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A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery #1
Sister Eve, Private Eye
When Sister Evangeline Divine's father, private detective Jackson Divine, asks her to come home and help with his recovery after surgery, she ends up taking on one of his cases involving a missing Hollywood director.
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First published November 25, 2014
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About the author
Lynne Hinton
25 books181 followersLynne Hinton is the pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The author of numerous novels including Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, Forever Friends, Christmas Cake, and Wedding Cake, she lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
December 12, 2014
Let's start with the good: the plot is relatively interesting, and while there weren't a lot of twists, there were a few places where I thought something would happen and I was pleasantly wrong. It's a quick read, very beach-like, and the author is pretty good with descriptions. I enjoyed the read.
Now on to the not-so-good: as all the other reviewers said, the "Divine/Deveen" bit made me hate the characters slightly. In fact, there were very few sympathetic characters in this book. Sister Eve herself is a flat, drab, and generally unappealing character. If you are looking for a Christian book, there is little religious overtones here. Not only does the author not give Sister Eve any depth in regards to her religious call, but there is little in her character that indicates a relationship with God.
Additionally [and I note this because I assumed the book would be more Christian leaning, being published by Tyndale House and being about a nun], there is an element of the plot involving a homosexual relationship. I didn't mind this as a plot point per-se, but what bothered me was the obvious self-insertion of the author into the character's approval of homosexuality. Below is an excerpt from the book:
People are gay in real life, I'm fine with them being gay even in a "Christian" book. But the paragraph above, in my opinion, went beyond just plot point and went into the author's personal views. Perhaps it just seemed that way to me, but I note it because it rubbed me the wrong way. I probably would feel the same way even if the author had condemned the homosexuality. It just was unnecessary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now on to the not-so-good: as all the other reviewers said, the "Divine/Deveen" bit made me hate the characters slightly. In fact, there were very few sympathetic characters in this book. Sister Eve herself is a flat, drab, and generally unappealing character. If you are looking for a Christian book, there is little religious overtones here. Not only does the author not give Sister Eve any depth in regards to her religious call, but there is little in her character that indicates a relationship with God.
Additionally [and I note this because I assumed the book would be more Christian leaning, being published by Tyndale House and being about a nun], there is an element of the plot involving a homosexual relationship. I didn't mind this as a plot point per-se, but what bothered me was the obvious self-insertion of the author into the character's approval of homosexuality. Below is an excerpt from the book:
[Sister Eve asks her father if homosexuality bothers him]"He shrugged. "Nah, not to me." He took a bit of his supper. "Wht do I care about somebody's personal business? Does it matter to you?"
Eve hesitated. She hadn't really thought about whether it mattered to her. There had been more than a few conversations at the convent about homosexuality. She had been given lots of rules and doctrines on the subject. She had even heard the confessions of a few nuns who were gay. Ultimately she had decided it wasn't really her place to judge anyone else, but she hadn't expected that she would land at the same place as her father. She just shook her head and kept watching him."
People are gay in real life, I'm fine with them being gay even in a "Christian" book. But the paragraph above, in my opinion, went beyond just plot point and went into the author's personal views. Perhaps it just seemed that way to me, but I note it because it rubbed me the wrong way. I probably would feel the same way even if the author had condemned the homosexuality. It just was unnecessary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2015
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine (pronounced “Deveen” - cue eye roll) breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She's seen her fair share of crime--and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries. But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
I didn't enjoy this book. The story seemed to move slowly and there wasn't a lot of suspense or action. And for having been in a monastery for twenty years, Eve still fights a temper and feels rebellious enough to "need" to ride a Harley to calm her spirit. Not that there is anything wrong with riding a Harley...lol. I think Harley's are cool. It's just the spirit of the reason she rides. I would have thought she would have matured a little better than that. I do admire that she took time off to take care of her dad after his surgery.
I was also surprised with the fact that there was an element of the plot that involved a homosexual relationship. Not something I was expecting to find in a book that I assumed would have a more Christian viewpoint since it is was published through Thomas Nelson.
*Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*
I didn't enjoy this book. The story seemed to move slowly and there wasn't a lot of suspense or action. And for having been in a monastery for twenty years, Eve still fights a temper and feels rebellious enough to "need" to ride a Harley to calm her spirit. Not that there is anything wrong with riding a Harley...lol. I think Harley's are cool. It's just the spirit of the reason she rides. I would have thought she would have matured a little better than that. I do admire that she took time off to take care of her dad after his surgery.
I was also surprised with the fact that there was an element of the plot that involved a homosexual relationship. Not something I was expecting to find in a book that I assumed would have a more Christian viewpoint since it is was published through Thomas Nelson.
*Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-book copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.*
January 7, 2015
Evangeline Divine isn't your ordinary nun. For one, she would rather connect with God while riding her motorcycle than while praying in a pew. And for two, there's her crime-solving instincts that she just can't seem to ignore! After two decades of serving in a New Mexico monastery, Eve is summoned home where her father has a life-changing surgery. While trying to sort out her future and repair her relationship with her father, Eve is drawn into a murder case, one that will put her instincts to the test!
There is nothing I love more than a good mystery, with unique characters, a plot that holds my attention, and a "who-done-it" that I can't quite figure out, and "Sister Eve, Private Eye" provides just that! Evangeline is a wonderfully unique character, a Nun who many readers will be surprised to identify with, because she just isn't sure exactly what God's calling is on her life. Who hasn't been there? And how many of us have struggled to connect with God in the walls of a church rather than communing with God out in nature or in some other environment? And then there's the matter of Eve's insatiable curiosity that seems to get her into sticky situations - I think we've all had those moments! The story moves along well, and kept me hooked until the end. Some readers might feel a bit cheated that it would be pretty much impossible to solve the mystery early on in the book because some of the clues aren't revealed until later on. And there aren't any real moments of Eve's life being in peril. But for me, I just enjoyed watching the pieces of the case come together, and I was most intrigued by Eve's story, the inner discoveries that she makes, all with a fascinating murder mystery for a backdrop!
Those readers who enjoy a good mystery that will warm their heart at the same time should grab a copy of "Sister Eve, Private Eye". I award it 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and the Booklook program, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
There is nothing I love more than a good mystery, with unique characters, a plot that holds my attention, and a "who-done-it" that I can't quite figure out, and "Sister Eve, Private Eye" provides just that! Evangeline is a wonderfully unique character, a Nun who many readers will be surprised to identify with, because she just isn't sure exactly what God's calling is on her life. Who hasn't been there? And how many of us have struggled to connect with God in the walls of a church rather than communing with God out in nature or in some other environment? And then there's the matter of Eve's insatiable curiosity that seems to get her into sticky situations - I think we've all had those moments! The story moves along well, and kept me hooked until the end. Some readers might feel a bit cheated that it would be pretty much impossible to solve the mystery early on in the book because some of the clues aren't revealed until later on. And there aren't any real moments of Eve's life being in peril. But for me, I just enjoyed watching the pieces of the case come together, and I was most intrigued by Eve's story, the inner discoveries that she makes, all with a fascinating murder mystery for a backdrop!
Those readers who enjoy a good mystery that will warm their heart at the same time should grab a copy of "Sister Eve, Private Eye". I award it 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and the Booklook program, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
June 4, 2021
Well, that came out of nowhere. Where are the clues and where did this murderer come from?
And then.... well, my biggest issue with this book...
First of all, this is published under "Christian" fiction. Because of that, you expect a certain standard.
We have a homosexual couple in this book. At the beginning it is two cowboys that are attracted to one another-- later on, one of those cowboys is with another man... so we have infidelity going on as well? As a character in a real world setting, it was clean and handled, but what really bothered me is that in a conversation that Evangeline has with her father, that behavior is excused as "it doesn't matter". Further on, we have a best friend of Evangeline as a woman pastor. And again, we have a conversation about how Church and worship is like a movie being directed. Its all about setting the stage to please the audience. My jaw dropped, but Sister Evangeline things, "well that is uninspiring." Um, how about, "this is completely wrong and worship is not about us and our feelings, its about CHRIST and God and our worship of what HE has done and continues to do!"
