The Problem of Evil | James Runcie

Theoretically, I should love everything about this series. I love the ITV show, which in my opinion deserves the same acclaim as Sherlock; I adore Cambridge and Grantchester; I admire Runcie's work on the JK Rowling documentary, and am fascinated by his father's Archbishop of Canterbury background. Not to mention the stunning book jackets.

But it is simply time to admit that I simply don't like these books that much. Not only do they lack the themes of race and sexuality that make the TV show so fascinating as a portrayal of 50s England, they are also stylistically flat. The narration is more didactic than expository, over-explaining aspects of English life or unsubtly incorporating pop culture history lessons.

Moreover, as opposed to the stirring, tumultuous relationship between TV-Sidney and Amanda, "The Problem of Evil" is dominated by book-Sidney's extraordinarily insecure and possessive wife, Hildegaard (whom one cannot help but wish victim to one of the mysteries)...

4/10