Bad Faith

Sister Agatha #1

by Aimée Thurlo, David Thurlo

Once she was Professor Mary Naughton, investigative reporter, teacher, and free spirit. Now she is Sister Agatha of Our Lady of Hope, a cloistered, financially-struggling monastery in New Mexico. As an extern-a nun who handles her order's dealings with the outside world-she is used to having her faith and newly-acquired patience tested. But when popular chaplain Father Anselm is poisoned to death in the middle of Mass, Sister Agatha has to bring all her worldly skepticism and savvy instincts to uncover the truth before scandal and unjust suspicion destroy Our Lady of Hope's future. She's up against a hostile local sheriff, an ex-lover who's never forgiven her for 'abandoning' their life together. She's got no shortage of suspects-with-secrets outside-and inside-the monastery. And she'll have to race the clock to stop one remorseless murderer before there's more hell to pay...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Native American

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2002

About the author

Aimee and David Thurlo are the authors of the Ella Clah mysteries, the Sister Agatha mysteries, the Lee Nez vampire novels all set in New Mexico. David grew up on the Navajo Indian Nation, and Aimee, a native of Cuba, lived in the southwest for forty years.

Aimée passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of February 28, 2014, after a brief struggle with cancer and related complications. She was attended by her husband of 43 years, David. Aimée was 62 years old.

Reviews

[Liz Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a fun start to my month long NunRead. :-) I've long been a fan of nun mysteries (Sister Steve of the Father Dowling series on TV, Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma)...actually make that clergy mysteries, period. Of course Umberto Eco's  The Name of the Rose is on top of the list.

This first book in the Sister Agatha series has the earmarks of a first novel in a series in that it is lacking in character development but has all the components of a good story. Nuns make pretty good sleuths and convents tend to be inherently mysterious, partially because they are cloistered away from society. The Thurlos hit the mark with the right amount of sub-mysteries (those mini-plots you need as diversions from the main Whodunit); false leads (proving the prime suspect innocent); and an interesting sleuth. When the protagonist is a nun, there is a reconciling of past and present lives that is the most interesting. While we get SOME of that with Sister Agatha, we don't get nearly enough.

In addition to wanting more of Agatha's back story (no doubt revealed in later books in the series), the lack of physical description of any of the characters was particularly vexing in the case of the Reverend Mother who, unlike most of the other featured nuns, seems to have very little history or personality beyond her wisdom. I felt in this respect, and in some of the revealed secrets of the convent, the authors relied on too many clichés. The Thurlos work arduously to present an accurate portrait of modern convent life, but it comes across as proselytising, particularly when put forth through Agatha's thoughts about and conversations with Sheriff Tom Green.

I wanted Agatha to be more spunky. Her upbraiding of Tom Green became tiresome, as it was too one-sided. Supposedly he's a good guy and we are supposed to sympathize with him because his wife is an over-protective shrew, but he is definitely postured as the quasi-enemy. The gradual peace accord between Sister Agatha and Tom doesn't really work because their relationship doesn't follow any kind of rhythm. The character of Tom Green presents an excellent opportunity for complexity, and I hope this is further developed in later offerings in the series.

All that said, there is something unavoidably whimsical and entertaining about a nun with a broken vehicle (irreverently called the "Anti-Chrysler"), who rides a Harley without a second thought, and plays billiards. In some respects, it is probably a good thing that the Thurlos chose not to show more of their hand in regard to Sister Agatha's character. They crafted a mystery that is good enough to get me to read the next in the series.

[Spuddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1 Sister Agatha mystery set in a cloistered monastery in New Mexico. When the monastery's chaplain collapses and dies during a Mass at the monastery and it's later determined by the coroner to be poison, the sisters are the obvious first choices for suspects. Sister Agatha is one of only two externs--nuns who deal with the outside world--and she is absolutely certain that it wasn't anyone within the cloister who would harm the priest they all revered. When the local sheriff--an old flame of Sister Agatha's from school days--seems determined to disrupt the cloister's life and routine, she is just as determined to investigate and find the real culprit so they can get back to normal.