Just so many red flags. Can't recommend.
And then.... well, my biggest issue with this book...
First of all, this is published under "Christian" fiction. Because of that, you expect a certain standard.
We have a homosexual couple in this book. At the beginning it is two cowboys that are attracted to one another-- later on, one of those cowboys is with another man... so we have infidelity going on as well? As a character in a real world setting, it was clean and handled, but what really bothered me is that in a conversation that Evangeline has with her father, that behavior is excused as "it doesn't matter". Further on, we have a best friend of Evangeline as a woman pastor. And again, we have a conversation about how Church and worship is like a movie being directed. Its all about setting the stage to please the audience. My jaw dropped, but Sister Evangeline things, "well that is uninspiring." Um, how about, "this is completely wrong and worship is not about us and our feelings, its about CHRIST and God and our worship of what HE has done and continues to do!"
Just so many red flags. Can't recommend.
September 25, 2015
As a mystery, this book fails. This is the first traditionally published book I have read in which the killer was off stage the entire book. The killer was not developed as a character at all. Consequently, the ending is very flat. And I do mean flat, the main character gets an email identifying the killer.
As fiction, there is little in the way of character development and the writing is sub par.
This book is published by a "Christian" publishing house. This book has no spiritual depth. The main character, a nun, is a very secular character. She talks to her dead Mother's grave for guidance. The nun/main character discusses the issue of homosexuality with her father and blithely agrees with her Dad's opinion that it's a private matter.
I will be avoiding books by this author and Thomas Nelson publishing in the future.
As fiction, there is little in the way of character development and the writing is sub par.
This book is published by a "Christian" publishing house. This book has no spiritual depth. The main character, a nun, is a very secular character. She talks to her dead Mother's grave for guidance. The nun/main character discusses the issue of homosexuality with her father and blithely agrees with her Dad's opinion that it's a private matter.
I will be avoiding books by this author and Thomas Nelson publishing in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2014
About the Book:
Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She's seen her fair share of crime--and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
A Hollywood director has disappeared, and the sultry starlet he's been running around with isn't talking. When the missing man turns up dead, Captain Divine's case escalates into a full-blown murder case, and Sister Eve's crime-solving instincts kick in with an almost God-given grace.
Soon Sister Eve finds herself soul-searching every step of the way: How can she choose between the vocation in her heart and the job in her blood?
About the Author:
Lynne Hinton is the New York Times best-selling author of Friendship Cake and Pie Town. She received an undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro and a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She has served as a hospice chaplain and church pastor. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer. She lives with her husband in Albuquerque, NM. Visit her website at www.lynnehinton.com Facebook: Lynne-Hinton-Books
My Review:
Sister Evangeline Divine, grew up surrounded by crime, due to the fact that her father was a police chief. Two years after joining a monastery, Sister Eve is visited by a police officer. This police officer informs her of her father's upcoming surgery.
Upon her arrival at the hospital, she learns of her father's latest case. One involving the murder of a Hollywood director. As his mistress shares all she knows, Sister Eve starts to wonder about this woman's involvement even further---because something doesn't sound quite right. Knowing there is more to the story to unveil, she feels like it is a race against the clock to find the killer.
As the story starts to pull you in and makes you question who the killer, sister Eve has her own life to figure out and soon she is questioning herself and God to figure out if that is her true calling.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look.
Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She's seen her fair share of crime--and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
A Hollywood director has disappeared, and the sultry starlet he's been running around with isn't talking. When the missing man turns up dead, Captain Divine's case escalates into a full-blown murder case, and Sister Eve's crime-solving instincts kick in with an almost God-given grace.
Soon Sister Eve finds herself soul-searching every step of the way: How can she choose between the vocation in her heart and the job in her blood?
