries to be a good husband to his beloved Hildegard, a good father to his daughter Anna and of course a good shepherd to his flock. Dickens, the beloved black Labrador is replaced by Byron. The six interrelated stories in the volume are set in the 60’s, with allusions to Pink Floyd, the moon landing and free love. The stories explore the dangers of temptation, the power of hatred, the act of revenge, homosexuality and the changing class system. It is not the “whodunit” aspect of the stories, that make the reading captivating. Like in the Alexander McCall Smith books in [b:The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency|7061|The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)|Alexander McCall Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459953654s/7061.jpg|826298] series, it is how the protagonist handles the problems that are put before him, that make the tales memorable. Sidney’s charm, compassion, humility and believe in the innate goodness of men, are as constant as in his previous investigations.
Sidney is a bit older now and has been appointed Archdeacon of Ely. Nevertheless, he still struggles with his own frailties. His tries to be a good husband to his beloved Hildegard, a good father to his daughter Anna and of course a good shepherd to his flock. Dickens, the beloved black Labrador is replaced by Byron. The six interrelated stories in the volume are set in the 60’s, with allusions to Pink Floyd, the moon landing and free love. The stories explore the dangers of temptation, the power of hatred, the act of revenge, homosexuality and the changing class system. It is not the “whodunit” aspect of the stories, that make the reading captivating. Like in the Alexander McCall Smith books in [b:The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency|7061|The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)|Alexander McCall Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459953654s/7061.jpg|826298] series, it is how the protagonist handles the problems that are put before him, that make the tales memorable. Sidney’s charm, compassion, humility and believe in the innate goodness of men, are as constant as in his previous investigations.
Charming and comfortable. I love the way the author is able to weave religion in without making it didactic.
Despite the mysteries in this instalment of the Grantchester series perhaps being some of the most intriguing and dramatic (the first case especially!), I felt that this book was let down a little by the lack of resolution for some - well most - of the cases and the very fast pace in which the years pass by. The passages with Hildegard and Anna were particularly lovely and I wish that they could have shined through a little more.
However, Runcie's returning to familiar characters was one of the real gems of this novel. Me, crying over the final story with Leonard? More likely than you think! Sidney is really out there being the ally of the century and I love that for him. Grantchester is always brilliant of course, it thrives the best with its wonderful twists and Runcie's reflection upon life, family and faith.
However, Runcie's returning to familiar characters was one of the real gems of this novel. Me, crying over the final story with Leonard? More likely than you think! Sidney is really out there being the ally of the century and I love that for him. Grantchester is always brilliant of course, it thrives the best with its wonderful twists and Runcie's reflection upon life, family and faith.
James Runcie in his book Sidney Cambers and the Dangers of Temptation has written a set of six novellas within this one book. The stories all deal in some manner with temptation, the temptation for revenge, the temptation of theft, the temptation of secret keeping, the temptation of murder and others. The leading character is Sidney Chambers, the Archbishop of Ely, in England. He has the habit of becoming involved with the police investigations that take place involving his friends and acquaintances, all the while continuing with his pastoral duties. In the true style of British village life, everyone knows the others business and is all too happy to have an opinion. These stories, although presented as mysteries, have a deeper moral story as explained by Sidney. He is compassionate and understanding and has a keen understanding of human nature and forgiveness. Although he states multiple times that he is not perfect, he understands that others are not perfect either.
When I began reading this story I did not realize that there are several other books and a television series with these same characters. At the beginning it was difficult to get to know the characters but soon that did not matter much as the stories stood by themselves. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I had watched some of the television episodes or more of an introduction into the characters. If you were considering reading this book, perhaps starting with the earlier books or the television series would increase your enjoyment of them. However, I still enjoyed trying to keep up with the Sidney as he solves his mysteries.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When I began reading this story I did not realize that there are several other books and a television series with these same characters. At the beginning it was difficult to get to know the characters but soon that did not matter much as the stories stood by themselves. I’m sure I would have enjoyed it more if I had watched some of the television episodes or more of an introduction into the characters. If you were considering reading this book, perhaps starting with the earlier books or the television series would increase your enjoyment of them. However, I still enjoyed trying to keep up with the Sidney as he solves his mysteries.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed this further instalment of the Grantchester Mysteries, which I suppose should now be called more accurately Ely Mysteries as Sidney has been promoted to that Cathedral. It is a series of stories as in previous books but I think they hang together better than in some. The permanent characters are developing as the book progresses, and Sidney seems to remember more often that he is an Anglican clergyman. Recommended bedtime reading.
