Cecilian Vespers: A Collins-Burke Mystery, Book 4

By: Anne Emery

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Lawyer and bluesman Monty Collins is used to defending murderers - and occasionally investigating murders himself - but he's never come up against anything like the case of Reinhold Schellenberg, a world-renowned German theologian who has been found dead on the altar of an old church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saint Cecilia's Day. The controversial priest, once a top insider in the Vatican, was known to provoke strong feelings in Catholics of all ideological stripes, and now those feelings have overflowed with horrifying results.

At least Monty knows where to look for clues: his friend Father Brennan Burke has just opened a choir school at the church, and the students provide an international cast of suspects - including a flamboyant Sicilian priest, an eccentric English monk, a disgruntled American, a Vatican enforcer, a church lady with a history of violence, and most perplexing of all, a police officer from the former East Berlin.

©2009 Anne Emery (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The large pool of suspects from around the globe ensure a challenging whodunit. Readers interested in the history and impact of the Vatican II reforms will be especially rewarded." (Publishers Weekly)

"Emery continues to imbue her stories with a strong sense of place, using real Halifax street names and plenty of affectionate descriptions of the weather and countryside. Series readers will be pleased with the new story and character developments, as will those looking for a fresh setting." (Booklist)

"A sparkling novel . . . Emery has continued her winning ways." (Waterloo Region Record)

Too Many Characters!

I *LOVE* the Collins-Burke Series!! I can't buy the next one right away due to the budget - and I think I am having withdrawals!! That said, this was not my favorite... while I like the story/plot, there were so many characters - I found it hard to keep up with all of them. I think if I had been READING instead of LISTENING, maybe it would not have seemed so overwhelming? Not sure! Still love the characters and the series! The narrator is remarkable! This makes me want to learn more about the Catholic faith!

Intensely Catholic

Although this is an intriguing mystery/legal thriller, it draws very heavily on arcane details of Catholicism, music, philosophy and politics. This can either excite or turn off the listener. Narrator did well except in his portrayal of female characters (both children and adults) which was irritating.

Buona Novella

Very good, loved the Italian parts. Wished I could hear the music! Sad ending, on many levels.

Good Irish Characters

Very good to listen to. Good squats and turns in the plot. Have enjoyed other reads of Anne's. Am not long on words.

Jumped the shark

What was most disappointing about Anne Emery’s story?

So disappointed to see interesting characters end up in a plot involving Nazis, stolen necklaces, etc. The charm of Book 1 of the series was lost here.

Disappointing

What could Anne Emery have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

make "Normi" less irritating and annoying and generally have a smaller role in this story. She is supposed to be 8 years old but her behaviour is much younger than that and I don't understand why she features so heavily in this supposedly murder mystery book. It isn't like she develops in any notable way...

What about Christian Rummel’s performance did you like?

what's not to like? he is a hugely talented 'voice actor' making all the characters come alive, even to the point of being annoying! (see above comment!!)

What character would you cut from Cecilian Vespers: A Collins-Burke Mystery, Book 4?

Normi

Any additional comments?

too much additional stuff about Catholicism and even music - and even the private life of Collins all of which is to plump out what is in the end, a very thin storyline. I liked one and two in the series, wasn't so sure with the third and now with the fourth may go no further with Burke and Collins. The characters don't really develop, they keep making the same mistakes and I find that I don't really care what happens to Collins and his 'family' as he seems incapable of learning from his mistakes.

Simply doesn't work

I am disappointed and sorry to agree with other reviews -- the first book was full of spark, personality and plot. -- this one is simply DOA. And there's nothing wrong with bringing some details of a particular religion into a story -- Faye Kellerman and others do it and I find it interesting -- but here it's like Emery is using liturgical detail to fill the spaces she can't otherwise fill. The quirky personality that gave the first book humor and a touch of crazy-wisdom came across in this one as self-indulgent and mean. I didn't finish it. I hope Emery gets back in touch with spark and humor of the first book.