About the Author:
Lynne Hinton is the New York Times best-selling author of Friendship Cake and Pie Town. She received an undergraduate degree from UNC Greensboro and a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She has served as a hospice chaplain and church pastor. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer. She lives with her husband in Albuquerque, NM. Visit her website at www.lynnehinton.com Facebook: Lynne-Hinton-Books
My Review:
Sister Evangeline Divine, grew up surrounded by crime, due to the fact that her father was a police chief. Two years after joining a monastery, Sister Eve is visited by a police officer. This police officer informs her of her father's upcoming surgery.
Upon her arrival at the hospital, she learns of her father's latest case. One involving the murder of a Hollywood director. As his mistress shares all she knows, Sister Eve starts to wonder about this woman's involvement even further---because something doesn't sound quite right. Knowing there is more to the story to unveil, she feels like it is a race against the clock to find the killer.
As the story starts to pull you in and makes you question who the killer, sister Eve has her own life to figure out and soon she is questioning herself and God to figure out if that is her true calling.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Look.
October 4, 2022
I wanted to like this but it just didn't grab me. I'm am not familiar with Catholic monastic traditions but this seemed very secularized and modernized for the reading public. It was an okay storyline but it isn't a series I am keen to come back to.
March 4, 2015
Sister Eve Divine has been living in a monastery for twenty years. But when her father lands in the hospital her sister decides it's time for Eve to come and do her duty. Their father is a retired police officer turned detective. The missing person case he's working on at the time of his illness turns into a murder case. So Sister Eve steps up and helps her father solve the crime.
I love a good mystery and a faith based mystery with a nun sounded fun. The story started out slow and never picked up for me. There wasn't any humor, the story seemed to center more around family drama than the mystery, and I couldn't relate to the story. The main character had some characteristics that didn't fit with the persona the author was trying to portray. She waffled between immaturity in her emotions and faith, and being a responsible woman who'd been a nun for twenty years. It was a little bit confusing. But I think with a good editing and some extra mystery thrown in this could be a really good series. It just isn't quite there yet.
I received this book free of charge from BookLook Blogger in exchange for my honest review.
I love a good mystery and a faith based mystery with a nun sounded fun. The story started out slow and never picked up for me. There wasn't any humor, the story seemed to center more around family drama than the mystery, and I couldn't relate to the story. The main character had some characteristics that didn't fit with the persona the author was trying to portray. She waffled between immaturity in her emotions and faith, and being a responsible woman who'd been a nun for twenty years. It was a little bit confusing. But I think with a good editing and some extra mystery thrown in this could be a really good series. It just isn't quite there yet.
I received this book free of charge from BookLook Blogger in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2016
Sister Eve herself is an interesting character. She's a Harley riding nun that after 20 years of convent life is finding herself restless. As Providence often has it she is needed at home to care for her father as he recovers from an amputation. Once there she is forced to deal with the often tenuous relationship between her and family members.
To me the story was more about relationships than mystery, but the mystery element was interesting. There are plenty of red herrings to keep you wondering who really did commit the crime. In fact there are so many that it became a little much. One of the elements that should have just been left out was a homosexual relationship. It just didn't fit and instead came across as a statement from the author rather than part of the plot development.
While this was not my favorite cozy mystery I am interested in reading the next two book in the series. I like the main character Eve and I'm interested in seeing where her relationship with her father and sister goes.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
To me the story was more about relationships than mystery, but the mystery element was interesting. There are plenty of red herrings to keep you wondering who really did commit the crime. In fact there are so many that it became a little much. One of the elements that should have just been left out was a homosexual relationship. It just didn't fit and instead came across as a statement from the author rather than part of the plot development.
While this was not my favorite cozy mystery I am interested in reading the next two book in the series. I like the main character Eve and I'm interested in seeing where her relationship with her father and sister goes.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
January 16, 2015
A quick read with no character development and not much of a plot. Sister Eve takes a leave from the convent to (officially) help her cantankerous father convalesce from a diabetes related amputation. She gets caught up investigating a murder that happened in her hometown of Madrid (not pronounced like the one in Spain). Sister Evangeline Divine (pronounced De Veen)comes to terms with her father and sister.
