The New Rector - Rebecca Shaw

[goodreads]

Title: The New Rector (Tales from Turnham Malpas, #1)
Author: Rebecca Shaw
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 264
Date read: January, 2017

When Peter Harris arrives in Turnham Malpas as the new rector, he finds the village people welcoming but set in their ways. Yet despite his own weaknesses and the sadness of his childless wife, he comforts and advises his new parishioners, growing more and more involved with the rural way of life. Then the whole village is rocked by spiteful trick that goes terribly wrong, and a gruesome murder that points to a killer in its midst. Now, more than ever, Peter's pastoral role is crucial - and yet he is wrestling with his own private hell that may still wreck his own life.


A nice account of life in an English village - written in much the same style as Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy (although a LOT more simplistic). It was extremely soap-opera'ish at times, but despite its weaknesses and occasional OTT'ness, I ended up really enjoying it. The characters were likable and (with certain memorable exceptions) believable, and I got to really care for them.

Not high literature in ANY kind of way (see above re. soap opera), but a fun read, if you're able to keep your eye-rolling at bay.