In Neville Stewart's latest case, a young teenager is found dead in a churchyard, stabbed through the neck. In the meantime, Callie is attending a course in Cambridge, where gossip about a lecturer's relationship with a student is swirling about.

Sometimes thematically similar incidents where you think "This isn't going to end well" fizzle out and sometimes the foreseeable results do actually ensue. It's an interesting way of keeping the uncertainty and suspense going. ( )

Book Review & Giveaway: We’ve reviewed several clerical mysteries in the past. I knew Kate Charles’ Callie Anson mysteries series was quite popular in the UK and it’s more of a 21st century series than some. When I learned False Tongues, the new novel in that series, was going to be published in the U.S., I jumped on it. The whole novel takes place in one week of Callie’s life. Cyber-bullying, love and loss, peer pressure, and family expectations all play a role in this very personal mystery. It’s not quite like any mystery I’ve ever read so I’m happy to host a pay-it-forward giveaway for the copy I received that someone will win at http://popcornreads.com/?p=8479. ( )

Callie Anson is the main character of this mystery series, she's barely connected to the mystery in this book. While Callie reluctantly returns to Cambridge for a class reunion, her current boyfriend assists with a murder investigation. While Callie is a likable, well-developed character, she wasn't necessary for this story. The mystery portion of the book is nicely paced but the portrayal of the murder victim's mother and the reason for the murder were uncomfortably close to stereotypes.

Note: this review is based on an ARC received from the publisher ( )

A person-centered mystery with multiple plots, featuring a young woman priest in the Church of England and a teenager found dead in a London park.

Alternating chapters in False Tongues follow the various subplots of the book. Callie returns to the theological school in Cambridge for a reunion with others of her graduating class from the previous year. Her return reignites her feelings about a man she had loved while a student. Another plot-line involves the murdered body of a teenage boy from a prosperous family. Callie has only indirect involvement with the murder or the secrets surrounding it. The man she now loves is part of the investigation, but he is not the primary detective in charge. Other subplots develop around the boy who was killed and his family and friends, the family of the priest who is Callie’s supervisor, and various individuals she encounters in Cambridge.

Recently it seems that every book I read has the structure of alternating chapters following different narratives. Perhaps authors find this an easy way to introduce varied characters and issues. For mystery writers it may be a way to involve the characters in previous books in a series. Some writers handle this structure better than others. I find this approach tends to make books broad and shallow rather than delving deep in characters or issues. That may be what authors and readers want. I am currently longing for a book with one central, chronological story.

Yet, False Tongues is an engaging book which includes interesting characters and issues. I liked how Charles treated the gay men in the book; with casual acceptance in most cases but with sensitivity to their particular problems in others. The institutional church setting was unusual and women priests like Callie are still a novelty for some. The treatment of religion was not heavy-handed, although the useful guidance from the older priest became a bit preachy.

I recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries focused on character rather than gore. ( )

Teenage bullying, homophobia, gossip and the Church of England including Rev. Callie who is in love with an Italian police officer whose family is very RC and don't exactly welcome a clergy woman from the C of E. Great as usual. Charles always keep me reading and I am now ready for her next book. ( )