Scandalous Risks (by Susan Howatch)

(Amazon UK link)

'Scandalous Risks' is a novel by Susan Howatch. It's fourth in the Starbridge series, which features flawed (but mostly delightful) clergymen in the Anglican Church.

This story is told from the point of view of a young woman called Venetia. She was introduced as a small girl in the previous book ('Ultimate Prizes'). In this one, she falls in love with Neville Asygarth, the Dean, in the 1960s. It was the era when the Church was coming to terms with a revolutionary new book 'Honest to God', and the ideals of platonic love.

The developing relationship is explored.  But there are also plots and sub-plots involving characters from the previous books, including a now 83-year-old Jon Darrow.

Can be read alone, but it's much better following the three previous books in the series.

Highly recommended.

(I have also written considerably longer reviews of this book after subsequent re-readings. I wrote this review of 'Scandalous Risks' in 2007, and this one in 2017.)