For our contributor Spriteby, The Shadow of Death was the top book of 2012. She wrote: “In May, I reviewed this debut novel by James Runcie, which introduced us to his Grantchester Mysteries and sleuthing vicar Rev Canon Sidney Chambers. Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death is a series of six short stories involving murder and theft, which have Sidney juggling his parochial obligations with those of his informal investigations. If you’re UK-based, you may have heard the stories adapted for radio recently on BBC Radio 4, and read by Alex Jennings.”

Read the full review here.