Stirring Up Strife: A Hope Street Church Mystery (Hope Street Church Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Stanley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hope Street Church Mysteries | Publication Date: December 29, 2009

WELCOME TO THE HOPE STREET CHURCH…where good folks study The Good Book, but everyone loves a good mystery!

Cooper Lee can repair a copy machine—but can she repair her life? That’s one of the many Big Questions that lead this newly single Richmond girl to Sunrise Bible Study at the Hope Street Church. Cooper hasn’t attended church in ages, but after getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend—and moving in with her family—she could use some new friends, and a new outlook on life. Happily, the members of the Bible group are anything but cookie-cutter, which suits Cooper just fine. There’s a blind folk artist, a playboy meteorologist, an investment banker with a sweet tooth, an ambitious realtor, and a cute shy web designer who just might be “the one” for Cooper. But the member of Hope Street Church who invited Cooper to join this motley crew—an office worker who got her wedding ring stuck in a copier—is something else altogether: She’s dead And her husband is suspected of murder!

The Sunrise gang jumps into action, vowing to solve this unholy mess—with God’s guidance—and Cooper’s snooping…

Includes heavenly recipes from Mrs. Lee’s kitchen!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The lighthearted first Hope Street Church mystery introduces 32-year-old Cooper Lee as she grapples with the end of a five-year romance. Despite the best efforts of her loving sister and grandmother, the Richmond, Va., office machine technician can't muster the enthusiasm to move on. When a client, Brooke Hughes, invites Cooper to attend a service at her church, Cooper decides it's a good opportunity to mingle with a new crowd. On her first visit to the imposing church, Cooper is welcomed into the Sunday morning Sunrise Bible Study group and learns that Brooke has been murdered and the police are holding her husband as the prime suspect. The Sunrise members believe him innocent and sweep up Cooper in pursuit of the real killer. Stanley's faith-based crime detection has plenty of charming appeal. (Jan.)
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Review

“THIS ISN’T YOUR GRANDMA’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. The members of the Sunrise Bible Study find murderers while they search for friendship, romance, and answers to life's biggest questions. Jennifer Stanley’s engaging new series makes your attendance at Hope Street Church mandatory.” --Emilie Richards, author of the “Ministry is Murder” mystery series

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (December 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312376855
• ISBN-13: 978-0312376857
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing!!!, January 9, 2010

By 

Sharon Oliver "Author" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stirring Up Strife: A Hope Street Church Mystery (Hope Street Church Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading this book and have three words for the author: I'm a fan! I love how Ms. Stanley not only told a story, but intertwined words of encouragement and insight throughout this mystery. This book not only entertains, but also touches on aspects in life that the reader may be going through or can relate to. The protagonist, Cooper Lee, finds new friends and a new calling (sleuthing) after who she thought would always be in her life was removed from her life. The characters are caring and determined. Now that "Coop" has been biten by the sluething bug, I look forward to following her and her friends on more adventures as they try catch bad guys (and girls), laughing at the funny dialogue and receiving a word within a book of words. Most refreshing!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good mystery, January 24, 2010

By 

L. Kjonnerod (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stirring Up Strife: A Hope Street Church Mystery (Hope Street Church Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was not your usual formula mystery, with love interest. You get drawn into Cooper's anguish of a lost love, her family's support, and an interesting mystery as well as her steps to overcome her situation. Thought the cops were a little to slow on following leads, but all in all a good read, with good character development, as well as evoking the Richmond area and a loving family. Thought the almost blind character, Savannah, was a little too good to be true, but I have to be cynical about something. The use of a bible study group was intriguing, though, and added to the story telling.

Looking forward to the next one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new series, January 16, 2010

By 

D. Love "I love to read!" (NYC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stirring Up Strife: A Hope Street Church Mystery (Hope Street Church Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book in a delightful new series. Cooper seems lost while recovering from a recent breakup, that is, until she joins a bible study group. When one of their church members is accused of murder, the bible group team up to solve the murder. As the group becomes more involved with the case, Cooper is learning more about herself and gaining confidence with the support of her new friends, her parents, her sister and her grandmother who spouts words of inspiration that will have you thinking. If you're looking for a good read, give this book a try. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.