Pagan Spring

A Max Tudor Novel, Book 3

By: G. M. Malliet

Narrated by: Michael Page

Vicar Max Tudor, reveling in his new-found personal happiness with Awena Owen, feels that life at the moment holds no greater challenge than writing his Easter sermon. With Awena away, he looks forward to a dinner that includes newcomers to the village like West End dramatist Thaddeus Bottle and his downtrodden wife Melinda. But when one of the dinner guests is found dead in the pre-dawn hours, Max knows a poisonous atmosphere has once again enveloped his perfect village of Nether Monkslip. Connections to long-ago crimes, some sparked by the paintings of a famous local artist, help Max unravel the clues - but can he restore peace to Nether Monkslip and still manage to finish his sermon?

©2013 G.M. Malliet (P)2013 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"Contemporary cozies don't get much better than Agatha-winner Malliet's third Max Tudor mystery." ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

Book good. Narrator fantastic.

I'm totally enthralled by the narration of Michael Page. If I were still in Britian, I suppose I'd have to say I am besotted.

Couldn't put this down

First of all, I could listen to Michael Page forever. I love his voice. He does G.M. Malliet's work a great service. There have been times when I couldn't listen to a book because the narration is so bad. That's unfair to the author, in my opinion. But this is certainly not one of those cases. Page does wonderful work!

Max Tudor is a different kind of priest. That's good for making him the hero in this series. He's called a "murder magnet" somewhat tongue in cheek but it does seem he finds himself surrounded by more than his fair share. But, heck, that's what makes this series interesting and fun.

This latest mystery is another winner for Malliet. I never saw this ending coming as it did. We also see the relationship between Max and Awena develop. I can't wait to see where that goes!

I really liked this and I'm getting the next book immediately.

Surprising great find

British cozy mysteries are my favorite genre, and I was happy to find the Max Tudor series.

My favorites contain the following: a clear, pleasing British reader; intelligent, likable detective and cohort (someone with whom to discuss the case), attractive setting (the village wasn't described much in this book), dislikable victim, and interesting additional characters.

I look forward to the series with great interest, and will look for all Malliet books.

An engaging story, beautifully written and narrated

The Max Tudor books were new to me, as was Audible, as I began listening a few weeks ago. There is humor, poignancy and such imagination in the details. I now look forward to Summer!

Great book for Agatha Christie fans!

PAGAN SPRING returns us to the small English village of Nether Monkslip where Max Tutor is an ex MI5 agent turned Anglican priest. His love life with the controversial spiritualist, Awena Owins, continues to blossom. Max also steps into a new possible murder. Thaddeus Bottle has moved back to a hugely renovated mansion in his family's home village. But humble he is not. Everything is about him and his desires. He desire is to be the center of everything, and his recent dinner party brings some upstanding townspeople to his home so they can properly admire the "celebrity" amongst them. But perhaps everyone is not quit so enamored as he might have hoped, as he's dead by the next morning.

Malliet fills her book with wonderful dry English humor, exquisite small town cliches, lovely clues, and characters that definitely entertain the senses. In this particular book, she also deal thoughtfully with some very serious subject matter from World War 2. Must read for cozy fans who want everything a cozy promises plus some excellent commentary on serious matters. Her best one yet!

I really wanted to like this series, but . . .

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I really wanted to like this series. It has some great characters and some interesting twists and turns, but after having read the first 3 books I am going to give up. Father Max has the potential to be a strong lead, but honestly, if the author didn't keep reminding me of his background and how much the villagers (especially the women) were impressed with him I would think of him as a shallow, mostly ineffective character. He just never seems to me to warrant the complements that the other characters continue to give him. He doesn't seem to have great sleuthing skills and his internal monologue is almost whining. When he "solves" the case it seems to be in a vacuum -- he has lots of wrong guesses and then gets quiet and suddenly springs out the solution. Frustrating and disappointing.

too much perfection

too much talk about his perfect mate and not enough mystery. sick of perfect people who are beautiful and have small feet and are successful.

Wish there were more "seasons" in the year!

I really enjoy the Max Tudor mysteries, and this one did not disappoint in any way. The characters are well developed, and the mystery is fun to try to solve as the story progresses. This series has so far utilized Autumn and Winter--and presumably the next one will be summer. I wonder where GM Malliet will go after that? I pray there will be more Max Tudor books for a long time to come (note to author--you could go for the months, the days, the zodiac signs, --anything--just keep on writing :-) The narration is excellent! A great read!

A very complex story that is totally addictive!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pagan Spring?

Gabby's telling of her history was shocking and spell-binding (and happens in the last hour of the book).

What does Michael Page bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Page's narration is melodious. He keeps the voices of the characters separate, so it is clear who is saying what. This is very important in a complex murder mystery. He is able to characterize each one so that it is not just a different voice, but it sounds like that character "ought to" sound based on personality, back story, etc.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You bet! In fact, the past few days, I listened to the first, second, and now this, the third book in the series. Addictive!

Any additional comments?

I enjoy this narrator so much, and the rhythm of the stories, that if I've found I did not fully hear or take in some of the story, I will run it back to hear it again. I do this frequently. Quite enjoyable with these stories and narrator.
Also, the relationship between Max and Awena takes a shocking turn! I will not spoil it for you. But I CANNOT WAIT till my next month's credits so I can listen to the fourth book! (Sadly, I MUST wait...)

Complex plot, interesting characters

Definitely a cozy but more serious and deep than most cozies. I like the series - I am getting to know some of the village regulars.

I could listen to Michael Page all night!