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Christopher Worthy/Father Fortis Mystery #1
Enter by the Narrow Gate
A teenage girl has vanished in Santa Fe. Nearby, in the Trappist monastery of St. Mary of the Snows, a beautiful young nun is stabbed to death. Father Nicholas Fortis is on sabbatical at St. Mary’s, and when Lieutenant Christopher Worthy of the Detroit Police Department is flown in to help find the missing teenager, the Orthodox monk asks his friend to delve into the nun’s murder as well. The two men make a perfect team: the monk’s gregarious manner opens hearts and the detective’s keen intuition infiltrates psyches. The Book of Matthew refers to the “narrow gate” that leads to heaven. Each of the key players in these two cases was rattling heaven’s gate in a frantic and even dangerous quest for salvation. Lieutenant Sera Lacey of the Santa Fe Police, with her captivating looks and insight into the Native Americans and cultures of the Southwest, proves both a boon and a distraction for Worthy. As Father Fortis navigates the social hierarchy of the monks of St. Mary’s, he begins to fear their secret agendas. Bowing to the pressure to solve both cases, the investigators let the clues lead them in opposite directions. At the end of one of those paths, Death awaits. Book one in a new detective series featuring Christopher Worthy and Father Fortis.
- GenresMystery
244 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2016
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58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 8, 2022
A wonderful mystery debut that promises to be a fantastic series. In the same vein as Tony Hillerman and other southwestern mysteries, with a touch of Brother Cadfael; this suspenseful whodunnit set in New Mexico will garner lots of fans.
Father Fortis is on sabbatical at St. Mary's and arrives just after a young nun is found brutally murdered. Soon after his good friend Detroit Detective, Lieutenant Worthy, is sent out to investigate a missing girl. Father Fortis decides that it is no mere coincidence that the two of them find themselves in the Southwest at the same time immediately after an unsolved murder. Lt. Worthy is determined to stay focused on his missing persons case but is soon drawn in by the mysteriousness of the nun's death. Could the missing girl and the dead nun be linked? If so by what? Full of intrigue, religious oddities, and good ol' fashioned sleuthing, this novel reads fast and is impossible to put down. I can't wait for the next installment!
Father Fortis is on sabbatical at St. Mary's and arrives just after a young nun is found brutally murdered. Soon after his good friend Detroit Detective, Lieutenant Worthy, is sent out to investigate a missing girl. Father Fortis decides that it is no mere coincidence that the two of them find themselves in the Southwest at the same time immediately after an unsolved murder. Lt. Worthy is determined to stay focused on his missing persons case but is soon drawn in by the mysteriousness of the nun's death. Could the missing girl and the dead nun be linked? If so by what? Full of intrigue, religious oddities, and good ol' fashioned sleuthing, this novel reads fast and is impossible to put down. I can't wait for the next installment!
December 15, 2024
I was very disappointed. It read like it was a 70's TV cop show. Weird dialog, scenes that jumped around, a half-baked "romantic interest" between the two officers - even though one was engaged and the other was still trying to get back with his ex (lame). They argued a lot, and she glared at him in disgust in about every chapter, which leads me to believe they will end up together in a future book. Don't get me started on the very formulaic, neatly wrapped up ending. Again, it echoed the way a case got solved in one hour every single on TV crime shows. I should have DNF'd weeks ago.
May 9, 2018
Full disclosure: The author is a past professor of mine, and I think his wife is pretty cool. That hasn't unduly affected my review. I checked this book out from my local library, so nothing untoward there.
It took me about 90 pages to get into this, but then it picked up and I had a hard time making myself stop reading. The main highlight here, I think, is the way Worthy and Father Fortis (and their division of duties, so to speak) complement each other. I found myself a bit frustrated(/impatient) in the final stretch; I enjoyed the way the threads came together but just wanted them to do so a bit faster.
It took me about 90 pages to get into this, but then it picked up and I had a hard time making myself stop reading. The main highlight here, I think, is the way Worthy and Father Fortis (and their division of duties, so to speak) complement each other. I found myself a bit frustrated(/impatient) in the final stretch; I enjoyed the way the threads came together but just wanted them to do so a bit faster.
February 9, 2022
Fantastic! What a fascinating way to start a series! I'm intrigued by the theme of "starting over" or "finding new" that Carlson presents early on. Many of the characters fit this: Ellie leaves home and starts over, Victor leaves college with similar intentions, and Sister Anna had intentions of leaving the convent to pursue her artistic talent. I love how these all weave together and tie into the world of the Penitentes. In the end, Worthy finds a relived purpose for mending his relationship with his daughter.
Any story that connects on these levels is "worthy" of further reading.
Any story that connects on these levels is "worthy" of further reading.
February 21, 2017
Hardened, and disheartened, Detroit Police Lieutenant Christopher Worthy travels to New Mexico on the trail of a physically, emotionally, and mentally distressed young woman. While there, he is recruited by his friend and Orthodox priest Father Nicholas Fortis to help solve the murder of a young nun who had been living, not in a convent, but in a monastery. Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Sera Lacey joins the duo as a local liaison, and they discover that the two cases have an inexplicable connection.
Worthy is confronted with a culture and a secret society he doesn’t understand. Father Fortis must navigate the social hierarchy and politics of a Trappist monastery. The child protection officer Sera Lacy gets lessons in homicide investigation. What they all come to understand is that death awaits those seeking to enter heaven’s narrow gate by their own devices.
This story is so intriguing that, like Detective Worthy, I found myself “leaning forward, back tense,” as if I could urge the words to move faster.