I decided to read this book because I thought I would get a glimpse of daily life in a convent, but almost nothing happens there. (Get thee to a nunnery!)
I decided to read this book because I thought I would get a glimpse of daily life in a convent, but almost nothing happens there. (Get thee to a nunnery!)
December 8, 2018
As any book, it had a few redeeming pages, it's just that the awful parts prevailed. The nun had a very relaxed opinion on her vocation, which carried into a rather weak grasp of the Christian faith - certainly not enough to elevate it to Christian Fiction. I was especially grossed out with a couple of kissing scenes between men that were not at all necessary to the plot - in my opinion a ploy for the author to insert her own opinion on homosexuality (chapter 53) basically "Does it matter?" and a lot of blather about it being their own business.
June 21, 2020
Bored. Bored. Bored. Dnf'd at 46%. Plot contrivances, faith and religion feel like an afterthought even though the main character is a Nun. The mystery is dull. More about family drama. Replace her being a Nun but also wanting to be a detective with her picking any other vocation daddy doesn't approve of besides detective and you get the same story. Also if I have to read them correcting people on how their last name is pronounced one more time...
December 26, 2020
Interesting plot with heartening characters. Will read next in series. Well narrated by Hillary Huber and recommended to mature readers. Re: A LGBA situation early in the novel.
November 11, 2019
Well, this was a bit different.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did, let alone find the characters as interesting and distinctive. The murder mystery itself wasn’t anything special or out of the ordinary (if you’re into murder mystery or cosy mystery books), but having the main protagonist be a fully fledged habit wearing nun was not something I’d come across before. However, twenty years of service didn’t hamper Sister Evangeline from helping her recently hospitalized father, former Captain Divine (that’s pronounced Diveen, which you will see repeated many, many times throughout the book), as he recovers from surgery. Eve and her father, whom she calls The Captain, have a strained relationship, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to mend some fences, not only between her and her father, but with her sister Dorisanne. Eve is a likeable character who is smart and practical (with a soft spot for stray animals) who does her best to search for clues to a killers identity without getting busted.
Like I said, quite different from my usual fare in detective novels, but well worth a read.
3 stars ⭐️
I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did, let alone find the characters as interesting and distinctive. The murder mystery itself wasn’t anything special or out of the ordinary (if you’re into murder mystery or cosy mystery books), but having the main protagonist be a fully fledged habit wearing nun was not something I’d come across before. However, twenty years of service didn’t hamper Sister Evangeline from helping her recently hospitalized father, former Captain Divine (that’s pronounced Diveen, which you will see repeated many, many times throughout the book), as he recovers from surgery. Eve and her father, whom she calls The Captain, have a strained relationship, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to mend some fences, not only between her and her father, but with her sister Dorisanne. Eve is a likeable character who is smart and practical (with a soft spot for stray animals) who does her best to search for clues to a killers identity without getting busted.
Like I said, quite different from my usual fare in detective novels, but well worth a read.
3 stars ⭐️
February 26, 2018
For some reason the cover of this book attracted me (go figure!). This was a moderately cozy mystery (no blood, little violence, barely any tension) with a side of family drama. Readable, but won’t keep you up at night.
September 15, 2023
I'm so glad to discover this author and series! I've already checked out the 2nd book. 🙃
I was a little nervous about the wide range of characters in the narrative, but Hinton did an incredible job lending details to each person's story without "forcing" the story forward. The characters are complicated, and I can't wait to learn more about them.
I was a little nervous about the wide range of characters in the narrative, but Hinton did an incredible job lending details to each person's story without "forcing" the story forward. The characters are complicated, and I can't wait to learn more about them.
