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Sister Veronica Mysteries #1
The Convent
An innocent victim.
A wicked crime.
A killer on the loose.
Meet Sister Veronica Angelica, a secret crime fiction writer and lover of custard cream biscuits.
When she discovers a dead man in the grounds of the Catholic Youth Hostel, a building next door to her Convent, she can see he’s been brutally strangled.
What she doesn’t know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. Being forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police, the nuns at The Convent of the Christian Heart are instructed to contain news of the murder.
As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery. But when her investigation raises more questions than answers, will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case without attracting the killer’s attention?
A wicked crime.
A killer on the loose.
Meet Sister Veronica Angelica, a secret crime fiction writer and lover of custard cream biscuits.
When she discovers a dead man in the grounds of the Catholic Youth Hostel, a building next door to her Convent, she can see he’s been brutally strangled.
What she doesn’t know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. Being forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police, the nuns at The Convent of the Christian Heart are instructed to contain news of the murder.
As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery. But when her investigation raises more questions than answers, will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case without attracting the killer’s attention?
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2021
150 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Sheridan
16 books47 followersSarah 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.
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.
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January 28, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE CONVENT by Sarah Sheridan is the first book, in a what I hope will be a new amateur sleuth series, featuring Sister Veronica Angelica, a Catholic nun residing in the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the center of Soho, London.
Sister Veronica Angelica writes mystery novels in secret that she does not share, except with a fellow Sister in her Convent and she has a penchant for custard cream biscuits. She also has lived her entire life with a secret that has shaped her choice in vocation and personal beliefs in the rules and dogma of the Catholic Church.
When she discovers a young man, Jamie who has been working at the youth hostel next door to the Convent dead in the courtyard, she is forbidden by the local Cardinal to notify law enforcement and keep the discovery to herself. Jamie had a secret that he was about to reveal to Sister Veronica and she is determined to find out what it was and not let his death be covered up.
As Sister Veronica works to find justice for Jamie, she is helped by new friends. She is also finding out that there is something much deeper and sinister happening in the diocese with ties all the way to Rome. Will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case before the killer silences her?
I love Sister Veronica! This book was not what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. The mystery is compelling and keeps becoming more so as Sister Veronica and her friends discover the depth of the corruption and willingness to kill to cover it up. Even though it is an amateur sleuth mystery and does contain lighter moments with the more intense, the author does not hold back on including real life scandals in the news regarding the Catholic Church and has Sister Veronica questioning and contemplating her own beliefs vs. the Church’s beliefs and dogma.
I highly recommend this new amateur sleuth mystery and hope for many more books to follow this introduction to Sister Veronica and her friends!
THE CONVENT by Sarah Sheridan is the first book, in a what I hope will be a new amateur sleuth series, featuring Sister Veronica Angelica, a Catholic nun residing in the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the center of Soho, London.
Sister Veronica Angelica writes mystery novels in secret that she does not share, except with a fellow Sister in her Convent and she has a penchant for custard cream biscuits. She also has lived her entire life with a secret that has shaped her choice in vocation and personal beliefs in the rules and dogma of the Catholic Church.
When she discovers a young man, Jamie who has been working at the youth hostel next door to the Convent dead in the courtyard, she is forbidden by the local Cardinal to notify law enforcement and keep the discovery to herself. Jamie had a secret that he was about to reveal to Sister Veronica and she is determined to find out what it was and not let his death be covered up.
As Sister Veronica works to find justice for Jamie, she is helped by new friends. She is also finding out that there is something much deeper and sinister happening in the diocese with ties all the way to Rome. Will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case before the killer silences her?
I love Sister Veronica! This book was not what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. The mystery is compelling and keeps becoming more so as Sister Veronica and her friends discover the depth of the corruption and willingness to kill to cover it up. Even though it is an amateur sleuth mystery and does contain lighter moments with the more intense, the author does not hold back on including real life scandals in the news regarding the Catholic Church and has Sister Veronica questioning and contemplating her own beliefs vs. the Church’s beliefs and dogma.
I highly recommend this new amateur sleuth mystery and hope for many more books to follow this introduction to Sister Veronica and her friends!
January 27, 2021
It starts with a murder ... but only on paper. Sister Veronica Angelica is a secret crime fiction writer.
She finds a dead man on the grounds of a youth hostel next door to her convent. He's been strangled ... and she know who he is. What she doesn't know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. But what was the secret?
Sister Veronica and all the nuns are forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police and to somehow keep the murder quiet.
So, Sister Veronica does what she likes to do ... solve crimes... even if only in books. As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery.
