The Reluctant Detective, by Martha Ockley, is the first book in the Faith Morgan Mystery series. Faith Morgan used to work as a policewoman, but she thought she could do more as a vicar.
She was sent to the village of Little Worthy to see if it would be a church where she would like to be the vicar. While she is visiting, the current vicar suddenly dies and Morgan becomes the vicar until they find a replacement. Her former boyfriend, Ben Shorter, is the Detective Inspector on the case. She is also his former colleague.
Morgan has a difficult time give up her desire to ask questions and solve mysteries. She also does not know what to do with the appearance of Shorter. Will they be able to solve the mystery together?
About the Author-
Martha Ockley currently lives in the North East of England and writes fiction and nonfiction.
My thoughts-
The Reluctant Detective, by Martha Ockley, was an excellent introduction to the Faith Morgan Mystery series. I have now read this book twice and I enjoyed it just as much the second time as well the first.
Ockley was very creative when she developed Faith Morgan’s character. I never would have thought to have her be a former policewoman turned vicar. It brought a professional point-of-view to the book that would not have been there if she had been just a vicar who solved mysteries. It also brought a level of professionalism to the way Morgan talked with her new parishioners.
I thought some of the conversation between Faith and Detective Inspector Ben Shorter, her former boyfriend and colleague, was stiff sometimes. Perhaps it was because they had a past together.
I would recommend The Reluctant Detective as well as the second book in the series, The Advent of Murder.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Reluctant Detective by Martha Ockley, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I am not sure how our garden is going to grow this year, but here is a little pumpkin from a couple of years ago.
I hope I will be able to show you some good pictures from this year’s garden in the next couple of months.
A couple of years ago I took part in a Bible study where we studied the book of Ephesians. Once a week I would like to mention the Bible verses which were studied, then give you my prayer involving those verses.
Today will be Ephesians 2:4-5.
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for Your great love and mercy. I am so glad that no matter how we are we can still be made whole by Jesus. Please help me to remember to extend to others the love and mercy you show us.
In Jesus’s name. Amen
We have not had a very warm summer here in our part of the world. I thought I would share this picture of hail and slush from February for those of you who have had a warm summer.
Enjoy the picture and remember that fall and cooler temperatures will soon arrive.
In The Traitor’s Heir, by Anna Thayer, Cadet Eamon Goodman does not know who to serve, the Master or the King. He first served the Master, because the Master has been in charge of the River Realm for over 500 years. Goodman did not know any different. The Master is in his head as a voice and offers him great things as the son of Eben.
Lieutenant Goodman, no longer Cadet, gets a new assignment. He is attacked and captured along with some of his troop. His captors are with the King. Goodman find that he enjoys talking with the King. They make plans that as the son of Eben, he can do great things either for the King or the Master. He chooses the King, but he has to go back to the Master for their plans to work.
Will he be a strong son of Eben for the King or will he go back to the Master and serve him.
About the Author-
Anna Thayer writes and lectures about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She is an English teacher.
My thoughts-
It is a typical situation, evil vs. good and the Master vs. the King. Anna Thayer has put a new twist to it in book one of The Knight of Eldaran series, The Traitor’s Heir. The twist is that Lieutenant Eamon Goodman, who was working for the Master (evil), was able to heal Cadet Mathaiah Grahaven’s wound with power from the true King (good). After Lieutenant Goodman healed Cadet Grahaven he became closer to the King. He went to work against the Master. Unfortunately it was in the Master’s stronghold and he went back to the Master.
Lieutenant Goodman has a lot in common with many of us. We used to serve the Master (Satan), went to the King (God), but we still turn back to the Master. I am glad that the Lord (King) takes us back, like He did with Lieutenant Goodman. We just need to ask him for forgiveness.
This book teaches us that everyone makes mistakes and sins, but we are forgiven and we need to become stronger.
I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Traitor’s Heir by Anna Thayer, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
