Death of a Prominent Citizen

June 1, 2018

In the 1920s, the city of Cork is still torn between the Irish rebels and those who have accepted the Anglo-Irish Treaty that divided the island between British-ruled Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. Eileen MacSweeney, who has moved on, can still be coerced into helping Sinn Fein. However, the death of a novice at St. Mary's of the Isle Convent brings Eileen to Reverend Mother. Eileen knows two other young novices who served as messengers for Sinn Fein. She and Reverend Mother wonder if Sister Gertrude was killed for political reasons. Or were the small jealousies and secrets at the convent enough to lead to murder? With a strong sense of place, this intricately plotted novel leads to an unexpected but logical denouement. VERDICT Harrison's fifth engrossing historical mystery (following A Gruesome Discovery) brings to life the turbulence and politics of 1920s Ireland. Reverend Mother will appeal to admirers of Ellis Peters's "Brother Cadfael" mysteries, while Conor Brady's fans will appreciate the Irish history.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2018
In the latest installment of Harrison's historical series set in Ireland in the early 1900s, Reverend Mother Aquinas has plenty to worry about?the terrible poverty in Cork, the lack of money to keep her convent school operating, the poor nutrition of her pupils?without having to deal with the sudden death of novice Sister Gertrude. But what makes the matter most horrifying is that it appears Sister Gertrude may have been murdered. Why? The reverend mother enlists the aid of her good friend Dr. Scher and also asks for help from two of her former pupils: Eileen McSweeney, who left the convent school to join the Republicans but who eventually became disillusioned and moved on to a respectable job with a printing company, and Patrick Cashman, who joined the police and has worked his way up to the rank of inspector. What they discover is a twisted tale of greed, misfortune, and revenge that is both sad and tragic. 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2020
Harrison's latest once again features the shrewd and empathetic Reverend Mother, a nun who's become a bit of a legend for solving crimes in her home city of Cork, Ireland. She and six of her relatives are invited to dinner at the home of their cousin, Charlotte Hendrick, one of Cork's wealthiest citizens, to discuss Charlotte's will. The seven have been promised part of Charlotte's considerable fortune when she dies, but now Charlotte has changed her mind and plans to leave everything to just one person. Her former beneficiaries are outraged. When the body of an unknown person is found the next morning in Charlotte's house, suspicion immediately falls on those who were at the dinner. The police are baffled, but the Reverend Mother senses the story behind the murder is complex, and she must use her knowledge of the Hendrick family and her deep knowledge of Cork to solve the case. The intriguing plot, the keen insights into the sociopolitical situation in 1920s Ireland, and the clever heroine make this a fine read for the historical-mystery crowd.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

May 1, 2020
A nun uses her sleuthing skills to solve the murder of her cousin in the 1920s. Ireland may be free from English rule, but there's unrest among the poor, who live in shocking conditions. At a slum clearance meeting, the Reverend Mother's cousin Charlotte Hendrick, a slumlord, is represented by her companion/housekeeper Julie Clancy, another cousin, who begs the Reverend Mother for help influencing Charlotte, who has announced plans to change her will. Instead of dividing her wealth equally among seven close relatives, including the Reverend Mother and Charlotte, she now proposes that whichever of them makes the best case for their use of the money will get the lot. The bishop insists that the Reverend Mother attend a meeting at Charlotte's mansion to make a pitch even though she thinks Charlotte's already made up her mind. On that same night, the Reverend Mother's former pupil Eileen MacSweeney gets roped into minding the megaphone at a college demonstration that ends in a riot and the murder of a landlord not far from Charlotte's house. When Charlotte's throat is cut in a locked room the morning after the cousins make their pitches, the Reverend Mother calls in her old friend Inspector Patrick Cashman. Charlotte's open window suggests the possibility that she was the victim of an outside killer. But except for the Reverend Mother and the wealthy cousin who shared her room, the others are all suspects, especially poor Julie, who might have been left penniless by the new will. Patrick follows the evidence, but the Reverend Mother has her own opinion. A classic golden-age mystery whose shocking solution will appeal to fans of Christie and Sayers.

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Starred review from May 18, 2020
Set in early 1920s Cork, Ireland, Harrison’s seventh Reverend Mother whodunit (after 2018’s Murder at the Queen’s Old Castle) stands out as her trickiest yet. For many years, wealthy Charlotte Hendrick has declared that her estate will be divided equally among her seven nearest relatives, including her cousin the Reverend Mother, who intends to donate anything she might receive to her convent. Then Mrs. Hendrick’s attorney informs the seven heirs that she has had a change of heart—his client intends to disinherit six of them and leave everything to the one who proves him- or herself most worthy. The seven agree to make their best case to Mrs. Hendrick at her house, spend the night, and hear her announce her choice the next morning. In the middle of the night, someone slashes Mrs. Hendrick’s throat in her bedroom. Harrison adroitly combines the Reverend Mother’s clever investigation with a sympathetic portrayal of the plight of Cork’s poor. Fans of historical puzzle mysteries will be delighted. Agent: Peter Buckman/Ampersand Agency (U.K.).