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A Nun in the Closet
A mysterious benefactor donates an old house to the abbey of Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe, bringing ghosts, gangsters, and murder. A wounded man hides in the house. A suitcase stuffed with money sits at the bottom of the well. Apparitions haunt the nights. God knows what will happen next.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
244 people are currently reading
1121 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Gilman
120 books758 followersDorothy Edith Gilman started writing when she was 9 and knew early on she was to be a writer. At 11, she competed against 10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. She attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and briefly the University of Pennsylvania. She planned to write and illustrate children's books. She married Edgar A. Butters Jr, in 1945, this ended in divorce in 1965. Dorothy worked as an art teacher & telephone operator before becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years under the name
Dorothy Gilman Butters
and then began writing adult novels about Mrs. Pollifax–a retired grandmother who becomes a CIA agent. The Mrs. Pollifax series made Dorothy famous. While her stories nourish people’s thirst for adventure and mystery, Dorothy knew about nourishing the body as well. On her farm in Nova Scotia, she grew medicinal herbs and used this knowledge of herbs in many of her stories, including A Nun in the Closet. She travelled extensively, and used these experiences in her novels as well. Many of Dorothy’s books, feature strong women having adventures around the world. In 2010 Gilman was awarded the annual Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Dorothy spent much of her life in Connecticut, New Mexico, and Maine. She died at age 88 of complications of Alzheimer's disease. She is survived by two sons, Christopher Butters and Jonathan Butters; and two grandchildren.
Series:
* Mrs. Pollifax
Series:
* Mrs. Pollifax
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 381 reviews
September 6, 2012
“A Nun In The Closet” (1976) is certainly entitled to make you want to look! Some moments are hilarious, with a storyline and backdrop that are absolutely unique. A ‘cloistered order’ out of touch with modern trends, inherits land and a mansion out-of-town. They don’t know from whom but two convent Sisters survey the estate’s potential. To get there, they borrow a truck and one learns to drive!
Beyond humour, this is a brilliantly plotted mystery with successfully sculpted secrets as they explore the house from their benefactor. People they encounter and items they uncover, amplify the suspense. Like Dorothy Gilman’s other exceptional work “The Tightrope Walker” (1979), you find yourself grateful you found it and are impacted by the staggering originality. You can’t put your finger on a single other story like it. I love how the nuns are unafraid of anyone they meet; no leaping to preconceived judgement and taking each of them at face value.
Ms. Gilman-Butters is an absolute legend who the world misses. She died just this year, 2012. Hands down, her standalone stories are the best of the best that you must pursue for yourself. This is a feat considering fame came from the thirty-four year running, “Mrs. Pollifax” elderly spy series!
Beyond humour, this is a brilliantly plotted mystery with successfully sculpted secrets as they explore the house from their benefactor. People they encounter and items they uncover, amplify the suspense. Like Dorothy Gilman’s other exceptional work “The Tightrope Walker” (1979), you find yourself grateful you found it and are impacted by the staggering originality. You can’t put your finger on a single other story like it. I love how the nuns are unafraid of anyone they meet; no leaping to preconceived judgement and taking each of them at face value.
Ms. Gilman-Butters is an absolute legend who the world misses. She died just this year, 2012. Hands down, her standalone stories are the best of the best that you must pursue for yourself. This is a feat considering fame came from the thirty-four year running, “Mrs. Pollifax” elderly spy series!
March 9, 2022
The nuns in the Abbey of St. Tabitha are shocked when they are left a house and estate in New York State, several hundred miles from where they live in cloister. However, they must decide what to do with it, so Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe are elected to head up there and get a feel for what they’ve been left. Within hours of arriving, they’ve discovered a suitcase full of cash in the well and a man bleeding out from a gunshot wound in an upstairs closet. What is happening on this property? Why was it left to the nuns?
