SIDNEY CHAMBERS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Anyone who is lucky enough to encounter Canon Sidney Chambers is in for a grand treat. This is the first of six Grantchester Mysteries. Narrator Peter Wickham epitomizes Sidney; his backgammon playing buddy, Detective Keating; his opinionated housekeeper, Mrs. Maguire; and the diverse rich, poor, educated, and earthy people who inhabit Sidney's world. Wickham's splendid vocal shifts capture the wide range of emotions Sidney feels over his growing concern that a doctor is speeding along his patients to death. Wickham also movingly conveys the Canon’s pain in the moments he questions his faith or makes insightful remarks about his wealthy parishioners’ occasional lack of empathy. This is a flawless glimpse at a bygone era by Runcie, whose father was the Archbishop of Canterbury. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]