I thought the overall story was very well done with the character added in to make it all go together. Once I receieved this book I was able to read it from the very beginning to the very end. I thought the character built up made the whole story pop and make sense to me in my opinon. I thought the story line was so well done and it was a joy to read in my opinon. I received this book for free thru an Advanced Review Copy, ARC, with an honest review freely given.

This is the seventh volume in the Yorkshire Murder series, and it follows the usual pattern of a creepy crime with possible supernatural elements. This new novel is as atmospheric as always, and the reader can follow along DCI Oldroyd’s walks. The setting is a spooky church where a rector is found murdered in a violent way with no possible earthly explanation. The cast of suspects is very shady, and I didn’t know whodunit until the very end (I apologize to my favorite suspect, who ended up being innocent). Oldroyd, his team and family are very likable and this time the action again hits close to home, so I was closely following the action. The one thing that I’m not a fan of is how politically correct their conversations are turning and how it’s starting to affect the actual solving of the mystery. I can’t explain more without giving away the ending. Other than that, I enjoyed this read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/#Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer!

This is the latest in the Yorkshire Murder series featuring DCI Oldroyd and his team and is an atmospheric murder mystery set in the depths of Winter. Perfect reading for a chilly December or January evening.
A popular female vicar is found brutally murdered in her church in Knaresborough and Oldroyd and his team are called in. The murder has alarming similarities to a local ghost story dating back to the 16th century. The spooky atmosphere is reinforced by the heavy snowfall which forces DCI Oldroyd and his sergeant to spend the night in the church. Did Oldroyd really see a ghost?
As ever with J R Ellis, the story is brilliantly plotted with various characters who could all be possible suspects. The police team are a likeable bunch and it’s nice to have police officers who appear to have a happy home life. The wintry setting really adds to the story and the book conveys the beauty as well as the inconvenience of heavy snow. I also loved the M R James quotes at the start of each chapter.
This is a great murder mystery and I definitely recommend it. Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well that was an interesting book - I had thought it was going to be a cozy mystery but then it became very intense (which I really liked). It was fascinating and really learned a lot from it which I wasn't expecting to.

This is now an author that I will be looking at in the future.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Another excellent read from J.R. Ellis.
I’ve read all of the books in the series so far and I think each title betters the last, and this certainly is the best yet.
As always the calibre of writing is high , we find DCI Jim Oldroyd and his side kick Andy investigating the murder of a popular female vicar, with a hint of the supernatural.
The subject is also close to Jim’s heart due to his sister being a vicar , the police are unsure of the murder weapon as well as to the identity of the killer.
The writing is descriptive and at times atmospheric , the main characters are likeable , this is a perfect book for a winters afternoon , a hot chocolate in hand and lose yourself in the fabulous snowy depths of Yorkshire.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

Red herrings abound in this mystery that is the 7th in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries. A female rector is murdered in the church at St. Anne's. DCI Oldroyd and his crew are stumped as to who or what killed the rector. They are stumped as to what killed her - and there are no clues during the initial stages of the investigation. They begin interviewing people surrounding the rector and several possible suspects emerge, but nothing definitive. The team follows the leads they find and turn up several possible motives as well. It was intriguing to follow the investigation and the findings as the case unfolds.

A well-plotted mystery and I enjoy the character DCI Oldroyd. I've only read two books from this series, but plan to read more.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on December 7, 2021.

This is the second J.R. Ellis Yorkshire Mystery I've read and my verdict is the same. Reasonably good plot but the writing is awkward. This is particularly true when it is important to obscure the gender of the object of the sentence. With a bit of reorganization the paragraph would flow smoothly but too often the less graceful path is chosen. One small oddity is a decision to open the French doors from the house into a garden during a party at the end of Jan. Mr. Ellis lives there, I don't, but the weather service says that the temps at the end of Jan are about 6 C/43 F, That's too cold for me. They are hardy people up there.

