I am loving this series , it gets better with every new book. I was gripped from the first page and enjoyed reading it to the end.

This is book 7 in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. In this one, a rector is found murdered in her church. Locals suspect the ghost that is said to haunt the building. The Inspector and his assistant, don't believe it, but they struggle to find a better suspect. Can they find the true killer before he strikes again?

This was the first book I have read by this author. It started out strong, but then about 40% in it felt like it was just dragging along, a lot of character dialogue that had nothing to do with furthering the story, and pretty enmeshed in religion. I honestly liked the beginning then got bored as the book went on (kind of felt droning). I might try some of his other books, but with a more open eye as to if they are abandon-able.

I'm afraid I have to admit that I didn't get to the half before I decided to quit altogether. This has very little to do with the writing in itself, although I must say that characters were a bit flat, and especially dialogues were rather clunky.
I did not finish it because of the themes: the whole story revolves around the church and the misogyny and homophobia that still are very present with the congregation - at least in this book. As I'm not a churchgoer, I wouldn't know how it is in reality, but here I found it too affronting.

Another issue that I had was the very detailed descriptions of the hierarchy that are instilled in the church. I don't like it when procedurals emphasize the hierarchy structure of the police force, especially when full names and acronyms are used all the time, and police officers seem to think that their structure and person are above the "members of the public". The exact same sense of egotism is found here, as leaders of faith are feeling above their "flock". Let's just say that this pushes my buttons, and I'm just not feeling like being rattled all the time.

All in all, probably a very nice addition to the series, just not for me.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third JR Ellis book. I enjoyed all of them. I love the English authors and mysteries, and this story and plot was unique, stand alone, and good characterization.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book, Murder at St. Annes’s.

In the quiet village of Knaresborough in Yorkshire, an Anglican Priest is going to a meeting, not knowing that it was her last day of her life. When her battered body is found, DCI Oldroyd and DS Andy Carter are sent to investigate, and find a cast of characters who either loved the priest or disliked the fact that the church allowed women in the priesthood. Throw in allusions to a ghost of a monk from ancient history and you have an engaging story of a British police team trying to unravel the clues and the stories of the people who could have murdered the priest.

This is an entertaining series where the policemen have normal lives outside of the office and the countryside is inviting, as long as you are not threatened by a murderer.

A well plotted and compelling mystery, full of twists and red herring.
i liked this story that kept me turning pages, the mystery is solid and the characters are fleshed out.
This is a good series and I think this story is one of the best so far.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Prettyrun of the mill British murder mystery. It began as a lively romp down classic English village crime with engaging characters; however the author lost the pace two-thirds through. Traditional unlikely murder mis en scene morphedi into outlandish and, honestly, rather tedious, climactic drama. It’s too bad. Had the book ended before one more drawn out murder attempt and entrapped endangered female, the book would have been a strong good average mystery.

A murder in an English church. The premise of the mysterious murder, How was it done?, I was disappointed in this book and felt myself pushing through to finish it. Perhaps reading earlier books in the series would have helped. I never really felt connected to the detectives and the range of suspects. Early on it seemed obvious who the murderer was and why it took so long was not clear. A few of the plot threads were left hanging at the end of the book.

Claire Wilcox was a rising star in the Anglican church, all set to become bishop when she is brutally murdered in her church. DCI Jim Oldroyd & DS Andy Carter arrive they find that apart from having been hit by a heavy object the murder weapon is unknown. As the snow piles down the pair are stuck in Knaresbrough & some locals are only too eager to blame the monk who haunts the church! As they investigate it seems that although Claire was very popular with some of her flock there were a number who were decidedly opposed to women in the ministry. When another person is killed and another is attacked it is a race to stop the murderer.

This is a series I have dipped in & out of but each book has worked well as a standalone. The cold, the spookiness of the setting was well done & I really like the main characters. I didn't guess 'whodunit' but I'm used to that! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

Mystery series set in the Yorkshire dales and as usual well written and provides plenty of beautiful descriptions of the area.
7th of the series featuring DCI Oldroyd and DS Carter, giving more insight into their personalities and backgrounds.
A popular female priest is found dead in her church and although she was well liked some felt she should not be in situ. Some interesting views on modern culture within the church and a good storyline with the addition of the sightings of a ghostly monk.
Well worth a read and thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an interesting setting and plot, and the characters were developed in a way that provided multiple suspects and some red herrings. The writing was distracting in many places, especially the dialogue. Too much telling (rather that using sensory and figurative language) made so much of the story feel rote.

I received an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this British murder mystery. A complex story that kept me guessing. Very well written. I'll be reading more by this author.

The 7th in the series, this book was still easy and enjoyable to read even though I haven’t read the earlier ones….I will now.
A vicar at St. Anne’s church, the Rev. Clare Wilcox, is soon to be named Bishop. When she is found murdered in the church with no plausible explanation the work begins for police officer Jim Oldroyd and his team. The realistic interactions between the characters, and the well written way they are each described really drew me in, as did the plot, involving prejudices and a gothic ghost story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book, I’ve already downloaded the first two.

This is a series and whilst I've read 2 of the other books you could easily follow if you hadn't read any before.

I enjoyed this cosy murder mystery and the picture of the Yorkshire countryside that the author depicted.

It was sometimes confusing as the author calls people by both their surname and their first name interchangeably. Namely calling the women by their first name and men by the surname which is a gripe ive flagged before.

Overall though I enjoyed this book and would read more in the series.

Thanks for the arc.

This was the mystery I’ve been waiting for. Lots of red herrings, beautiful backdrop (Yorkshire area), and lots of characters with secrets. I will definitely be reading more books in this series. This was book #7, but it can be read as a standalone. I will say that I thought the author belabored the topic of women and gays in the church a little much at the end, but that theme was crucial to the story.

Murder at St Anne's - J. R. Ellis

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Winter, snow, murder—and a centuries-dead suspect.

In the chilly depths of a Yorkshire winter, a well-liked rector is found bludgeoned to death in her own church. With no sign of a murder weapon, local superstition quickly pins the blame on the ghost of a medieval monk believed to haunt the building…

This is the third book I have read in the series and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It really helps that these are set in my local area so I can picture the towns Ellis describes. Once again the plot is plagued with red herrings to mislead the reader right up to big reveal at the end.

Each book is an isolated case so it is possible to read this series in any order. With a slow plot, this book is an easy mystery to get lost in. Fans of mysteries should enjoy this series.

Rating: 4/5

Murder at St Anne’s is the seventh book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series featuring DCI Jim Oldroyd and his loyal DS Andy Carter. These are gentle old-fashioned detective stories, usually with some form of locked-room puzzle, set in and around the small towns of Yorkshire. I’ve read them all in order but you don’t need to - each is a separate mystery and they don’t spoil each other if you do happen to read them out of order.

A popular Anglican priest is found bludgeoned to death in her church, but the murder weapon is a mystery. Locals think the mad medieval monk who haunts the village is responsible, but Oldroyd soon discovers that all the parishioners are hiding secrets - who amongst them was desperate enough to kill?

I’ve enjoyed this whole series, although had reservations about the last one - some of the same issues crop up, like the recapping of things we already know between characters, the overly similar names (there’s a Walker, Warner, Watkins, Wilcox & Walshaw) and the obsession with our heroes diet and what their partners allow them to eat - but they didn’t bug me as much this time, and the investigation was much more realistic. I liked the quotes from early 20th century ghost-story writer MR James, and the vivid descriptions of Knaresborough, which turns out to be a real place - check it out on google images, it’s gorgeous.

There is some thoughtful social commentary on misogyny and homophobia within the church but it doesn’t overwhelm the plot. There is violence but minimal gore, and the characters’ relationships take a back seat in this one. I didn’t guess whodunnit or why, although the clues were there; as ever the villain eventually reveals all their twisted reasoning in classic Golden Age Mystery fashion - somehow they never have lawyers insisting they say “No Comment” to every question like other modern procedurals - much less fun. Overall this was a well plotted and researched detective story which gets the series back on track after the implausibilities of the previous instalment and I look forward to reading more of Oldroyd’s adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC and apologies that my review is a little late. I am posting my honest opinions voluntarily. Murder at St Anne’s is available now.

The plot involving a parish priest who happens to be a woman, set the stage for modern views of anti-feminism.as well as the hidden motives of all the characters involved. The book tended to slow down in the middle with extraneous information and explanations, but overall kept the reader in suspense to the end. The setting during a snowstorm in old English towns and dark ancient churches gave an added atmosphere of suspense to an original story. The characters were clearly drawn and recognizable. I would recommend this book, especially when the weather outside is cold and dreadful.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Murder at St Anne’s by J R Ellis
This is the seventh book in the DCI Jim Oldroyd series.
Vicar Clare Wilcox is found dead in her own church, badly beaten in the small Yorkshire town of Knareborough expressions of shock and disbelief are everywhere
Clare was a much loved Reverend and everything was wonderful, but was it, as Jim and his sergeant Andy start to investigate cracks appear it everything was running as smooth as people are trying to portray.
Some attitudes in the book are quite upsetting but there are still people with these beliefs.
A thoughtful read