I did figure the mystery out well in advance, but wasn't sure of the whys and wherefores, just knew 'who' had done it. I wasn't sure I'd like this book--in fact I started reading it because I was looking to do a bit of a culling from my TBR. But even though it's in a religious setting and there are parts where I tended to roll my eyes, mostly I was just able to see Sister Agatha as a human being. I think she had me hooked in the first chapter when she revealed her name for the old, rickety, frequently-broken-down car the monastery owned--the Antichrysler. LOL! Anyway, it was an overall enjoyable book and I likely will read at least a couple more in the series to see if my enjoyment continues.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Agatha worked in journalism before becoming a nun so when the priest is murdered in the chapel and the nuns become suspects the Reverend Mother asks Sister to work with the police of course this means working with the sherif with whom she had a love affair while at university.

While the book is set in a nunnery and most of the characters follow their faith this book is not out to convert you - the investigation and the sister's spiritual journey in coping with the fact that murder has been committed on their own turf is very interesting. The back stories are very good and my suspects were many, usually wrong. When who dunnit was revealed it made sense and I was glad my main suspect was innocent :)

This is the first in series.

[D.M.S. Fick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging book. Written from the POV of a nun in a New Mexico monastery. She and another nun are the only sisters allowed to interact with the outside world. It was written in a way that allows the reader to experience somewhat the monastic life––yet still have an entertaining murder puzzle to figure out! Plus, a healthy amount of humor. I'll be reading more in this series.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little mystery about Sister Agatha who solves the killing of the local police. She and the other sisters are in a cloistered monastary with a vow of silence and praying. She was former professor Mary Naughton and investigative reporter, who entered the monastary . She is one of two extant nuns who are allowed to deal with the outer world. She wants to solve the killing because it is affecting the reputation of the financially struggling monastary in New Mexico. She has a strange relationship with the sheriff who used to be her boyfriend when she was younger.

She eventually does figure out how someone got into the monastary and poisoned the priest who was there to conduct a service.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Lady of Hope monastery in New Mexico has many financial challenges. The nuns are few in number and stretched very thin to accomplish essential tasks. Their car, the anti Chrysler, barely runs any more. Their computers are ancient and constantly crashing. However, the machines are desperately needed to generate the income the monastery receives from scanning and digitizing documents. When a priest is murdered in the nun’s chapel, it looks like their future is in jeopardy. Sister Agatha, while she relies on God, also feels responsible for solving the murder and restoring peace to their little community. An interesting setup for an unusual mystery series.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our lady of Hope is a cloistered monastery in New Mexico. It is struggling financially. Their chaplan, Father Anselm dies in the middle of Mass (he is poisoned) Sister Agatha decides it is up to her to find out who murdered Father and save the monastery. The local sheriff is against her working on the case and he is also her former boyfriend.
It is a fun, murder mystery with a lot of interesting characters.

[Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was in the mood for. I wanted to read about a nun solving mysteries, and this book delivered. It focused on the mystery, life as a nun, and had a good balance of the two. It involved Sister Agatha's faith, but didn't get preachy - it just emphasized how important her faith was to her, but didn't spend too long on it. It was a fun story and I liked the characters. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did, but I liked it enough that I want to read more of the series.

[Stan Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are wonderful nun murder mysteries. The authors are the only ones I've read who really know about Poor Clare nuns, their monasteries and how they live. My sister is a Poor Clare nun so I know when things written are authentic or not! These books read very quickly. Great characters and stories. I highly recommend all the books in the series.

[Tara Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting here, really. The story was interesting enough, but I hate when I figure out whodunnit way before the reveal, and this one was pretty obvious. "Crime-solving nun with a vintage Harley and a former police dog sidekick" just screams wacky hijinks, but the tone of this was a lot more serious than you would think.