Although this is my first read in the Yorkshire Murder series and this is #7, I was certainly drawn into a gothic ghost story. Now I have to go back and read the other in this series!
Story opens with Rev Clare Wilcox being appointed the Bishop pf Kendall. She is excited about the promotion. She is currently the pastor of St. Anne’s which is described as medieval church. It is believe to be haunted by a monk who was put to death and now haunts the church.
Clare is scheduled to meet someone in the church, however no one is there. Suddenly someone appears and hits her. She is later found bludgeoned to death. Some believe she was killed by the mysterious monk.
Clare is described as kind and generous. She was also a pioneer in women’s causes.
Some believe that may be what caused her death. I, of course, prefer thinking it is the gothic ghost!

I always like reading the author’s notes and/or acknowledgements as we get the inside scoop into what inspired the author to write this novel. Author John R. Ellis tells us that St. Anne’s is fictional but is based on a number of Yorkshire churches. He also tells us that there is a church that has a giant pendulum hidden in its walls but is keeping the name a secret. Additionally he points out that many places exist and are not fictional ~e.g. Our Lady of the Crag and Mother Shipton’s Cave, etc.

Want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publication UK for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 7. 2021

I always love finding a new author, whose novels are perfect for me. How have I missed J.R. Ellis before this book? I read Murder at St Anne's and was happily entertained by this mystery. The plot was very good and kept me engrossed in solving this mystery about a murder with so many connections to 15th century history. Ellis' book borders on being a cosy mystery, which makes it a delight to read and solve for fans who enjoy some violence but who prefer a mental challenge to solve a crime. Murder at St Anne's is the 7th book in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. I am going to go back and read this series beginning with book 1. The characters are interesting and well-defined. I heartily recommend, this series and J.R. Ellis.
I thank the author and publisher for providing me with this ARC fro read and review. This review is my honest recommendation. Also a big thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to so many new authors.

This is book seven in the series and seems to stand alone. I haven’t read the previous ones but it didn’t seem to matter for this book. I thought it was a good mystery. I thought I had it figured out but of course I was wrong. If you like good British police/ detective type books, you definitely want to add this series to your list. I look forward to the next one.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Delightful, intriguing plot, the murder of Rev Clare Wilcox
She was a rector here at St Anne, a medieval church
Soon to be appointed Bishop, a rare opportunity
Well like, campaigning for many right organizations
A meeting at a side room, led to murder, then another
A hidden staircase, that held the pendulum.
A church that had rifts, and delicate matters.
A good flowing plot, the characters, and details clearly done
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
for Net Galley and Thomas Mercer.

Are there ghostly dealings afoot? On a cold snowy night, Clare is viciously murdered as others have been before at this age-old churchyard. While there are those who claim that a phantom is exacting his revenge for his own murder, the detectives on the case know that the killer is all too human. Who could possibly want the esteemed vicar dead?

I couldn't believe how quickly I was drawn into this book. Though it is the seventh in the series, this is the first Yorkshire Murder Mysteries story that I've read. And I have really been missing out. I can't tell you if it's the plotting, the characters themselves or the setting because they seamlessly form the ingredients to a book that fully captivates. All the elements combine to form a riveting story. Beyond the tale itself, is a thought-provoking study of prejudice and discrimination.

Although this is first and foremost a police procedural, it is not passionless or empty of emotion. The officers are thoughtful, caring people who are devoted to solving this crime. The reader gets a nice glimpse into their home lives as well as their interactions with each other. Their pool of suspects is a lively bunch of individuals, all with their own recognisable traits and personalities. It is this talent for sketching men and women that brings this book to life.

Highly recommended. Both fanciers of cosy mysteries and police procedurals will love Murder at St Anne's.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publishers for the chance to read this Advance Reader Copy. As always, my opinions are my own - true and freely given.

I’ve read one other book in this series and I enjoyed that one a bit more. This was a perfectly pleasant cozy mystery, but the previous book was much more clever and interesting by comparison.

This is #7 in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries; this is the first time for me to read J.R. Ellis. The book, for me, probably rated about a 3.5. The story had a number of suspects who might be responsible for the death of a young female vicar who has received a promotion to move up to position of Bishop.

Chief Inspector Oldroyd must discover why the vicar was killed in her church. One thing he knows for sure is that the ghost who supposedly haunts the church did not kill her. Many interviews with members of the community, some of whom are also church members, lead the police down a lot of paths but not to the killer. Oldroyd tracks down the killer just in time.

