Dead Man Out of Mind

Book of Psalms Mystery #4

by Kate Charles

'A woman priest at St Margaret's? Over my dead body!'

Dolly Topping, head of the national organisation 'Ladies Opposed to Women Priests' and wife of one of the churchwardens, feels that strongly about it. It is unfortunate, therefore, that Father Julian, the well-loved curate of St Margaret's, should have been killed in a burglary gone wrong. And doubly unfortunate that the Vicar, upwardly-aspiring William Keble Smythe, should choose to appoint a woman to replace him. From the moment that Rachel Nightingale enters the serene Anglo-Catholic world of St Margaret's, tempers and emotions run high; Christian charity is not much in evidence, even among those who espouse it most loudly.

Meanwhile, solicitor David Middleton-Brown finds his life complicated by difficult clients and a trying visit from Lucy Kingsley's teenage niece Ruth. Then he becomes involved as an unwilling pawn in a dangerous game of bluff and double bluff between a pair of scheming churchwardens and a Vicar with an agenda of his own. Why are Martin Bairstow and Norman Topping determined to sell the church's silver? Why is Father Keble Smythe prepared to allow them to do it? And what does it all have to do with the new female curate? Most importantly of all, perhaps, why has no one told David about what happened to their last curate?

Then another 'accidental' death at St Margaret's unites its parishioners in new heights of hypocrisy, and leaves Ruth Kingsley crying 'murder'. But David remains sceptical -- until he learns about Father Julian's death. With the encouragement of the Archdeacon and interference from Ruth, he and Lucy embark on a search for the truth about the 'dead man out of mind', and discover more than they ever wanted to know about greed, hypocrisy, ambition -- and the cost of love.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Religion, Mystery Thriller, British Literature

252 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Melanie Rippon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I’ve read of any of Kate Charles’ books (or any “clerical crime” actually), picked it up on a whim in a charity shop & was not disappointed. The characters & the world they inhabit feel well-drawn, even the minor ones. Will definitely read more from this series.

[Nrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rollicking, good on the politics, excellent on the characters

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story. No politics quite like ecclesiastical politics! I know whereof I speak.reading this book was like deja vu all over again. LOL

[Nicola Royan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying the series, despite reading out of order. The characters are all recognizable, if heightened for effect.

[David Allen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author and I plan to continue this series, but I find this plot to be problematic. I won't say why for fear of spoiling.

[Susan Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still hoping for more of this heartwarming series.

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I enjoyed the ecclesiastical setting, particularly the skewering of the many hypocrisies that permeate the C. of E., I could not warm to any of the characters.

[Julie Golding Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another wonderful mystery by Kate Charles, set within the world of the Church of England (Anglican Church in England). The mystery deals with many contemporary topics, such as women and homosexual people taking holy orders and becoming ordained. Charles' dealings with these topics are balanced and not heavy-handed; they enhance the story rather than take it over. This one also includes further development of the charming yet realistic main characters, David and Lucy.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second mystery involving David Middleton-Brown and Lucy Kingsley. David and Lucy become involved in another mystery involving London churches with three deaths, and a missing chalice. There are several secondary plots surrounding the story's central story line to make the story more interesting.

A good read involving both a mystery and developing relationships between characters.

[Paula Calhau Silvestre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um Morto Esquecido
Circulo Leitores

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best so far of this particular series written by Charles.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read.

[Delores Alger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good-

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this 20-year-old book exceptionally well plotted and written.