While I have loved the Mrs. Pollifax series for decades, I have never read any of Dorothy Gilman’s non-Mrs. Pollifax books. I’m glad I decided to fix that since this one was delightful. Yes, I had the broad strokes of the plot figured out early on, but I was missing a few pieces, and the twists along the way kept me highly entertained. The characters are good. They could be a little stronger overall, but they work to draw us into the story. Since the book came out in 1975, some of the references are dated, but that’s only worth noting in passing. I appreciated how one subject was handled without the book crossing into lecture mode. And the laughs were plentiful. I was smiling each time I picked up the book knowing that I was in for more fun. A lesser authors couldn’t have pulled this mix off, but Dorothy Gilman makes it look easy. I’m glad I finally picked it up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While I have loved the Mrs. Pollifax series for decades, I have never read any of Dorothy Gilman’s non-Mrs. Pollifax books. I’m glad I decided to fix that since this one was delightful. Yes, I had the broad strokes of the plot figured out early on, but I was missing a few pieces, and the twists along the way kept me highly entertained. The characters are good. They could be a little stronger overall, but they work to draw us into the story. Since the book came out in 1975, some of the references are dated, but that’s only worth noting in passing. I appreciated how one subject was handled without the book crossing into lecture mode. And the laughs were plentiful. I was smiling each time I picked up the book knowing that I was in for more fun. A lesser authors couldn’t have pulled this mix off, but Dorothy Gilman makes it look easy. I’m glad I finally picked it up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 15, 2012
Ah, that was a gentle treat. A little social justice for migrant workers thrown in with mafia drug-traffickers and leftover hippies. If there is an oppositie to 'noir' (blanc?) or 'hard-boiled' (ah, yes: soft-boiled), this is it. Quirky gypsy Sister Hyacinthe and practical, shrewd Sister John--"She has perfect faith"--made for very nice bedtime reading.
April 14, 2018
There was a thump. Something fell. Or someone.
~~~~~
What do two Benedictine nuns, a secretive man-on-the-run, a Tibetan monk, three hippies, members of the Mafia and children of migrant workers have in common? Why, A Nun in the Closet, of course.
This story was a light, vintage literary mystery that took place in the upper state of New York during the mid-1970s. Because it was first published in 1975, this period piece speaks to the era.
In nearby Pennsylvania, 17 members of the faith-rich but money-poor Abbey of St. Tabitha inherited an estate. They were told nothing about the mysterious Mr. Moretti: the gentleman who bequeathed it to them. Pious and unworldly, they took a vote -it was unanimous- and selected the friendly Sister John to assess the building and land. She, in turn, asked for the serious herbalist, Sister Hyacinthe, to join her. Together, they made an exceptional duo.
This was a goofy, busy whodunit. I enjoyed the friendship and give-and-take camaraderie between the two main protagonists. The hippies and Tibetan monk were interesting characters and the light suspense was very good. There was even a brief subplot concerning ‘women’s lib’, an off-shoot of the Civil Rights Movement. Lastly, as someone who spends time in the garden, I found Sister Hyacinthe’s healing skills a lovely addition.
A Nun in the Closet was very different from anything I’ve read before. It felt as though I traveled back to the 1970s, a turbulent time with cries for change. The depth of the mystery had humorous overtones. In many ways it was a black comedy about social injustice with a light dose of suspense. I only wished the characters were fleshed out more.
If you decide to read this story, it helps to understand numerous American 1960’s phraseology:
Never trust anyone over the age of thirty.
Stoked
Punch it
Right on!
A sit in
Rat Fink
Big Brother
Take out
Scene
Stash
Perhaps because so much was packed within 213 pages, it might turn readers off. But me? It was the very reason the story worked.
~~~~~
What do two Benedictine nuns, a secretive man-on-the-run, a Tibetan monk, three hippies, members of the Mafia and children of migrant workers have in common? Why, A Nun in the Closet, of course.
This story was a light, vintage literary mystery that took place in the upper state of New York during the mid-1970s. Because it was first published in 1975, this period piece speaks to the era.
In nearby Pennsylvania, 17 members of the faith-rich but money-poor Abbey of St. Tabitha inherited an estate. They were told nothing about the mysterious Mr. Moretti: the gentleman who bequeathed it to them. Pious and unworldly, they took a vote -it was unanimous- and selected the friendly Sister John to assess the building and land. She, in turn, asked for the serious herbalist, Sister Hyacinthe, to join her. Together, they made an exceptional duo.
This was a goofy, busy whodunit. I enjoyed the friendship and give-and-take camaraderie between the two main protagonists. The hippies and Tibetan monk were interesting characters and the light suspense was very good. There was even a brief subplot concerning ‘women’s lib’, an off-shoot of the Civil Rights Movement. Lastly, as someone who spends time in the garden, I found Sister Hyacinthe’s healing skills a lovely addition.
A Nun in the Closet was very different from anything I’ve read before. It felt as though I traveled back to the 1970s, a turbulent time with cries for change. The depth of the mystery had humorous overtones. In many ways it was a black comedy about social injustice with a light dose of suspense. I only wished the characters were fleshed out more.
If you decide to read this story, it helps to understand numerous American 1960’s phraseology:
Never trust anyone over the age of thirty.
Stoked
Punch it
Right on!
A sit in
Rat Fink
Big Brother
Take out
Scene
Stash
Perhaps because so much was packed within 213 pages, it might turn readers off. But me? It was the very reason the story worked.
July 16, 2021
This book brings back memories of the very happy summer of 1976. Perhaps I love it so much because it reminds me of that golden summer when I was 15 and life was fresh and intriguing. Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's improbable on all counts. But it sure is fun. It's one of those books you can read at a sitting, like devouring a small selection box of chocolates all to yourself, without sharing. You know there's not much nutrition tucked into the empty calories and heavy sweetness, but you don't care. It's chocolate, and it's delicious. And it's only for enjoyment anyway. So is this book.
If you want a "true to life" novel about the way nuns really live, go check out In This House of Brede. If you want a "realistic" story of gangsters, try The Godfather.
If you want an enjoyable, escapist, witty hour or two, read this book. I was there in the 70s and it evokes the period just as well as "Dharma and Greg" does, but in a different way. However if I can't live in Dharma's building, I'd like to spend some time with Sisters Hyacinthe and John.
If you want a "true to life" novel about the way nuns really live, go check out In This House of Brede. If you want a "realistic" story of gangsters, try The Godfather.
If you want an enjoyable, escapist, witty hour or two, read this book. I was there in the 70s and it evokes the period just as well as "Dharma and Greg" does, but in a different way. However if I can't live in Dharma's building, I'd like to spend some time with Sisters Hyacinthe and John.
June 26, 2018
Loved it! From the minute I started reading, I was sucked in by the witty and wise nuns, the beautiful setting, and the time period (1970’s). The nuns have been cloistered, and so have a lot to learn about daily life and politics of the time, and it was fun to learn with them. I loved all the herbal lore that Sister Hyacinthe imparted, especially the food. During the course of the mystery surrounding the house, they encounter a variety of crooks and bad guys, and the nuns prove so much smarter than all of them. It was a delightful read. It’s one of the best mysteries I’ve read all year. Recommended!
March 10, 2025
major shoutout to goodreads user Akiva ꙮ for being the trailblazer of the nun in the closet fandom, and honestly given how strong conclave is still going I think the time is ripe for this juicy piece of fruit to blow right up. this metaphor has run away with me and has also perhaps grown faintly disgusting in the process. the important thing to know is that this is quite frankly a beautiful little book, a slice of 1975 critical-hope-despair-disillusionment-meets-optimism, about which I made my wife listen endlessly.
it has nuns at whom one could in theory squint and read as being as gay as the day is long, as gay as vespers are sweet, which is really the foundation for any good fandom, and I think that's more to be getting along with, but it's also just fuckin good-hearted. I put this on hold at the library half as a joke as a known #nunlover but then it turned out to surpass my expectations on nearly every front (there is so much friendship it's unbearable!!!!!!).
I will spare you all quotes for now because the hour is late and the week is long (as the sisters are, well, you know) but I genuinely anticipate rereading this at some point in the future, at which point I am assuming that all of you will have hopped on my bandwagon and will be more receptive to poring over passages with a magnifying glass. that last bit is a joke but also it ISN'T, similar to how my half-jesting library loan quickly turned into genuine love. and so: UNTIL NEXT TIME, emphasis on the part where I WILL be seeing you all here again!!!!!! can't wait for everyone to become a nunhead (we can workshop that don't worry) xoxo
it has nuns at whom one could in theory squint and read as being as gay as the day is long, as gay as vespers are sweet, which is really the foundation for any good fandom, and I think that's more to be getting along with, but it's also just fuckin good-hearted. I put this on hold at the library half as a joke as a known #nunlover but then it turned out to surpass my expectations on nearly every front (there is so much friendship it's unbearable!!!!!!).