The mystery surrounding the murder is ageless. What the author does do well is to draw attention to some very contemporary issues involving women and their struggles for equality within the church.

Murder at St. Anne's is the seventh book in the Yorkshire Murder series by J. R. Ellis. I have not read the previous offerings but was happy to find that I was able to follow this story as a standalone. I enjoyed the main characters, Inspector Oldroyd and his sergeant, Andy., and will definitely be going back to start reading the at the beginning of the series.

The story is fast paced and the writing flows nicely. This is a good book for a dark and wintry day at home. The characters are great. I enjoyed the ease with which they interacted. The plot was a well crafted mystery with several potential perpetrators.
One of the nice surprises to me was the attention to setting, especially the way the lead characters appreciated the beauty of winter, all the while bemoaning the bitterness of it.

The larger, political issues involving the church perplexed me, yet we know that biases, prejudice and rigidity continue to exist in our world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon publishing UK and the author for the ARC of Murder at St. Annes. Worth the read!

5 stars

DCI Jim Oldroyd and DS Andy Carter and their team are back in this installment of the series. They have their hands full.

A woman rector has been murdered in her church. No one seems to know why she went in there that evening. The pathologist doesn’t have any idea about the murder weapon, only that it was a brutal killing.

The woman was a good friend of Jim’s sister Alison. Alison is devastated. She worked at Alison’s church for a short while and they became good friends. The dead woman had so much promise. She was kind and an excellent administrator. She was slated to become the next bishop.

The investigation begins in the middle of a heavy snow storm. It is slow going. There are those who hated the idea of women priests. They conjured up all kinds of nonsensical reasons for this. They thought no better of gay people.

Several of the witnesses have things to hide. Blackmail is afoot. A member of the congregation is also murdered, another is viciously attacked. What is going on? Andy and Jim have a conversation wondering if this is typical of churchgoers. Hypocritical Christians?

Through intense investigation, Jim and Andy make some revealing discoveries. The case begins to come together. Allison is threatened.

I really like the relationships between Jim and Andy and their spouses. It is so relaxed and friendly. But Jim can be tough as well. Allison is a treat. She keeps Jim on his toes. This book is very well written and I must say that perhaps this is the best of the series so far. I didn’t care for the ending of the book. For some reason it just felt too obvious. Ok. I was disappointed. I wanted it to be harder. (Even though I did not guess who was the killer.)

I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Perfect for a wintery Sunday afternoon! The plot was just complicated enough and the characters rounded enough to keep me interested.

This is one of those mysteries that gets under your skin.

When the female vicar of the local church is found bludgeoned to death in the most horrific of ways, the local British police have their work cut out for them as one by one all possible suspects are eliminated. However, the detective in charge of the case is one of those guys who’s like a dog with a bone : he nibbles and chews and tosses around the evidence in the case, assisted by some very adept younger members of the force, until he figures it out and justice is done.

The mystery alone would have made a good story. However, this story is elevated by commentary on the role of women in the English church (the story is set at a time when there is substantial unrest about this) as well as the role of women in the British police force. While this can sometimes feel a little heavy-handed, the historical commentary on relatively modern times is valuable, and leads to the resolution of the murder.

I was particularly taken with the character development in this story. Is it great literature? No. And it’s not meant to be. It is a frightful murder story with good detective work that will warm your heart..

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. I look forward to reading more by J.R. Ellis.

The Yorkshire Murder Mystery series hits book number 7 and after being slightly disappointed with the last couple of outings for Oldroyd and colleagues Murder at St Anne’s sees a return to form with an enjoyable and very readable story.

Set appropriately in the depths of a snowstorm the storyline moves along at a good albeit never frantic pace with a few red herrings thrown in for good measure

Enjoyable.

Reverend Claire Wilcox rector of St Anne’s in Knaresborough, Yorkshire is on her way to a meeting with someone in the church ⛪️. The said person told her earlier that they had something to show her.

When she arrives at the church, she’s attacked with a blunt object by an assailant wearing a monk’s robe. Her body was later discovered by a churchwarden who had come to lock the church for the night.


Before she died, Claire was about to be consecrated as a bishop of Kendal. Who killed Claire and what was their motive?


