A remarkable, fascinating murder mystery. The Reluctant Detective Martha Ockley Monarch Books March 2011 Faith Morgan, former policewomen. is a recently ordained priest in the Church of England. She is visiting the village of Little Worthy to look over the parish. The present vicar, Alistair Ingram, is retiring due to a serious heart problem. She has been asked by Bishop Anthony Beech to consider taking over the parish. Service has just begun and Vicar Alistair is preparing to serve communion. As he drinks from the chalice, he clutches his chest and falls to the floor. Faith's police training kicks in - she races to the vicar's side and starts to administer CPR. Something is not quite right - his lips are turning blue - there is a foreign substance on his face. She urges Pat, the church warden to call the police. To her surprise, the detective who arrives on the scene is her former partner and boyfriend Detective Inspector Ben Shorter. The incident is declared murder and Faith struggles with how she is going to handle the situation. She and Ben did not part on very good terms. He doesn't much believe in God and resents her calling. Now what is she to do? Should she just walk away and let Ben handle the problem? Faith's visit with Bishop Beech and his wife results in Faith agreeing to take over the parish for the time being. What is her role - priest or policewoman? She has many questions, but no answers. Who in Little Worthy could be mad enough at Alistair to poison the communion wine? Faith cannot seem to let well enough alone - she becomes involved in the investigation and buts head with Ben. She takes all her findings to Sergeant Peter Gray - the officer working with Ben. She is afraid Ben will laugh at her and tell her to but out. As Faith digs deeper into the murder she learns some surprising details about her apparently well-loved predecessor and members of the church. Bishop Beech's son is a missionary to Africa and home on a visit to straighten out some financial matters. He learns his wife is missing and retreats to the Bishop's summer home. Faith is beginning to become suspicious - things are just not what they seem. Could Simon Beech be involved in the deaths of Alistair and his wife Celia? One must read this remarkable book to learn how Faith handles the murder, her parish and Ben. This is book one in the Faith Morgan Murder Mystery series. The book ushers in intrigue and suspense in an unusual setting. Highly recommended. Ms. Ockley is an excellent writer of fiction.