Is she getting too close to someone's dark secret that they're hiding? Is she the next victim?
This is a compelling mystery with outstanding characters. Nicely paced, Suspense starts at the very first and maintains until the unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn and I love how Sister Veronica writes crime fiction .. although secretly.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She finds a dead man on the grounds of a youth hostel next door to her convent. He's been strangled ... and she know who he is. What she doesn't know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. But what was the secret?
Sister Veronica and all the nuns are forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police and to somehow keep the murder quiet.
So, Sister Veronica does what she likes to do ... solve crimes... even if only in books. As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery.
Is she getting too close to someone's dark secret that they're hiding? Is she the next victim?
This is a compelling mystery with outstanding characters. Nicely paced, Suspense starts at the very first and maintains until the unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn and I love how Sister Veronica writes crime fiction .. although secretly.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 29, 2020
We meet Sister Veronica Angelica who resides in the COnvent of the Sacred Heart in the heart of Soho, London, when she is trying to edit the latest chapter of her (unpublished) crime story. She is distracted by the noise of the builders in the youth hostel next door. She helps out with the Youth hostel as part of her duties and when she does their the next afternoon to make a cake, she is taken aback to find one of the occupants dead. She is just about to call the Police when one of the local priests arrives with the Cardinal in tow and the Cardinal tells her not to call the Police, but that the Church will take care of it as it has happened on church property and comes under Papal Law. What follows is a complicated web of lies involving children of priests and nuns, the Vatican, more murders and custard creams.
I loved this so much I read it in one sitting. Can we have more please?
I loved this so much I read it in one sitting. Can we have more please?
October 9, 2021
Given the title I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up as I hadn’t read anything about it but I’m so glad I did. Set in and around the Catholic Church it doesn’t pull any punches about things that have made real headlines and seeks to put these into a story. Veronica, a nun who could be in Sister Act, has a strong faith but feels the church is at odds with this. Seeing a serious crime committed and then being told it will be handled by the church doesn’t sit right with her and she takes matters into her own hands and suffers for it. She has a serious of accidents and adventures and ends up visiting Paris, Rome and the Vatican in her bid to uncover the truth. Her determination eventually pays off and the perpetrators are brought down. This is an easy read but I couldn’t put it down and now wish I hadn’t finished it so quickly!
I was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I was given a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
January 2, 2021
Sister Veronica isn’t your ordinary heroine, she’s an elderly nun with a very shrewd, inquisitive mind, willing to stand up for what she believes in!
I enjoyed the pace of this book, which set the scene in a claustrophobic Convent which slowly widened to include the outside world, a hostel and even Paris.
The plot, At times was quaint, custard cream anyone? At others it was politically brutal, bringing to the fore just what power the Catholic Church still has.
The characters were well written and I was sympathetic to their cause though I would’ve liked a bit more background on Melissa, Father Hammett and a couple of other interesting people.
All in all though, a good read!
I enjoyed the pace of this book, which set the scene in a claustrophobic Convent which slowly widened to include the outside world, a hostel and even Paris.
The plot, At times was quaint, custard cream anyone? At others it was politically brutal, bringing to the fore just what power the Catholic Church still has.
The characters were well written and I was sympathetic to their cause though I would’ve liked a bit more background on Melissa, Father Hammett and a couple of other interesting people.
All in all though, a good read!
January 27, 2021
4-4.5*
Something different in the murder mystery genre as we meet Sister Veronica – nun, secret crime fiction writer and amateur detective – in this first crime novel from Sarah Sheridan.
It sounds like quite the cosy crime fiction but this story is more hard hitting than that.
Sister Veronica Angelica is a nun at The Convent of the Christian Heart situated in Soho, London. Along with her duties in the convent she works at the Catholic Youth Hostel next door to the Convent but when she’s not praying, working or carrying out her duties she can be found in her room writing crime fiction stories and eating custard cream biscuits.
There’s lot’s going on alterations to the Youth Hostel means builders are in with all the mess and noise that brings! Also, a young journalist, Melissa, is staying at the Convent for a week reporting on ‘life as a nun’. Sister Veronica is meeting with Melissa for an interview – there is something more to her piece than meets the eye. It’s just as well Veronica has her secret world to go to!
However, her secret activities soon become very real when she goes to work at the youth hostel and finds a body. A young man, Jamie, who is staying there has been killed. Just as she is about to report the murder the Cardinal along with Father Mathers – who Sister Veronica is not too keen on – turn up. Issuing orders not to report the murder to the police the Cardinal says that it is a matter for canon law.