DCI Jim Oldroyd and DS Andy Carter of the West Riding Police are called in to investigate. As they question suspects they learn from some of the churchgoers that Claire’s death might be connected to a legend of the ghost of a monk believed to haunt the church


Thank you to J. R. Ellis, NetGalley, and the Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC of this book.

Murder at St. Anne's by J. R. Ellis is a perfectly serviceable British mystery, a cozy almost. It didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy it. At times I found the language, even the dialogue, to be a little stilted, but it's a good story with lots of interesting characters, and I appreciated the comments on such topics as women and gays in the church. Well done, if a little underwhelming.

P. S. Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the story of an old church and the rumor of hauntings, which is spread to explain the murder of the new woman priest. But investigators are not sure about that.

Probably not his best book, but still very enjoyable. As usual set in Yorkshire with very eloquent descriptions of the local area, in this case Knaresborough. It is set around a murder at St Anne’s church, hence the title with all the usual cast of police, Oldroyd, Andy, Steph etc and their back stories. It was a very clever plot trying to identify the killer from all the suspect, but I felt there was something lacking which I cannot quite put my finger on. The end was quite long winded with rants about women in the church, which I feel could have been condensed.
After all that it was still an engaging read.

This was a great book great characters and such a good storyline. I love this author and can't wait to read more

The shocking murder of the female vicar of St.Anne's church pits DCI Jim Oldroyd against a diabolically clever killer. Adding to the confusion is the lack of motive and no weapon on the scene. Oldroyd's sister, another vicar and close friend of the victim, has only kinds words to say about Rev.Clare Wilcox and is as stumped as her brother about the murder. A witness describes seeing the ghost of a long-dead monk fleeing the crime scene. As much as the author believes shining a light on hatred and bigotry cleanses it away, I think the past few years have shown that is not the case. .

Review of eBook

The brutal murder of Reverend Clare Wilcox, the rector of the parish church of Saint Anne’s, brings Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd and Sergeant Andy Carter to Knaresborough, Yorkshire to investigate. As word of the crime spreads, rumors arise that the well-liked rector, who was bludgeoned in the church she’d served for five years, was the victim of the ghost of a medieval monk.

A severe winter storm leaves DCI Oldroyd dealing with ever-deepening snow and the persistent stories of the monk haunting the church and seeking revenge. But for Oldroyd, the solution to the case hinges on the motives and opportunities of the members of the church's congregation.

Doubting that anything supernatural has occurred, Oldroyd and Carter continue their investigation only to find themselves caught up in a second murder. And, for DCI Oldroyd, the case is personal . . . his sister, Alison, is vicar of Kirkby Underside and a close friend of the murdered woman.

Can the detectives find the truth amid stories of a phantom murderer . . . or does the ghost of the long-dead heretic truly haunt the church, seeking his revenge?

=========

Seventh in the Yorkshire murder mystery series, this book works well as a standalone for readers who may not have read the earlier books in the series. This atmospheric story, filled with the chill of deep snow and an inexplicable crime, pulls the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset.

Well-drawn, believable characters, a strong sense of place, and an intriguing mystery keep the pages turning as the unfolding story takes several unexpected twists and turns. Several characters emerge as likely suspects, but readers may find themselves surprised by the murderer’s identity.

The mystery, solid and compelling, keeps readers involved as the investigation takes some surprising turns. Woven into the story are several unexpected revelations that become important to the case but also offer commentary on current attitudes and are deserving of serious consideration. At times, however, there are conversations that seem created solely to present a politically correct emphasis and these are a bit off-putting.

Each chapter begins with a short segment from an M. R. James book, a nice touch for the telling of the tale. Fans of mystery tales will find much to appreciate in this police procedural.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley
#MurderatStAnnes #NetGalley

Murder most foul! Who is so depraved as to commit a murder in a church?

The Reverend Clare Wilcox is found murdered in St Anne's church in Knaresborough, Yorkshire. It is obvious that the instrument used was heavy and blunt but there is no sign of such a weapon. DCI Jim Oldroyd and his Sergeant Carter from the West Riding Police are called in on the case and are totally baffled. Motive is another conundrum--Rev Wilcox was much beloved by her congregation, well respected by the church hierarchy and was about to be appointed Bishop of Kendal in a few months' time. Who could have hated her enough to kill her? And why? Oldroyd has studied English at Oxford and likes to use literary references to illuminate his cases, and Macbeth and Othello come to mind, their potential for greatness destroyed by evil influences.

