A Vow of Poverty

Sister Joan Mystery #8

by Veronica Black

With money tight and resources stretched, the Order of the Daughters of Compassion must find a way to increase revenue. Sister Joan is sent to clean out the attic storerooms in hopes of discovering valuable antiques. What she finds instead are clues that lead to her most chilling and dangerous case yet.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, British Literature, Cozy, Fiction

173 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

Pseudonym for Maureen Peters

Maureen Peters was born in Caernarvon, Wales, on March 3, 1935, and was married and divorced twice; she has two sons and two daughters. In addition to biographical fiction, historical romances, and mystery novels written under her own name, other noms de plume include Veronica Black, Catherine Darby, Levanah Lloyd, Belinda Grey, Elizabeth Law, Judith Rothman, and Sharon Whitby.

Said Maureen Peters about Sister Joan in an interview, "I chose a nun because they have got a lot of time on their hands. I have friends who are real nuns and they give me information on their lives, but mine’s a bit more unconventional. Every time she goes to a convent, she finds a dead body — Cornwall is littered with them."

Reviews

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Sister Joan mystery and although it was actually the 9th book in the series of 11 it did not matter in the least as far as the story or characters were concerned.
Sister Joan is a young nun in Order of the Daughters of Compassion, she is a very kind soul and ready to help anyone who comes her way but in doing so a lot of trouble comes her way as well.
When the sisters, who try to be self-sufficient, find themselves short of money, Mother Dorothy has the idea that there may be something of value up in the attics that has been stored away for years, that could be sold to raise money. She gives Sister Joan the task of burrowing through the dust and cobwebs covering old furniture and rubbish in the hopes of finding something valuable. Sister Joan sets about the job with enthusiasm but as she becomes curious about a photo and a leaflet pushed through the convent door it looks as if she has unearthed secrets that someone does not want to come out. When a young woman who gave Sister Joan some information is found dead the police become involved and as Joan helps them solve the crime her own life is endangered. Has she unearthed the devil himself?
I really like Veronica Black's books and she also writes under quite a few pseudonyms like Catherine Darby and Maureen Peters, two of my other favourites.
The Sister Joan mysteries are now available on Kindle.

[Mrs. J.P. Cantle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister Joan has a habit of finding bodies as well as the one she wears as a nun.

The quiet little convent has financial problems as usual in a house where no one has a job. Sister Joan is set to clear out the storeroom for forgotten treasures. But instead of treasures she finds a body - the third to have been strangled in the past few weeks.But that is not quite true, this one was killed twenty years ago!
I really enjoyed the book, and the final sentence was surprisingly apt and made me giggle!

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is really starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel. I still like the characters, but the plot lines are questionable. I have 2 more to go if I can make it and will need to get the last from the library if I want to complete the series.

[Janet E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Sister Joan books. They are quick reads, engaging, and somewhat inspiring. In this one Joan takes unnecessary and uncalled for risks. She also keeps too much to herself not telling the police (or her Mother Superior) important happenings. The convent's van is destroyed (which is miraculously in fine working order in the next book in the series!). It is important to keep consistency between and among the books in the series. The very end of the book has Sister Joan making a decision which is improbable. It is improbable that the Mother Superior would leave such a decision to her alone and improbable that such a possible, important "relic" would be tossed into the river.

[Susan A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery read from Veronica Black

Excellent puzzle to unravel as a young girl is murdered for seemingly no reason. But it seems connected somehow to Sr. Joan’s task of cleaning out the old store room. The convent was formerly owned by the wealthy Tarquin family and the hope is that something of value may be found among the junk in storage. Sr. Joan does finally uncover a connection and with Inspector Mill, they solve the murder and the mysteries swirling around the junk in storage.

[hetty wolfs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping Ghostly!

Consistent with all of the Sister Joan mysteries A Vow of Poverty is hard to put down until the very end. Sister Joan is on the trail of an evil killer who is leaving eerie clues in the convent and roaming the misty moors at night. All the familiar characters come charmingly alive as a mystery both absorbing and entertaining unfolds. Can't wait to start reading the next Sister Joan Mystery!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Treasure

The writing of Veronica Black is a treasure--especially the Sister Joan Murder Mysteries. This story is a good example.
We get to see a bit deeper into the character of all the sisters, but that doesn't detract from the plot or the twists the story takes. I simply love the rebellious bent of Sister Joan and the pitfalls it gets her into.
I recommend this book, and all the books in the series!

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this new-to-me series.

I am always on the lookout for a really enjoyable cozy mystery series, when I am really lucky, I sometimes will stumble upon such a series, after it’s had a good many books written within the series. So it has been with the Sister Joan murder mystery series. I am awfully glad that this author is so prolific, because I just cannot seem to stop reading them!

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyable. The foil of the enclosed life and the involvement of Sister Joan in the solving of mysteries is so intriguing and cut above so many of the immoral, unnecessarily violent and profane offerings that pervade crime fiction today. The sisters are refreshingly honest and sincere in their faith.

[Olea Nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging story

As with her other novels, those one also kept me reading when I should have been getting on with other things. I loved the character of Joan and the convent milieu. I also loved the little extra twist at the end. I'm now looking forward to nm the next book in the series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While cleaning out one of the convent's storerooms in search of items to sell, Sister Joan discovers the body of a young girl in a trunk. Apparently, she was stored there at least twenty years ago, before the property was sold to the Sisters of Compassion. Does a decades-old murder have any connection to two recent strangulations in town?

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Joan solves another mystery

Sadly, more evil to be chased away from the convent and Sister Joan's fellow nuns as the storerooms are searched for anything of value to help fill the coffers.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Temptations!

