Murder Superior

Gregor Demarkian #8

by Jane Haddam

At a nun’s convention, Demarkian investigates an unusual poisoningA superfluity of nuns has descended on Philadelphia, and the city is doing all it can to keep them entertained. The spiritual sisters’ convention lined up several speakers, including media mogul Henry Hare, shock-jock extraordinaire Norm Kevic, and the brilliant sleuth Gregor Demarkian, whose lecture “Investigating the Catholic Murder” is sure to cause a sensation. As a former FBI investigator, Demarkian has plenty of first-hand experience solving heinous crimes—religious or otherwise. And he’s about to get a little more practice. At the convention’s first banquet, one of the nuns drops dead after ingesting the wrong cut of the deadly fugu fish. But was Sister Joan really the target, or was someone trying to do away with the loathsome Mother Mary Bellarmine? All of God’s children may go to heaven—but one of His wives is going to jail.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Contemporary

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Aka Orania Papazoglou

Jane Haddam (b. 1951) is an American author of mysteries. Born Orania Papazoglou, she worked as a college professor and magazine editor before publishing her Edgar Award–nominated first novel, Sweet, Savage Death, in 1984. This mystery introduced Patience McKenna, a sleuthing scribe who would go on to appear in four more books, including Wicked, Loving Murder (1985) and Rich, Radiant Slaughter (1988).

Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) introduced Haddam’s best-known character, former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian. The series spans more than twenty novels, many of them holiday-themed, including Murder Superior (1993), Fountain of Death (1995), and Wanting Sheila Dead (2005). Haddam’s most recent novels are Blood in the Water (2012) and Hearts of Sand (2013). Wife of William L DeAndrea.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gregor Demarkian series is one of my favourite crime series of all time and I am enjoying re-reading the early novels. This is the eighth in the series, published in 1993.

We again see Demarkian involved with the Catholic Church. In this case, giving a talk on, "Investigating the Catholic Murder," at a convention of nuns from the Sisters of Divine Grace. There will be characters we have met previously, such as Sister Scholastica and a whole host of suspects to choose from when one of the nuns is poisoned during the opening reception. Haddam always sets the scene really well, so we meet everyone, from the outrageous talk show host, Norman Kevic, to the much hated Mother Mary Bellarmine, through to the deeply unhappy and volatile, Nancy Callahan Hare, before the crime takes place.

Although our hero is normally welcomed into the investigation, in this case he is resented by a detective who has his job through nepotism and it is left to the Sisters themselves to pull the strings necessary for Demarkian to be able to solve the mystery. Of course, all our favourites from the series are also involved, including Father Tibor, Bennis and the ladies who constantly decorate the American Armenian neighbourhood where Gregor Demarkian resides. Great fun and a really enjoyable mystery.

[Jennifer O'bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who likes murder/mystery stories, I highly recommend the Gregor Demarkian series. All the stories (27 so far)make for great reading. The characters are well developed and genuinely likeable.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gregor is back among the nuns again. It was an ok mystery. A little nunsenical in my opinion. There’s a convention of nuns and one of the nuns drops dead. Poisoning by fugu? Seems fishy. Heart attack? Murder? Gregor seems to be in the habit of finding himself once again at the scene of murder.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregor Demarkian isn't sure if he is going to be asked to help with any more investigations...Not a detective, not a PI, but as former FBI agent he gets involved in the most dastardly of crimes in the most bizarre circumstanes. Who would expect a murder at a convention of nuns? Jane Haddam does so well with these mysteries..I am going through them one by one to get caught up on the ones I have missed!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent plot full of twists and turns. In some ways this book showed its age (published in 1993), but the characters were generally believable, except perhaps for the rich tycoon’s promiscuous and unpleasant wife.

[Cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as satisfying as some of the other Gregor Demarkian mysteries, but fine as escapist reading.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is always good for a lighter read that is still a mystery, and the visions of nuns everywhere adds to humor in this offering

[Lila · Rating 2 out of 5]

A surprisingly engrossing tale of murder at a Philadelphia Catholic school during a convention of nuns. Detective Gregor Demarkian is Armenian and the story has good local color.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Demarkian story. It advanced the personal relationship between Gregor and Bennis, but I didn't care all that much for the mystery.
The nuns seem to be taking over his life - is the Roman Catholic church so desperate it has to keep turning to a lapsed Armenian Orthodox detective to solve things?

12/26/24 I didn't like this one as much as others, and the conclusion wasn't very satisfactory.

[Catherine Woodman]

Amazingly, a Gregor Demarkian that I had not read that we had in paperback--I read this on my trip to France, and it was a good one--a good plot, not as complicated as they become later in the series, but very good murder mystery and light read.

[Alaina Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the full review -- including an actual reason for its rating (for once), and an assist from The Simpsons -- follow the link to That's What She Read.

[Samira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Total brain candy and not the best mystery ever, but it saw me through a couple of hours on the exercise bike at the gym this weekend.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nun convention - good red herrings- satisfying justice

[Allison Henle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be the single most obvious of all the mysteries...

[Gloria Mccracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reread of one of the Gregor Demarkian books. Just as good the second time around.

[Liz Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at a convention of nuns where everyone looks pretty much alike and most have the first name of Mary. It is tidily solved by the American-Armenian Hercule Periot. Quite enjoyable.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of this series. But having now read an earlier book in the series, I think I can say it improved with age.