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tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
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.
cindy_shamel's review against another edition
4.0
I love a mystery. Even though I had seen many of these stories on the TV show, I still enjoyed the read.
pierke's review against another edition
4.0
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.
polyhy_14's review against another edition
4.0
I love the gentle musings of this series of detective fiction. The prevailing sense of tolerance and compassion always leaves me with a comforting feeling that goodness exists in the world. In this particular volume, the issues surrounding homosexuality in 1970s England, and especially in the church, is dealt with, with great sensitivity and respect.
ashak's review against another edition
2.0
A nice, breezy read about a crime solving vicar in an English village.
For a complete review please click on the link below:
http://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/the-granchester-mysteries-sidney.html
For a complete review please click on the link below:
http://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/the-granchester-mysteries-sidney.html
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this as much as the other books in the series. Sidney is still as engaging as ever, but as we move through the sixties I find the incidents in the book less engaging. I know he can't be stumbling across bodies all the time, but at times I felt the scenarios he was dealing with weren't properly resolved. It's taken me much longer to finish this than has usually been the case with Grantchester books.
laurenc620's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
4.25
mounefcm's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annikavo's review against another edition
4.0
Weer een heerlijk boek over Sidney en zijn detective werk.
Niet al te ingewikkeld maar wel goed geschikt. Lees makkelijk weg.
Niet al te ingewikkeld maar wel goed geschikt. Lees makkelijk weg.