Review of Tony Burton's

A Wicked Good Play

"If any would not work, neither should he eat."
--New Testament, II Thessalonians, III, 10

Pastor Thomas Wilson, the central character in Tony Burton's delightful mystery, A Wicked Good Play (Honey Locust Press), is no slouch; he more than earns his bread.  In addition to his pastoral duties at Holly Creek Christian Church, he solves mysteries on the side.  He's good at both jobs and is also a devoted father (to adopted baby daughter Deanna) and loving husband (to wife Amy).

The plot revolves around several mysteries: gunshots in the middle of the night shattering the calm of the Wilson household, a mysterious figure who appears to commune with animals, and a student actor who drops dead in the middle of a performance.  There's an interesting cast of characters spanning a variety of age groups. 

Pastor Wilson is an extremely likable character; he is an astute observer of human nature, a kind and talented advisor to members of his flock, and an absolutely wonderful listener.  All of these characteristics make him a successful amateur detective. 

Burton introduces each chapter with a quote from Scripture, a welcome and unique touch.  The descriptions of family life and the village community provide a nice "homey" feel to the book.  By contrast, the sport of hunting plays an important role in the plot; descriptions of some special features of this sport are quite engrossing. 

Also recommended is Blinded by Darkness (Honey Locust Press), the first in Burton 's Pastor Wilson series.  The new edition of Blinded comes with a bonus, two short stories about happenings in the earlier life of several of the characters.

Pastor Wilson deserves a large and devoted following.  Tony Burton's mysteries are heavenly! 

Reviewed by Gail Farrelly, author of

Creamed at Commencement:  A Graduation Mystery,
Beaned In Boston: Murder At a Finance Convention and
Duped By Derivatives: A Manhattan Murder