The Prodigal Nun

Sister Agatha #5

by Aimée Thurlo, David Thurlo

Our Lady of Hope is an aging monastery run by a cloistered order in rural New Mexico. Perennially cash-strapped for needed repairs and maintenance, when the local diocese offers to pay for a new water well it is, well, a godsend. But there’s a catch – in return, they want the monastery to house a novice nun from a different order who needs a place to stay locally while she teaches at the Catholic school and an order to take responsibility for her while she’s there. And Sister Josephine – Sister Jo as she likes to be called – is a handful. Loud, boisterous, free with her opinions, inappropriate, impulsive and snores loud enough to wake the dead, the young nun doesn’t fit in well with the contemplative order and the older nuns of Our Lady of Hope.

If the teeth-grinding of the older nuns and the repetitive deep sighs of the Reverend Mother weren’t enough, there’s also the increasingly dangerous sounding threats that arrive at the monastery. Since Sister Agatha has been involved in her fair share of investigations, there’s no lack of people who might harbor a grudge against her. But is she really the target? And is Sister Jo – who arrived right before the threats began – somehow entangled in this increasingly dangerous web?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Westerns

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books, and I love the nuns and their dog Pax. The mystery is always interesting and there is always more going on than meets the eye. And I love a good faith read - where the characters' faith is as much a part of them as breathing in and out. I always come out wanting to be a better person.

[Karen Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book "The Prodigal Nun" by Aimee and David Thurlo is part of the Sister Agatha series. A very well crafted tale featuring a nun, retired police dog, a Harley with side car, and a New Mexico setting. The reader should think about the research into the Catholic faith and how it was incorporated into the book and well presented. copy right 2008 302 pages

[Connie Whitcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good New Mexico mystery.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

After early morning Mass, the body of a lady who usually attends this service is found in the parking lot of the church. Why would anyone want to kill this middle aged faithful woman? The church is located in a monistary of cloistered nuns. There are a few nuns, who are called externs, who are not colistered and do the business of the monistary. Among these nuns is Sister Agatha, who has helped the local sheriff of this New Mexico area solve crimes in the past. Sister Agatha decides to help the sheriff and begins by checking out the lady who was murdered. She finds out this lady was not as nice as she appeared. Mrs. Sanchez was difficult to get along with and she hated her son-in-law, a deputy sheriff. In fact, she was trying to ruin his marriage. After Sister Agatha begins her investigation there are several threats against the monistary and someone even attempts to kill a couple of the nuns.
This is an average mystery book, but I did find the parts about the monistary interesting as I know nothing about them. And it is a little difficult to believe that a sheriff would allow a nun help him this much in a murder investigation.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, but nothing special. The convent was a setting, but I didn't feel that was any different from other settings (such as mystery series set around cooking or crafts) rather than having religion be a real part of the story.
I will probably read other Sister Agatha books because it was well written and held my attention.

[ChrisGA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sisters of the monastery continue to struggle with supporting themselves and maintaining their peace while attacked by unknown hostile people. Still enjoyed the mixture of mystery and quiet faith.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest in the Sister Agatha Mystery series. Enjoyable!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series. Kind of quirky and fun - including a car call the Antichrysller and a Harley and a dog!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

totally cheesy but I liked the discipline of the nuns mixed into the story.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really like the characters and view into life of nuns in a cloister

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intricate plot, Sister Agatha's investigation and intuition prevails again.

[Mary Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpentine!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series. Nothing like a mixture of mystery and faith.

[Lisa Corathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was more like the Sister Agatha series I've come to enjoy. Still love that Antichrysler!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good fast read.

[Alexandra Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stepped into the middle of this series. I would like to start at the beginning, to get to know the characters. It was a fun, easy read

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of simple, no real challenge to this read.

[Leslie North · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery - with that Catholic mystic spin

[Janet Suarino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sister manages to solve another crime.