Sister Veronica has her own relationship with God she has long felt that some of the issues within The RC Church raise questions which are not properly investigated or answered. Her own history is a prime example of that. Then her conversation with Melissa about Jamie and that very issue – the children of a religious parent – ensures that Sister Veronica will not rest until she discovers what has been going on and who killed Jamie.
As Veronica, with Melissa’s help, continues to dig into what is happening she realises there are very bad, evil forces at work. Sister Veronica gets a tip off that she is to be ‘sent away’ so, with some trepidation and much fortitude, she and Melissa set off to France.
This book gives a fascinating insight into the numbers of children that are born to a Nun or Priest, what being the child of a Priest or Nun may mean – rejection, secrecy; what that can feel like – isolation, feeling different and, yet, how common it appears to be. How these liaisons/relationships are viewed and dealt with by the Church. It touches on the child abuse cases. All of this leaves a deep sadness, a futility, an acrimony along with an understandable feeling of abhorrence towards the Church which has historically dealt so badly with these issues. However, there is a sense of hope given through the characters in the book, not least Sister Veronica, and of a goodness within the Church.
Added to the murder of Jamie and the connection to the children of religious storyline there is also a financial issue that comes to light. Sister Veronica investigating has put a dark chain of events into play which places her in a very dangerous situation. As the story moves from Paris to Rome this becomes a real issue and as the action moves along, the pace ratchets up and the tension is palpable. With more murders, a kidnapping and a devastating discovery this book packs a punch and keeps you totally engrossed.
I really enjoyed this book, the character of Sister Veronica, the uniqueness of the story is captivating and I look forward to reading Sarah Sheridan’s next book.
Thanks
With many thanks to Maria Slocombe, Publicity & Social Media Manager, Bloodhound Books for the invite to read and review The Convent by Sarah Sheridan and for the eBook.
Something different in the murder mystery genre as we meet Sister Veronica – nun, secret crime fiction writer and amateur detective – in this first crime novel from Sarah Sheridan.
It sounds like quite the cosy crime fiction but this story is more hard hitting than that.
Sister Veronica Angelica is a nun at The Convent of the Christian Heart situated in Soho, London. Along with her duties in the convent she works at the Catholic Youth Hostel next door to the Convent but when she’s not praying, working or carrying out her duties she can be found in her room writing crime fiction stories and eating custard cream biscuits.
There’s lot’s going on alterations to the Youth Hostel means builders are in with all the mess and noise that brings! Also, a young journalist, Melissa, is staying at the Convent for a week reporting on ‘life as a nun’. Sister Veronica is meeting with Melissa for an interview – there is something more to her piece than meets the eye. It’s just as well Veronica has her secret world to go to!
However, her secret activities soon become very real when she goes to work at the youth hostel and finds a body. A young man, Jamie, who is staying there has been killed. Just as she is about to report the murder the Cardinal along with Father Mathers – who Sister Veronica is not too keen on – turn up. Issuing orders not to report the murder to the police the Cardinal says that it is a matter for canon law.
Sister Veronica has her own relationship with God she has long felt that some of the issues within The RC Church raise questions which are not properly investigated or answered. Her own history is a prime example of that. Then her conversation with Melissa about Jamie and that very issue – the children of a religious parent – ensures that Sister Veronica will not rest until she discovers what has been going on and who killed Jamie.
As Veronica, with Melissa’s help, continues to dig into what is happening she realises there are very bad, evil forces at work. Sister Veronica gets a tip off that she is to be ‘sent away’ so, with some trepidation and much fortitude, she and Melissa set off to France.
This book gives a fascinating insight into the numbers of children that are born to a Nun or Priest, what being the child of a Priest or Nun may mean – rejection, secrecy; what that can feel like – isolation, feeling different and, yet, how common it appears to be. How these liaisons/relationships are viewed and dealt with by the Church. It touches on the child abuse cases. All of this leaves a deep sadness, a futility, an acrimony along with an understandable feeling of abhorrence towards the Church which has historically dealt so badly with these issues. However, there is a sense of hope given through the characters in the book, not least Sister Veronica, and of a goodness within the Church.
Added to the murder of Jamie and the connection to the children of religious storyline there is also a financial issue that comes to light. Sister Veronica investigating has put a dark chain of events into play which places her in a very dangerous situation. As the story moves from Paris to Rome this becomes a real issue and as the action moves along, the pace ratchets up and the tension is palpable. With more murders, a kidnapping and a devastating discovery this book packs a punch and keeps you totally engrossed.
