Martin Cruz Smith (Obituary, 31 July) was clearly a novelist who did his research, sometimes to disconcerting effect. While an American chiefly known for a Russia-set series, his standalone novel Rose not only dispatched its protagonist to Wigan, but showed sufficient grasp of local custom to have him ask whether his expenses would be paid in pies.
Huw Richards
London
• Why is the Church of England apparently unable to agree on a replacement for Justin Welby (Letters, 7 August)? The answer is all too obvious. There are several outstanding candidates, but they all have – in the view of all too many members of the ruling body of the church – one drawback that rules them out of the running. I believe we all know what this is.
Linda Evans
Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset
