Hasty Retreat

Mother Lavinia Grey #4

by Kate Gallison

Monks chanting at vespers...total silence between nine P.M. and morning...simple     furnishings and cloistered walls--to Mother Lavinia Grey, it sounds like heaven. Actually, it's a monastery in upstate New York, just the place for Mother Vinnie, an Episcopal priest, to spend a few days and escape her problems at St. Bede's Church. But there is no rest for the wicked, as they say. And Mother Vinnie soon suspects something very sinful is afoot. Who are the mysterious robed figures scuttling around at night? What is going on between a pretty guest and a visiting politician? And what in the world has happened to elderly Brother Basil, recently back from Africa? Finding the answers exposes a twisted knot of secrets, and Mother Vinnie soon discovers that silence may be golden, but someone's determination to keep her quiet may be...murder.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 9, 1997

About the author

aka Irene Fleming

Kate Gallison was born in Philadelphia and grew up reading mystery stories, from Nancy Drew to the lurid paperbacks her mother kept on the bottom shelf in the sunroom. Over the years she has worked for the Washington Post, John Wanamaker's department store, the State of New Jersey, and two large software houses in Princeton, New Jersey. When she started writing mysteries of her own, the characters and the politics in these workplaces were all grist to her mill.

Kate has three grown sons and a bachelor's degree in humanities from Thomas Edison College. She lives in Lambertville with her musician husband and their cat.

Reviews

[Shereen Vedam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author's writing. Complex and humorous, with entertaining/loveable characters.

Favorite lines: "But everyone knew what wickedness was: implacable, blind self-will. The real question was: What was goodness?"

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother Lavinia Grey and some of her congregants are joining other groups at a retreat house overlooking the Hudson River when a beloved elderly monk is murdered. The police suspect a young illegal immigrant whom the monk helped reach the retreat from Liberia, but the other monks, including Vinnie's friend's brother, are sure that he is innocent. Vinnie and her friend suspect an aspiring politician who is anti-immigrant and who has a history of losing his temper when his interest are threatened. For some reason, this book appeals to me less than the others in the series--maybe the move from New Jersey was bad mojo.

[Maurean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mother Lavina "Vinny" Grey takes a weekend retreat to the monistary of St. Hugh in upstate NY at the same time as her arch nemesis, Father Bingley, and his parish members do the same. When Father Basil, the head monk, is found dead, many questions arise regarding a motive.

This was okay; sharming characters, but the mystery puzzle was too easily solved - by both reader AND "Vinny". I doubt I'll read others in this cozy series.

[Karen Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, light hearted mystery.