The Disciple

Sister Veronica Mysteries #2

by Sarah Sheridan

Sister Veronica is back at the Convent; a changed woman as a result of her experiences with corrupt clergy and the murder she lived through.
Now – more than ever – she has a thirst for righting wrongs, even if it means getting herself into danger.
So, when a two-month old baby girl is left on the Convent doorstep one night, wrapped up in dirty blankets and placed in an open cardboard box, Sister Veronica steps in to help solve the mystery. And when she discovers a tarot card left with the baby, she is drawn deeper into the search for the mother.
Sister Veronica sets out on a mission to discover the truth, and in doing so begins to peel back the layers of secrecy and lies. But is she really prepared for what she’ll discover?

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2021

About the author

Sarah was born in London and now lives in a village in South Northamptonshire. She gained a Masters degree in Eighteenth-Century French and English art from the Courtauld Institute of Art, before teaching art in secondary schools for thirteen years. After working with human rights organisations that protect minority groups from institutional abuse, Sarah worked towards a PhD at The Open University, researching the effect of secrecy on marginalised people, specifically the biological children of Roman Catholic priests. She has spoken about her research on various news programmes for the BBC and other media outlets around the world. It was this sense of secrecy and silencing that became the inspiration for her first crime novel, The Convent.

Sarah is hugely obsessed with reading and is amassing such an unrealistically large book collection that some of it is now in storage. She is also addicted to writing, and after inventing stories (mostly in secret) from a young age and having various articles and short stories published, she wrote a children's book, The Top Secret Diary of Davina Dupree - inspired by her daughter - in 2013. Overjoyed to hear that young readers were enjoying the story, she went on to write a series about Davina Dupree.

When she is not looking after her three children and menagerie of pets, or going for long walks with her wonderful partner Rich, Sarah can be found writing, while consuming large amounts of chocolate.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A secret crime fiction writer. Sister Veronica has a need for helping solve mysteries ... even if the cost is high.

A baby is left on the convent's doorstep. She's wrapped in a ragged, dirty blanket and lying in a cardboard box. A search for the mother is on and Sister Veronica steps in when she finds a tarot card with the baby.

As Sister Veronica investigates on her own, she finds more questions than answers. Who does this baby belong to? Why was she abandoned at the church? What does the tarot card mean? Why all the secrets and lies?

Although 2nd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do, however, recommend reading the books in order. Sister Veronica is a unique character and I love that she's a writer in secret. The characters are cleverly drawn and bear watching. This is well -written, the suspense starting on the very first page and holding until the unexpected conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this Psychological Crime Fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to catch up with Sister Veronica again.
After a baby is left at the convent, the nuns are struggling to cope with the sleepless nights.
Sister Veronica knows the mum must be in some danger so starts looking into where she has gone.
With the help of Melissa, who was invaluable in the first book, they take a trip to Glastonbury to find the truth.
There’s a cult that the mum seemed to have run away from, and it’s being run by a very dangerous man, and soon lives are at risk.
This is a fast paced mystery thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This plot keeps you wondering, to the very end. This is about a nun Sister Veronica finding a baby girl name, Hope, a four month old, on the convent door steps. Sister Veronica , and the others nuns in the convent, taking care of the baby. The Nuns had to find their maternal side. The Nuns had not been dealing with young babies, one nun was not happy about the situation and wanting the baby gone. They other nuns care for the precious baby girl, as best as the could under the circumstances. Also people in the community help cared for baby Hope. They were sharing people , helpful people, loving people in the area, having compassionate hearts and loving kindness toward the baby girl Hope. This sweet baby, brought everyone together in the convent, plus the community to care for this motherless, & fatherless; precious infant. Sister Veronica had to fine out the parents of this little girl. Sister Veronica is a nun with a heart of gold. A problem solver. And she on the mission to find a out the mystery of baby hope life before she was found on the door step of the convent. This is a delightful story it flows so wonderfully, and the intrigue of whom left the little girl on the steps of the convent, and why? And where are little Hope biological parents? Whom are her biological parents? Are they Alive? Do they need help?

