![Evil Intent [LARGE TYPE EDITION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41P93XKR62L._SL160_.jpg)
(Larger Image)
|
Evil Intent [LARGE TYPE EDITION]
by Kate Charles
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (2005-10-01)
ISBN: 1590582012
EAN: 9781590582015
Dewy Decimal #: 823.914
Paperback: 407 pages
Release Date: 2005-10-01
SKU: M8262
Condition: As New
|
Editorial Reviews
|
Product Description
Life in the clergy is quiet, respectful, peacefulor so Callie Anson believes when she begins her new job as curate to the Reverend Brian Stanford at All Saints' Church in Paddington. Little does she realize how wrong she could be.
After the traumatic end of her relationship with fiancé Adam, the last thing Callie needs is more emotional turmoil. But it seems she is not destined for a quiet life just yet. Knowing that women in the clergy are still disapproved of in certain quarters, Callie is prepared to face some criticism. But the deep-seated hatred shown by some of her respected male colleagues takes her by surprise, particularly the spiteful attack made by Father Jonah Adimola, a hard-line conservative Nigerian priest. Luckily, her good friend and mentor Frances Cherry is on hand to jump to her defense. But when Father Adimola is found strangled to death the next day and Frances is suspected of the crime, Callie must call upon her faith to steer her through the troubling and violent times and help prove her friend's innocence. With DI Neville Stewart heading the investigation, it's not long before the ecclesiastical façade is chipped away to reveal the ugly truth of hidden secrets.
Evil Intent is a gripping crime novel that pitches the reader into a dark world of concealment, power and deception in the 21st century church.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Jealousy, intolerance, murder and scandal!
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-02-06
The issues some of the characters faced in the story were very real and the characters themselves were believable. However unlike another reviewer, I did feel I was being manipulated by the author, which was odd really because I already agreed with her views, therefore didn't need manipulating. It seemed to me that the author was on a personal crusade to bring these issues to the forefront and persuade the reader to be sympathetic. I'm not knocking Kate's highlighting of the issues concerned (homosexuality, racism and women priests) but felt that the 'argument' was very black and white i.e. if you're a rational, modern, intelligent person you will think one way and if you're archaic, narrow minded and bigoted you'll think the opposite. In my experience, life isn't that simple and people often struggle with how they feel on some of these issues. The only characters who were shown to do that were Elsie and Dennis Harrington.
This didn't spoil my enjoyment though. It was interesting to understand some of the terms and traditions associated with the Anglican Church and refreshing to see the clergy portrayed as normal.
|
|
pricey parable
Rating  (3)
Date: 2007-10-29
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
The plot is worthy of a medieval passion play: the good folk are so good and the bad folk are so so so bad. The Church of England looks very bad here, and justly so, its superficial liberalities failing to mask a deeply evil intent to privilege men - straight men - above all other people. There are many interesting characters, but we don't get to spend much time with them, as the shadow of Coincidence (no more plausible for being cloaked as God's Will) falls over the narrative and things conclude very quickly, leaving many subplots hanging for, one can only suppose, a sequel.
$15 is a lot for an afternoon's read.
|
|
Kate Charles Deserves More!
Rating  (5)
Date: 2006-09-11
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
The most frustrating aspect of Kate Charles's mysteries: they're hard to find. Until recently, they were shelved in obscure mystery bookstores alongside other high-priced "British novels."
So I was delighted to find this novel in plain sight on a library bookshelf, published by an American house. I've enjoyed most of the church mystery series, where author Charles deftly communicates the sense of an upscale, intellectual religion, with more emphasis on institution than doctrine.
Here we meet a newly ordained Anglican deacon, Callie Anson, and an assorted cast of interesting characters. When a conservative priest has been murdered, suspicion turns to Callie's friend and mentor Frances Cherry. And once I got into the story, I found the book hard to put down. The pace moves faster than Charles's previous books and I really wondered how she'd come to a solution. We get clues about parts of the ending, but I'm not sure we're offered a true whodunit where readers can play detective.
As other reviewers note, the ending is far too abrupt. I would prefer a more satisfying confrontation and a hint of what happens next.
Still, we can mostly fill the blanks ourselves. I am pleased to see this novel published by Poisoned Pen Press - at least it's American. The real mystery: Why hasn't this author been picked up by a mainstream house, such as Harpers? She's as good as or better than many of the more famous best-sellers.
|
|
Wonderful Read!
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-12-29
5 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
Kate Charles is an American living in Bedford, England, who writes chillingly cozy ecclesiastical mysteries. Evil Intent is her tenth novel.
Callie Anson has come to her profession late in life, after the death of her father. In the hospice she met Frances Cherry, a woman priest who is working as a hospital chaplain. Frances becomes her mentor and good friend.
Callie goes to seminary and falls in love with fellow seminary student Adam. She is dumped by him just as she takes her first job, as a Dean, near his parish.
Callie meets hostility from Jane, the wife of her parish priest (and boss) Brian, and some of her parishioners; and is surprised by the depth of the hatred she meets from local nearby conservative parish priests. At a clergy Chapter meeting, she encounters vicious Father Joseph Adimola, who calls Callie and Frances "spawn of Satan" and "an abomination."
Frances snaps and tosses her glass of wine in his face. Later, Father Adimola is found strangled with a liturgical stole wrapped tightly around his neck--Frances' liturgical stole.
The press goes crazy, targeting Frances and her good friend Father Leo, a single and celibate closeted gay priest, who is up for possible promotion. The body was found in his church, and he and Frances are each other's alibi.
Callie has a new policeman friend, who keeps her informed about the investigation that seems to be closing in on Frances and Leo, spurred on by a nasty press. Twists and turns to the plot make this an exciting read, right up to the sudden, surprising and bloody climax.
Armchair Interviews says: Kate Charles' excellent characterizations and knowledge of the Anglican Church make this a very interesting read.
|
|
JENNIFER j4hobbit
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-12-12
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
THE BOOK WAS WONDERFUL! PLOT WAS GREAT, IT IS KATE CHARLES BEST YET! MORE PLEASE!
|
|
|