Customer Reviews

False Witness (A Sister Agatha Mystery)

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In the Our Lady Of Hope Monastery resides a community of nuns bound by a vow of enclosure which means they have nothing to do with the outside world. Three extern nuns who are not bound by enclosure are the spokeswomen for the monastery and have dealings of all kind with the outside world. Sister Agatha is one of those and her ability to get donations has saved the monastery from going broke on more than one occasion.

They are currently in a financial bind, having won a bid on a computer contract; they are plagued by a hacker who wants them shut down. Their electrical wiring needs fixing before the place burns down and someone crashes through the gate that keeps them secure in their own private world. They don't have the money to pay for repairs but a monastery patron who plans to sell the vineyards that border on the nun's home and bring civilization to their doorsteps makes a deal with them. If Sister Agatha finds and reconciles him with his niece before he dies of cancer who is in hiding after testifying at the trial of a killer and land fraud scammer he will give her the money to fix up the monastery and create a buffer zone between the nun's home and the property he wishes to sell. When something sounds too good to be true it really is.

The latest Sister Agatha mystery is an exciting who-done it that gives a glimpse into the workings of a cloistered monastery that must be financially self-sufficient. Aimee & David Thurlo captures the prescience and serenity as well out the tenseness of community that exists behind the walls of the monastery. There are several layers to the mystery each one getting closer to the truth but it takes a while to peel away each layer to the core that reveals the killer. FALSE MYSTERY is truly a well crafted mystery.

Harriet Klausner

This is the time of year to curl up next to the fire with a good book. This is the book! Just when you think you know "who dunnit" you don't!! Keep reading, don't read the end first! You will love this book a perfect "cozy". The Thurlo's have written a first rate mystery.

There aren't too many mysteries that I don't enjoy, but False Witness by Aimee and David Thurlo would not be anywhere near the top of my favorites list. The plot has potential, but there were too many other issues that got in the way.

False Witness takes place in New Mexico, and centers around the Hope Monastery. Sister Agatha is one of the resident nuns, and serves as an extern--one of the few nuns who ventures outside the grounds and deals with outsiders. Sister Agatha is also an amateur sleuth. The monastery is having some financial problems and a number of issues makes things even worse. First, their stone wall is hit by a hit and run driver in a stolen truck. Second, they do contracting work for a mail order company, and their computers have been hacked into and they've been receiving email threats. Finally, the vineyard next door is for sale, and it appears that a developer will build a huge housing project that will threaten the peace and quiet of the monastery. The new vineyard owner, John Gutierrez, claims he is dying and wants to find his long-lost niece. He hires Sister Agatha for the job, pledging money to the monastery and also, a buffer zone between the houses he plans to build. Sister Agatha suspects that Gutierrez might actually be an escaped convict who is a swindler and murderer.

This whole book is a stretch. First, the idea of a nun being a private detective is laughable. We're not talking Brother Cadfael here. Then the entire religious theme gets extremely tiring. False Witness is filled with dialogue like "God won't let us lose this job. The monastery needs rewiring, and we're in a financial hole" or "You'll always have God." It's not that I'm not a religious person, but the authors go way overboard.

The Ella Clah series by the Thurlo's was much better and I might try another one from this series. Unfortunately, Sister Agatha and I will be parting ways.

I really enjoy this series of mysteries. I like ones that give you an insight into another culture or way of life. Here the life of nuns in their abbey.

The sisters of Our Lady of Hope Monastery are startled when an SUV crashes through their front gate. Besides a lack of security, the sisters are having financial problems and don't know how to recoup the money for repairs from the driver of the stolen vehicle. Just when things look hopeless Sister Agatha receives a request from a dying man who wishes to be reunited with his long-lost niece. Added to this, the sister's business agreement with a company are threatened by the fact that their computer system has been compromised. Aimee and David Thurlo spin these plots into an interesting story and also continue to develop minor characters such as Sister Bernarda. This is an enjoyable series for cozy fans.

After finishing the "Ella Clah" series I was searching for something to read and it was suggested that I look at the "Sister Agatha" series. I just did not think that the same authors could possibly write two good series at the same time. I was wrong. This is a great series and once again I suggest that you read the series in order. Start with "Bad Faith" and read straight thru to "The Prodigal Nun". There is no way you can go wrong with this series.