I will spare you all quotes for now because the hour is late and the week is long (as the sisters are, well, you know) but I genuinely anticipate rereading this at some point in the future, at which point I am assuming that all of you will have hopped on my bandwagon and will be more receptive to poring over passages with a magnifying glass. that last bit is a joke but also it ISN'T, similar to how my half-jesting library loan quickly turned into genuine love. and so: UNTIL NEXT TIME, emphasis on the part where I WILL be seeing you all here again!!!!!! can't wait for everyone to become a nunhead (we can workshop that don't worry) xoxo
December 9, 2024
3.5 stars
When the abbey inherits a piece of land with an old house, Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe are sent to take an inventory of the property. They discover a wounded man hiding in a closet upstairs, and he begs them for sanctuary. The mysteries keep piling up when they find an old suitcase full of money, and there are jars labeled 'sugar' in the pantry that are definitely not full of sugar.
I love Dorothy Gilman's writing, and I've come to have high expectations of her books. This one was really good, but I think not her best work. The mystery was predictable, and the plot was all over the place.
I loved the wacky characters though. Sister John is definitely my favorite. She is full of spunk and courage in the face of danger. She relies on her common sense and her faith in some really difficult situations.
Sister Hyacinthe loves plants and gardening. She is superstitious and worries about ghosts in the old house.
There is a whole storyline with migrant workers who are being discriminated against in the town, and there are some hippies who are camping in the woods, and there is a spiritual guru who randomly shows up to teach everyone how to meditate.
Some of the scenes felt a little preachy, but that is to be expected when the main characters are nuns.
When the abbey inherits a piece of land with an old house, Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe are sent to take an inventory of the property. They discover a wounded man hiding in a closet upstairs, and he begs them for sanctuary. The mysteries keep piling up when they find an old suitcase full of money, and there are jars labeled 'sugar' in the pantry that are definitely not full of sugar.
I love Dorothy Gilman's writing, and I've come to have high expectations of her books. This one was really good, but I think not her best work. The mystery was predictable, and the plot was all over the place.
I loved the wacky characters though. Sister John is definitely my favorite. She is full of spunk and courage in the face of danger. She relies on her common sense and her faith in some really difficult situations.
Sister Hyacinthe loves plants and gardening. She is superstitious and worries about ghosts in the old house.
There is a whole storyline with migrant workers who are being discriminated against in the town, and there are some hippies who are camping in the woods, and there is a spiritual guru who randomly shows up to teach everyone how to meditate.
Some of the scenes felt a little preachy, but that is to be expected when the main characters are nuns.
September 17, 2015
Sister Hyacinthe and Sister John set out to check out a property left to their abbey. The don't know anything about the man who bequeathed this property to them or why. An amazing adventure for these two nuns who travel from the cloister of their abbey into the "world" and encounter mafia, hit men, hidden money, disguised cocaine and a wounded man hidden in a closet asking for sanctuary. They nurse the man back to health and hide him as "sister Ursula". Sister John's faith and their lack of world knowledge makes them friends gets them out of some close calls. The setting of this book is the seventies, something some consider to be outdated but for someone who graduated high school in 1970, it brought back lots of memories of the decade. It's a light read and I recommend it for anyone who maybe wants a break from some of the more serious mysteries. I read this on Kindle Fire with the accompanying audio and the audio really added to the fun.
October 28, 2018
An abbey of unworldly nuns receive an unexpected bequest! It's a falling-down Gothic mansion in upstate New York! The Mafia are involved! So are several well-meaning hippies! Why so many exclamation marks! Because this is a DEEPLY, PROFOUNDLY RIDICULOUS BOOK. It is warm and funny and fundamentally good-hearted, like all of Gilman's work, and has aged well since it was first published in 1975. One thing I found particularly fascinating is the contemporary depiction of the hippies, who are described as eccentric and sometimes silly and prone to speech-making, but industrious, loyal and sincere in their moral beliefs. I can't imagine such a non-caricatured view of them in a book published today. None of which is to say this book is not deeply, profoundly ridiculous! It absolutely is. But it's kinder and better than many much more serious books.
January 6, 2023
If we can grow vegetables and print a newspaper and raise goats and live in the presence of God, and bake bread and butcher a cow I don't see why we can't solve a few finite mysteries as well, Sister Hyacinthe. (57)
Trademark Gilman humor with a twisty plotline and lovable characters. The setting is rather homely compared to Mrs. Pollifax, who is perpetually on international jaunts, and deals with the complex politics of the 1970s through the eyes of cloistered nuns on a trip for their abbey. I found it completely hilarious, a delightful way to spend an evening.
Trademark Gilman humor with a twisty plotline and lovable characters. The setting is rather homely compared to Mrs. Pollifax, who is perpetually on international jaunts, and deals with the complex politics of the 1970s through the eyes of cloistered nuns on a trip for their abbey. I found it completely hilarious, a delightful way to spend an evening.
April 10, 2024
Sister John and Sister Hyacynthe, the commonsense nun and her new-agey sister-nun, catch a glimpse of the world outside their cloister, complete with money, mayhem, and murder. Happily, the experiences do not distract them from protesting injustice, healing the sick, and stirring up another pot of herbal soup.
I read this aloud to my husband on our way to see the solar eclipse. The story wasn't as funny as it was purported to be, but we still enjoyed every moment of it, and my teenaged daughter, who rode in the back seat, was annoyed to learn, this morning, that I passed the book on to a friend over the weekend, before she could read it. No worries, we'll pick up the next copy we find. Dorothy Gilman doesn't disappoint.
I read this aloud to my husband on our way to see the solar eclipse. The story wasn't as funny as it was purported to be, but we still enjoyed every moment of it, and my teenaged daughter, who rode in the back seat, was annoyed to learn, this morning, that I passed the book on to a friend over the weekend, before she could read it. No worries, we'll pick up the next copy we find. Dorothy Gilman doesn't disappoint.
March 17, 2018
I love the author's Mrs. Pollifax books, and some of her others are good as well. But this mish-mash was unreadable. Conservative, cloistered nuns from the 70's would not approve of divination. And why does the mystery guy have to swear so much? Profanity is rare in the other books - why the need to put it on every page here? I got about 30 percent through and couldn't take any more. I'm glad she kept writing, though, and got better. Because many of her other books are delightful. And it's good to know I haven't missed anything by not reading this one.
March 14, 2017
One of my favorite books by my favorite comfort author. (Who is yours?)
A pair of cloistered nuns in 70's New York travel to check out an isolated farmhouse their convent has inherited. They quickly befriend the local hippies, run afoul of the law, and take on the cause of local migrant workers. Oh, and they tangle with the mafia.
It's all light and goofy and sweetly new age-y.
I love it.
A pair of cloistered nuns in 70's New York travel to check out an isolated farmhouse their convent has inherited. They quickly befriend the local hippies, run afoul of the law, and take on the cause of local migrant workers. Oh, and they tangle with the mafia.
It's all light and goofy and sweetly new age-y.
I love it.
March 21, 2021
Okay, full disclosure, this is not great literature by any means. But it's my favorite kind of brain candy. Quick, short, funny little mystery. Picked it up yesterday evening and finished it before bed. I've read lots of Mrs. Pollifax books by the same author and enjoyed this stand alone just as much or maybe more.
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May 26, 2022a favorite re-read--nuns inheriting an old house full of surprises, including a well full of money and man who's been shot. Nice helping of social justice (over the top and a bit silly, but still there and perhaps useful for what we are currently facing in this country) and herb drying.
March 24, 2023
Sister John and Sister Hyacinth leave the cloister to check out a property willed to their order. It's quite an adventure and education in the real world. Murder, money, the mob.
August 5, 2020
I picked ths up partly on the recommendation of skygiants (thanks so much!!) and partly because I've read Mrs. Pollifax, which you should all do if you have the slightest interest in an elderly lady joining the CIA because she's bored. A Nun In the Closet does not involve the CIA but it does involve two cloistered nuns being sent to investigate a dilapidated estate that the convent has just inherited. Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe have not been out in the world for a good twenty years, so many things (including driving) are new and odd to them.