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to a second adventure with Sister Veronica and this time she stayed more local. When a baby is left on the doorstep of the convent, Sister Veronica goes in search of the missing mother. It was nice to have Melissa escort her along the way but the two of them felt a little underused as the police get more of the action.
Lacking a little of the excitement from the first book, this one was rather sad although it was filled with a great deal of Hope.
The little message at the end leads nicely into the idea of the third book which I look forward to as these gently mysterious stories are a pleasant read.

[Olivia Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Sheridan is a new author for me, and I have to say I'm looking forward to reading more of her books! I really enjoyed The Convent, the first Sister Veronica mystery. And i also LOVED The Disciple, it kept me hooked right from the very first page, and I'm totally obsessed with the custard cream eating amateur sleuth Sister Veronica. The plot was lively and engaging, and I found the book addictive and read it in one sitting. Can we have more Sister Veronica books please?

[Sandra Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this story of Sister Veronica she found a baby girl that four months old on the door step of the Convent of the Christian Heart. The baby girl she name Hope. She was a beautiful baby. She was loved by the nuns who have to get use to a baby around the convent, Sister Veronica is on a mission to fine the real birth parents of little hope and it turns into a real mysterious of how and why the baby in up on the step of the Convent . This is a wonderful book to read and keeps you want Sister Veronica to solve the mystery of little hope parents.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read about a nun who investigates a missing girl from a cult. Sister Veronica had issues of her own about religion. So when she finds out the infant’s mother has disappeared and she was a member of this cult; she realized she had to act fast. So much went on with this book. Art was a megalomaniac, he was abusing children and adults, he was perpetuating unstable people’s attitudes and he was encouraging his members to break the law. When the action all comes to a head, everything began to fall apart and lives were changed, some for good and some for not so good. I enjoyed this mystery and would recommend this book to those whom like clean mysteries.

[Liz T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading The Disciple even though I hadn’t read The Convent. It can certainly be read as a stand alone novel. The plot was interesting and I soon got to know Sister Veronica, the custard cream loving nun who has become somewhat of a “private investigator “ and her unlikely friend, Melissa. As the mystery of the missing Mum to the child left on the convent steps unfolded the revelations kept the reader wanting to find out more. I particularly enjoyed the trip to Glastonbury and the impression it made on Sister Veronica. As baby Hope goes missing again, the ultimate ending holds many surprises.
Thank you Bloodhound books for an ARC of The Disciple, the review is my own view of the book.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pleased to see the return of Sister Veronica - I really liked her first outing, but loved this one!

A baby has been left on the convent steps in Soho, with a note and a tarot card - can Sister Veronica and her journalist friend Melissa trace the baby's mother?

The story sees the duo visit Glastonbury in their research of a local cult that they think has ties to the missing mother. I loved the local descriptions, and the characters were brought to life so vividly with wonderful storytelling.

Can't wait for book 3!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister Veronica 🥰. I was hoping there would be a follow up and my heart leaped when it did and it didn't let me down at all. Absolutely marvelous ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Sallie Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I discovered Sister Veronica was back as I loved her first outing in The Convent and I was not disappointed. Sister Veronica is still recovering from her escapades in the first book when a tiny baby is left at the convent with a note for one of the nuns to look after her. Veronica can’t help herself and attempts to find out more about where the child has come from feeling the police are not trying hard enough. Her endeavours lead her to Glastonbury with her journalist friend Melissa and she starts to unravel a web of devious goings on. Things don’t go her way and Veronica and Melissa’s relationship is put to the test. This is a must read book and I sincerely hope there are more adventures to come.

I was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[J Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second outing for Sister Veronica and Melissa we delve into the murky world of a cult.

Arthur ‘Art’ Pendragon is the reincarnated King Arthur and has built an idyll – New Avalon – on the outskirts of Glastonbury for himself, his knights and their extended families.

Mona is an ex-disciple of King Arthur having left Glastonbury after some strong accusations against Art which brought his wrath upon her and furthermore his hatred as she left New Avalon with his beloved son, Lance.

It is some time since the awful events of Sister Veronica’s investigation into Jason’s murder and she is being closely watched by the Mother Superior and her sisters at The Convent of the Christian Heart to ensure that she is regaining her mental and physical health. Indeed it has been tough but when a baby is left on the convent doorstep Sister Veronica begins to engage once again and becomes very interested in what has happened to the baby’s mother – Mona – a prostitute who has disappeared.