[George Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. First of a series should spend more time with character development. The author defined a lot of words that relate to being a nun that I had never heard. It would, probably, help to be Catholic, which I am not, to understand some of the terms used.

This is not Sister Boniface. But still is a comfortable, cozy mystery.

[Elizabeth Lumpkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nun on a Mission!

Great story about Sister Agatha, a former investigative journalist who just can’t resist helping the local sheriff with a murder committed in their monastery. Throw in a retired police dog who won’t leave her alone, and you have a great mystery that unfolds during the Great Silence!

[Mgb · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what it is...a cozy mystery with a nun detective. I do wish it had a map of the monastery and a list of the ‘hours’ the nuns prayed. I am a sucker for a strong dog character. Pax is the dog everyone would love to have as a pet.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a monastery with a nun as the protagonist, this murder mystery is a breath of fresh air. Add a smart and adorable retired police dog to the mix and you’ve got yourself a fun read. It kept me guessing until the end.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual premise, a former investigative reporter who has joined a closed convent of nuns, becomes involved in a murder investigation. Descriptions of life in a closed convent is interesting and, at times, gives a sense of peace. Good mystery and interesting characters.

[Ray York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Faith

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read and am looking for the next addition. A Nun, a Police Dog and a Harley Davidson what a team.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

[Chuck Ledger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid read. Interesting enough characters that I want to know more about them. Some bits of the monastic life were repeated too much for my liking.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister And the helps old boyfriend solve the murder of Father Anselm . She is strong in her faith but has to wrestle between two worlds..

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent mystery

[Elliedakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very repetitive. We get it already. Same clues over and over and over...

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know about the life of cloistered nuns you will like this book. There was a little too much detail about all their prayers/routine. Mystery was ok.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

BAD FAITH

Good….about slow in the beginning but picks up about halfway through and then moves quickly till the end of book

[Ann Kiefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister Agatha is an interesting character, takes place in NM convent. Enjoyed this book, quick read. Will read more by these authors. Like the convent setting. Monastic life has a certain appeal.

[ChrisGA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by the Thurlos, and I am hooked. I enjoyed the insights into Sister Agatha’s vocation and the life of a cloistered nun. She vividly shows us the joy and peace of the lifestyle, but she also sees the real world for what it is. As an extern, she is in both worlds. I loved her reluctant efforts to solve the mystery and at the same time protect the sisters’ serenity. The comment:” If you didn’t want me to meddle, Lord, you should have added another commandment,” seems to sum up her quest. The religious aspects of the nun’s faith is beautifully described, demonstrated by the statement, “ One and God is a majority”—or God is enough. Looking forward to the next five in the series.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 1st book in the Sister Agatha cozy mystery series. Reads like most cozies - not gripping but OK for a light quick read. Sister Agatha is now a nun living in The Sisters of the Blessed Adoration monastery located in the New Mexico dessert. She handles most of the order's dealings with the outside world. She drives an aging station wagon and a Harley motorcycle equipped with a side car which is perfect for the convent's dog! The priest dies during mass and the nuns become suspects for his murder. Sister Agatha needs to find out who the murderer is and put the convent back in order. I'm not a big cozy fan but will probably try the next book to see if it is interesting enough to continue occasionally for a quick read.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery, an interesting setting (a monastery which I did not know could contain nuns instead of monks) and the nuns were very serious about their faith and prayed constantly which is always a pleasure to see in a book. I read so many books that, in that sense, don't even touch my own life. It is a joy to find - not just one book but a series! - that does so. And in mystery format. And there's a dog. Definitely going for the rest of the series. Highly recommend if you enjoy mysteries.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

sister agatha is an extern nun in a cloistered order. that means she is the one who deals with the public and community: she deals with tradespeople, doctors, does the shopping etc. She also was an investigative reporter in her prior life...so now she solves mysteries that come their way with the help of local law enforcement. humorous too. clever, witty.