From Publishers Weekly
Have you ever wondered what life in a convent would be like? Welcome to New Mexico's Our Lady of Hope Monastery, home to a small community of cloistered nuns in this beguiling new series opener by the authors of the popular Ella Clah series (Changing Woman, etc.). Sister Agatha is one of the extern sisters, the convent's link to the outside world. She is also the novice mistress, responsible for the spiritual formation of two young women who aspire to the convent's religious life, which revolves around the celebration of Mass and the singing in chapel of the divine office every three hours, day and night. The sisters' peaceful routine is shattered when, at the most solemn moment of the Mass, their chaplain, Father Anselm, drops dead. Summoned with the ambulance, the local sheriff, whom Sister Agatha dated in her pre-convent days, confirms that the priest was poisoned, and the entire cloister is suspect. A former investigative journalist, Sister Agatha is enjoined by her superior to find the murderer. Luckily, she can turn for help in her quest to a retired police dog who adopts her for help in her quest. Lay Catholics curious about convent life will find the details ring true, while even non-Catholics will find themselves caught up in the orderly round of work and prayer. of Second Sunrise: A Lee Nez Novel, the first of a vampire mystery series due later this fall.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* The Thurlo team has already given readers seven acclaimed mysteries starring a strong woman in an unusual job--Ella Clah, Navajo reservation cop. Now they introduce a heroine whose very occupation would seem to prevent her from solving crimes. Sister Agatha is a member of the Sisters of the Blessed Adoration, a New Mexican cloistered community. She is one of two "extern" nuns, giving her some contact with the outside world when she buys groceries and makes frequent trips to salvage the rattletrap monastery car, which she calls the "anti-Chrysler." Sister Agatha is no walled-up innocent, however. Before entering the monastery in her thirties, she worked as an investigative journalist. Her background gets full play after Father Anselm, the monastery's chaplain, suffers an excruciating death in the midst of celebrating Mass, and the toxicology report identifies poison in his bloodstream. The nun springs into action, activating her old skepticism, including even nuns as suspects, clashing with the local sheriff (her boyfriend in her other life), and fully capitalizing on all external opportunities to solve the crime. The Thurlos write with the same grace, savvy, and sense of place that make the Ella Clah mysteries so absorbing. Sister Agatha deserves a place with Father Brown in the gallery of canny religious sleuths.
Connie FletcherCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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