It is now swinging 1968 in the slow-moving world of Archdeacon Sidney Chambers, who continues to work with his police detective pal to unravel crimes in the vicinity of Oxford and Grantchester, including drunk and frolicking students losing an heirloom necklace, the return of his ex-housekeepers' presumed long-dead husband, problems in his sister's marriage to a jazz club owner, a sinister hippy cult and a family trip with Hildegarde to East Germany. While Chambers fit well in the 1953 of the series' beginning, he is increasingly out of step with the late 1960s in Britain (as was the Anglican church), and whether or not the author intended it, the marginalization of the main character by his times is downbeat and depressing to read.
Beginning some time after the fourth installment, Sidney Chambers and The Dangers of Temptation is a great continuation to this intriguing series. The stories in this latest edition show great thought has been given to the plots, the interconnectedness among them throughout the book, as well as throughout the Sidney Chambers series as a whole. I felt that this book was a strong addition to the series.
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/day-920-sidney-chambers-and-the-dangers-of-temptation/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/day-920-sidney-chambers-and-the-dangers-of-temptation/
3 1/2 stars
How strange. I've fallen for Grantchester on PBS, so when I realized this was that I pounced on it on Netgalley. But this actually wasn't that… it's that plus a couple of decades. Sidney's relationship woes on the show have settled, and so has he.
And that's kind of a shame. The heart of the series is basically Sidney's angst, the post-traumatic stress from the War, and his difficult, ambiguous relationship with Amanda (well, no, his feelings for her are not difficult or ambiguous; she is difficult and ambiguous. And kind of awful. Poor Sidney), and his relationship with Geordie. And in this collection none of that is in evidence. Young and troubled Sidney is engaging. Middle-aged and settled Sidney is kind of smug and annoying.
I thought it was a little hilarious when someone (sorry – didn't note who) remarks "I hate it when vicars get the guitars out." I felt much the same way about what they called "folk masses" in my childhood church…
Great line: "You must never leave me to wait on my own in public again. I haven’t got the cheekbones for it."
I'm not sure how entertaining the name-dropping was – like "an up–and-coming actor called Ian McKellen", for example. There was more. I sometimes enjoy glimpses like that, but here it mostly caused eye-rolling.
I plan to at least try one of the novels, to see if the charm of the series is based in charming writing or if it's something endemic to the actors and television writers, but these stories? Meh.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
How strange. I've fallen for Grantchester on PBS, so when I realized this was that I pounced on it on Netgalley. But this actually wasn't that… it's that plus a couple of decades. Sidney's relationship woes on the show have settled, and so has he.
And that's kind of a shame. The heart of the series is basically Sidney's angst, the post-traumatic stress from the War, and his difficult, ambiguous relationship with Amanda (well, no, his feelings for her are not difficult or ambiguous; she is difficult and ambiguous. And kind of awful. Poor Sidney), and his relationship with Geordie. And in this collection none of that is in evidence. Young and troubled Sidney is engaging. Middle-aged and settled Sidney is kind of smug and annoying.
I thought it was a little hilarious when someone (sorry – didn't note who) remarks "I hate it when vicars get the guitars out." I felt much the same way about what they called "folk masses" in my childhood church…
Great line: "You must never leave me to wait on my own in public again. I haven’t got the cheekbones for it."
I'm not sure how entertaining the name-dropping was – like "an up–and-coming actor called Ian McKellen", for example. There was more. I sometimes enjoy glimpses like that, but here it mostly caused eye-rolling.
I plan to at least try one of the novels, to see if the charm of the series is based in charming writing or if it's something endemic to the actors and television writers, but these stories? Meh.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
I love a mystery. Even though I had seen many of these stories on the TV show, I still enjoyed the read.