Jealousy, intolerance, murder and scandal! - Rated 
The issues some of the characters faced in the story were very real and the characters themselves were believable. However unlike another reviewer, I did feel I was being manipulated by the author, which was odd really because I already agreed with her views, therefore didn't need manipulating. It seemed to me that the author was on a personal crusade to bring these issues to the forefront and persuade the reader to be sympathetic. I'm not knocking Kate's highlighting of the issues concerned (homosexuality, racism and women priests) but felt that the 'argument' was very black and white i.e. if you're a rational, modern, intelligent person you will think one way and if you're archaic, narrow minded and bigoted you'll think the opposite. In my experience, life isn't that simple and people often struggle with how they feel on some of these issues. The only characters who were shown to do that were Elsie and Dennis Harrington.
This didn't spoil my enjoyment though. It was interesting to understand some of the terms and traditions associated with the Anglican Church and refreshing to see the clergy portrayed as normal.
Extremes that touch us - Rated 
Kate Charles'study of the tensions within the church and within society continues in 'Evil Intent'as she explores the issue of spiritual and moral authority: who holds it, who opposes it and what underlies the strong feelings about leadership by women and gay clergy. She symbolises this, as ever, by means of a murder story. So who, amongst these liberal and conservative holy people, is really dangerous? And is that relevant, as well as being a good read? Yes, I think it is. Religion is significant in political agendas and has its own form of politics that can be just as dirty. Kate Charles heightens the contrasts to show something real, and is clever enough to keep us questioning our own sympathies and assumptions.
We should have bought two copies! - Rated
My wife and I made the mistake of starting the book at the same time. We didn't want to put it down, but had to - to let each other read it. My wife has read Kate Charles before, but this was a first for me. We agreed that the plot was well constructed, and it kept us guessing (wrongly) to the grisly end. The characters were well rounded and believable, without being caricatures. Not least, it was a novel that made us think more about the issues facing today's Church, without preaching to us!
EVIL INTENT - Rated
I am not a fan of crime fiction and not a church-goer but was recommended to read Evil Intent and was immediately struck by the roundness and plausibility of the characters and by the handling of the ecclesiatical themes. Without ever feeling I was being manipulated by the author, I nevertheless found myself turning pages, eager to know how things would turn out for each of her human creations and I became intrigued with the unfamiliar (to me) accounts of conflicting factions within the Church of England. The ecclesiastical scenario might easily have suggested stereotypical characters and events: Kate Charles succeeds in going beyond the stereotypes and in creating a convincing, living chunk of current Anglican life. And, yes, I was caught out at several turns when I thought I'd guessed who had done it. This is my first Kate Charles and I am looking forward to reading more.
Kate Charles better than ever! - Rated
I was thrilled to read a new Kate Charles novel and thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot is compelling and the characters colorful. Charles vividly portrays her fictional world and knows just how to build tension and create suspense. While another reviewer charges that her portrayal of hostility toward women's ordination in the Church of England is dated, the reality is that Charles is deadly accurate in her description. This is the best book yet from Kate Charles, and I highly recommend it.
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