Murder Before Evensong

There's nothing inherently wrong with this show, but there's nothing right. It's almost as if the producers got together and said, let's see if we can create a show that is neither good nor bad, neither interesting nor dull, neither fast or slow.

And they did it! I admit I gave up after three episodes because, well, there was no reason to continue. The only thing they totally get wrong is the pairing of the detective with the canon. When you couple two disparate characters like this, you have to earn it. In Grantchester, the epitome of this grouping, they make it happen slowly, through character. Here it happens because the detective says, right after meeting the cleric, hey, join me. The cleric says, sure. And that reflects how much effort went into this show.

Rector Daniel Clement finds himself drawn into the murder of a man at his church. Initially a suspect, it's not long before Vanloo, the detective on the case, turns to him for help. Daniel must hunt for a killer while dealing with the arrival of his mother Audrey, a force of nature in her own right.

Daniel is the latest in a long list of crime-solving clerics. He follows in the footsteps of Father Brown and Sister Boniface, but I'd suggest 'Murder Before Evensong' bears a closer resemblance to 'Granchester'. Indeed, if you squint your eyes, you can almost see Will, Geordie, and Mrs. Maguire here.

Daniel is a great character-sharp and brave, without being gung-ho. He's quirky, loves fountain pens, but isn't too zany. A well-rounded, grounded sleuth, he brings something fresh to the clergy detective genre.

Though made by Channel 5, who've carved a niche in 80s drama, this series stands out as an impressive piece of work, successfully following the footsteps of 'Dalgliesh'.

Six episodes of impeccable drama-there's not a dull moment. It's consistent throughout and ideal for binge-watching.

If you love nostalgia like I do, you'll adore this. On the surface, it nails it with Ford Sierras, Vauxhall Cavaliers, and a wealth of Jaeger knitwear. The production team excelled. Not only that, they captured the attitudes of the time, particularly the challenges of village life for a gay man in the early 1980s.

Richard Coles, please ensure your next novel follows suit. This not only needs a follow-up-it demands one. This was quality drama.

8.5/10.

The first 4 episodes were superb and Matthew Lewis was superb. The ending is horrific and made no sense whatsoever. I would waste your time if you care about endings. I'm not sure if the book was like this but I hope not as it's a best seller. The acting is very good but the story lacks real depth in the end.

Our first reaction to this 6-part murder mystery was one of enjoyment, and we couldn't wait for the final instalment to reveal whether or not we had been correct in our guess of whodunnit. In fact, we were, so that was the good news.

The bad news was that we had tried to figure out the motive, but our guesses of that had been badly wrong, and right up until the 'reveal' there had really been no pointers, no clues, almost a total vacuum of relevant information about whytheydunnit.

Others have pointed out a serious confusion of its period setting. Apparently there was some statement of it being 1988, but I missed that, and there was apparently late 80s music being played. One character referred to an event of 1943 as being "40 years ago" so that would place it as 1983. But the sets and the clothing were far more 1960s or even 1950s, as was the very quiet little village where everyone knew everyone, and what everyone was doing before they ever did it. By the 1980s that would have been far less the case. I was born in the 1940s, so I kind of liked the feeling of these sets taking me back to my childhood, and not to the 80s, when I was well into mid-career. I really did have to keep reminding myself that it was not supposed to be 1960 England that I was watching.

One small plus, as a great devotee of 'New Tricks', was having the two 'guvnors' from that series both there, with very opposing views!

Finally when we did get the motive explained, we thought "Oh really?" It made no sense.

It would be fair to give it 7/10 for the way it hooked us in, and the enjoyment we had, but it's impossible to give it more after such carelessness and ultimate weakness of plot.

Really enjoyed the first episode! Matthew Lewis gives Canon Clement warmth and presence - thoughtful, observant, and believable as both priest and sleuth. He brings the same mix of vulnerability and moral strength that made his Neville Longbottom so memorable. The actress playing his mother is excellent too, their scenes together sparkle. The chemistry with DS Vanloo already feels fun, with just the right mix of respect and friction. Loved the small touch of the canon noticing his Pilot pen - shows he's always observing.

What sets this apart from Father Brown (which I found a bit slow) is the energy and the ensemble. It's not just about the priest; the police, parishioners, and family all matter, giving the village a real sense of life. Cozy mystery fans will feel at home, but this has more character conflict and freshness. A very promising start!