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Sister Joan Mystery #11
Vow of Evil
It's been some time since Sister Joan of the Order of the Daughters of Compassion has had to solve a murder, but there are indications that will soon change. Outbreaks of vandalism in the village coincide with the sighting of a devil in the churchyard and strange candles left burning in the postulancy, now rented out to the Lurgan family. Then it is that Sister Joan finds a body, a young police officer goes missing and old Sister Gabrielle begins to act in a most furtive manner. Evil draws ever closer in the vengeful search for victims.
Hardcover
First published October 28, 2004
About the author
Veronica Black
47 books70 followersPseudonym for Maureen Peters
Maureen Peters was born in Caernarvon, Wales, on March 3, 1935, and was married and divorced twice; she has two sons and two daughters. In addition to biographical fiction, historical romances, and mystery novels written under her own name, other noms de plume include Veronica Black, Catherine Darby, Levanah Lloyd, Belinda Grey, Elizabeth Law, Judith Rothman, and Sharon Whitby.
Said Maureen Peters about Sister Joan in an interview, "I chose a nun because they have got a lot of time on their hands. I have friends who are real nuns and they give me information on their lives, but mine’s a bit more unconventional. Every time she goes to a convent, she finds a dead body — Cornwall is littered with them."
Maureen Peters was born in Caernarvon, Wales, on March 3, 1935, and was married and divorced twice; she has two sons and two daughters. In addition to biographical fiction, historical romances, and mystery novels written under her own name, other noms de plume include Veronica Black, Catherine Darby, Levanah Lloyd, Belinda Grey, Elizabeth Law, Judith Rothman, and Sharon Whitby.
Said Maureen Peters about Sister Joan in an interview, "I chose a nun because they have got a lot of time on their hands. I have friends who are real nuns and they give me information on their lives, but mine’s a bit more unconventional. Every time she goes to a convent, she finds a dead body — Cornwall is littered with them."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 6, 2021
My rating is for the series as a whole. I read the books in sequence one after another and was never bored, never disappointed. It's probably a good thing the series ended with the 11th installment or Sister Joan would have been standing on a mass grave in her little corner of Cornwall.
Although the last published A Vow of Evil was written sometime before A Vow of Poverty the 8th installment in the series (there are events in the earlier works contradicted by descriptions in the 11th and final installment that the editors didn't catch.)
Maureen Peters (Veronica Black) died in 2008 at the age of 73. I could find no obituary so I don't know the circumstances of her death. The last Sister Joan was published in 2004. I have the feeling that toward the end, she and her publishers were publishing works that hadn't been completed earlier for one reason or another.
Veronica Black's great strengths were her prose, characterization and world building. Her stories always had a twist or two although I often felt her villains were a little over the top. About halfway through the series she began to work theme more seriously into her stories.
Maureen Peters wrote mostly historical novels and I'm tempted to try one.
Although the last published A Vow of Evil was written sometime before A Vow of Poverty the 8th installment in the series (there are events in the earlier works contradicted by descriptions in the 11th and final installment that the editors didn't catch.)
Maureen Peters (Veronica Black) died in 2008 at the age of 73. I could find no obituary so I don't know the circumstances of her death. The last Sister Joan was published in 2004. I have the feeling that toward the end, she and her publishers were publishing works that hadn't been completed earlier for one reason or another.
Veronica Black's great strengths were her prose, characterization and world building. Her stories always had a twist or two although I often felt her villains were a little over the top. About halfway through the series she began to work theme more seriously into her stories.
Maureen Peters wrote mostly historical novels and I'm tempted to try one.
June 30, 2013
Sister Joan is uneasy and feels something is wrong somewhere. Then she finds some vandalism in the postulancy which is being renovated ready for new tenants to bring much needed money to swell the convent’s always depleted coffers. Sister Joan feels it better to keep things to herself rather than upset Mother David, the prioress. Then other strange things start to happen in the area and various people believe there is evil afoot.
Many people will pass through Sister Joan’s suspicious mind before she gradually manages to piece together a singularly unedifying series of events. The characters are well drawn in this unnerving mystery and it is interesting to see how Mother David is developing in her new role as prioress.
I found this disturbing mystery well written and absorbing – it kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know what happened and how was responsible. It’s a pity this is the last book in this entertaining series.
Many people will pass through Sister Joan’s suspicious mind before she gradually manages to piece together a singularly unedifying series of events. The characters are well drawn in this unnerving mystery and it is interesting to see how Mother David is developing in her new role as prioress.
I found this disturbing mystery well written and absorbing – it kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know what happened and how was responsible. It’s a pity this is the last book in this entertaining series.
July 16, 2021
So enjoyed this series!
The premise is so unexpected and the characters memorable, specially Sister Joan. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages and at the end of each book, I looked forward to the next. I will miss sister Joan and will most definitely re-read the series...perhaps there will be another mystery at the Convent....????
The premise is so unexpected and the characters memorable, specially Sister Joan. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages and at the end of each book, I looked forward to the next. I will miss sister Joan and will most definitely re-read the series...perhaps there will be another mystery at the Convent....????
February 20, 2023
Two years have peacefully passed for the Sisters of Compassion in Cornwall, but now evil is felt all around. Little incidents which grow into more than one death. Can DI Hill with the help of Sister Joan solve the mysteries.
Another enjoyable cozy modern mystery in this series with its likeable and varied characters
Originally published 2004
Another enjoyable cozy modern mystery in this series with its likeable and varied characters
Originally published 2004
August 4, 2021
The last book in the series
I have read all eleven mysteries and this one was unsettling. Evil things happen in the convent and then a young police woman is murdered.. It seems a family that rent a small house from the convent is responsible. Nothing can be proven. Since it was the last book I expected some major ending . I was disappointed. For me the story ended abruptly and the series just stopped . I'm glad I read the books but I felt the author just decided to quit.
I have read all eleven mysteries and this one was unsettling. Evil things happen in the convent and then a young police woman is murdered.. It seems a family that rent a small house from the convent is responsible. Nothing can be proven. Since it was the last book I expected some major ending . I was disappointed. For me the story ended abruptly and the series just stopped . I'm glad I read the books but I felt the author just decided to quit.
July 12, 2021
Another good read.
A different kind of story with Sister Joan finding herself up against true evil. I liked the most of the new characters, but not all. The storyline was intriguing and had some unexpected events.
A different kind of story with Sister Joan finding herself up against true evil. I liked the most of the new characters, but not all. The storyline was intriguing and had some unexpected events.
July 12, 2021
I will miss SisterJoan
Ev ery one of these books was fascinating. This last in the series was one of the most interesting. Marykay
Ev ery one of these books was fascinating. This last in the series was one of the most interesting. Marykay
July 17, 2021
Gripping
I love these gentle well thought out mysteries based in Cornwall. Sister Joan is a joy, enquiring nature and a lively mind, a bit of a rebel nun with a heart of gold. The characters are interesting and come to life from Veronica's narrative. Always a good read.
I love these gentle well thought out mysteries based in Cornwall. Sister Joan is a joy, enquiring nature and a lively mind, a bit of a rebel nun with a heart of gold. The characters are interesting and come to life from Veronica's narrative. Always a good read.
September 4, 2021
Book 11
Out of all 11 books, this one is a bit disappointing. Since it's the last book in the series, the ending is rather poor and incomplete. I enjoyed the series tremendously, wish it had ended better.
Out of all 11 books, this one is a bit disappointing. Since it's the last book in the series, the ending is rather poor and incomplete. I enjoyed the series tremendously, wish it had ended better.
January 2, 2025
I read this last book in the series so far with some skepticism...
Not my favorite series but wanted to know what happens, in spite of that!
A tad repetitive... Sr. John's character deals with the same issues every book...A Mum's life is told with great detail... I do not know how they do it...
The crimes Sister Joan deals with investigating are always heinous and unpleasant.
This book was no different...the ending seemed rushed and hardly convincing...the details of tub e crimes, though repeated and repeated, like many actual crimes, were never resolved or solved...as though the details did not matter.
I have had a Nun in my family by marriage and I am grateful she never had to deal with the things Sister Joan does a good deal of the time.
I do not feel I, personally can recommend these stories.
They are uosetting...unsettling, yet, compel!ing in some fashion...I have now read ten of the eleven available... Just to read what happens next...
I wonder why I want to read them. Can't figure it out...
Some of the characters...Sr. Marie, Father Malone, Sr. Gabrielle, Sr. Mary Concepta, DI Hill, DS Pattie ,Alice (the dog!), Lillith (the horse/pony), Father Stephen...Sr. Martha, Luther and Padraic Lee...
Want to find out what happens to all of them...and all the Nuns as well...so sorry we lost another character to illness this book.
Oh, I forgot Brother Cuthbert, my favorite...what will become of him???
Not my favorite series but wanted to know what happens, in spite of that!
A tad repetitive... Sr. John's character deals with the same issues every book...A Mum's life is told with great detail... I do not know how they do it...
The crimes Sister Joan deals with investigating are always heinous and unpleasant.
This book was no different...the ending seemed rushed and hardly convincing...the details of tub e crimes, though repeated and repeated, like many actual crimes, were never resolved or solved...as though the details did not matter.
I have had a Nun in my family by marriage and I am grateful she never had to deal with the things Sister Joan does a good deal of the time.
I do not feel I, personally can recommend these stories.
They are uosetting...unsettling, yet, compel!ing in some fashion...I have now read ten of the eleven available... Just to read what happens next...
