This is an ARC I received from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program. What a thoroughly enjoyable read!

The premise is quite intriguing. Max Tudor, former British MI5 agent turned Anglican priest finds his old training quite helpful to his parishioners when the town's biggest mover/shaker is found dead during the town's annual Autumn Fayre. There are a number of suspects, as the victim was universally disliked, but the possibility that one of his flock could be a cold blooded killer spurs Max to offer his assistance to the investigator assigned to the case. Interesting back story snippets for the residents (as well as a peek into Max's past) make for a fun read.

And if nothing else had caught my interest, Malliet has an amazing way with words and that alone is enough to keep you reading. An example of the wonderfulness? How's this sentence for sheer artistry? "Wanda paused, her unblinking gaze scanning the crowd, gathering eyeballs like so many marbles into her rhtorical basket." Or this one? "Wrapped in a fluffy white mohair dress of her own design (Lily owned a local yarn and knitting business), her hair clipped short around protuberant ears, she resembled a Chihuahua puppy abandoned in a snowdrift." The book is chock full of such marvelous imagery.

And the mystery isn't half bad either.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to the next title in the series.