Or maybe it's a cross between M.R. James, the ghost story writer, and Edgar Allen Poe. There are those in the parish who want to believe it was the work of the ghost that haunts the church--that of a heretic monk who was put to death in the early history of the church. And in fact, someone in monk's robes was seen leaving the church shortly after the murder was committed.

Oldroyd is not taken in by this superstition, even after being the recipient of a ghostly visitation during one night spent in the church. He's determined he'll find the murderer amongst the living, especially after a second crime is committed.

They are not lacking for motives once they start questioning possible suspects. They uncover misogyny and homophobia amongst church members, someone who has been accused of theft, another of adultery. But are any of those reasons enough to kill?

I have now read three books in J. R. Ellis' Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series and I think this one is my favorite so far. There's an old-fashioned feel about the story, even though many of the issues that come up are very modern day. The story is set in January in Yorkshire where they suffer through a major snowstorm. How ironic to find a real life story in the news just recently about dozens of people who were stranded in a Yorkshire pub by a blizzard for three days. Life mirroring fiction!

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy British police procedurals. It keeps you guessing till the end!

Although part of a series this book definitely stands alone. The characters are easy to picture in your minds eye, as well as the dialog flows well. It does keep you guessing up to the end with a whole slew of potential suspects. Several murders and almost murders are happening in a short amount of time and it all involves the church in a small village keeping all the inhabitants on edge. Good mystery with smooth writing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an early read for an honest opinion.

I hadn't read this author before, but I will now seek out others in the series. The setting is chilling, the plot well done and the characters true to life, except for the ghost, of course. The police were very well portrayed, which I liked. The mystery itself had many twists and I couldn't put it down.

Another DNF for me, I'm afraid. I was a few chapters into this book, thinking "Man, this writing is pretty wooden...it reminds me of that other NetGalley mystery I read and couldn't finish awhile ago"--and then checked and saw that this is by the same writer. I'm very sorry, NetGalley and J. R. Ellis. The setting and the premise of both books are great, but I just find myself unable to engage with the characters or the story because of the stilted writing and dialogue.

Murder At St. Annes
J.R. Ellis
December 7, 2021

J.R. Ellis Yorkshire Murder Mystery series is a very interesting piece of fiction that I discovered on social media the other day. I then looked it up via Amazon and found his series to be a very similar plot to the Brit show, Midsomer Murders. It takes place in Yorkshire in the small town of Knaresborough. St. Annes is an old church with a congregation that is adamant in the strong beliefs of the Church of England. When the Reverend Clare Wilcox was made rector in the church, it was not just the men who were unhappy with her placement. Recently the officials appointed her to a higher position in a new location but with the holiday season in full force the move would not be made until January.
After answering calls and working in her study, Clare left the vicarage to meet with a parishioner. They said that they had something to show her. Although it was late in the day she planned to leave after her forum. The church was unlocked yet dark throughout the 19th century sanctuary. There was a light in the small room near the west tower. Uneasy with the silence she called out for assistance but no answer. As many suspense tales from the English countryside begin on an alarming note, we find ourselves certain that the worst will happen.
Murder At St. Annes is the 7th book in the Yorkshire series. It's an entertaining yet spooky type of tale. It does read a bit slower as the verbiage is Brit English for the most part so the reader can get lost in the dialect. J.R. Ellis´s most recent book is published by Thomas & Mercier. It will be available to the public on December 7, 2021. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review Murder At St. Annes. I have always enjoyed an English or Irish mystery but since we have immersed ourselves into different films via Acorn or BritBox it makes them more interesting and fun to read. Try this selection if you enjoy the Brits form of mystery. Enjoy.

I liked this book though I have never read the series or author before. I liked it well enough to read another installment in the series.
The mystery was intriguing and the characters well developed. The mystery focused on the murder of a female priest inside a church. The church has a reputation for being haunted, and the locals thought the ghost might be the killer. The extremist views about women in the Church of England priesthood were scary, as was certainly intended. I did not have the killer pegged. There were plenty of suspicious characters to keep the story interesting.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of Murder at St Anne’s, the seventh novel to feature DCI Jim Oldroyd of the Yorkshire Police.