I really enjoyed this book, the character of Sister Veronica, the uniqueness of the story is captivating and I look forward to reading Sarah Sheridan’s next book.
Thanks
With many thanks to Maria Slocombe, Publicity & Social Media Manager, Bloodhound Books for the invite to read and review The Convent by Sarah Sheridan and for the eBook.
January 26, 2021
Think Cadfael cum Miss Marple and I give you Sister Veronica, a nun residing in London who writes crime fiction in her spare time and loves custard creams. (This appealed to me as I do too!). But a cosy murder mystery it is not. A young man is killed whilst working in the hostel adjacent to the convent who had been on the verge of speaking to Sister Veronica just before he was killed and then the murder is quickly covered up with the RC hierarchy claiming Canon Law is greater that Common Law. All Veronica's senses are alerted that something is dreadfully wrong. Sarah then delves into what happens to the children of priests and nuns when their vow of chastity has been broken and the ongoing issues that the RC Church has with this. We are taken on a journey from London to Paris to Rome and meet a few malevolent characters along the way.
The story is dealt with in a very sympathetic way in regards to those who may have been affected by this but not so much for those in power!! It had a great pace throughout and may be a one off however I could see Sister Veronica being embroiled in more scenarios!!
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
The story is dealt with in a very sympathetic way in regards to those who may have been affected by this but not so much for those in power!! It had a great pace throughout and may be a one off however I could see Sister Veronica being embroiled in more scenarios!!
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
January 27, 2021
I adored my first meeting with Sister Veronica Angelica. She’s a Catholic nun in her sixties living in a small convent in Soho in the London borough of Westminster. She loves to write (unpublished) crime fiction novels which she shares with her best friend Sister Agnes Claire and scoffs on custard cream biscuits. Sister Veronica is a very sensible down to earth sort, a realist and pragmatist who sees that not everything in the world can be as cut and dried as the Catholic church ordains, in fact she secretly thinks some of the rules are downright outdated and have no place in modern times. Perhaps this is a result of her early years and experiences which you will read about in the book. The convent itself is not closed, nuns going to the library and working at various charitable causes. Only one nun still wears the habit. They even have a young reporter, Melissa Carlton, staying with them and writing an article on what it’s really like to be a nun. Sister Veronica goes daily to the church run hostel next door to bake cakes but on one such day gets the most horrible shock. For next door in the garden lies the battered corpse of young Jamie Markham who worked in the hostel for a reduced rate room. Although very reticent and clearly troubled, he seemed to have taken a shine to Veronica. As she goes to raise the alarm, Cardinal Moore arrives with Father Mathers (a man she doesn’t like very much at all) and quickly dictates that canonical law shall overrule civil law and the police will not be informed by anyone. He has people who will sweep the whole gruesome affair under the carpet. Disturbed by this, Veronica takes the opportunity to give Jamie’s room a quick search and pockets his diary. She discovers that he meant to confess a big secret he had recently discovered to her but was murdered on the day he intended to open up. When she finds out that she has more in common than she thought with Melissa who is working on a similar line of enquiry, they pool their resources and try to come up with a plan. Meanwhile a plot is being cooked up elsewhere to get her out of the way permanently. As the nun delves deeper with Melissa’s help into one big Catholic church cover up, she soon finds herself on a perilous journey overseas, unearthing a conspiracy of unimaginable proportions affecting thousands of people all over the world as the church seeks to protect its reputation at whatever the cost. With the help of Melissa and a like-minded Bishop, soon she is at the very heart of an institution riddled with duplicity and dishonesty. This places them all in very grave danger indeed and it is only the tip of the iceberg. Will they make it out unscathed and be able to expose the awful truth?
Sister Veronica is a fabulous new heroine, one who I took to immediately and I would love to see this adapted for television as it would translate so well to the screen. All the characters are very well drawn and easy to picture, and the story flows beautifully, sweeping the reader along in the nun’s quest for justice. I loved how, despite her vows and the strict doctrines of the church, 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! The book finishes on a wonderful cliff-hanger which is the start of the next story, due out in April, and I think, now that she has discovered her talent for detection, she will be unstoppable. I can’t wait for the book two! 5*
Sister Veronica is a fabulous new heroine, one who I took to immediately and I would love to see this adapted for television as it would translate so well to the screen. All the characters are very well drawn and easy to picture, and the story flows beautifully, sweeping the reader along in the nun’s quest for justice. I loved how, despite her vows and the strict doctrines of the church, 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! The book finishes on a wonderful cliff-hanger which is the start of the next story, due out in April, and I think, now that she has discovered her talent for detection, she will be unstoppable. I can’t wait for the book two! 5*
January 21, 2021
This book is one I would classify as half cozy mystery- half ethical thought provoker. There’s a lot going on in this book, and it is all set against the backdrop of the real-life scandals that have plagued the Roman Catholic Church in recent years, making for some interesting dilemmas.
Sister Veronica loves to write murder mysteries in her spare time, but when she finds a dead body in the youth hostel that adjoins the convent, reality hits her like a ton of bricks - especially when a young journalist that has been shadowing the sisters is able to connect the death to a group seeking answers to questions long hidden. And it has to do with something that is very personal to Sister Veronica. With a target on her back, Veronica tries to figure out what’s going on in real life, before she turns into out like one of her victims.
Veronica is a great character because she is a nun, but she’s certainly not jaded or brainwashed - she sees the reality and flaws of the system she’s in and she’s willing to confront them head on. That’s also what gives her the motivation to advance the mystery as she delves deeper into everything (though I can’t go much more into this without giving to much away). I really liked that she was both an “insider” who was able to navigate this “hidden” world of the clergy, but she had a good “outsider”- type perspective.
The mystery itself was really compelling as well, and takes the read on a journey through some great locations, not unlike a cozy version of the DaVinci Code. I really enjoyed seeing everything play out and as the different plot lines all came together. I didn’t guess the ending before it was revealed, as there were several red herrings throughout and, quite frankly, a lot of bad guys, but things made sense when they were all revealed.
There’s also a good bit of the book that deals with Veronica struggling to reconcile the Church she serves with the ugliness she uncovers along the way in her investigation, and that is where the ethical element of the story comes in. It’s dealt with really well and it brings a really nice element to the story.
Plus there’s a little hint that we may see more of these interesting sisters that I certainly came to enjoy hanging around....hint hint!
If you’re interested in a new cozy mystery with a bit of a twist- Nuns! Murder! Custard creams! - this is a great option.
Sister Veronica loves to write murder mysteries in her spare time, but when she finds a dead body in the youth hostel that adjoins the convent, reality hits her like a ton of bricks - especially when a young journalist that has been shadowing the sisters is able to connect the death to a group seeking answers to questions long hidden. And it has to do with something that is very personal to Sister Veronica. With a target on her back, Veronica tries to figure out what’s going on in real life, before she turns into out like one of her victims.
Veronica is a great character because she is a nun, but she’s certainly not jaded or brainwashed - she sees the reality and flaws of the system she’s in and she’s willing to confront them head on. That’s also what gives her the motivation to advance the mystery as she delves deeper into everything (though I can’t go much more into this without giving to much away). I really liked that she was both an “insider” who was able to navigate this “hidden” world of the clergy, but she had a good “outsider”- type perspective.
The mystery itself was really compelling as well, and takes the read on a journey through some great locations, not unlike a cozy version of the DaVinci Code. I really enjoyed seeing everything play out and as the different plot lines all came together. I didn’t guess the ending before it was revealed, as there were several red herrings throughout and, quite frankly, a lot of bad guys, but things made sense when they were all revealed.
There’s also a good bit of the book that deals with Veronica struggling to reconcile the Church she serves with the ugliness she uncovers along the way in her investigation, and that is where the ethical element of the story comes in. It’s dealt with really well and it brings a really nice element to the story.
Plus there’s a little hint that we may see more of these interesting sisters that I certainly came to enjoy hanging around....hint hint!
If you’re interested in a new cozy mystery with a bit of a twist- Nuns! Murder! Custard creams! - this is a great option.
January 20, 2021
Sister Veronica doesn't care for Father Mathers. She doesn't like his eavesdropping, questionable comments, or his 'slippery' eye contact. Father Mathers had a reporter for Women of the World magazine email him so they could write a story to find out what life in a convent is really like for a nun. The magazine had a journalist assigned to stay at the convent for a week. Sister Veronica wants to help a poor young man, Jamie Markham. Something is troubling him. Sister Irene sees him as strange. Sister Veronica also writes mystery stories, but she really wants to help Jamie. When she goes to the youth hostel, she finds Jamie lying in the builders' rubble in a pool of redness oozing out of his head. Why would anyone want to do this to Jamie? Instead of writing a mystery, she has now walked right into one! Can she solve it? I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Bloodhound Books.
January 9, 2021
3.5 stars
This is a good read which follows Sister Veronica as she tries to solve a murder.
There’s a hostel next to the convent and Sister Veronica helps out there regularly. There’s a young lad who she likes to talk to and when she discovers his dead body, she is scared about what’s happening in and around the convent.
