I do love a dark story without a Hays-Code like finish, and thanks to Peter Lovesey (and my husband, who recommended this read) I got to read this one. It's not as darkly comic as some other novels I've read, but it's just subversive enough to scratch that itch and make me think "oh, now *that's* pretty damned clever" at least once each chapter. Otis Joy is the rector of a church in Foxford. He's extremely popular with the parishioners, and the ladies find him especially interesting. He always has an interesting story, a humorous anecdote, or a beautiful sermon up his sleeve. What we learn pretty early on, however, is that the good reverend has a secret, and he's willing to do anything to protect it. The book starts with a murder, and the bodies keep piling up.I often say in my reviews that one of the things I hate is knowing what's going to happen 100 pages in advance. That didn't happen with this novel. As a matter of fact, there were sometimes things I didn't see coming from the next paragraph. That almost never happens to me - as a matter of fact, I can't think of the last time I've been so consistently surprised by a storyteller. It makes me want to seek out other Lovesey titles - if they're anything like The Reaper and, before that in my reading, Keystone, I should be pretty happy.
This was a fascinating mystery, with the unusual twist of knowing exactly who the killer was at the beginning of the book. Otis Joy is an unbelievably interesting character -- a charismatic minister who is also a calm and very creative serial killer. The lengths he goes to in order to ensure his secrets are kept are completely incredible.What bothered me about this book was only at the beginning did we see the murders from Joy's perspective. The book keeps its omniscient narrator style, or switches to the POV of an unhappily married parishioner, Rachel, who develops a crush on Joy. But we never find out the motivation behind any of Joy's killings, nor ultimately how he feels about anyone with whom he interacts.It feels like a bit of a cop out to give the reader a character so fascinating as Joy, and then to never really find out how he feels about anything that happens to him.
What do You think about The Reaper (2003)?
A nice, quick British "cosy" mystery. It wasn't a mystery in the truest sense of the word, in that the reader is aware of who the murderer is from about page 8 or so. Instead, it's more of a suspense novel where the reader gets to watch and see how long it is before the police become suspicious and catch on to our murderer. Watching that happen turns out to be both very funny and entertaining.Recommended for anyone that likes British-style mysteries, small-town life depictions, and comical situations.
—Kornela
if only murder was always so tidy, elegant, and dryly amusing... i'd commit it all the time! this is a murder mystery written in the classic English style - but with a very modern narative twist and several very surprising turns. The Reaper features two amusing audience-identification points: a charming, greedy, psychopathic serial killer (who is also a kindly young reverend) and his sweet, quick-thinking Moral Black Hole of a love interest (a put-upon wife who enjoys baking and tending her garden). the fun difference here being that the two anti-heroes and the rest of the cast are all quite clearly depicted as loveable, stereotypical English village types. my gosh, those English are simply adorable when they kill each other!
—mark monday
In addition to his Inspector Peter Diamond series, Lovesey writes other equally literate crime novels. This one reminds me of those written by James Cain in the fifties. Its truly despicable villain is the Reverend Otis Joy, Rector of St. Bartholomew’s in Wiltshire. Joy likes to have a good time, and to do so requires a steady source of money. Where better to find it than the church coffers? That he is popular with the parishioners does not hurt to allay suspicions, but finally the bishop makes
—Eric_W
