Max Tudor never ceases to be fascinating. Malliet's MI5 agent turned Anglican priest continues to be such a fresh concept, even in this third novel of the series. The secret here, I think, is the continued development of the characters and their relationships. A lot of cozies have romantic relationships that develop throughout the series, but none so odd as that of haunted, handsome, and devout Max and Awena, the beautiful new-age free spirit. The village of Nether Monkslip is as much a character as any of the people in the book.
In Pagan Spring, the murder victim is Thaddeus Bottle, an egotistical retired actor and playwright. Thaddeus recently moved back to the village of his birth with his downtrodden wife Melinda. When he is discovered dead in bed by his wife, the initial assumption is that he suffered a natural death. He was 78 years old. Max, of course, becomes suspicious when he notices a small amount of blood on Thaddeus's neck and the inevitable conclusion is murder.
Malliet does a tremendous job of introducing and developing the relationships among the various residents of Nether Monkslip. The Cut & Curl, the Writers' Square, and Awena's shop / studio all provide the reader with ample opportunity to experience the heart and soul of the village and to gain more insight into the life of this charming place. I will say that I did have a few suspicions regarding who might be the culprit in this one, but I was still surprised by the ending. I enjoyed every moment of this mystery and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
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