Sister Mary Helen, at seventy-five, had resisted retirement. She feared she'd find only prayer, peace, and little pinochle. But she'd no sooner arr...
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reviews
Oct 24, 2008
Barbara
rated it: 
I like these mysteries because the characters are consistent from book to book. Sister Mary Helen and her friend Eileen will become old friends, along with Sister Cecilia, the president of St. Francis College in San Francisco, young Sister Anne, who is in campus ministry and Sister Therese, who seems to be in charge of the convent. You will also meet Kate and Dennis, partners in the homicide department, and Jack, Kate’s significant other, and later husband.
In the first book Kate and Jack j More...
In the first book Kate and Jack j More...
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Mar 09, 2008
Hope
rated it: 
This is a rare book - one I started,but didn't finish.
My roommate happened to notice it, and thought I might enjoy a catholic mystery story. And I probably would, just not this one.
It's a pleasant enough cozy mystery, but not good enough that I wanted to keep reading it. The writing was okay, and the plot wasn't too terrible. The painfully stereotypical characters were grating, and despite my affection for Miss Marple, I thought I might scream if Sister Mary Helen More...
My roommate happened to notice it, and thought I might enjoy a catholic mystery story. And I probably would, just not this one.
It's a pleasant enough cozy mystery, but not good enough that I wanted to keep reading it. The writing was okay, and the plot wasn't too terrible. The painfully stereotypical characters were grating, and despite my affection for Miss Marple, I thought I might scream if Sister Mary Helen More...
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Jul 06, 2008
Linda
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A fun little murder mystery...a nice little escape from heavy reading (or something you can read in bed all afternoon while it is raining).
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Jan 30, 2012
Birgit
rated it:
I've never before come across a mystery novel, or any novel come to think of it, written by a nun, but curiosity got the better of me with this one as I love the genre
Sister Carol Anne O'Marie presents a sweet and cozy little mystery novel in this first part of a series. The main protoganist, Sister Mary Helen, is a retired nun that's just a bit like good old Miss Marple, always stumbling over dead bodies and consequently snooping around to find out who murdered a professor at her alma mate More...
Sister Carol Anne O'Marie presents a sweet and cozy little mystery novel in this first part of a series. The main protoganist, Sister Mary Helen, is a retired nun that's just a bit like good old Miss Marple, always stumbling over dead bodies and consequently snooping around to find out who murdered a professor at her alma mate More...
Apr 22, 2009
Awallens
rated it:
Despite only giving this three stars, it's safe to say I liked this cozy mystery. I don't know why cozy mysteries are called cozy, but this one seems to be in the same genre so that's what I'll call it. Sister Mary Helen, Sister aileen, and Sister Anne, along with the two police detectives were engaging and fun, despite the gruesome crimes. At times I found the mystery a little to cute— I mean, getting hit in the head with a statue?— but overall I would recommend this book and Iwill continue
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Dec 28, 2011
Akika
rated it:
My favourite kind of murder mystery, one that involves nuns. This is a rather pedestrian mystery, but it's fun nonetheless. The characters are believable, even the ones that one doesn't particularly like. The police are believable and, most importantly, not complete idiots. There's nothing worse than a murder mystery where one has to 'take over' the investigation because the police are twits. It's not often that that happens in real life, I don't know why it's so ubiquitous in murder mysteries.
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Aug 20, 2010
Olean Public Library
rated it:
-I really enjoyed this quaint, easy to read mystery. It wasn’t difficult to solve, but the author didn’t insult the reader’s intelligence either. A newly retired nun becomes a detective when there is a murder on the college campus where she now resides. It was cute, if a murder mystery can be called that.
Jul 05, 2008
LJ
rated it:
NOVENA FOR MURDER - Good
O'Marie, Suster Carol Anne - 1st in series
Sister Mary Helen isn't ready for retirement. Instead she's arrived at a San Francisco women's college to teach history and perhaps shake things up. An earthquake does that before she can, and amid the rubble lies a body. An "Act of God" is not responsible for the death, but rather murder. One of Sister Helen's fellow nuns begins a novena to St. Dismas, "the Good Thief" predicting the saint wi More...
O'Marie, Suster Carol Anne - 1st in series
Sister Mary Helen isn't ready for retirement. Instead she's arrived at a San Francisco women's college to teach history and perhaps shake things up. An earthquake does that before she can, and amid the rubble lies a body. An "Act of God" is not responsible for the death, but rather murder. One of Sister Helen's fellow nuns begins a novena to St. Dismas, "the Good Thief" predicting the saint wi More...
Jul 29, 2011
Retired nun Sister Mary Helen experiences an earthquake in a girls' college near San Francisco and runs into a murderous conspiracy, first with the death of a college professor. And then the corpses pile up. A charming cozy mystery.
Apr 21, 2009
Biblophile
rated it:
An enjoyable little read featuring Sister Mary Helen and Sister Ellen. I like this little series because the elderly nuns play off each other and the murder, though not complicated, is enough to keep you interested.
Feb 01, 2009
Edna Little Fish
rated it: 
Sister Mary Helen is such a great person. I learned that NUNS are entertaining, and I learned about the workings of the Convent, more about the Internal and External Nun's.
Jul 09, 2007
Mary Helene
rated it:
I enjoyed this book for its setting (Lone Mountain College for Women in San Francisco, although she gives it another name) and for the portrait it gives of an era, but it's a mannered portrait and feels false 30 years later. (This is in contrast to Dorothy Sayer's mysteries.)
My mother went to Lone Mountain for a year in the early 40s. It's nickname then was "San Francisco's college for lonely women." (It might have been "Holy Hill",too; I just never heard that.)
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My mother went to Lone Mountain for a year in the early 40s. It's nickname then was "San Francisco's college for lonely women." (It might have been "Holy Hill",too; I just never heard that.)
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May 30, 2011
Martha
rated it:
I enjoyed the entire series of Sister Mary Helen mysteries. The author, Sister Carol Anne O'Marie has an interesting story herself.
May 18, 2009
Chris
rated it:
This was really enjoyable and I look forward to reading on in the series.
A 75 year old semi-retired nun turned amateur detective...move over Miss Marple!
A 75 year old semi-retired nun turned amateur detective...move over Miss Marple!
Apr 17, 2010
Novena for Murder (Sister Mary Helen Mysteries) by Sister Carol Anne O'Marie (2005)
Nov 21, 2010
Jodi
rated it:
Just right pace and plot for a cozy mystery. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
Jan 17, 2011
Sue
rated it:
felt like I had to read at least one of her books-since she was my math teacher in High school.
Mar 22, 2008
Trish
rated it:
Sister Mary Helen is AWESOME. This is her first go at solving murders and I really loved it. She reminds me of someone of whom I hold in very high regard. I want to get the whole series as soon as possible. Again, not great literature but for a mystery reader and someone as interested in the role of women in my Church - I loved it!!
Sep 05, 2008
Sarah
rated it:
A compelling sleuth, Sister Mary Helen's character appealed, and I look forward of reading more about her sensibly shod exploits. The plot's twists were reasonably well crafted as well. The wrap-it-all-up-with-a-bow epilogue grated on me, though. My recommendation - read it, but skip the epilogue.
Feb 11, 2012
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