I wonder why I want to read them. Can't figure it out...
Some of the characters...Sr. Marie, Father Malone, Sr. Gabrielle, Sr. Mary Concepta, DI Hill, DS Pattie ,Alice (the dog!), Lillith (the horse/pony), Father Stephen...Sr. Martha, Luther and Padraic Lee...
Want to find out what happens to all of them...and all the Nuns as well...so sorry we lost another character to illness this book.
Oh, I forgot Brother Cuthbert, my favorite...what will become of him???
January 20, 2019
Vow of Evil by Veronica Black is book 11 of the Sister Joan mystery series set in Cornwall. Sister Joan belongs to the religious order The Daughters of Compassion. They live on an estate that used to belong to a wealthy family, in an historic mansion the order has converted to spartan quarters. The order is in financial straits. The nuns don't have any prospects of new postulates to join the order (and provide dower money). Mother Dorothy decides to rent out the separate dwelling used to house novitiates for their first year, before they professed their religious choice, then joined the nuns in the main house.
The Daughters of Compassion are gentle and tolerant as a rule, but the new renters are difficult and unpleasant tenants. They don't respect the boundaries of the rental property vs. the convent. They are noisy, nosy, careless, messy, amoral. They bring many more people to live in the house, than their rental contract stipulates.
Meanwhile in the nearby town and surrounding countryside, disturbing events occur. Acts of vandalism to property are vicious and obscene. Animals are cruelly tortured and killed. A young woman from the gypsy camp goes missing. An elderly widow in the town becomes obsessed with sightings of the devil, and she dies not long after. Sister Joan is unsettled by the clear presence of evil. She investigates as best she can, when allowed to leave the convent after fulfilling her assigned tasks. When a policewoman is killed, Detective Mills requests Sister Joan's help. Together they uncover past secrets linking the unwelcome tenants to the recent crime spree. The tenants are apprehended by the police on the eve of Samhain (Halloween), just in time to prevent their planned celebration of Satan worship.
The Daughters of Compassion are gentle and tolerant as a rule, but the new renters are difficult and unpleasant tenants. They don't respect the boundaries of the rental property vs. the convent. They are noisy, nosy, careless, messy, amoral. They bring many more people to live in the house, than their rental contract stipulates.
Meanwhile in the nearby town and surrounding countryside, disturbing events occur. Acts of vandalism to property are vicious and obscene. Animals are cruelly tortured and killed. A young woman from the gypsy camp goes missing. An elderly widow in the town becomes obsessed with sightings of the devil, and she dies not long after. Sister Joan is unsettled by the clear presence of evil. She investigates as best she can, when allowed to leave the convent after fulfilling her assigned tasks. When a policewoman is killed, Detective Mills requests Sister Joan's help. Together they uncover past secrets linking the unwelcome tenants to the recent crime spree. The tenants are apprehended by the police on the eve of Samhain (Halloween), just in time to prevent their planned celebration of Satan worship.
September 22, 2022
#11 in he Sister Joan mystery series.
There is something weird going on in their quiet corner of Cornwall with acts of obscene vandalism in the convent and on religious scrolls in a locked cabinet, their dog is kidnapped, baby birds, a cat and dog are killed and two people die. A village woman claims to seen a devil in the cemetery at night. Are these crimes just practical jokes gone wrong or does someone have a dangerous obsession with the occult? Sister Joan teams up with Detective Sergeant Mill to get to the bottom of things.
Also tossed in is the Convent's putting an unused house up as rental to bringing in money and the family of 3 who rent it. The expected 3 turns out to be 4 and then 5 and then 6! The group grates on Sister Joan's nerves.
There is something weird going on in their quiet corner of Cornwall with acts of obscene vandalism in the convent and on religious scrolls in a locked cabinet, their dog is kidnapped, baby birds, a cat and dog are killed and two people die. A village woman claims to seen a devil in the cemetery at night. Are these crimes just practical jokes gone wrong or does someone have a dangerous obsession with the occult? Sister Joan teams up with Detective Sergeant Mill to get to the bottom of things.
Also tossed in is the Convent's putting an unused house up as rental to bringing in money and the family of 3 who rent it. The expected 3 turns out to be 4 and then 5 and then 6! The group grates on Sister Joan's nerves.
June 1, 2023
This is a poor ending to an otherwise outstanding series. First of all, while all the other volumes were published in quick succession one after another, this one came after a six years hiatus and it shows. There are several small but irritating errors: a new prioress is elected, even if the old one was in charge only for 5 years (or rather six - the count doesn't add / and not ten), Joan's Jewish ex-boyfriend is suddenly not Jewish and called Luke, not Jacob, and so on, and so on. The whole mystery is absurd, lacks any logic or probability, the solution is forced and improbable, the characters are not developed. The writing is sloppy. I was really sorry to say goodbye to my favourite characters in this way.
