Book Review - The New Rector by Rebecca Shaw

Beware Spoiler!

This is the first in the Turnham Malpas series, I had read a much later one a couple of years ago and found this in the library so thought I'd start the series from the beginning.  This story introduces all of the colourful characters in the village and you learn about them just as the New Rector of the title is settling into his new Parish.  Yes this is easy reading, there is nothing about the books or I suspect the series which is challenging but they are comfortable.  I guess like putting on a favourite cardigan and slippers and sitting in your favourite chair with a drink - something which sustains and leaves you relaxed and refreshed.

The characters are largely gentle and caring, although there are some surprising events in the books including a lesbian suicide, a murder, stalking and an significant dalliance with surprising consequences, but they are all handled in the quintessentially English fashion of getting on with it and not saying too much.  I've seen this series of books described as the literary equivalent of the Sunday evening TV slot and I can very easily understand this or even an alternative Archers. 

The cast of characters and village map also make this series very easy to read and allow you to fit the characters into their geographical positions in the village as well as their relationships to each other and handy to refer back as and when needed.  Enjoyable, relaxing and escapist in a very gentle, genteel and comfortable way, well worth a dip into.

Ciao
Sue
XX

Reading challenge 15/16 - currently reading Learn to Be an Optimist by Lucy MacDonald