Have you ever wondered what church wardens do? No? Well, neither had I until my husband became one at our village church. It turns out they have all sorts of legal responsibilities to keep the church running smoothly – or indeed, at all. They do everything from making sure repairs are carried out to ordering wine for Communion, with an awful lot in between. If you were married in a church, you couldn't have done so without a (possibly unobtrusive) warden. And if you have a church funeral, a warden will have to be there to keep an eye on things. They come in all shapes and sizes, but because the role is so time-consuming they tend to have retired from full-time work (unlike my husband, of course).
Most of the above also applies to vicars' wives, many of whom don't have full-time careers of their own, but support their husbands – through thick, and through very thick indeed. Jodie, my protagonist in Death in Elysium is new to the job. Fortunately – or unfortunately, depending on which way you look at it – she's just been made redundant, so she's got plenty of time to do what people expect of her. Or fail to do it. Typical vicar's wife she is not. But I hope you like her as much as I do.
This is a mystery that will appeal to both fans of the 'cosy' crime genre and those who are fond of strong women sleuths. Jodie is an immensely likeable character, and the way she manages to stamp her own mark on the role she has found herself in is original and appealing. Shots Crime and Thriller ezine
The book is dedicated to the unsung army of wardens, and one in particular, Colin Rank, a local farmer, who kindly taught me a great deal about five star accommodation for cows.
Severn House Publishers Ltd
First World Publication edition:
26 June 2014
British cozy fans will enjoy Jodie and her motley crew of unconventional investigators, Holmesian "irregulars" among the village set.
Publisher's Weekly