With with the help of one of the Sisters Veronica is able to get a trip to Glastonbury agreed to by the Mother Superior and soon she along with Melissa and the baby – Hope – are on their way. Whilst trying to find out what happened to Mona and whether it’s connected to New Avalon they meet Celeste, Hope’s aunt; Lucan a disenchanted disciple of King Arthur and other ex-New Avalonians. They are building a picture of a rather nasty leader – Art – and some terrible things that are happening within the cult. Then Hope is snatched.

The police are now involved and are desperately searching for the missing baby.

We also find out that Mona is being kept in a cupboard somewhere, she is being starved and beaten.

We work through the various events following Sister Veronica’s lead along with help from Melissa – will we find Mona? Will Hope be returned safe and well? What will happen to Art, New Avalon and it’s occupants?

As the pieces come together there is an attempted murder of an MP, the discovery of several beaten bodies and a tense police raid on New Avalon.

This is a such a good read. It feels like it should be a cosy mystery but has, like Christie’s Miss Marple books, a very dark side to it. Indeed we can see a few similarities with Christie’s. These books, whilst not shying away from the darkness, do not get graphic and Sister Veronica is a pretty shrewd nun.

Still these are most definitely books with their own, unique stories and characters. They are well worth reading, well written and very engaging. I look forward to reading more.

Previously read: The Convent

Thanks: With many thanks to Maria Slocombe, Publicity & Social Media Manager, Bloodhound Books for the invite to read and review The Disciple by Sarah Sheridan and for the eBook.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the familiar faces are back, Mother Superior Sister Julia Augusta, and Sisters Veronica Angelica, her best friend Agnes Claire, Catherine, Irene, Pemii and new novice Sister Anne. Sister Veronica has returned to the Convent of the Christian Heart in Soho, having recovered from her injuries sustained in her last adventure, and most of the nuns are enthralled by the arrival of baby “Hope" left abandoned on their doorstep. There was a note telling them to take the baby to Sister Catherine, who it transpires is a relative of Mona, the working girl mother of Hope, and also a sinister looking tarot card left with the child. Since the police do not seem to be making great strides in finding Mona, Sister Veronica takes it upon herself to do it her own way. She first visits Mona’s last address and finds she was living with a man called Lance. It seems she had fled from a strange cult and Veronica enlists journalist friend Melissa Carlton to help her locate it. They believe Mona’s sister Celeste is living in Glastonbury so Veronica formulates a plan to go to Somerset, supposedly under the guise of attending a retreat. The reader however is privy to a lot more of the mystery, and we hear about a rather strange character, the cult leader called Art Pendragon who believes he is the second coming of King Arthur and has been placed on this earth by God as the true messiah to save mankind. Mona had fled the New Avalon Commune together with Art's elder son, after making allegations about Art. Art now has to look to his younger son, Gareth, assist him and rebuild the community where he knows there is still discord and suspicion amongst his followers. With Mona in danger and baby Hope missing, can Sister Veronica and Melissa reveal the truth of the web of intrigue and terrible events at the commune in time and without putting themselves in danger?
I loved this story from start to thrilling finish! Once again Sister Veronica is torn between trying to do the right thing in this modern world and upholding her religious vows when sometimes some of the doctrines she has been taught feel a little outdated. I love how she is able to look at things in a very balanced and sensible way, and her no nonsense approach and sheer bravery and determination are laudable. At first sight you might think she is an unlikely sleuth but as soon as you come to know her, you’ll realize she is just perfect for the job. She is a fantastic character, insightful and intelligent, very human and full of warmth and compassion, and I do hope there will be more adventures to come for her. 5*

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall 4.5*
Second in the series although it easily reads as a standalone, we are re introduced to the crime writing and part time sleuth of Sister Veronica and her London Convent. This story centres around a baby who is left on their doorstep and Veronica's attempts to try and find the mother. She teams up again with her journalist friend Melissa and heads off to Glastonbury only to be caught up in an alternative way of life especially when baby Hope goes missing.
It is a great read giving good insight into Veronica's torment at times trying to do the right thing but also trying to uphold her religious vows. She is a wonderful character.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series and this time Sister Veronica is looking for a missing mother. Could be read as a stand-alone, although there are references to the previous book, The Convent, in the story. Well written sleuth story, along the lines of Miss Marple, although despite being a nun the Sister is certainly not a saint.