February 13, 2023
After the last two, this book was very disappointing. Quite a few people have a sense of evil drawing near, but without any sense of just what that will involve. And when 'it' comes all it does involve is a group of people renting the postulancy from the Sisters of the Daughters of Compassion. Even then, no-one actually does anything. No satanic rites, not even a black candle burning. Nothing is explained in relation to Padraic Lee's eldest daughter and no-one is charged with the murder of the police constable. In fact nothing is really explained at all really. All in all, a very disappointing book.
November 24, 2021
Excellent Seried!
Absolutely LOVED this series! As soon as I finished one book I couldn't wait to start a new one. I'm quite sad there are no more in the series as I've come to love the Sisters and all the other characters. The plots are great, with lots of twists and turns. There are some sad parts, but also joyful ones. I'm hoping the author writes more in this series very soon!
Absolutely LOVED this series! As soon as I finished one book I couldn't wait to start a new one. I'm quite sad there are no more in the series as I've come to love the Sisters and all the other characters. The plots are great, with lots of twists and turns. There are some sad parts, but also joyful ones. I'm hoping the author writes more in this series very soon!
October 19, 2024
Another excellent entry into this series of mysteries
With some added occult goings on, Sr. Joan tracks down and solves the deaths and mysterious goings on in her small village. Black leaves a few unresolved issues around a young Gypsy woman and the occult leader but maybe they will be resolved in a further volume.
With some added occult goings on, Sr. Joan tracks down and solves the deaths and mysterious goings on in her small village. Black leaves a few unresolved issues around a young Gypsy woman and the occult leader but maybe they will be resolved in a further volume.
August 31, 2021
Wonderful series !
This has been a wonderful read. I started out with the first five books as a set but had to buy the last six. Learned so much about convent life and the mysteries were so good. I was sorry to come to the last page. I hope there is another book in the making.
This has been a wonderful read. I started out with the first five books as a set but had to buy the last six. Learned so much about convent life and the mysteries were so good. I was sorry to come to the last page. I hope there is another book in the making.
October 17, 2021
There are always souls to do evil's bidding.
"Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan.
And Satan,
“From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
"Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan.
And Satan,
“From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
November 27, 2021
Enjoyable and inspiring reading
I had the pleasure to read all 11 books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I have knowledge of and experience with Catholicism and convents and could relate to that aspect. Found the characters multi dimensional and believable.
I had the pleasure to read all 11 books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I have knowledge of and experience with Catholicism and convents and could relate to that aspect. Found the characters multi dimensional and believable.
April 19, 2022
Good job there’s not too many pages and doesn’t take long to read. One of the worst endings ever. No closure. Wish I hadn’t wasted the time. Sister Joan had become such an annoying character. Started off with a good plot, good mystery but so let down at the end.
September 26, 2022
I was sorry to finish this last Sister Joan Mystery. The stories are solidly written mysteries with appealing characters, quite a few twists and a cleverly crafted mystery in each book. Too bad Veronica Black stopped with #11 because her stories just kept getting better and better.
September 6, 2023
I have loved this series. The character of Sister Joan is a bit fiesty at times (for a nun), but she does have a hear of gold. I love the character of Baldric and Luther. Both guys help make the stories interesting.
February 17, 2025
Sister Joan mysteries
I don't think I have ever enjoyed a series of books like I have these! Good clean reading , loveable characters, and mysteries to keep you on your toes. I only wish there were more in this series.
I don't think I have ever enjoyed a series of books like I have these! Good clean reading , loveable characters, and mysteries to keep you on your toes. I only wish there were more in this series.
August 28, 2021
The last in a very interesting series. I have really enjoyed them.
September 20, 2021
Evil lurks around
Excellent reading, easy to read, good plot from start to finish. Sister Joan certainly gets her rewards. Look forward to the next book.
Excellent reading, easy to read, good plot from start to finish. Sister Joan certainly gets her rewards. Look forward to the next book.
September 25, 2021
End of the Road
It is with sadness that I have reached the end of the Sister Joan mysteries. I have said this before, but these books would lend themselves to a pbs series...
It is with sadness that I have reached the end of the Sister Joan mysteries. I have said this before, but these books would lend themselves to a pbs series...
September 27, 2021
Great mystery, as all of her books are. Sad to see them end. Will definitely buy if a new one comes out.
November 20, 2021
Amazing Series
I really enjoyed reading this series of tales. I learned much about a nun’s life. The characters are very believable.
I really enjoyed reading this series of tales. I learned much about a nun’s life. The characters are very believable.
January 8, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed. Good mystery. Love the characters.
So sad it’s the end of the series.
So sad it’s the end of the series.
May 23, 2023
The last of the Sister Joan series. I'll miss her.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews