Martha Ockley's The Reluctant Detective ~ Reviewed

The Reluctant Detective
Martha Ockley
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Monarch Books (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1854249851
ISBN-13: 978-1854249852

Description:

Faith Morgan has lived her whole life in Birmingham. Her two careers, first as a policewoman, then as an inner-city parish minister have kept her close to her family, but also painfully close to her past. Now the picturesque country village of Little Worthy needs a new vicar. But Faith’s g trip to Little Worthy to consider if this is God’s will becomes a long-term commitment when the current vicar falls over dead during a communion service.

Faith suspects murder. And when the police are called in, Faith’s past follows her to Little Worthy in the shape of former partner and former boyfriend, Detective Inspector Ben Shorter.

Ben never understood her calling , but he will need her help if he is going to solve this. How will Faith balance her present calling with her past training, and her feelings for Ben? And is Faith in danger herself?

Review:

The Reluctant Detective is a well-written cozy mystery set in England. The characters are eclectic and interesting, and Faith finds that her return to her hometown of Little Worthy is fraught with all kinds of difficulty - primarily murder. Faith finds herself in the midst of all manner of delicate situations from dealing with her feelings for an ex-boyfriend to dealing with her relationship with her sister and her ex-brother-in-law. It is a quick read and one mystery lovers will enjoy it a great deal.

However, as to the faith element...well, when a so-called priest - of which Faith is one - doubts the truth of God's very grace and goodness...that sort of kills it for me. The only thing this story does is cast doubt upon God, so I wasn't too impressed with this element of the book at all. There was also some mild language peppered throughout the story that was unnecessary. So as a mystery, I can recommend it. As for a piece of Christian fiction - I don't think it qualifies.

Reviewed by: Kim Ford