It's the 1960s and Sidney Chambers, now Archdeacon of Ely Cathedral is back to solve crime in six new stories. Sidney will for instance tackle, murders, theft, blackmail, arson and a vicious case of toothache. A lot has happened in his life, he is now a father of a four- year-old girl, he's married and his old friend Amanda is going through some difficulties. And, he just can't stop finding puzzles to solve. His mother-in-law in Germany is finding him too curious for his own good.

I have only read the first book in The Grantchester Mysteries series so reading the fifth book in The Grantchester Mysteries series made me realize that quite a lot has happened in the now ex-vicar of Grantchester's life. He is still friends with Geordie Keating, even though I felt that Geordie felt more like a bystander in this book. However, the biggest surprise for me was that he had married Hildegard. I always thought that he would end up with Amanda, but alas both married someone else. Although Sidney does seem very happy in his marriage and of course, his little daughter Anna is a real darling. I just can't help feeling that Hildegard is a bit dull as a character. I had rather seen Sidney with someone with more passion. Hildegard is, in essence, a perfect wife to an archdeacon, and perhaps that is what is so disappointing because I have always seen Sidney as someone a bit different from other vicars or archdeacons. Another thing, Sidney has a new dog called Byron and I was sad to realize that Dickens is now dead. That's typical me, feeling sorry when a pet dies in a book.

The stories are quite different, but they all have a sense of belonging together since the stories continue in the next short story. For instance, in one case Amanda's husband is accused of murder and the effect of that will continue through the next stories. I found the story with the trip to Germany especially interesting since the first book deals with after war Britain, and now it's the 60s and Sidney is married to a German woman and they are taking a holiday in Germany. And Germany in the 60s, well let's say that everyone knows what everyone does and sometimes solving a murder isn't going to bring justice.

I liked this collection of stories, it was nice to read about Sidney Chambers again and I'm looking forward to reading the three books I have missed.

Book Summary

It's the summer of love in late 1960s. The Apollo 11 astronauts are preparing to land on the moon, the war in Biafra dominates the news and Basil D'Oliveira has just been dropped from the England cricket team before a test series in apartheid South Africa. In the midst of all this change, Sidney Chambers, the loveable English clergyman, continues his amateur sleuthing investigations.

A bewitching divorcée enlists Sidney's help in convincing her son to leave a hippie commune' at a soiree on Grantchester Meadows during May Week celebrations, a student is divested of a family heirloom; Amanda's marriage runs into trouble; Sidney and Hildegard holiday behind the Iron Curtain; Mrs. Maguire's husband returns from the dead; and an arson attack in Cambridge leads Sidney to uncover a cruel cast of blackmail involving his former curate.

In the rare gaps between church and crime, Sidney struggles with a persistent case of toothache, has his first flutter at the Newmarket races, and witnesses the creation of a classic rock song.

Charming, witty, intelligent, and filled with a strong sense of compassion, these six new stories are guaranteed to satisfy and delight this clerical detective's many fans.