Bone idle - Suzette Hill

This is the third novel featuring the Revd Francis Oughterard, vicar of St Botolph's and genteel murderer of parishioner Mrs Elizabeth Fotherington.

So far eluding arrest (but with fears of imminent exposure), he is in the grip of his blackmailing pal, the shady Nicholas Ingaza who forces him to steal a valuable figurine of a prancing pig from collector Claude Blenkinsop.

Naturally the project backfires and the hapless vicar is plunged into further skulduggery, during which someone is murdered. The Reverend's despairing efforts to distance himself from the crime and additional police interest lead to embarrassing complications both for himself and his bishop, the pompous Horace Clinker.

Things come to a head when Oughterard's own life is put at risk by a crazed and menacing character called Victor Crumpemeyere. Once again it is up to his world-weary cat, Maurice and intrepid mongrel, Bouncer, to save the Reverend's bacon.

Praise for Suzette A. Hill:

'Perfect one-sitting summer read.' Laura Wilson, Guardian

'I think this is tremendous - amusing and professional' Dame Beryl Bainbridge

'E F Benson crossed with Jerome K Jerome'
The Times audiobooks review

'Quite why this series should be charming, astringent and witty, instead of emetically twee, I am not sure, but it is entirely delightful' Guardian

'This dry, funny British gem, with its eccentric cast of characters, will have readers laughing and eagerly awaiting the next episode' Publishers Weekly

'An intriguingly quirky read! And Maurice the cat is a very clever puss indeed!' Leslie Phillips OBE