Synopses & Reviews
Sister Agatha is one of the two extern nuns in a cloistered order in the Our Lady of Hope Monastery in the New Mexico desert. As an extern, it is her role to be the link between the order and the outside world. On most days, that means picking up supplies in the "Anti-Chrysler," the order's aging, ailing station wagon, providing support to the priest who is the chaplain to the order and dealing with the business of the monastery's scriptorium.
Her not-exactly quiet life is shattered, however, when the order's chaplain, Father Anselm, comes to the monastery to celebrate mass with the nuns but dies suddenly and mysteriously while consecrating the host. The local constabulary, in the person of Sheriff Tom Green, is convinced it was murder and that it was an inside job - that he used to date Sister Agatha many years ago before she took the veil only serves to make her job as extern all the more complicated. Determined to protect the cloistered sisters, yet fearful that the sheriff might well be right about one of them being somehow involved, Sister Agatha must use the skills from her former life and unravel the many puzzles surrounding Father Anselm's death. As the mystery deepens and time is running out, it soon becomes clear that the answer lies closer to Sister Agatha than she could have ever believed.
Review
"[Sister Agatha] is intelligent, determined, funny and deeply religious, yet completely
unstuffy...[a] thoughtful mystery novel."--Dallas Morning News
"The Thurlos write with the same grace, savvy, and sense of place that make the Ella Clah mysteries so absorbing."--Booklist
"If there was ever a nun born to raise hell, it's Sister Agatha...astride her classic Harley-with a refined police dog in the sidecar-she puts the fear of God into evildoers all over the Southwest. Let's hope Sister Agatha returns soon-this is one nun who could become habit-forming."
--William Rabkin, executive producer of Diagnosis: Murder
"Sister Agatha is...one of the most original and interesting characters in the mystery field today...reading about Sister Agatha and following her exploits in Bad Faith almost makes me wish I had a vocation so I could move into her convent and spend time with her...of course, the fact that she has help from above to solve the case gives a delightful extra dimension to the story. I look forward to [her] next adventure with much anticipation. Until then, I'll have to comfort myself with thinking holy thoughts."--Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Shamus Award-winning author of Bitter Sugar
"Entertaining...intriguing."--Mystery Lovers Bookshop News
"You have to read Bad Faith and meet Sister Agatha. She loves being herself-logical, witty, sometimes a bit stubborn, but always willing to take a risk and try again...oh, yes, she solves her first mystery too. I sure hope it won't be her last!"--Joan Wester Anderson, bestselling author of Where Angels Walk
Synopsis
The Devil in the Details...Once she was Professor Mary Naughton, investigative reporter, teacher, and free spirit. Now she is Sister Agatha of Our Lady of Hope, a cloistered, financially-struggling monastery in New Mexico. As an extern-a nun who handles her order's dealings with the outside world-she is used to having her faith and newly-acquired patience tested. But when popular chaplain Father Anselm is poisoned to death in the middle of Mass, Sister Agatha has to bring all her worldly skepticism and savvy instincts to uncover the truth before scandal and unjust suspicion destroy Our Lady of Hope's future. She's up against a hostile local sheriff, an ex-lover who's never forgiven her for 'abandoning' their life together. She's got no shortage of suspects-with-secrets outside-and inside-the monastery. And she'll have to race the clock to stop one remorseless murderer before there's more hell to pay...
"Beguiling." -Publishers Weekly
"Solid, realistic...Sister Agatha may make you a believer." -Baltimore Sun
Synopsis
Once she was Professor Mary Naughton, investigative reporter, teacher, and free spirit. Now she is Sister Agatha of Our Lady of Hope, a cloistered, financially-struggling monastery in New Mexico. As an extern-a nun who handles her order's dealings with the outside world-she is used to having her faith and newly-acquired patience tested. But when popular chaplain Father Anselm is poisoned to death in the middle of Mass, Sister Agatha has to bring all her worldly skepticism and savvy instincts to uncover the truth before scandal and unjust suspicion destroy Our Lady of Hope's future. She's up against a hostile local sheriff, an ex-lover who's never forgiven her for 'abandoning' their life together. She's got no shortage of suspects-with-secrets outside-and inside-the monastery. And she'll have to race the clock to stop one remorseless murderer before there's more hell to pay...
About the Author
Aimée and David Thurlo are the authors of over forty novels, including seven mysteries featuring Elah Clah, have been published in more than twenty countries.
Bad Faith is the first in a series to feature Sister Agatha. They lives in Corrales, New Mexico.