Reviews

Pagan Spring by G.M. Malliet

naluju's review against another edition

emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Priest detective, England, WWII

littletaiko's review against another edition

3.0

Now that it's spring, it's the perfect time to read the next in the Max Tudor series. Once again murder comes to Max's small village which both vexes him and stimulates him as he gets to put his reverend/MI5 skills to use again. Admist all this are further developments in his personal life. This is probably the strongest mystery of the three so far and I look forward to the next book A Demon Summer. Of course, I'll hold off reading that until summer is upon us.

git_r_read's review against another edition

5.0

I like finding new-to-me authors and series, especially when they are superb. As is this series and author. I don't often read amateur sleuth mysteries with male main characters, mainly because there aren't a lot of them out there that I've found. I am glad to have found this one. It could be viewed as a stereotypical English cozy since it takes place in a small English village and the main character is a non-detective and the village vicar.
What makes this stand out is that the village vicar used to be MI5. He felt the calling to be a vicar and is quite good at it. he also gets called upon by the police to help out when there's a crime that they need assistance in solving. That's another non-typical bit. The amateur sleuth usually gets told to mind their own business by the coppers.
What I really like about Vicar Max is that he is in love with a woman in the village and she does not share his religious beliefs and Max doesn't mind. He loves her all the more for her different views. He is very open-minded, someone I would like to be friends with. I'd definitely attend his church services and I am not too enthused about organized religion.
The murder investigation here is the death of one of the newcomers to the village, a pompous stage actor. Plenty of suspects, to include the widow.
This is a savory read, a superb page-turner that I didn't want to end. I look forward to finding books one and two [WICKED AUTUMN and A FATAL WINTER] to see how it started and then getting book four [A DEMON SUMMER]. Excellent characters and location. Perfect mystery.
Definite recommend.

carodellynch's review against another edition

1.0

Due to poor writing, this book was challenging to get through. I love a thoughtful and well written mystery — if you do too, I do not recommend this book.

edhyndman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

gray5217's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

lorimichelekelley's review against another edition

3.0

Audible version: I have to agree with many of the reviewers here who say this isn't such a great series, but at the same time, it's perfect for my listening purposes at the moment - just pleasant noise in the background, just a reminder that somewhere in the world (even if just in imagination), there is a place where neighbors know one another and writer's clubs and book clubs still meet and there are people who get up in each other's business because they care. So while the mystery was just all solved and dumped at the end in a long boring story, I didn't care. I can never figure out any of the clues anyway!

staticdisplay's review against another edition

2.0

I kind of enjoyed the cozy elements, but I just didn't end up loving the overall story. the main character and his romantic interest were described primarily as having no flaws - so I know Max is handsome, but I don't know what he looks like. I know Awena is beautiful and voluptuous and good and kind (although when she's actually in the scene, she tends to sound rather judgmental and close-minded). I found the resolution to the mystery very weird (the psychological elements, not the historical part) and not exactly satisfactory. I was reading this because I found a list with some Easter cozies, but it also didn't have a ton of Easter elements. I guess it's a holiday that doesn't really lend itself to cozy mysteries exactly. this did remind me that I do enjoy these English village settings in cozies.

cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition

4.0

A 2013 staff fiction favorite recommended by Jane.

Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Spagan%20spring%20malliet__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl

judyward's review against another edition

4.0

When you have a former government spy turned Anglican priest, you know that you are in for an interesting read. Especially when this priest has fallen in love with a woman in the small English village of Nether Monkship who practices Wicca and who owns a local herb/crystals/natural cooking shop. While Vicar Max Tudor is trying to concentrate on writing his Easter sermon, he becomes involved with a situation when a guest at a dinner party is found dead early the morning after. Complications abound putting that Easter sermon in jeopardy. The third installment in the Max Tudor series and I'm looking forward to the next book.