June 3, 2024
This was a fun read! It's different from the suspense, edge-of-your- seat novels I usually read, but it was an new kind of storyline that definitely held my interest, and kept me turning pages. I listened to it as an audible book on Libby, and the narration was great & didn't drag! Highly recommend 👌
July 20, 2022
I should have liked this book but I spent far too much wondering just how naive Sister Eve could be. She maintains the abbey’s website but doesn’t know google. Cell phones are news to her? She doesn’t recognize Tom Cruise?
The story had far too many maguffins, red herrings, and random dropped plot lines. The murderer was introduced late in the book, essentially as a deus ex machina.
UGH!
The story had far too many maguffins, red herrings, and random dropped plot lines. The murderer was introduced late in the book, essentially as a deus ex machina.
UGH!
January 22, 2015
Lynne Hinton in her new book, “Sister Eve, Private Eye” Book One in the Divine Private Detective Agency series published by Thomas Nelson introduces us to Sister Eve.
From the back cover: Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She’s seen her fair share of crime—and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
A Hollywood director has disappeared, and the sultry starlet he’s been running around with isn’t talking. When the missing man turns up dead, Captain Divine’s case escalates into a full-blown murder case, and Sister Eve’s crime-solving instincts kick in with an almost God-given grace.
Soon Sister Eve finds herself soul-searching every step of the way: How can she choose between the vocation in her heart and the job in her blood?
For me there is something special about the mysteries where the investigator is a priest or a nun. Maybe it is their connection to God that gives them a unique approach to a murder investigation. Meet Sister Eve or Sister Evangeline Divine. She has all kinds of issues which are only hinted at in this story and gives us a lot to look forward to in future stories. She has come home to take care of her injured Private Investigator father and mend relationships. Already, not an easy task. But Sister Eve is going to pick up the investigation where her father left off. Now get ready for a page-turner. I do not believe you will figure out who the killer actually is but you won’t feel badly about that as the adventure is exciting enough. “Sister Eve, Private Eye” is a mystery that will keep you flipping pages well into the night because you will keep telling yourself just one page more, it is that good. Lynne Hinton has brought in a winner with her new book. Already I am looking forward to the next mystery in this series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She’s seen her fair share of crime—and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
A Hollywood director has disappeared, and the sultry starlet he’s been running around with isn’t talking. When the missing man turns up dead, Captain Divine’s case escalates into a full-blown murder case, and Sister Eve’s crime-solving instincts kick in with an almost God-given grace.
Soon Sister Eve finds herself soul-searching every step of the way: How can she choose between the vocation in her heart and the job in her blood?
For me there is something special about the mysteries where the investigator is a priest or a nun. Maybe it is their connection to God that gives them a unique approach to a murder investigation. Meet Sister Eve or Sister Evangeline Divine. She has all kinds of issues which are only hinted at in this story and gives us a lot to look forward to in future stories. She has come home to take care of her injured Private Investigator father and mend relationships. Already, not an easy task. But Sister Eve is going to pick up the investigation where her father left off. Now get ready for a page-turner. I do not believe you will figure out who the killer actually is but you won’t feel badly about that as the adventure is exciting enough. “Sister Eve, Private Eye” is a mystery that will keep you flipping pages well into the night because you will keep telling yourself just one page more, it is that good. Lynne Hinton has brought in a winner with her new book. Already I am looking forward to the next mystery in this series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 16, 2014
Sister Eve Private Eye introduces us to nun Eve Divine (pronounced “Deveen” as the reader of the book will be reminded too many times). Eve is the daughter of a retired police captain, now private eye, who is also widowed. With the loss of a leg due to diabetes, Eve temporarily leaves her convent to help him convalesce, and begins to help investigate a murder that has occurred the subject of a missing person’s case that he was pursuing.
The novel does not proceed much further from there. I felt as if the author was trying to make space for the characters to relationally develop, but it just never quite gelled for me. Besides the nun and her father, there is Sister Eve’s own sister, her dad’s friend/partner, and the girlfriend of the deceased, but really not much else there in terms of relationships; just characters sharing page space. I was over halfway through the book before I realized they had not begun to even delve in the mystery, which except for travel, and conversations, does not reveal itself to be anything remarkable.