Oldroyd and the team are called to Knaresborough where the vicar, Clare Wilcox, has been murdered in her own church. With inexplicable injuries and no murder weapon local superstition is soon blaming a ghostly monk, although Oldroyd isn’t so sure, especially when more violence ensues.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder at St Anne’s, which is a good, old fashioned murder mystery with a dash of humour to leaven the subject matter. The writing is clunky with a propensity for stating the obvious, but that doesn’t detract from the mystery or the warmth between the characters. I look forward to every instalment.

The plot is the thing in this novel, like the others in the series, so everything is a mystery - motive, perpetrator and method. The first two are not revealed until the denouement but the weapon becomes apparent about half way through. The reader will have to be ready for another fiendishly obscure method of killing. No, it’s probably not realistic, but it’s entertaining and I would never have worked it out.

The novel held my interest throughout with the puzzles it presents. I like that there are no chapters from the killer’s point of view so it’s all down to the little grey cells. I obviously don’t have enough of them as it had me baffled.

I like the characters in this series. They are smart and there is a warmth in the team that makes reading about them a pleasure. I also like that the author tries to tackle a different social issue in each novel, albeit with a sledgehammer, and that Oldroyd always treats it as a learning experience.

Murder at St Anne’s is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Clare Wilcox is Rector of St. Anne's. In a few months, she will become a bishop. She has an appointment with someone from the church and goes across from the vicarage to the church. The church is dark, but there is a light in the small room near the west tower. As she approaches, there was a creaking noise, and she is hit by a tremendous blow. Her body was found not too long after, when the church wardon, Avison come to lock the church for the night.

Jim Oldroyd and Andy Carter are called in the investigate. They look around and can't find what killed her. The pathologist say it was a very heavy object which smashed her head, broke her neck and nearly ripped out her shoulder. There is a story in the church about a medieval monk who was put to death and now haunts the church. The heavy snow causes Oldroyd and Carter to sleep in the church. In the middle of the night Oldroyd wakes up and sees a monk watching them. However, Oldroyd is sure it's someone dressed up to scare them. It soon comes out that there are members of the church who do not approve of female Rectors or Bishops. There are several possible culprits, and the police check and recheck the alibis.

Oldroyd's older sister Alison, also a rector was a close friend and mentor to Clare. When Oldroyd and Carter finally figure out how and why the murder was done, they also realize that Alison might also be in danger.

I think this is the best book of the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries so far! It is plausible and exciting.

Chief Inspector was called to solve the murder at St. Anne's Church where the body of Rev. Claire was found in the church. Questioning the members, a lot seem to believe there is a ghost that haunts the church because they were unable to find the weapon that killed her. A very suspenseful story that has a surprise ending.

In the chilly depths of a Yorkshire winter, a well-liked rector Clare Wilcox is found bludgeoned to death in her own church. With no sign of a murder weapon, local superstition quickly pins the blame on the ghost of a medieval monk believed to haunt the building. Well accustomed to unusual murder investigations, DCI Jim Oldroyd takes on the case, along with his assistant, Sergeant Andy Carter, but they are hampered at every turn by the deepening snow and the threat of the supernatural. Even as possible motives and opportunities begin to reveal themselves, Oldroyd struggles to find a better suspect than the hooded phantom.
This is the seventh book in the series & could quite easily be read on its own. Another very well written page turner which I made the mistake of starting on an evening so burned the midnight oil to finish it. The characters have depth & are well portrayed, there are plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns & I was left guessing as to who the murderer was. I thoroughly enjoyed it & roll on book eight
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I throughly enjoyed this book.I have never read this author before but after this I will be starting the series at the beginning. The characters were appealing and I loved the small village and the story line.It kept me guessing right to the end.I will definitely recommend This book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
The seventh in the series but the first I have read. It works perfectly well as a standalone but certainly made me want to read the others. One might expect this to be a cozy but it is certainly not that. Great, likeable characters. Police detective s who have a life,, family, and other interests. A plot that makes you think you have solved the crime and then it twists. Great read.

