As soon as I saw this title on NetGalley, I desperately wanted to read it. Many thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for granting my request. The opinions below are my own.

I read the first Sidney Chambers novel, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, when it was first published. I was captivated by the character of Sidney and wanted to know more about him. I have continued to read the stories and have adored the Grantchester series on TV. For me, James Norton has personified Sidney in a most satisfactory way.

The Road to Grantchester tells the story of Sidney before he was the TV character or the man in SC and the Shadow of Death. I was so pleased at the prospect of learning how he became himself.

The beginning of the book was not easy. After a brief prelude, Sidney is immersed in the horrors (and I mean horrors) of WWII in Italy where he serves with Robert Kendall. Robert is the brother of Amanda, a key character in the series.

What Sidney and his fellow soldiers witness and participate in is truly unspeakable. James Runcie has written about war in a way that will make the reader long for peace. Survival in his circumstances is kind of a miracle for Sidney. However, not everyone important to him makes it home safely.

As a reader, because of how awful it was, I was relieved to move to the part of the novel that was post war. Sidney comes home to a world that has changed and yet he has changed even more. He tries to understand what he is meant to do with the gift of his life. After much reflection, he decides to join the church. The reader follows Sidney on his on-going faith journey.

This book is also about those important to Sidney. There is Robert his best friend and war compatriot...no spoilers here so I will not say more. As in the TV series, there is prickly Amanda whose relationship with Chambers (as she calls him) is complex but important.

I left this book wanting to reread all of James Runcie's books. This is an excellent read if you are a fan of Sidney, want to remember why war is a mess or if you want to understand a protagonist's wish to live a meaningful life.

This novel may not be for everyone but for me it was a five star read.

I love the PBS series Grantchester. The main character, Sidney Chambers, is portrayed as a flawed man struggling with his faith and vocation. His becoming a priest has alienated him from his worldly friends who don't understand his choice. He must cope with the strictures of the organized church. He is flawed and understands human frailty in others.

I have wanted to read the novels by James Runcie, and even bought the first in the series, but reviewing new books keeps me busy and it has languished in the TBR pile.

But now I am not sorry because I can start at the very beginning with Runcie's newest novel in the series, a prequel titled The Road to Grantchester.

How did the attractive, intelligent, lover of jazz end up in the priesthood? This novel shows us the events and internal anguish that brought Sidney to change his life.

The first section of the novel begins with Sidney and his London friends enjoying theater and fancy dinners and dancing. A quick jump five years later finds Sidney on a transport ship to Salerno. He is with his best friend from university, Robert Kendall, and Freddie Hawthorne, a theatrical star. These bright young men are thrown into bloody battle, Sidney set to being a sniper. They experience the destruction and misery of war.

The Episcopal priest Rev Nev is with the soldiers. "What does a priest do in the midst of this?" a friend asks him."I believe there is no higher calling than to be a priest in the service of God and God's people; to offer some kind of stability in a bewildered world," he explains. The soldiers are more than bewildered for the evil of war feels overwhelming and faith in a loving God flees. The men contend daily with mud and cold, their comrades shattered and dying, and they long for the simple pleasures of clean dry clothes and a hot bath. And mostly wonder what it is like to have no enemy. The pleasant days of dancing with Amanda Kendall is a distant memory.

They arrive at the Gustav Line, a flooded valley without cover which they must cross to make their way up Monte Cassino with enemy fire raining down from the monastery at the top where the Nazis have buried in. During the battle, Robert Kendall dies, leaving a heartbroken Sidney with survivor's guilt and questions of culpability.

It is Rev Nev who helps Sidney, explaining the mystery of faith in a broken world, and how to accept the mystery of life. At war's end, Sidney realizes it is grace that he needs. His friends note the change in him. Oh dear, Freddie exclaims, either you've had too much to drink or you really have got religion.

I know about these battlefield faith experiences from my friend Floyd Erickson, a WWII veteran who was in the 10th Mountain Division. They were in Italy and had to climb Monte Belvedere at night. While advancing across the Po Valley in the foothills of the Apennines, his best friend was killed in a blast that left Floyd deaf in one ear. While under fire, Floyd prayed to God for protection, offering a lifetime of service if he survived. Floyd made it home and changed his life. I knew him as a revered family man and leader in the local church. (Read more here.)

