Midnight Come

MIDNIGHT COME (Ama Sleuth-Richard Harrison-Cambridge, UK-Cont) - VG Anthony, Michael David - 3rd (final) book HarperCollingPublishers, 1998, UK Hardcover - ISBN: 0002326485 First Sentence: "Veni, Veni, Mephistophile!" Richard Harrison, Secretary of the Diocesan Dilapidations Board for the Canterbury, is asked by a friend to talk with Rev. Maurice Lambkin, the pastor of a small church. The diocese received a note made of cut-out letters, claiming Lambkin had been having an affair with a married woman who is about to be one of the first female ordinands, while his wife was dying from cancer. Harrison stops first at a spite house (one built to deliberately block the view of a neighbor, out of spite) which is to be sold by the diocese. In it, he finds the apparent murdered body of Lambkin and suicide by his son Jonathan, known as being a deadbeat. Prompted by his wife, Winnie, Harrison has his doubts and decides to do some investigating of his own. This was a wonderful, traditional mystery. It begins Harrison seeing students leaving after a rehearsal of "Faustus" by Christopher Marlow and there is an interesting and clever parallel used between the play and the story's plot The strength of the story is in the characters, particularly Harrison and Winnie. They are a very realistic couple with Harrison's impulsiveness and willingness to jump to conclusions, while Winnie is quieter and more thoughtful. Anthony created a strong sense of place and a good plot and unexpected twist. It is sad that Anthony only wrote the three books before his passing, but I am delighted to have read them.

As a member of the clergy, American, who has traveled extensively in England among its parish churches, grim industrial towns,and wonderful landscapes,and as one who appreciates a well-constructed mystery with strong characters and a "puzzle" still embedded in realism, I found "Midnight Come" completely satisfying as a mystery and intriguing in its study of character. I would urge readers to give this book the chance it deserves. Yes, some characters are eccentric--who could ask for less?--some are sad, some stuffy. The author grew up as a Vicar's son, so knows his way around church politics and people, which adds another pleasing dimension to the book.

Midnight Come comes as a breath of fresh air and a welcome change to stodgy, rubbishy, new novels. Featuring a complex and engaging plot, the reader is left guessing right to the last minute. I loved it - the author fooled me and enthralled me throughout. I feel it is only right to comment on the other "review" of this book - I cannot help but assume that judithb is not familiar with grown-up books, as this one has an easy to read, flowing tone. Likewise, without description, one ends up with something that resembles and instruction booklet for flat pack furniture. The novel does not overly describe - instead successfully creating interesting and clever imagery. Also, judithb comments on a "token Australian" who was "so stereotyped". But yet she then goes on to say that she knows she would have said - "I bloody HATE spiders!". I am not in the slightest sorry to say that if that is not stereotyping, I have not got a clue what is. Not everyone Australian is straight out of Neighbours you know, and Australians are able to compose and express themselves a little better than you have managed, judithb. Finally I wish to appeal to prospective buyers of Midnight Come not to be swayed by the viewpoint of a bitter woman, clearly very annoyed to be beaten by a book - unable to complete it - giving up only 80 pages. Do not be influenced by this kind of defeatism. Midnight Come truly is a fantastic book, with its mystical setting of Canterbury and well thought out and identifiable characters. Having actually completed the book, I cannot rate it highly enough, unlike someone who did not even finish it...