I read this book as an ARC.
I have read several of J.R. Ellis's murder mysteries set in West Yorkshire before starring DI Jim Oldroyd and DS Andy Carter.
This one is better than most and involves the murder of a Church of England (Anglican) priest in the parish church. Rev. Wilcox is a woman and soon to become a bishop.
The two detectives have a tough and bizarre case to solve when another murder and two assaults take place confusing everyone.
I loved the plot, the police work, and the typical village characters. It takes a while to even figure out the murder weapon, to say nothing of vague suspects and secrets withheld throughout.
As always, Ellis keeps the reader hopping and turning pages.
Recommend for mystery lovers everywhere.

"Murder at St. Anne's" was a good murder mystery. The book starts off with a paragraph about M.R. James, a late 19th/early 20th century author famous for his English ghost stories, often set in churches, libraries, graveyards, etc. Each chapter of the book starts with an excerpt from one of M.R. James' stories, and DCI Oldroyd is familiar with the books and mentions them in connection with the murder investigation at the center of this book, which involves the mysterious murder of Reverend Clare Wilcox, the vicar of St. Anne's. I appreciate that J.R. Ellis pays homage to a fellow writer and does so in an effective manner.

Clare's murder is mysterious because she was killed by blunt force trauma but there is no obvious murder weapon; the manner of death, once revealed, is quite creative. There are also a number of possible suspects, but no clear motive. Some of the parishioners were opposed to female priests, and were open about their opposition, but they said they got along with and liked Clare. One of the major themes of the book is the misogynistic views of some of the parishioners, and how they have distorted Biblical teachings to support their viewpoint. Adding to the mystery is the legend that the church is haunted by a monk who was persecuted and murdered by church officials centuries ago and went to his death cursing his killers, and who has been blamed for a series of mysterious deaths over the centuries, and who some parishioners claim to have seen. One of the strengths of the story is that multiple characters are hiding secrets, and appear as plausible suspects, or at least know more than they are letting on. The author reveals just enough details to keep the reader guessing about the possible killer and possible motive; in the end, the killer and motive are both surprising and not surprising. Adding to the suspense is that Clare was good friends with and had been mentored by vicar Alison Oldroyd, the sister of DCI Oldroyd, adding an extra personal dimension to the case.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book is set in Yorkshire UK and is the 7th book of the series. A woman rector is found bludgeoned to death in her own church. A local superstition blames the ghost of a medieval monk believed to haunt the building. DCI Jim Oldroyd takes on the case with his assistant, Sergeant Andy Carter. Has Oldroyd really found himself in the midst of a Gothic ghost story or is there a very real killer at large? I never read this author before but I did enjoy his writing. He gave interesting details about the Church of England and why men should be in charge of running the church. Many of the well-developed characters were suspects and they kept me guessing who the murderer was. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming. I look forward to reading more from this author. If you like British mysteries, then I am sure you would enjoy this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for a free copy for an honest review.

I had no problems with not having read the first six books in this series. I know the area of Yorkshire where the book takes place and have many pleasant memories of my time there. The author sprinkled in enough backstory of the main characters without creating info dumps.

I loved the snippets from the ghost stories that started each chapter. The only negative thing I found about the book, some chapters were exceptionally long.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Murder: A Medieval Monk, or a Live Murderer

St. Anne’s in Knaresborough, in Yorkshire, is an ancient church with a history of ghostly doings. A medieval monk seeking revenge is rumored to walk the church at night looking for victims. The Reverend Clare Wilcox is the latest victim. She was found bludgeoned to death in the church where she had gone to meet a parishioner.

DCI Oldroyd and Sargeant Andy Carter are assigned the case. Oldroyd finds it hard to believe that a ghost is killing people, but with no obvious murder weapon and parishioners convinced of the reality of the ghost, he has a difficult time. The case is personal for Oldroyd. Clare Wilcox was the protege of his sister Alison, also a cleric. The weather is no help. Knaresborough experiences a snow storm that has Oldroyd and Andy spending the night in the church complete with a visitation from the ghost.

This is another delightful glimpse of Yorkshire. I am always drawn into the story as much by the description of the area as the plot. Oldroyd is unperturbed by the unusual aspects of the case and works step by step to uncover the truth. I particularly like mysteries where the detective gathers information and finds clues rather than violence and chasing criminals.

