The Oldest Sin

Sophie Greenway #3

by Ellen Hart

Elegant Maxfield Plaza Hotel, in downtown St. Paul, is packed to the rafters with the power brokers of the charismatic Church of the Firstborn--and a national convention of the Daughters of Sisyphus.Between the two gatherings, five old college roommates are food critic Sophie Greenway, now owner of the hotel; Adelle, who married into the founding family of the Firstborns; Lavinia, mastermind of the Daughters; and Bunny and Cindy, Lavinia's top aides. But when a murderer terminates one of the gang, Sophie senses that not everyone is devastated by the loss.As Sophie delicately probes the private affairs of her hotel's star guests, she recalls another death--of a young woman who had been the group's sixth roommate. The buried secrets of that long-ago death are exhumed as a clandestine killer once again commits the oldest sin. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 1995

About the author

Ellen Hart is the author of twenty-eight crime novels in two different series. She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award in several categories, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. In 2010, Ellen received the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of lesbian literature. For the past fourteen years, Ellen has taught "An Introduction to Writing the Modern Mystery" through the The Loft Literary Center, the largest independent writing community in the nation. Ellen's latest Sophie Greenway mystery is No Reservations Required (Ballantine). Rest for the Wicked, the twentieth Jane Lawless mystery, will be released by St. Martin's/Minotaur in October 2012. Bella Books has recently revived the out-of-print books by publishing them in both trade paperback and E-book. Ellen lives in the Minneapolis area with her partner of over 35 years.

Reviews

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a church convention in Minneapolis five female college classmates have a reunion. They discuss the death of a sixth classmate who had died of cancer in college and the discovery of her diary which raises suspicion about her death. Soon thereafter one of the classmates is found murdered then one of the church leaders kills himself. But nothing is as it seems. Sophie unravels the mystery - jealousy, blackmail, abortion, and other juicy goings-on during college has led to tragedy.

Starts off as a nice cozy mystery but finishes as a sleazy slimey melodrama.

Author is a lesbian, and there are many positive references to LGBTQ.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the midst of some heavy duty reading, I always need some brain candy - a quick, entertaining mystery. Sophie Greenway, though not my favorite of Ellen Hart's protgonists, fits the bill. It is all the more fun because it is set here in the Twin Cities. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Salma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious and dramatic, the characters are really well fleshed out. Easy

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Greenway.
Clever, roommates reunion from Church of the Firstborn.
Sophie inherits hotel.
Good.