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The Wagers of Sin
When an elderly billionaire businesswoman drops dead during her wedding to a much younger golden boy at the very moment of the “I dos,” her improbable bridesmaid, Marya Cook—the lavender-clad, Bible-quoting octogenarian sleuth known to the locals as the Purple Pest—cries, “Murder.” Marya’s sensible sidekick, Uber driver Martha Collins, sees her to-do list balloon as she juggles her sleuthing with police politics, money problems, and maybe…just maybe…romance.
Join Martha and Marya on a cruise to the Greek Isles and back to Pequot Bays, New York, waterfront home to the wealthy and those who serve them. Meet the rich victim’s hopeful heirs, shady servants, and of course, the frustrated fiancé as Marya combines her eye for “the little things” with her own peculiar logic to sift through the multitude of murderous motives, means, and opportunities in search of the killer.
Sail away with Martha and Marya in this, the third installment of Emily Hanlon’s acclaimed Martha and Marya Mysteries series, as Marya gambles against the odds at high-stakes roulette…and murder.
Join Martha and Marya on a cruise to the Greek Isles and back to Pequot Bays, New York, waterfront home to the wealthy and those who serve them. Meet the rich victim’s hopeful heirs, shady servants, and of course, the frustrated fiancé as Marya combines her eye for “the little things” with her own peculiar logic to sift through the multitude of murderous motives, means, and opportunities in search of the killer.
Sail away with Martha and Marya in this, the third installment of Emily Hanlon’s acclaimed Martha and Marya Mysteries series, as Marya gambles against the odds at high-stakes roulette…and murder.
280 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3366 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hanlon
3 books36 followersEmily Hanlon was raised in Texas, educated in Boston, and now lives in New York. She worked as a personal injury attorney for many years, then an arbitrator, and is now blissfully retired. She converted to Catholicism in 2000, and began writing Catholic infused murder mysteries about 12 years ago. A life of listening to witnesses and sifting through facts has prepared her well for creating the complex entanglements of murder mysteries. She, like her sleuths, is active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a eucharistic minister, and is a proud, card carrying Church Lady.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 30, 2025
Before I was even a quarter of the way into Wagers of Sin, I’d grinned numerous times and even chucked. And that trend continued throughout the entire book. Yes, I know it’s a murder mystery, but Martha’s manner of thinking things just tickles my funny bone. I was looking over my highlights and laughing at them anew, even.
Also before 25%, I was itching to know “who done it”—even though the crime had not yet been committed in real time. I had to exercise some serious self control in not flipping to the end, and that was even more of a struggle the further along in the book I got, which is probably why I finished at 2 a.m. Personally, I found the plot riveting and Martha amusing enough to put up with Marya’s rambling thoughts. Granted, these could also be amusing. My only complaint with them is that it took me that many more words and minutes to find out who the culprit was!
Romance: completely spice free, though we do see some clothing descriptions of some women and they are not what one would call modest. Additionally, divorce is pretty present, though it doesn’t seem as if it is condoned—more of that it’s in the book because it’s in real life, kind of like the skimpy clothing.
Violence: though it is a murder mystery, we do not see anything gruesome. The main character sees something but turns away before we follow her line of sight, and there are only general descriptions of details.
Also before 25%, I was itching to know “who done it”—even though the crime had not yet been committed in real time. I had to exercise some serious self control in not flipping to the end, and that was even more of a struggle the further along in the book I got, which is probably why I finished at 2 a.m. Personally, I found the plot riveting and Martha amusing enough to put up with Marya’s rambling thoughts. Granted, these could also be amusing. My only complaint with them is that it took me that many more words and minutes to find out who the culprit was!
Romance: completely spice free, though we do see some clothing descriptions of some women and they are not what one would call modest. Additionally, divorce is pretty present, though it doesn’t seem as if it is condoned—more of that it’s in the book because it’s in real life, kind of like the skimpy clothing.
Violence: though it is a murder mystery, we do not see anything gruesome. The main character sees something but turns away before we follow her line of sight, and there are only general descriptions of details.
October 25, 2025
If you are a fan of the eccentric old lady who is really good at solving mysteries trope this book is for you!