They're pretty sure there shouldn't be a bleeding man in the closet of the house. Especially since people are chasing him. So they stitch him up, put a habit on him, and tell anyone who comes to the house that his name is Sister Ursula, because this is that kind of book and it is an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. Sisters John and Hyacinthe make friends with the local hippies and migrant workers, collect plants, discover large amounts of money and mysterious white powder, prevent Sister Ursula (who is referred to this way for the entire book) from injuring himself or being killed while putting up with his swearing, and discover their callings as, respectively, a social justice crusader for the rights of migrant workers and an extremely happy cloistered nun who likes her garden and prefers not to talk to anyone, thank you.
This book is so much fun, guys. It ended... very quickly, which is honestly my only complaint; I could have done with another few chapters to spin out the mystery.
They're pretty sure there shouldn't be a bleeding man in the closet of the house. Especially since people are chasing him. So they stitch him up, put a habit on him, and tell anyone who comes to the house that his name is Sister Ursula, because this is that kind of book and it is an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT. Sisters John and Hyacinthe make friends with the local hippies and migrant workers, collect plants, discover large amounts of money and mysterious white powder, prevent Sister Ursula (who is referred to this way for the entire book) from injuring himself or being killed while putting up with his swearing, and discover their callings as, respectively, a social justice crusader for the rights of migrant workers and an extremely happy cloistered nun who likes her garden and prefers not to talk to anyone, thank you.
This book is so much fun, guys. It ended... very quickly, which is honestly my only complaint; I could have done with another few chapters to spin out the mystery.
April 13, 2018
A NUN IN THE CLOSET by Dorothy Gilman
Such a delightful adventure, such delightful characters, including strong and adorable nuns, hippies, migrant workers, “a guru, and gangsters! As in the Mrs. Pollifax books, the weaving of friendships is part of the beauty.
Two cloistered nuns traversing the outside world to investigate a haunted house bequeathed to their order are in for major culture shock . . . a bumper sticker “Sisterhood Is Beautiful” is not referring to nuns, though a later discussion with a nun from a less restrictive order raises the idea of woman’s liberation, human liberation, in the Church.
Sufi saying: Make no friendship with an elephant keeper if you have no room to entertain an elephant.”
“the most significant things in life are invisible.” “Bhanjan isn’t interested in getting anywhere . . . He’s already there.” God hid the Godhead “deep inside of man himself.”
“things . . . considered to be right today are those which were considered impossible yesterday. The things which are thought wrong today are those which will be esteemed tomorrow.”
“It’s terrifying to be right before you’re even old enough to vote.”
Jailed by evil sheriff, but jail holds no terror to those who had been jailed for peace marches, and leads to more friendships and alliances.
“It’s been such a glorious experience!”
As are Dorothy Gilman’s books; I hope all her books stay in print. <3
Such a delightful adventure, such delightful characters, including strong and adorable nuns, hippies, migrant workers, “a guru, and gangsters! As in the Mrs. Pollifax books, the weaving of friendships is part of the beauty.
Two cloistered nuns traversing the outside world to investigate a haunted house bequeathed to their order are in for major culture shock . . . a bumper sticker “Sisterhood Is Beautiful” is not referring to nuns, though a later discussion with a nun from a less restrictive order raises the idea of woman’s liberation, human liberation, in the Church.
Sufi saying: Make no friendship with an elephant keeper if you have no room to entertain an elephant.”
“the most significant things in life are invisible.” “Bhanjan isn’t interested in getting anywhere . . . He’s already there.” God hid the Godhead “deep inside of man himself.”
“things . . . considered to be right today are those which were considered impossible yesterday. The things which are thought wrong today are those which will be esteemed tomorrow.”
“It’s terrifying to be right before you’re even old enough to vote.”
Jailed by evil sheriff, but jail holds no terror to those who had been jailed for peace marches, and leads to more friendships and alliances.
“It’s been such a glorious experience!”