When she’s told she needs to leave the convent for a rest somewhere else, she knows she’s being pushed out to keep quiet.
The Bishop won’t let them call the Police so Sister Veronica is very suspicious and takes matters into her own hands.
Her investigation takes her to Paris and then Rome, and soon lives are in danger.
This is a fast paced read.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good read which follows Sister Veronica as she tries to solve a murder.
There’s a hostel next to the convent and Sister Veronica helps out there regularly. There’s a young lad who she likes to talk to and when she discovers his dead body, she is scared about what’s happening in and around the convent.
When she’s told she needs to leave the convent for a rest somewhere else, she knows she’s being pushed out to keep quiet.
The Bishop won’t let them call the Police so Sister Veronica is very suspicious and takes matters into her own hands.
Her investigation takes her to Paris and then Rome, and soon lives are in danger.
This is a fast paced read.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book.
January 9, 2021
A very different crime thriller. Original and well written, the ‘detective’ in this case is an elderly nun, called Sister Veronica Angelica, who has a penchant for a custard cream.
Briefly, after discovering the body of a young man, Jamie, in the hostel grounds Sister Veronica is told that the church will investigate and she is ordered not to contact the police. But the Sister is not so easily silenced and her investigations begin.
As well as the fictional storyline the book refers to a lot of factual situations concerning the Catholic Church and these are intertwined. I enjoyed this book and it a good 4* read.
Briefly, after discovering the body of a young man, Jamie, in the hostel grounds Sister Veronica is told that the church will investigate and she is ordered not to contact the police. But the Sister is not so easily silenced and her investigations begin.
As well as the fictional storyline the book refers to a lot of factual situations concerning the Catholic Church and these are intertwined. I enjoyed this book and it a good 4* read.
January 13, 2021
A chilling story of the corruption within the Catholic Churches amid the celibacy scandals. The story follows Sister Veronica on her quest to uncover the truth amid the death of a young man at the hostel where she lives. It delves into the controversial and sensitive issues revolving around his death and the events that follow. A very good take on a different subject, well done.
January 14, 2021
What a great read this was. Sister Veronica and her custard creams is an extremely likeable character. Not your usual crime thriller put definitely 4 star worthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 11, 2021
The convent by Sarah Sheridan.
An innocent victim.
A wicked crime.
A killer on the loose.
Meet Sister Veronica Angelica, a secret crime fiction writer and lover of custard cream biscuits.
When she discovers a dead man in the grounds of the Catholic Youth Hostel, a building next door to her Convent, she can see he’s been brutally strangled.
What she doesn’t know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. Being forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police, the nuns at The Convent of the Christian Heart are instructed to contain news of the murder.
As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery. But when her investigation raises more questions than answers, will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case without attracting the killer’s attention?
I did enjoy this book. Good story and some good characters. Sister Veronica was my favourite. I had no clue who it was. I liked the ending. 5*.
An innocent victim.
A wicked crime.
A killer on the loose.
Meet Sister Veronica Angelica, a secret crime fiction writer and lover of custard cream biscuits.
When she discovers a dead man in the grounds of the Catholic Youth Hostel, a building next door to her Convent, she can see he’s been brutally strangled.
What she doesn’t know, is that Jamie had a secret he’d been about to confess. Being forbidden by the Cardinal to contact the police, the nuns at The Convent of the Christian Heart are instructed to contain news of the murder.
As Sister Veronica tries to uncover the truth, another murder takes place, plunging her deeper into the mystery. But when her investigation raises more questions than answers, will Sister Veronica be able to solve the case without attracting the killer’s attention?
I did enjoy this book. Good story and some good characters. Sister Veronica was my favourite. I had no clue who it was. I liked the ending. 5*.
February 2, 2021
Sister Veronica seems a typical elderly nun, except she likes to write crime novels in secret. She’s thrown into a real life crime when she finds a dead body and the senior members of the Church forbids her to contact the Police. Trying to solve the crime leads Sister Veronica in a journey across Europe and puts her own life in danger...
Sister Veronica is great main character with a good couple of supporting characters in Melissa and Bishop Hammett but I felt they could have had some more time of the story. The Church features strongly and the story got a bit bogged down at times with religious dogma. The journey to France and on to Italy was fast moving and events in the Vatican kept me guessing on what would happen.
April 5, 2022
1.5*
It was out of pure bloody-mindedness that I finished this book. I was gobsmacked when the author thanked her Editor...because I think he did zilch! There were stilted phrases, poor grammar and waffling plot expositions that might have been paraphrased from press releases. This was fiction so one is allowed to be biased but it felt constantly that the author was projecting her prejudices onto the characters whilst her actual research had been minimal.