I gave this book 5* because it gave me more insight into Sister Joan, and her values. Characters were well drawn and believable. I enjoyed trying to find the killer and found it intriguingly difficult because of the twists.

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome read!!

I have so enjoyed this series so very much. I feel immersed in the lives of these Sisters. What will drop into Sister Joan's lap next??? Already purchased book 9!!

[Annette Mordec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vow of Poverty

Even though the storyline was interesting, I have to take away one star. The death of the villain should have been postponed and in my opinion written differently.
Other than that, good job.

[Sandra S Penoyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expect the unexpected!

Sister Joan in pursuit of her religious rule, is thwarted by her natural inclination to intelligence and curiosity. Death and mayhem seem to follow her and pop up an unexpected situations. I very much enjoyed reading the series.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really quite good all in all. My only issue is that having only just been told about Brother Cuthbert, Sister Joan promptly forgets and ends up in danger. And I would still argue that even in a semi-enclosed order I doubt any Nun would have as much freedom as Sister Joan seems to be given.

[Miriel68 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read, as all other volumes, but I must say this time there was no real mystery and the whole story and motivation of the killer were convoluted at best (or completely absurd, to be brutally honest). Brother Cuthbert is still underused and sister Joan is a questionable nun, lol.

[Jennifer Cagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery

This was a good mystery. Sister Joan just goes about doing her job as a nun and trouble seems to find her. Its a good read.

[Kim Vogel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Augh!

This was a perfectly good who done it until the last page. A perfectly ridiculous ending. Totally spoiled the book. Sorry, Ms. Black, but there were other options.

[L Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series, and this a particularly good installment. Good characterization.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping read as always

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series. Sister Joan gets into more strife and working with the police solves the mystery.

[Mary K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Highly entertaining series. I’m looking forward to he next Sr. Joan and all the community sisters.
Read in order for the best enjoyability.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Joan has been given the task of clearing out the store room of the belongings of the Tarquin family which is mainly rubbish to be thrown. But how does this lead to several deaths.
An entertaining modern mystery

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cozy read

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Vow of Poverty by Veronica Black is the 9th book of the Sister Joan cozy mystery series set in late 20th century Cornwall on the moors. The Order of the Daughters of Compassion have taken the vow of poverty, but even they need to make ends meet. When the idea for hosting guests in a quiet retreat didn't work out (A Vow of Fidelity) they must find another source of revenue. The house originally belonged to the Tarquin family. Traces of its former luxury and elegance remain in the architecture and large rooms that have been converted to practical use. The attics are crammed with family possessions left there when the house was sold to the convent: treasures or rubbish? it's Sister Joan's job to clean out the attics and find anything valuable that they can sell. Shortly after she receives the assignment, a flyer appears in their door advertising attic/storeroom clearing services. Sister Joan enquires at the listed address, and speaks to the young woman who is the receptionist for several firms, and has never met them - she's new on the job from a temp agency. But somehow an estimate sheet is in the files...Sister Joan must get back to work at the convent, but the oddity bothers her.

The young woman calls the convent in distress, and asks Sister Joan to meet her in town. Sister Joan goes to the café, but Jane never shows up, and the office where she works is locked. Sister Joan soon learns from the police that Jane was strangled, and once again, she finds herself working closely with Detective Inspector Alan Mills on a murder enquiry. It's funny how little time Sister Joan actually spends in the attic during this book! She spends far more time describing her storeroom cleanout to everyone she meets, and helping Alan investigate Jane's murder plus another. Sister Joan's Mother Superior Dorothy shows admirable understanding of the situation, frequently assigning Sister Joan to go into town (which allows her to cooperate with the police investigation). Although Sister Joan has excellent credibility with Alan Mills, he does not believe her at first when she tells him about seeing a supposedly dead member of the Tarquin family. But she's right of course, as he comes to know. Working together, they solve the crimes. A miracle occurs in Sister Joan's final cleanup - followed by an even more unbelievable action on her part. Gentle, enjoyable reading.

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The convent of the Daughters of Compassion is suffering its latest financial crisis and Sister Joan has been tasked with sorting out a storeroom which has not been touched since the Order bought the house many years ago. Mother Dorothy hopes that as well as freeing up some more space Sister Joan might find some things which can be sold to raise money for the convent.

Other people seem interested in the convent’s junk and when a young woman who has been in contact with Sister Joan is found dead Alan Mill co-opts the inquisitive Sister to help with his enquiries. This is a chilling story and Sister Joan finds herself in serious danger before the criminal is unmasked.

If you like your crime stories with touches of humour and an insight into human behaviour then give this one a try. The Sister Joan mysteries can be read in any order but it is interesting to watch the development of the series characters by reading them in the order they were published starting with ‘A Vow of Silence’.

[Mary Ladd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the earlier books in this series but a few of them, including A Vow of Poverty, are little more than short stories, short stories with a large amount of repetition. The author spends a great deal of time going over the rules of the Order, rules that readers know from the previous seven books. We also have Sister Joan repeating the handful of clues over and over, both to other characters and herself. And after so many books in this series I'd like to see some character development but instead they're all the same as they were in the first book - Mother Dorothy is still a humorless grouch, DS Mill is still a pleasant character but one we don't see enough of and Sister Joan is still keeping important clues a secret rather than sharing them immediately with the police or her fellow Sisters.

The biggest problems I have with A Vow of Poverty 1) there isn't much of a plot and 2) Sister Joan's decision at the end of the book.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Mystery. Enjoyed the book.