The interactions between the main characters are well done. However, I did miss Stephanie, Oldroyds other assistant. She made only brief appearances. The plot moves well and keeps you guessing about the motives of the people in town and particularly about the method of murder. I recommend this one. It’s part of a series, but this book can be read as a standalone.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

This is the 7th book in the series and as I had not read the previous books I was worried that I might not know what was going on, but this story stands alone and can be read separately. This is a great story and reminds me of a British TV series that I watch a lot called Midsomer Murders. I can't wait to read the previous books in this series.

Blizzard Conditions, Deepening Snow….
The seventh in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series finds DCI Jim Oldroyd with a veritable conundrum when a seemingly well liked and well respected rector is found bludgeoned to death in her church. Amidst blizzard conditions and deepening snow, Oldroyd struggles to solve a case further hampered by ghostly tales.of the supernatural. With well crafted characters and a nicely portrayed mystery this is an immersive, entertaining read and a worthy addition to this most enjoyable series.

It's is said we are all only six degrees away from someone else. In this case, the victim is a close friend to the responding DCI officer's sister. Making those six degrees very small indeed. But who would want to kill a pastor who was so well loved by all? The more he digs, the more Oldroyd finds more possible suspects, but not enough motive. This is a great add to the series, bringing in strengths of character from Oldroyd and his team, and allowing them to shine. If you love the series, don't miss this one, if you're new to it, this is a good late entry!

7th book in the series, but my 1st introduction to the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries. Beloved Rev Clare Wilcox at St Anne’s is found brutally murdered in the church. DCI Oldroyd and Sergeant Andy Carter are on the case. There are many possible suspects and a ghostly Monk thrown into the mix. A very good who done it mystery that will keep you guessing. The characters are realistic and the storyline will keep you turning pages. Now to backtrack and read the previous books.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #MurderatStAnnes

Murder at St Anne's is a fun, quick mystery for cozy mystery lovers. DCI Jim Oldroyd and his partner Andy Carter are called in to investigate when Reverend Clare Wilcox is found murdered in her own church under mysterious circumstances. Between the blizzard and rumors of the ghost of a murderous monk this was a fun winter mystery for mood readers. The writing style is a bit tell not show for me, but overall I enjoyed this book. This is the seventh mystery in a series, but can be read as a standalone. Unlike some mystery series, there don't seem to be any personal storylines that develop throughout the series, so I didn't feel like I was missing out or coming in at the middle of the story.

Murder at St. Anne's was a solid murder mystery, however, my rating was based on the characters and the flow of the story.

Characters:
The characters fell flat for me. I was not cheering for or against them and was extremely indifferent to them. I am a reader that needs to connect with the characters in some way regardless of who they are written to be. I love a really good villian, so the character does not necessarily have to be pleasant for me to appreciate them. The characters in Murder at St. Anne's were dull and very two dimensional. The conversations between them were mundain and seemed to be more of an inconvenience between characters as opposed to a growth or relationship development opportunity. Conversations between "old friends" seemed forced and not genuine in any way. Even news of a death did not seem to phase other characters which is something I need to feel in characters that I am reading.

Story Flow:
J.R. Ellis provided a good environment for this murder mystery. I appreciated the references to the scenery and the details in the churches. The paragraph flow was not as smooth and easy to read. I would sometimes lose focus during character conversations because the characters themselves did not seem invested in the conversations so why should I? The conversations also felt forced throughout the book, the characters did not seem like they wanted to be in the novel which made the story drag on. Again, the murder mystery aspect of the story was interesting enough, but I felt no connection to the events occuring and the transition from one sceen to another was sudden and did not transition nicely.

Overview:
I wanted to love this book, it seemed like a light and fun winter murder mystery, but the story seemed more religious to me than an actual story. I hope that makes sense. The religious aspect and the setting were more developed than the characters were. I felt like the focus could have been a little more balanced and a little more focus on the development of characters instead of short insights into their past woud have made things flow a little better for me.

Nice mystery, works as a stand alone, and enough red herrings to keep readers occupied. My only problem was occasionally the explanations slowed down the story flow. Good descriptions of Irish countryside and culture, enough to hook you in.