Reverend Faith Morgan is being considered for a new assignment near her hometown of Winchester. On her first Sunday in the area, she visits the service at St. James' of Little Worthy, where she had been an occasional visitor during her childhood. Faith and the rest of the congregants are shocked when the incumbent drops dead during the celebration of the Eucharist. As a former police officer, Faith is the first to realize the signs that this wasn't a natural death. The police investigation puts Faith back into close contact with D.I. Ben Shorter, her live-in boyfriend during her days in the police force. The issue that drove them apart is still unresolved, and this causes some awkward moments as they each carry out their current duties arising from the murder.

This first-in-series mystery shows promise. The mystery plot is better than many, with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Even though I caught the clues that pointed to the motive for the murder, I wasn't sure of the murderer's identity until the very last minute since the circumstances affected several characters. On the other hand, the secondary characters weren't developed as well as in other series debuts, where the mystery plot often takes a back seat to the development of the characters and setting. This must be difficult to get just right. The book combines elements of cozy/village mysteries, police procedurals, romance, and Christian fiction, and may appeal to a broad readership as a result. ( )

Faith Morgan,a former policewoman, changes careers and becomes a vicar. In her first assignment as a vicar she becomes involved in a murder investigation. The investigating officer and former lover is a nonbeliever. This is a good cozy and Christian mystery. It is not a preachy book, rather the author examines beliefs through Faith's method of questioning beliefs. A nice enjoyable read. ( )

In The Reluctant Detective, faith Morgan is a former policewoman turned vicar. On her first, temporary assignment, she becomes involved with the murder investigation of the former vicar. The investigating officer is her former lover and a nonbeliever. This is a lovely cozy mystery and a Christian mystery. The author does not preach to the reader, rather we are led to examine belief through Faith's own questioning. An enjoyable read. ( )

Revd Faith Morgan was formerly a police detective and thus perhaps an ideal person to have on the scene when the vicar of the church she is visiting dies unexpectedly during the service; all the more so when it turns out he was poisoned via the communion wine. She is reluctant to walk in her old shoes but she wants the truth to be revealed, not just for the result or blind justice but for the sake of the innocent who she sees differently now that she is priest in charge rather than just another PC.

If it isn't inappropriate to say so, I suggest this books sits at the more pleasant end of the crime genre. It has a contemporary setting but still manages to feel faintly quaint. Neither is the religion side of the story overplayed; at times, Faith Morgan seems as much a reluctant priest as a reluctant detective.

I think the cover of the edition I was sent to review is quite apt. I don't think Ockley conjures up a world that seems tangibly real. It feels more like a stylised stage backup drop with some bits of perspective that don't quite fit. Why, for example, does Faith seem to have no deep ties to her former parish while she does quickly begin to weave human connections in Little Worthy?

For writing that crosses over between crime and church, I prefer other sources such as Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series or (a more recent discovery) Simon Parkes' Abbot Peter. However, if you like your cucumber sandwiches with the edges sliced off or the the cosiness of Simon Brett's Fethering mysteries, then this could be your bag. ( )

Faith Morgan is a former policewoman turned minister, but when she goes to visit a potential parish, she witnesses the murder of its current priest via the communion wine. Of course, she is drawn into the case which is being run by her ex leading to predictable tensions. This cozy mystery is okay, but I found part superfluous making the whole book drag a bit. It fits into the rash of new religiously focused books featuring simplistic writing that isn't quite up to mainstream publishing. I doubt that I will seek out the next in this series. ( )