Part Two follows Sidney back home to England, facing Robert's grieving family and Amanda who can't reconcile a loving God with her brother's death, and his own family's expectations for Sidney's post-war career. Sidney lives with Robert's ghost.

While Amanda and Sid's other friends only want to forget the war and have fun, Sidney finds that kind of life deadly and meaningless. He longs for a life with purpose. It's more than depression that ails Sidney--he is searching for peace. He continues to turn to Rev Nev for spiritual guidance.

"I need to change my life," Sidney explains to Amanda. And in Part Three, Sidney explores faith and a vocation as a priest.

There is a lot of God talk and faith talk in the novel. It is after all about Sidney's journey to the priesthood. I discovered that Runcie's father was Archbishop of Canterbury, which explains the depth and realism of Sidney's journey. The rejection suffered from friends is also realistic. Amanda is unable to accept Sidney's choice and accepts the proposal from another man. I love that Freddie, who is gay, is the one friend who seems to 'get' Sidney and supports his decision.

Several episodes show Sidney's ability to understand people and know how best to counsel them, and his native ability to notice what other's don't see, both traits important to his ability to solve puzzles and crimes.

My favorite scene is Sidney's ordination which takes place in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. A charred cross "symbolizes determination, survival, and above all, the possibility of Resurrection." He is presented with a cross made of nails gleaned from the ruins. The symbolism is vivid. Britain has suffered greatly, the world is broken. In taking orders, Sidney dedicates his life to the rebuilding of faith and hope in a devastated people. From these ruins, he is to raise up God's love to light the path forward. Sidney is trying to heal himself. He trusts he will also become a vehicle of healing to his flock.

I was impressed with Runcie's ability to show Sidney's path to his vocation, from the hard to read horror of war to the emptiness of frivolous pleasure, the questionings and embracing the mystery, and the bafflement of old friends who stereotype the priesthood.

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This beautifully written book gives a marvelous portrait of a young WWII soldier as he slowly feels the call to become a priest in the Church of England. This is one of the best written books I've read in a long time; I read it in two sittings. It is very Anglican in tone - not preachy, but subtle and powerful in its religious language and concepts. Episcopalians in the United States will love it.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author, for the opportunity to read The Road to Grantchester. I loved it! I previously read one of the Sidney Chambers books and liked it, not loved it. Now I feel I have a better understanding of the main character, and I definitely plan to finish the series.

The author covers quite a span of years in the life of Sidney Chambers. We follow him through the trenches of WW2, the reintegration into society post-war, and his struggles to understand and accept his calling. I don't think I was prepared for the depth of coverage of his time as a soldier. The history, the emotions and the absolute nitty-gritty of war were so clearly depicted. It was easy to understand that the return to civilian life would be a challenge. Additionally, we find out later that there is another reason for his guilt and sadness. Sidney's coming to grips with his spiritual life and eventual calling to ministry were particularly poignant. His friends and family seem to be of little help as he navigates these challenging emotions. They support him, but do not understand him.

Another thread running through the book is the relationship between Sidney and his best friend's sister. It is clear to us that the bond between the two is deeper than merely supporting each other through the grief surrounding the death of Robert. I look forward to seeing how their relationship unfolds in future books.

The Road to Grantchester is a satisfying read, one that leaves me wanting to know more about these characters. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

I love the Granchester series this prequel was a wonderful revealing lok at the beginnings we watch the characters grow develop so engaging an engaging read recommend to all Granchester fans,#netgalley #bloomsburyboojs

I’ve never seen the Grantchester TV show nor read the previously published books in the series, but had heard about both and was interested in the origin story.

Turns out The Road to Grantchester is a much more deeply felt and engaging book than I had expected, one I really enjoyed and think works very well as a stand alone story. The first half, set during the Italian campaign in World War II, is gripping and very well written (some of the best depictions of battle and the life of an infantry soldier that I’ve read, in fact), introducing main character Sidney Chambers and his friends—fellow Cambridge alum Robert Kendall and West End actor Freddy Hawthorne—and setting up the reasons for Sidney’s journey to become an Anglican priest during the second half of the book, which also further develops Sidney’s relationship with Robert’s sister, Amanda. I don’t know if these secondary characters recur in the Grantchester series but I hope they do, as their interactions and repartee are interesting and engaging. I was often tempted to read synopses of the later books to find out what happens between these characters, but thanks to my experience with this introduction to the series, I’m sure I’ll be back to read the rest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review; thoroughly enjoyable and recommended.