Briefly, after a baby is left on the doorstep of the convent, SIster Veronica is determined to find Hope’s mother, Cara, and try to reunite them. Alongside her journalist friend Melissa she traces Cara to Glastonbury and a cult there known as New Avalon.

This story is more of a police procedural than the previous book and the police play a big part in the story and in the final outcome (sorry no spoilers). Suffice it to say there is a big twist at the end of the book that I didn’t expect. Not quite a cosy mystery but edges into that genre it is a good story which I would recommend. A solid 4* read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The disciple by Sarah Sheridan is the second book following Sister Veronica.
The convent is in turmoil after a baby is left on their doorsteps. A mysterious tarot card, left with the baby, is the only clue. Sister Veronica and her journalist friend Melissa take it upon themselves to find the baby’s mother! The task unearths far more sinister circumstances than expected.
This is a sequel and, as such, it would be best to have read the previous book. A lot of Sister Veronica’s thoughts and reactions are based on the first book, which I haven’t read.
The book does work as a stand-alone but the background knowledge would be useful to understand some of the main character’s thought processes and doubts.
I was a little disappointed, that the protagonist plays a relatively small roll in the main plot. She is not a “super sleuth” and the police play a crucial part to all the more procedural action.
The plot is engaging and the twists and turns will keep a reader’s interest.
Overall, a fun read with a quirky new sleuth.
My thanks go to Bloodhounds Books and the author, Sarah Sheridan, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author to me and I did really enjoy it, but would have enjoyed it more if I had read the other books in the series.

Lots of twists and turns.

I am always on the lookout for new plots and this was a new plot line to me, so I really did enjoy it

I was given an advance copy by Bloodhound books but the review is entirely my own.

[Ana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first book in the series, and enjoyed it. The writing was just ok, but it was easy to read and I enjoyed the plot and mystery. I cannot recommend this book becuase I believe it unfairly portrays victims of grooming and sexual expolitations. Most are portayed as victims, but one of the main protagonists is someone who was also a victim. The abuser is portrayed as evil and mentally unstable, but the "villian" is shown as someone who acted out of spite and self interest. Child vicitms of sexual abuse and grooming learn early on that they either learn to appease their abuser or they suffer the consequences, including death. The way this book is written the victim who rebelled is punished in a truly awful way, but another victim "uses their sexual power" over their abuser to "get whatever they want". How f'ed up is that portrayal? I had purchased all three books in the series, but I am not going to go on reading the next one. Please don't waste your time.

[Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pedestrian mystery with a side dose of religion bashing

The first book in the series was a fun romp and Sister Veronica an interesting and intelligent protagonist. This time out she searches for the mother of a baby abandoned at the convent. I was disappointed that the story veered to exploration of a bizarre Arthurian cult rather than the socio-economic plight of teen unwed mothers. There's also too much musing about organized religion being a cult. After two books I wonder why a woman as outspoken as Veronica chooses to stay a nun.

[Bobbie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second of the series picks up where the first (Convent) left off, with a baby left on the convent's steps. The sisters care for her while the police search for her moher, and Sister Veronica decides to follow her own investigation, which takes her to Glastonbury and a cult that the baby's mother had fled from.

[Maureen Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

addictive book

The characters in this book are each interesting. Avalon is a mix of Eden and hell. Couldn’t put the book down.

[sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to find another novel about Sister Veronica, having enjoyed the first one, 'The Convent, immensely. This unexpected sleuth, a middle aged nun, uncovers yet another murky story of corruption and misuse of power, this time in a cult in Glastonbury. We follow her and her friend Melissa as they follow a dark and twisting path through the dystopian world of a ghastly cult until they find the truth about the baby found on the convent doorstep. I have become of fan of Sister Veronica. I love her down to earth, truthful, no nonsense approach to life and can't wait for the next book.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this suspenceful story. This is a well written story that has characters that bring the story to life on each page. It is full of action and twists and turns that will leave sitting on the edge of your seat. The characters are relateable who will keep you guessing who did it. This is a story of discovering the truth and Sister Veronica's determination to find that truth. A baby shows up on her door step, what will happen next is up to you to read this book. I am happy I picked up this book and so will you. I highly recommend this book.