Honestly my favorite thing about this book is how it is not just labled Christian Fiction, it is a integral part of the MC's lives and the story as a whole. When I saw the time was referenced in liturgal time my brain did a little happy dance... and I may have had to text some people right then to LOOK AT THIS! As a Lutheran reading a book written from a Catholic point of view I got a kick out of the Martin Luther reference as well.
My second most liked thing about The Wagers Of Sin is as I am now closer to forty than thirty I find myself wishing for more books with characters who are not in thier 20's or late teens. This book definitely hits that mark.
Even though this is the third book in the series it is a first for me. I do recommend reading them in order as there are some spoilers for the previous two books but you will not be lost at all reading out of order. It is always so hard to write reviews for mysteries as I feel like anything I say will ruin it for others, so I will just say if you are a cozy mystery fan this is worth the read.
I was given a copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions, as always, are my own.
Honestly my favorite thing about this book is how it is not just labled Christian Fiction, it is a integral part of the MC's lives and the story as a whole. When I saw the time was referenced in liturgal time my brain did a little happy dance... and I may have had to text some people right then to LOOK AT THIS! As a Lutheran reading a book written from a Catholic point of view I got a kick out of the Martin Luther reference as well.
My second most liked thing about The Wagers Of Sin is as I am now closer to forty than thirty I find myself wishing for more books with characters who are not in thier 20's or late teens. This book definitely hits that mark.
Even though this is the third book in the series it is a first for me. I do recommend reading them in order as there are some spoilers for the previous two books but you will not be lost at all reading out of order. It is always so hard to write reviews for mysteries as I feel like anything I say will ruin it for others, so I will just say if you are a cozy mystery fan this is worth the read.
I was given a copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions, as always, are my own.
November 14, 2025
The Wagers of Sin by Emily Hanlon is a book in the Martha and Marya Mystery series by the author. It is book 3 in the series but you can read this book as a standalone mystery. The book starts off with a wedding where a much older woman named Helen is marrying a much younger man named Nick. But suddenly something happens to Helen! And then the book really kicks off with a previous time line about 4 months prior to the wedding when Martha and Marya first meet Helen. Marya is an older lady who loves purple and loves to do her own thing and not give a gosh darn about other people. I loved that about Marya, she is just so confident and doesn't give a flying F about anyone or anything else unless it has to do with her:) Martha and Marya go on a cruise to Greek Isles together and then they go backwards to New York and more extravagant happenings with some great characters. I love the ending where we get a nice wrap up for Martha and Marya in this one, including some romance:) I can not wait to see where our two sleuthing friends head next time!
October 8, 2025
A fun read! Martha & Marya are back along with some old friends and new folks of Pequot Bays. Travel, murder, family dysfunction, and a good unraveling of the latest murder mystery in this charming town. Emily Hanlon has given us a nice escape from our current world!
October 24, 2025
The Wagers of Sin is the third book in the Martha and Marya Mysteries series, but it's the first one I've read. I had no problem jumping right into the friendship between the two main characters (their dynamic is a delight to read!) or diving into their latest case.
This book reads like an episode of a TV crime drama such as Inspector Morse or Marple (both of which I love), but with lots of Catholic elements infused into the story a la Antonia Frasier or Sister Carol Anne O'Marie. I loved the way Mass, various saints, and the sacraments (as well as a sacramental, the scapular!) are woven into the plot, and that Scripture verses are repeated throughout.
The Wagers of Sin has everything I love in a cozy mystery: a fun setting (a cruise ship), close-knit friendships, and a clever puzzle, with the added bonus of faith-based content. I really enjoyed it, and would definitely read more from this author.
I’m so thankful to Chrism Press for sending me a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
This book reads like an episode of a TV crime drama such as Inspector Morse or Marple (both of which I love), but with lots of Catholic elements infused into the story a la Antonia Frasier or Sister Carol Anne O'Marie. I loved the way Mass, various saints, and the sacraments (as well as a sacramental, the scapular!) are woven into the plot, and that Scripture verses are repeated throughout.
The Wagers of Sin has everything I love in a cozy mystery: a fun setting (a cruise ship), close-knit friendships, and a clever puzzle, with the added bonus of faith-based content. I really enjoyed it, and would definitely read more from this author.
I’m so thankful to Chrism Press for sending me a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews