Murder in a Cathedral

June 2, 1997
The satire in Edwards's latest Robert Amiss tale (after Ten Lords A Leapin') is overshadowed by the abrasive, self-centered Lady Troutbeck (aka Jack), who takes Robert to the installation of another friend as the new bishop of Westonbury Cathedral. Jack, who is described as resembling Ethel Merman and being a "sexy" Margaret Rutherford, bullies her way through the crises at Westonbury. Focusing on arguments about High and Low Church of England practices and gay and lesbian clergy in the church, Edwards gives Jack the C of E traditionalist position, which she advocates loudly. Critical mass is achieved at Westonbury when the Dean, who is, observes Jack, part of the "happy-clappy... bible thumping rave," interrupts a "coming-out service... for a group of lesbian witches." Changes are in the offering when the Dean decides to restructure the cathedral's music and services to be "sing-alongs for Jesus." A wave of violence ensues, beginning with the apparent suicide of the choirmaster. By throwing in everything but the baptismal font, Edwards has created a dissonant hodgepodge of ideas and characters.