It has been said, by whom I cannot remember, that mysteries are
the contemporary equivalent of the medieval morality play – the struggle
between good and evil, and for the salvation of the soul. While for some
contemporary sleuths salvation of the soul seems an "iffy" proposition
at best, who better to engage in this struggle than these clerical detectives?
Vow of
Silence, by Veronica Black
Sister Joan, that very modern, very human, and wholly likable
British nun, is dispatched to the Cornwall House of her order to investigate
rumors of odd goings-on. When she arrives she discovers that one young novice
has died, while another has mysteriously withdrawn from the convent and her
family has not heard from her since.
The youngest of the sisters have long, flowing hair and Mother
Ann herself wears makeup and perfume. As Sister Joan hears whispers of virgin
sacrifice, goddess worship, suicide, and even murder it doesn't take her long
to realize that Mother Ann is running a, shall we say, unique, sort of convent.
Servant's Tale, by Margaret Frazer
Dame Frevisse is 15th century upper class nun (hence
the title Dame). Her current assignment within the convent is hosteler which
means she takes care of the convent's guests. This allows her, in spite of her
cloistered status, plenty of scope to get mixed up in the solving of crime.
This second tale in the series is set during the time between
Christmas and Epiphany.
A troupe of players has turned up to take advantage of the
convent's hospitality, bringing with them the seriously injured husband of
convent servant. Since no one wants to believe that a local would leave the man
for dead in a ditch, the eyes of suspicion turn on the players. Dame Frevisse
isn't so sure and so works to find the truth before the crowner has them
hanged.
Unholy Ghosts, by D. M. Greenwood
Greenwood, who describes herself as an ecclesiastical civil
servant, writes of the cool and clever Deaconess Theodora Braithwaite of the
Church of England.
In Unholy Ghosts Braithwaite's Norfolk holiday is interrupted
by news of a parish pastor who has literally dug his own grave. Father Marr,
having dug a large pit in the churchyard, ostensibly to work on the heating
ducts in the chapel, is discovered dead at the bottom. Then Father Marr's
widow vanishes. Greenwood has a fresh, clever, and civilized style.