By the book’s conclusion, I was relieved to have the, should not have been, laborious journey concluded. On the reading way, I found no one to route for, and I also felt that the author was playing it safe in regards to the protagonist’s faith, where instead I think any reader who picks up the book about a nun would be willing to accept. I can certainly understand the desire to keep this a mystery and not a “Christian Novel,” but it appears that the writer played it safe to a fault.
Perhaps the slow moving story, and relational conversations will appeal to some readers, but it did not for me. Though I am a fan of mystery, and a person of faith, there was not enough in Sister Eve, Private Eye, to warrant a second coming (pun intended) for me.
Note: I reviewed this off of an advance reading copy provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley...obviously there is no agreement or understanding that I will leave a positive review!
The novel does not proceed much further from there. I felt as if the author was trying to make space for the characters to relationally develop, but it just never quite gelled for me. Besides the nun and her father, there is Sister Eve’s own sister, her dad’s friend/partner, and the girlfriend of the deceased, but really not much else there in terms of relationships; just characters sharing page space. I was over halfway through the book before I realized they had not begun to even delve in the mystery, which except for travel, and conversations, does not reveal itself to be anything remarkable.
By the book’s conclusion, I was relieved to have the, should not have been, laborious journey concluded. On the reading way, I found no one to route for, and I also felt that the author was playing it safe in regards to the protagonist’s faith, where instead I think any reader who picks up the book about a nun would be willing to accept. I can certainly understand the desire to keep this a mystery and not a “Christian Novel,” but it appears that the writer played it safe to a fault.
Perhaps the slow moving story, and relational conversations will appeal to some readers, but it did not for me. Though I am a fan of mystery, and a person of faith, there was not enough in Sister Eve, Private Eye, to warrant a second coming (pun intended) for me.
Note: I reviewed this off of an advance reading copy provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley...obviously there is no agreement or understanding that I will leave a positive review!
December 4, 2014
I read a lot of amateur sleuth mysteries. Sister Eve is a little younger than the usual sleuths I read, and she rides a Harley, and she's a nun, AND her dad is a former detective. Refreshing and appealing!
I loved Eve (Evangeline) and her candor. She reminded me a lot of myself: A little brash, a little naive, a little impulsive. When she suspected a certain guy as the perpetrator of the crime, she just drove down to his house and jumped the fence. She had no backup plan. She didn't even have a primary plan! Her haste made for some funny moments and even a possible meet-cute. (I see romance in every novel!)
I enjoyed Hinton's other characters, too: the injured and stubborn dad, the greasy film producer, the martyr sister, the pretty young actress...
But the plot just didn't come together smoothly for me. Storylines are aesthetic... Liking a plot line comes down to your personal taste. I think this one just didn't do it for me -- the whole film world turned me off. I didn't like the deviousness and quirks of the characters in the film industry. Even pretty Megan annoyed me when she didn't stand up for herself.
The crime SOLVING, though... That was my cup of tea. Sister Eve and her friends who just happen to have information to help her solve the case... Eve's brainstorming sessions with her dad... The police on the fringe of the true investigation... All very well worth the read.
My favorite part? Eve taking another leave of absence from the convent, because that means she might have another crime to solve soon.
I loved Eve (Evangeline) and her candor. She reminded me a lot of myself: A little brash, a little naive, a little impulsive. When she suspected a certain guy as the perpetrator of the crime, she just drove down to his house and jumped the fence. She had no backup plan. She didn't even have a primary plan! Her haste made for some funny moments and even a possible meet-cute. (I see romance in every novel!)
I enjoyed Hinton's other characters, too: the injured and stubborn dad, the greasy film producer, the martyr sister, the pretty young actress...
But the plot just didn't come together smoothly for me. Storylines are aesthetic... Liking a plot line comes down to your personal taste. I think this one just didn't do it for me -- the whole film world turned me off. I didn't like the deviousness and quirks of the characters in the film industry. Even pretty Megan annoyed me when she didn't stand up for herself.
