Death of a Novice - (Reverend Mother Mystery) by Cora Harrison (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Reverend Mother is delighted with her new entrant to the convent. Young Sister Gertrude is well-educated, with an appealing sense of humour. But when she is found dead one autumn morning, the Reverend Mother delves more deeply into Sister Gertrude's background - and uncovers some puzzling anomalies.

Book Synopsis

The sudden death of a young novice nun raises a series of puzzling questions in the latest Reverend Mother historical mystery.

The Reverend Mother is delighted with her new entrant to the convent. Young Sister Gertrude is well-educated, has worked for an accountant and has an appealing sense of humour. But one autumn morning, Sister Gertrude is found dead inside a small wooden shed, just beside the river. Surely a young nun could not die from alcohol poisoning?

But when the Reverend Mother delves more deeply into Sister Gertrude's background, she finds some puzzling anomalies. Why did the young nun not delay her entry to the convent until after her sister's wedding? Is it a coincidence that her father died of a similar illness not long before? And could there be a link between Sister Gertrude's death and the gunpowder explosion on Spike Island? The Reverend Mother must find the answers to these questions if she is to safeguard her community from suspicions of murder.

Review Quotes

"An admirable heroine, vivid characters, and an inventive plot, combined with intriguing insights into life in Ireland at a crucial juncture for the Troubles, make for a captivating read"-- "Booklist"

"Harrison's fifth engrossing historical mystery brings to life the turbulence and politics of 1920s Ireland. Reverend Mother will appeal to admirers of Ellis Peter's 'Brother Cadfael' mysteries, while Conor Brady's fans will appreciate the Irish history"-- "Library Journal Starred Review"