I appreciate that I could be doing her a disservice but I really could not wait to get shot of this book. Awarded the star and a half for the idea of a religious sister, author sleuth with a penchant for custard creams. That actually had mileage but, sadly, hit a brick wall.
It was out of pure bloody-mindedness that I finished this book. I was gobsmacked when the author thanked her Editor...because I think he did zilch! There were stilted phrases, poor grammar and waffling plot expositions that might have been paraphrased from press releases. This was fiction so one is allowed to be biased but it felt constantly that the author was projecting her prejudices onto the characters whilst her actual research had been minimal.
I appreciate that I could be doing her a disservice but I really could not wait to get shot of this book. Awarded the star and a half for the idea of a religious sister, author sleuth with a penchant for custard creams. That actually had mileage but, sadly, hit a brick wall.
January 29, 2021
I enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me and I look forward in reading more from her. This is a well developed story that has characters that bring the story to life. This story brings action, secrets, killer and lots of twist and turns. I had no problem connecting with the characters. They made the story engaging and entertaining. This is a fast paced story that I read in one sitting. I highly recommend this book.
January 31, 2021
A detective story with a difference that goes at a cracking pace - racing through the dark and sleazy world of corruption in high places - in this case the Roman Catholic church. The unexpected detective is Sister Veronica. She sets to work determined to find justice for a young victim. A rollicking good read with the promise of more to come. Highly recommended.
February 8, 2021
A must read!
I enjoyed the whole plot. All the way through this book. I found myself unable to see who the murderer was. The fact that the book deals with a reality few have been able to find out about made it even more interesting. Is this book a part of a series? If so.sign me up for the next book.
I enjoyed the whole plot. All the way through this book. I found myself unable to see who the murderer was. The fact that the book deals with a reality few have been able to find out about made it even more interesting. Is this book a part of a series? If so.sign me up for the next book.
February 17, 2021
enjoyable
really enjoyed it but like father Brown but more exciting hope to read more about sister veronica and her investigations
really enjoyed it but like father Brown but more exciting hope to read more about sister veronica and her investigations
January 30, 2021
Oh my goodness!
I loved this book from the first page! I sure hope there's a second, third and more . Many thanks !
I loved this book from the first page! I sure hope there's a second, third and more . Many thanks !
February 8, 2021
Quirky, but a great mystery.
This story was unusual as the main character was a nun. The mystery had many twists and turns and was enjoyable. No cursing nor sex scenes either.
This story was unusual as the main character was a nun. The mystery had many twists and turns and was enjoyable. No cursing nor sex scenes either.
February 9, 2021
Really enjoyed this book and I hoping that the author will write more with the same character I would definitely read them
April 11, 2021
I cannot say enough bad things about this book. Don't waste your time.
June 24, 2021
So, here's the thing. As much as I hate cozies, I have a huge soft spot for mysteries with members of the clergy as amateur sleuths. My favorite, of course, is Sister Mary Helen, by Sr. Carol Anne O'Marie. Bet you thought I was going to say Father Brown, right? Close second. Anyway, I thought, oh, hey, new mystery series with a protagonist who's a religious sister? Awesome.
But as soon as I started, I cringed. I'm not saying you have to be a member of the community you're writing about (Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books are surprisingly unproblematic, despite his not being a Botswanian lady...) but it sure helps. Right off the hop, we learn that Sr. is not a regular nun. She's a cool nun. I'm going to direct quote, here, (more or less- I transcribed while listening). Click the spoiler tag, because it's long, and I rant a bit after.
Basically, though, this was an overblown snd staggeringly ridiculous anti-Catholic hit piece. It was unrelenting.
Anyway. Back to the story. What can I say? At least it wasn't about clerical sexual abuse of children! The author has an academic background, researching "institutional abuse and the marginalisation of the children of clergy." And that inspired her story. So yeah, less pedophilia, more illegitimate children. Which is something! But yeah, not exactly thrilling. Young man gets killed, the Dioscese attempts to cover it up, the protagonist sets out to find the truth. We're treated by lengthy proclamations on corruption in the church, but not a lot of plot. All the Catholic characters, minus the protagonist, are portrayed as genuinely moronic sheep, and most of the males are portrayed as corrupt, bigoted, hateful, misogynistic douchebags, who are also stupid.
It's a lot. It's so incredibly ham-fisted. And kind of insulting? It's not exactly fair and balanced.
It reads like a hit piece. I got no joy out of it. If I wanted to read a takedown of my faith, I'll read a Chick tract. And if I felt like taking a deep dive into, say, the marginalization of children of clergy, I'll hunt down the author's dissertation.
Happily, Audible allows for returns.
But as soon as I started, I cringed. I'm not saying you have to be a member of the community you're writing about (Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books are surprisingly unproblematic, despite his not being a Botswanian lady...) but it sure helps. Right off the hop, we learn that Sr. is not a regular nun. She's a cool nun. I'm going to direct quote, here, (more or less- I transcribed while listening). Click the spoiler tag, because it's long, and I rant a bit after.
Basically, though, this was an overblown snd staggeringly ridiculous anti-Catholic hit piece. It was unrelenting.
Anyway. Back to the story. What can I say? At least it wasn't about clerical sexual abuse of children! The author has an academic background, researching "institutional abuse and the marginalisation of the children of clergy." And that inspired her story. So yeah, less pedophilia, more illegitimate children. Which is something! But yeah, not exactly thrilling. Young man gets killed, the Dioscese attempts to cover it up, the protagonist sets out to find the truth. We're treated by lengthy proclamations on corruption in the church, but not a lot of plot. All the Catholic characters, minus the protagonist, are portrayed as genuinely moronic sheep, and most of the males are portrayed as corrupt, bigoted, hateful, misogynistic douchebags, who are also stupid.
It's a lot. It's so incredibly ham-fisted. And kind of insulting? It's not exactly fair and balanced.
It reads like a hit piece. I got no joy out of it. If I wanted to read a takedown of my faith, I'll read a Chick tract. And if I felt like taking a deep dive into, say, the marginalization of children of clergy, I'll hunt down the author's dissertation.
Happily, Audible allows for returns.
March 19, 2021
I chose this book because I wanted something gentler than the psychological/crime books I usually read, I was riveted, I loved Sister Veronica and was pulled into her world completely, and certainly hope that there are more books about her adventures because I'm hooked, She certainly lives in a more gentle world but seems to get caught up in murder and and mayhem. Brilliant.
February 25, 2021
Exciting New Psychological Series Involving Sister Veronica.
This is the first book in a new series starring Sister Veronica, a Nun in a Catholic Convent in England. Very fast-paced, exciting and thrilling. Murders was kept hidden until the end. Hopefully, a new book in this Series will be published soon. I am looking forward to it!!
This is the first book in a new series starring Sister Veronica, a Nun in a Catholic Convent in England. Very fast-paced, exciting and thrilling. Murders was kept hidden until the end. Hopefully, a new book in this Series will be published soon. I am looking forward to it!!
February 12, 2021
normally find it hard to read although love doing it and read 100s of books, most of the time It takes me months to finish a book but this one I read every evening before bed and finished in a week. I love short chapters as some books just go on and on and you can’t be bother to read it but not this one! The way it’s written makes you feel like your in the story!
Almost like your on sister Veronica’s shoulder!
The characters are great and villains are well written, Sarah Sheridan describes the locations brilliantly also and I actually felt like I was in the book!
A murder happens at her convent and she compulsively feels the need to find out how and who committed it despite being shushed by the cardinal of her convent.
The book takes us from soho London to France to The Vatican to find the truth behind all the secrecy and solve the murder of poor Jamie and what his secret was! More importantly with custard creams in tow!
Can’t wait for the next one to see what happens to Sister Veronica who just wants a quiet life ! Loved it! Buy it read it! Simple
Almost like your on sister Veronica’s shoulder!
The characters are great and villains are well written, Sarah Sheridan describes the locations brilliantly also and I actually felt like I was in the book!
A murder happens at her convent and she compulsively feels the need to find out how and who committed it despite being shushed by the cardinal of her convent.
The book takes us from soho London to France to The Vatican to find the truth behind all the secrecy and solve the murder of poor Jamie and what his secret was! More importantly with custard creams in tow!
Can’t wait for the next one to see what happens to Sister Veronica who just wants a quiet life ! Loved it! Buy it read it! Simple
February 19, 2021
Enjoyable read
Easy reading with the leading character having a Miss Marple type of air about her. Lots of investigating the darker side of the Catholic church with corruption leading right to the Vatican. I wouldn't describe the story as gripping though it is fast paced and entertaing.
Easy reading with the leading character having a Miss Marple type of air about her. Lots of investigating the darker side of the Catholic church with corruption leading right to the Vatican. I wouldn't describe the story as gripping though it is fast paced and entertaing.
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