Not a Blessed Thing

Sister Mary Teresa Mystery #1

by Monica Quill

Elderly Sister Mary Teresa and two younger nuns, Sister Kimberly and Sister Joyce, live an idyllic existence in their convent house on Chicago's Walton Street, until Cheryl Pitman, a Chicago socialite, seeks sanctuary with them. Although Cheryl spends only one night, her presence in the convent and an attempt on her life while there totally disrupt the routines of the sisters and involve them in a murder case. They involve themselves in the subsequent police investigation. Without leaving the convent Sister Mary Teresa solves the case and suggests the outcome to the Chicago Police in this highly unlikely, but very entertaining mystery novel.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1981

About the author

A pseudonym used by Ralph McInerny.

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Print Book/Paperback [Carnegie Library]

For the most part, I enjoyed this book - I really like the characters and the way they interact with each other. There were just points in the book where I really thought there must be pages missing or I had skimmed ahead or something because I was SERIOUSLY missing something. This happened several times and it was rather annoying [to me]. I went back each time and made sure I hadn't missed something and that was not the case any of the times; it is just how the book was written. I did not care for that part at all.

I did not guess [though I should not have been surprised] who the killer was and maybe that was because I was totally distracted by the writing and the weird way it flitted without seeming to finish a thought or process. I don't know. All I know is if the second one is like that, that one will be the last one I will be reading. Which is a shame because I truly like these characters.

[Teesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding find. A mystery from the early 80's with marvelous characters in an elderly nun, Sister Mary Teresa who still wears the habit and the more modern nuns, Sister Joyce and Sister Kim. It's Sister Kim's brother Richard a Chicago policeman who involves them in hiding a socialite who's receiving threats. I can't remember the last time I had to look up words I was not familiar with. I enjoyed the Chicago references as well.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not terribly impressed with this mystery. The characters are confused and hard to relate to. The mystery was knotty enough, but the ending felt rushed. And there were several things that didn't seem to be wrapped up. Overall, it required more suspension of disbelief than I felt inclined to give.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tolerable early 80s mystery that the back of the book is persistent in reminding me is based on a Nero Wolfe-like nun character living in Chicago with two younger nuns. The mystery surrounds a rich woman who has had a death threat and ends up staying overnight at the nuns' home because the police officer in charge of her is the brother of one of the nuns. Lots of Chicago/suburbs neighborhood stuff, some business about vocations and changes in religious life, but overall not the greatest writing. I kept losing track of the timeline because the author kept leaping backward. The font on the cover was irresistable, however, and the series was long, so I may keep reading in the hopes that it will improve. The cover art seems to capture all the publishing genre-focus changes of the 1980s and 90s.

[ChrisGA · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is 30 years old and by pen name of author who wrote Father Dowling series. The main characters are nuns and the mystery is cozy. Occasional language. Interesting characters but I didn't "connect" with them.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: an older nun, Sister Mary Teresa, and two younger ones are asked to hide a woman who has been threatened.