The crime SOLVING, though... That was my cup of tea. Sister Eve and her friends who just happen to have information to help her solve the case... Eve's brainstorming sessions with her dad... The police on the fringe of the true investigation... All very well worth the read.
My favorite part? Eve taking another leave of absence from the convent, because that means she might have another crime to solve soon.
July 19, 2022
This was a very peculiar book for me and I lost interest half-way or so and just sent it back to the library without ever knowing "whodunnit." Basically, I found myself unable to connect or like the main character, Sister Eve, who dresses and acts like a nun until she doesn't, who is helping her retired policeman-dad-turned-amputee private detective track down who murdered a Hollywood director whose screenplays have been the wow of now. Oh, and did I mention the starlet who hired her dad in the first place and who was the dead director's squeeze, his wife and family who fly out to New Mexico where this all takes place, a ranch owner, a ranch-hand, and a missing writer who is the ghostwriter for the dead director's good ideas. Got all that? I just felt that there were too many unconnected characters running around (the ranch owner and hand I never did understand). I like to give books a chance so I did read half of it but then got so bored I couldn't finish it. But that is just my opinion, maybe other people will enjoy it.
August 7, 2015
Loved this book, and looking forward to the second book. Two feisty characters, a daughter that is a nun and her father, Captain that is gruff, and his daughter is taking care of him after an operation.
She's undecided on the future, staying in the convent or helping her Dad with his crime-solving. A really fun read that I enjoyed and couldn't put down.
From Amazon:
Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She’s seen her fair share of crime—and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
She's undecided on the future, staying in the convent or helping her Dad with his crime-solving. A really fun read that I enjoyed and couldn't put down.
From Amazon:
Sister Eve knows God moves in mysterious ways. And Eve adores a good mystery. Especially a murder.
Two decades into her calling at a New Mexico monastery, Sister Evangeline Divine breaks her daily routine when a police officer appears, carrying a message from her father. Sister Eve is no stranger to the law, having grown up with a police captain turned private detective. She’s seen her fair share of crime—and knows a thing or two about solving mysteries.
But when Captain Jackson Divine needs her to return home and help him recover from surgery, Sister Eve finds herself taking on his latest case.
December 30, 2014
I liked this book. It was a very quick, easy read. There was a good mystery, not a lot of twists and turns, but kept the reader going. The characters didn't seem to be greatly developed but at the same time, I found I liked them and their relationships with each other. My biggest complaint is the ending. The reveal of the solution to the mystery was just so unbelievable and happened so quickly without any suspense. I would have liked more from the ending. I was a little concerned in reading this because it was about a nun and the possibility that it was going to be preachy was there. The author did a really good job incorporating that aspect in without coming across preachy. I will definitely read the next book in this series.
June 7, 2016
A fun new series. Sister Eve really is a Benedictine nun but after 20 years in the monastery she is wondering if this is all there is to life. She is called home to care for her aging, private eye, Father. She gets looped in to one of her father's investigations and finds she really likes it!
Not too churchy so don't be afraid to read if that could be an issue.
Not too churchy so don't be afraid to read if that could be an issue.
April 30, 2018
DNF, the mystery was lackluster and I honestly didn't find a single one of the characters the least bit compelling, lots of cliches. Also just a personal pet peeve, it was abundantly clear the author wasn't a Catholic (Asher bio confirmed) her portrayal of religious life and frankly all aspects of Catholicism were weak.
February 1, 2021
Good story about a nun and her detective father dealing with changes in their lives. But the mystery in the book was lacking. The third book in the series (which I read last year, starting it before realizing it was part of a series) offers a much more intriguing mystery.
August 2, 2015
Couldn't really get back into this after so long of a break. All I remember was that I was bored...
April 22, 2016
Really didn't like this one even though I really tried. It was just dull. Forced myself to finish it.
July 12, 2022
This was a good detective novel. Not a million miles away from something like Louise Penny—but with less food :)
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