The characters are subtly and thoroughly developed. The interwoven plot threads make for interesting reading and come to satisfying conclusions. Each scene moves the story forward. Each scene has an arc…a beginning and a middle that ends with a page-turning or scene-turning hook. Perfect.
If Enter by the Narrow Gate is any indication, author David Carlson has started a must-read detective series featuring Christopher Worthy and Father Fortis. Stay tuned.
Worthy is confronted with a culture and a secret society he doesn’t understand. Father Fortis must navigate the social hierarchy and politics of a Trappist monastery. The child protection officer Sera Lacy gets lessons in homicide investigation. What they all come to understand is that death awaits those seeking to enter heaven’s narrow gate by their own devices.
This story is so intriguing that, like Detective Worthy, I found myself “leaning forward, back tense,” as if I could urge the words to move faster.
The characters are subtly and thoroughly developed. The interwoven plot threads make for interesting reading and come to satisfying conclusions. Each scene moves the story forward. Each scene has an arc…a beginning and a middle that ends with a page-turning or scene-turning hook. Perfect.
If Enter by the Narrow Gate is any indication, author David Carlson has started a must-read detective series featuring Christopher Worthy and Father Fortis. Stay tuned.
January 31, 2020
Christopher Worthy (Chris) a Detroit detective has been assigned the job of tracking down the missing daughter of a wealthy Detroit Car dealer. He travels to New Mexico where he meets a old friend Father Fortis at a Trappist Monastery near where the girl was last seen. It turns out that there has also been a murder at the Monastery's retreat house where a visiting Nun was found murdered.
Father Fortis convinces Chris to also help by looking into that murder as well as looking for the missing daughter. With possible hostility from some of the monks and the hints at problems with a group of Penitentes ( a member of a religious society of Flagellants in Spanish-American communities of the southwestern U.S. (as New Mexico). It was a bit slow to start form but then picked up pace and gave me another late night reading to the end.
Father Fortis convinces Chris to also help by looking into that murder as well as looking for the missing daughter. With possible hostility from some of the monks and the hints at problems with a group of Penitentes ( a member of a religious society of Flagellants in Spanish-American communities of the southwestern U.S. (as New Mexico). It was a bit slow to start form but then picked up pace and gave me another late night reading to the end.
December 19, 2021
My recent mystery experience has been mostly Alan Bradley and Louise Penny; they are tough acts to follow. After reading chapter 1 of this book, I didn't expect much from it. But I ended up really liking it. The writing was somewhat uneven but very capable most of the way.
The principals Father Fortis and Christopher Worthy grew to be likeable characters. Sera Lacey and Maria VanBruskman were very enjoyable side characters.
There is a fair amount of religion mixed in with the mystery; perhaps there will be a new genre of mystery novels coming. I have number two in the series and there are four more I do not have. Check back after I have read number two.
The principals Father Fortis and Christopher Worthy grew to be likeable characters. Sera Lacey and Maria VanBruskman were very enjoyable side characters.
There is a fair amount of religion mixed in with the mystery; perhaps there will be a new genre of mystery novels coming. I have number two in the series and there are four more I do not have. Check back after I have read number two.
December 21, 2017
A really interesting story in Father Fortis, an Orthodox priest, and the law officer are working in New Mexico. Christopher Worthy, a detective from Ohio, and Father Fortis, from Cleveland (?), set out to find a missing rich girl from Ohio and the murderer of a nun, handicapped by their ignorance of the New Mexico culture. There will be more Father Fortis mysteries, says the inside blurb for it.
Fortis is interesting in himself, and his Orthodoxy is interesting because characters who are also Orthodox have been very rare in my reading.
Fortis is interesting in himself, and his Orthodoxy is interesting because characters who are also Orthodox have been very rare in my reading.
June 28, 2021
3.5 stars
Clever plot that merges what seems to be two completely separate storylines. I really liked the three main characters - a detective from Detroit, a priest on sabbatical, and a female officer from the sheriff's department in New Mexico. The plot and background information in the book is interesting, but gets confusing at times. I like the way the missing girl case is resolved and would be interested in reading more books in this series to catch up with the main characters.
Clever plot that merges what seems to be two completely separate storylines. I really liked the three main characters - a detective from Detroit, a priest on sabbatical, and a female officer from the sheriff's department in New Mexico. The plot and background information in the book is interesting, but gets confusing at times. I like the way the missing girl case is resolved and would be interested in reading more books in this series to catch up with the main characters.
May 23, 2020
This was written by a former college professor of mine. I LOVED it so much that I started reading the whole series. If anyone wants to borrow it, let me know. It is definitely a "can't put it down" book. Anyone who might be put off by the fact that there is a priest involved, don't worry. You do not have to be a follower of organized religion to enjoy this book.
December 2, 2021
First in a series pairing up a Detroit cop with a Greek Orthodox monk both of whom end up at a monastery in New Mexico--one looking into the death of a nun, the other into the disappearance of a college girl. A nice mix of characters and great description of the location. It will be interesting to see how the two "detectives" get together for further adventures.
June 10, 2025
This was excellent from start to finish, from the immersive setting to the compelling characters. It was a pleasure to watch them get to know one another and unravel the mystery at the heart of the story.
October 19, 2017
I loved this bok. I didn't want to put it down. this is the first in the series. I can't wait for the next book.
November 24, 2017
Fairly good, but to me the ending was a bit weak
June 16, 2018
It was a good story, but took me many days to get through it.
January 27, 2019
A strong 3.5 rating. Interesting religious component to the mystery. I would have liked the 2 main characters to spend more time together. I would read another one in this series..
April 1, 2017
Once I picked this book up after being initially interrupted with others, I couldn't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews