Richard Coles Books In Order

Publication Order of Canon Clement Books

Publication Order of Improbable Satins Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

About Richard Coles

Reverend Richard Coles is a highly talented British personality and author. He is a Church of England priest, a broadcaster, a writer and a musician. He has three Top Ten hits as the multi-instrumentalist with the band The Communards. He also attended King’s College London and was appointed parish priest of St Mary the Virgin in Finedon.

Coles is also renowned for his ability to craft compelling stories with engaging narratives. His books and stories captivate readers, as he brings characters to life with vivid detail. His protagonists often find themselves in a range of difficult situations, and readers love to follow them on their adventures. His writing style is unique in its ability to captivate the imagination and bring stories to life.

His gift for writing has allowed him to create a variety of different stories, ranging from mysteries and memoirs, to adventure tales and more. He often draws from his own life to inspire his writing, making his memoirs full of humor and warmth. He also has a great talent for capturing the essence of his characters, as he is able to bring them to life by drawing from his own life.

He has a great gift for writing with heart and humor, providing readers with a sense of joy and laughter. He is able to use his own life experiences to make his characters seem more real, allowing readers to connect with them in a more meaningful way. He also has a great degree of warmth and understanding in his writing, making his stories even more enjoyable to read.

Overall, Reverend Richard Coles is an incredible writer and storyteller. His ability to draw from his own life to craft captivating stories has made him a favorite among readers and critics alike. His talent for writing with humor, heart, and warmth has allowed him to create stories that are both entertaining and inspiring.

Early and Personal Life

Richard Keith Robert Coles was born on the 26th of March, 1962 in Northampton, England. His grandfather had a prosperous shoe business, but it ultimately declined, causing his family to experience financial hardship. Coles was schooled at Wellingborough School and South Warwickshire College of Further Education, and studied theology at King’s College London.

The talented musician was self-taught on the saxophone, clarinet and keyboards. In 1983 he joined the popular band Bronski Beat, and in 1985 formed The Communards with singer Jimmy Somerville. Their cover of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” was the best-selling single of 1986.

Coles’ career in television, radio and theatre has flourished. He is known as the presenter of Songs of Praise and host of Saturday Live on Radio 4, and was crowned champion of BBC’s Celebrity Mastermind in 2014. He was also a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef in 2016 and Strictly Come Dancing in 2017.

Additionally, Coles is a Labour Party member and participates in the Gaelic Athletic Association. In 2019, after the death of his partner, he moved to Friston, East Sussex, to be closer to his former manager and friend. He has been candid about his sexuality, mental health struggles and has been a source of inspiration for many coping with similar issues.

Writing Career

Richard Coles is an established writer, having published multiple volumes of memoirs, collections of stories, and now a mystery series. In 2012, his book Lives of the Improbable Saints was published, the first of two volumes of stories about lesser-known saints. This was followed in 2014 by the first volume of his memoirs, Fathomless Riches, and a second volume, Bringing in the Sheaves, in 2016.

In 2022, Richard Coles released his debut mystery novel, Murder Before Evensong, the first volume in the Canon Clement Mystery series. An omnibus edition, Young Mungo/Murder Before Evensong, was also released in 2022 in collaboration with Douglas Stuart. Coles continues to write, releasing the second volume of the series, A Death in the Parish, in 2023, and the third volume in 2024.

Fathomless Riches

In October 2014, the autobiography ‘Fathomless Riches: Or How I Went From Pop to Pulpit’ was released in hardback format. Written by Richard Coles, it was published by the British publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson. It was Coles’s first memoir and fast went on to become a bestseller.

The Reverend Richard Coles is an incredible person. He was the head chorister at school, and then fell in love with music, particularly Jimmy Somerville’s voice. He went on to form the Communards and became a rock star, experiencing a wild and hedonistic life of sex and drugs.

However, it was a moment of personal transformation that caused him to give it all up and devote himself to God and Christianity. His memoir, Fathomless Riches, is a personal account of his journey and tells a story that has the power to shock and comfort. It is a truly captivating read.

Murder Before Evensong

‘Murder Before Evensong,’ the first installment in the Canon Clement series of cozy mysteries, was published on June 9, 2022 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. This series of self-contained mysteries is sure to delight fans of the genre, as each book provides an exciting new mystery to be solved. The book was highly anticipated, providing readers with hours of engaging entertainment.

Daniel Clement had been the Rector of Champton for 8 years and was living with his widowed mother Audrey and two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda. His plan to put a lavatory in the church caused a stir amongst the parishioners, with long-forgotten secrets coming to light.

Tragedy struck when Anthony Bowness, cousin to the church’s patron, was found dead behind the church with a pair of secateurs in his neck. With the police investigating, it was up to Daniel to keep the community together and find the killer.

A Death in the Parish

On June 8, 2023, the second installment of the popular ‘Canon Clement’ mystery series was released by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Titled ‘A Death in the Parish’, this self-contained story follows the adventures of the beloved detective as he attempts to solve a mysterious case. Readers looked forward to another captivating whodunit, once again brimming with suspense and intrigue.

The small community of Champton had been rocked by a murder a few months prior. Canon Daniel Clement, the spiritual leader of the parish, found himself facing changes when the parishes of Upper and Lower Badsaddle were merged into Champton.

As Daniel tried to adjust, his mother Audrey kept mysterious secrets from him, leading to an even greater surprise when a ritualistic killing occurred again in Champton.

One Response to “Richard Coles”

1. (Rev. Dr.) Jean Coyle: 12 months ago

   I really enjoyed “Murder before Evensong.” I’ve just had published “Death of a Doctor in Derryville,” the protagonist of which is a female Presbyterian pastor (somewhat autobiographical) who discovers a beloved parishioner dead in her sanctuary on her first day at her first parish.

   Reply