This book, the first in a new-to-me mystery series set in Cornwell, England, features Sister Joan, a woman in her 30s who is a member of the Daughters of Compassion order of nuns. She is summoned to the Prioress in her convent, who shares with her a letter from an elderly nun who had mentored the Prioress many years ago. The letter seems ordinary enough until the Prioress points out things that didn't make any sense if one knew the sender of the letter. The elderly nun seemed to be writing in a way as to not arouse the suspicions of the convent censor. Unfortunately, the sender of the letter has died, and the Prioress feels she must send Sister Joan to join that convent. First, that convent now has vacancies, while Sister Joan's convent has more nuns than they should, per the rules of the Order. Second, the Prioress wants Sister Joan to see if anything strange is, in fact, going on at that convent.When Sister Joan arrives, at first all seems well, except that the Prioress of this other convent uses fingernail polish and cologne, definitely practices that nuns don't follow. As Sister Joan gets acclimated to the new place, teaching at a small school a mile away, she is contacted by a young man who is trying to find his ex-girlfriend, who he was told had left this convent some months ago. However, she has not contacted him or her family. Together they try to find clues to her disappearance. Additionally, Sister Joan learns that another nun had recently died at the convent, the details of which are sketchy and bizarre: hanged by accident while testing fire safety apparatus in the middle of the night. The treatment of the cloistered young women who have not yet made their final vows provides more clues.
This series is enjoyable, reminding me of the Sister Mary Helen mystery series by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie. A major difference is that Sister Joan is much younger and more active than Sister Mary Helen, who was more Miss Marple-ish.
No comments:
Post a Comment