I should be one of the few human being who read this book and didn't know who is the writer so I had no expectation.
I thought it was going to be a cozy mystery and, maybe, there was something of Barbara Pym and her vicar&ladies.
The first part was brilliant: I loved the old dragons, the parish dynamics, and liked William. I had fun and laughed.
The mystery started and the story dragged as not a lot was happening till something happened and the book was again gripping.
The last part was excellent and kept me turning pages.
I liked the description of the social relationship and the story behind the characters. It's an excellent book that describes life in a small village and the relationship with the past. I think that the author did an excellent job in developing the village and the dynamics.
The mystery could have been a bit fast but it kept me guessing.
Even if I found it very slow at times it kept me hooked and entertained.
I only missed the Church Times (any Barbara Pym reader knows)
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine