First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 

. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . now hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.

 

Today I'm featuring an upcoming read, The Shadow of Death by Jane Willan.  It's the first book in the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn mystery series.

First Chapter:  Jacob Traherne, sexton at St. Anselm Church in the tiny North Wales village of Pryderi, slung his wet mop across the chancel floor and thought about rugby.  First tenor for the North Wales Rugby Choir, he hummed through his solo piece for that night's opening playoff between the Ospreys and the Dragons.  Gripping the mop in one hand, he raised his other hand like a priest blessing the congregation and belted out the first lines to the old Welsh hymn Cwm Rhondda.

Guide me, O my great Redeemer,

pilgrim through this barren land.

What do you think?  Would you continue reading?

I'm always up for beginning a new mystery series, and this one has several factors I find appealing: a Welsh setting; a mystery-loving and budding novelist nun; and a priest who is her sidekick.  I'm expecting a fresh and interesting scenario and healthy dose of humor in this story.

 

This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.  It cannot be republished without attribution.