As are Dorothy Gilman’s books; I hope all her books stay in print. <3
August 15, 2025
The references to hippies, Weathermen and the black liberation movement might date this humorous romp starring nuns and mafia gangsters, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. If you're looking for a light, entertaining read that will make you smile, Dorothy Gilman, the author of the Mrs. Polifax series, never disappoints. In some ways she is the spiritual godmother of today's humorous mystery writers, such as Janet Evanovich, Jill Churchill, and Cindy Sample. In this story, two formerly cloistered nuns cautiously enter the outside world to check out a house on a large estate that has mysteriously been bequeathed to their tiny abbey by a deceased stranger. The mystery continues with the search for who their benefactor really was, why he left the nuns his property, and why there is an unconscious man with a gunshot wound in one of the house's closets. They nurse the wounded man, disguising him as "Sister Ursula" to protect him from the steady stream of unusual visitors who begin to appear on the out-of-the-way estate. Take-charge Sister John and dreamy Sister Hyacinthe prove unexpectedly competent at putting together clues and guiding the story to its satisfying ending. The writing is snappy, the characters--even the bad guys--are charming, and the laughs are frequent.
December 1, 2015
When the cloistered monastic community of nuns inherit an old house with 150 acres in upstate NY, they send Srs. John and Hyacinthe to go check it all out. What they find is a suitcase full of money in the well, hippies camping on the property, and an injured man in the closet.
This was a sweet book and such a product of its time (in a funny way). We have gangsters asking for sanctuary, hippies living off the land, and nuns experimenting with yoga and transcendental meditation. There's even a Yogi who shows up sprouting nonsense like "Darkness always precedes the morning." It reminded me a bit of the movie Arsenic and Old Lace . Yes, there's bad guys running around and trying to threatening nuns but you know it's all going to end up okay.
This was a sweet book and such a product of its time (in a funny way). We have gangsters asking for sanctuary, hippies living off the land, and nuns experimenting with yoga and transcendental meditation. There's even a Yogi who shows up sprouting nonsense like "Darkness always precedes the morning." It reminded me a bit of the movie Arsenic and Old Lace . Yes, there's bad guys running around and trying to threatening nuns but you know it's all going to end up okay.
September 25, 2009
I always love Dorothy Gilman's characters, and Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe are no exception. The cast of characters also includes some hippies, some migrant workers, a small town sheriff, a wounded man, and some mobsters. A few people here have said it felt dated, but I just felt like it was set perfectly in its time period, which is the 70s. This is a fun read for Dorothy Gilman fans or anyone looking for a great cozy mystery!
August 5, 2016
What a fun, odd book! Published in 1975, it reminded a little of the old movie, SISTER ACT, with Whoopi Goldberg. Two nuns leave a cloistered order to check out a house and property that their order has inherited. The story unfolds slowly and there are lots of coincidences involving hippies and gangsters and local migrant workers. Most of it is completely farfetched and yet, I really enjoyed it.
July 26, 2022
This novel was fun to read while not at all a comedy. What genre would it be? Can mystery really be a genre these days? Anyway, brilliantly thought out and executed, no long and clever explanations needed at the end, but no loose end left untied either. So unusual, so satisfying: to tell a good story in 213 pages! Thanks to my GR friend Dana for recommending it.
December 26, 2010
Another charming story from this author who creates interesting & very like-able characters. Her series featuring "Mrs. Polifax" is outstanding & I have re-read it several times. I also enjoy her subtle "tongue in cheek" humor.
May 20, 2017
Still one of my favorite books by Gilman and one one that has held up well despite its setting. As always, Gilman melded philosophy, religion, mystery, and humor and created a delightful story full of wonderful characters.
October 15, 2024
Will that was bloody fantastic
Farcical, surprise after surprise and lots of fun!!!
Man this had to be the best by Dorothy Gilman so fast. I mean I love Mrs. Pollifax but this beats it all.
Sister Act wishes it could be this magnificent..
Farcical, surprise after surprise and lots of fun!!!
Man this had to be the best by Dorothy Gilman so fast. I mean I love Mrs. Pollifax but this beats it all.
Sister Act wishes it could be this magnificent..
July 19, 2012
This was one of the funniest books I have ever read! A good read!
September 17, 2017
pretty unique one
April 19, 2020
This is hilarious and exacty what I needed this weekend. I had to laugh out loud several times. If you need some sunshine in your life, please read this ridiculous but wonderful book.
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