Death and the Chaste Apprentice

At the Ketterick Arts Festival, the apprentice is just about the only fella that is chaste, know what I mean (wink wink nudge nudge)? Ah, the pleasures of smutty innuendo, and no one relishes them more than Des Capper, a font of dubious gossip and unwanted advice. To the horror of the actors and singers performing at the Festival, Des has been promoted to landlord of the Saracen's Head, the Elizabethan inn that is at the Festival's heart. And when Des toddles off to meet his maker-courtesy of someone's helpful shove?only his wretched wife can summon up a tear. Readers, meanwhile, will have trouble containing their snickers at the wickedly witty characterizations.

At the Ketterick Arts Festival, the apprentice is just about the only fella that is chaste, know what I mean (wink wink nudge nudge)? Ah, the pleasures of smutty innuendo, and no one relishes them more than Des Capper, a font of dubious gossip and unwanted advice. To the horror of the actors and singers performing at the Festival, Des has been promoted to landlord of the Saracen's Head, the Elizabethan inn that is at the Festival's heart. And when Des toddles off to meet his maker - courtesy of someone's helpful shove - only his wretched wife can summon up a tear. Readers, meanwhile, will have trouble containing their snickers: While the mystery is a stunner (with a pair of twists that no one will see coming), it is the wickedly witty characterizations that make Chaste Apprentice the literary definition of a guilty pleasure. Hard to resist . . .my, but it's fun to read Robert Barnard - New York Times

Publishers Weekly

Irreverently humorous, inventive Barnard ( At Death's Door ) captivates readers with his latest effort, this one enhanced by the ambience of the Saracen's Head outside London where performers have gathered since medieval days to re-create, fittingly, Elizabethan entertainments. Under the new management of Des Capper, a ``loathsome know-all,'' the inn becomes a crime scene when he is murdered and all present, save one, had cause to kill the bounder. The exception is Capper's meek wife, in plain sight when the deed was done, concludes Inspector Dundy as he investigates with help from smart, appealing detective Charlie Peace. Charlie finds clues in Capper's hidden notes suggesting blackmail threats to the play's ``chaste apprentice,'' a Russian soprano; to the agent of an angelic, East-Indian countertenor and others. At the decisive moment, Peace and Dundy realize the cap-a-pie and readers will exult in the kicker that ends this seductive story. Mystery Guild selection. (Sept.)