I absolutely adored this novel! The author is brilliant at setting a scene, and masterful at creating a plot that sets the imagination on fire. I so loved the characters, who are human, raw, flawed and wonderful. I was absolutely heart-invested in their lives as I devoured each chapter. Just ridiculously good. A definite recommend.

Dear James Runcie,

I need everything you've ever written!

Love,

Stacie

This really seemed to drag. I wanted to like it, but I just wanted able to finish it. Maybe you had to have other Grantchester books to appreciate it?

I'm somewhat familiar with Grantchester prior to reading. Going in, I didn't know what to expect from this book. I found it is basically the story of how Sidney came to be who he is. Many events led to the church, and this book explained that. It's an interesting read and kept my interest. The characters are flawed but likeable. If you are interested in Grantchester, give this one a go! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

This prequel to the Grantchester series is a telling of just how Sidney got from carefree Cambridge student to wartime hero to an Archdeacon in the Church of England.

The short paragraphs make this book fly by. It was very interesting hearing about Sidney’s war years and his subsequent battle with faith. The loss of his closest friend Robert in the war really hit him hard. His decision to join the church I think came as almost a surprise to him. I’ve seen the Grantchester series on television and I must say I was quite taken with the show. This is my first actual James Runcie book and I was very pleased with both his writing style and the clearness with which he presented his story. I will most definitely look into his other Grantchester book on Amazon.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I loved it!!! Pasted below is the review I have left on Goodreads and will post to Amazon once the book is published.

I love Grantchester. The books, the TV show, the characters, the setting, the mysteries. All of it. When I learned author James Runcie had written a prequel explaining everything I’d always wondered, I had to read it. And I was not disappointed. In fact, I’d consider “The Road to Grantchester” perhaps a love letter from Runcie to his fans – his opportunity to reward us with answers to the questions we’ve puzzled over while immersing ourselves in the delightful world he has created.

We learn it all – why did Sidney Chambers choose ministry, why does he never feel adequate, why does he doubt he’s a good man, why can he not stay away from sorting out a good mystery, why does he have such a cautious relationship with long-time friend Amanda…

The other Grantchester mysteries books feel more like short stories to me – each installment is a collection of mysteries featuring Sidney and all the wonderful characters Runcie has created. This time, “The Road to Grantchester” is a full novel. And, it is a rather dark novel at times.

After an odd, kind of jumpy start to the book that begins with young Sidney and Amanda sharing an awkward dance, all of a sudden, we are thrust into World War II with Sidney as he has enlisted in the Scots Guards. We are taken through battle with him – all of it, the grit, danger, fear, heartbreak, questions. And then he returns home. What follows is an authentic story of reintegration. How can Sidney carry on with his life, make amends for what he has done, earn what others have sacrificed?

Along the way, we watch Sidney’s journey to the priesthood and learn how he ends up in Grantchester. There is a good murder mystery in there (or is it murder at all? Sidney figures it out!). And we even briefly meet Mrs. McGuire and Inspector Keating (important characters in the Grantchester mysteries books). Sidney also drops a heartbreaking bit of information on Amanda that really illuminates why he always doubts himself and his adequacy as a human being and perhaps why the pair have such a delicate, perhaps confused relationship. I’d use the word “shocking” to describe what he tells her.

But, in the end, as Amanda reveals to us, Sidney simply wants to earn “the gift of survival so that (he) can be useful to others.” He is still the good man we know him to be (even if he doesn’t think so). And while this book definitely takes us on a journey that is dark, heavy, difficult, shocking at times, it ends as an uplifting, cozy tale in trademark, wonderful Runcie style.

Everything about this book is what I had hoped for as a Grantchester fan. I did miss Dickens, though (Sidney’s faithful dog, a gift from Amanda in the first Grantchester mysteries book).

For those who love Grantchester, this book is a must-read. It answers so many questions in such a satisfying way while also leaving plenty of room for each reader to experience Sidney and his journey (and his relationship with Amanda) in his/her own way and interpretation. For those new to the series, it is a fantastic introduction. But, I’d suggest reading the Grantchester mysteries first and then this prequel. I thought it was fun to have all the answers revealed after reading the mysteries. For those who love the TV show (and maybe haven’t read the books), “The Road to Grantchester” also is for you! I wonder very much if the story arcs in the TV series (which in many ways are vastly different than in the books) influenced this novel. Either way, this is a great book – one I will enjoy reading again.