Charisma

by Orania Papazoglou

Ex-nun Susan Murphy attempts to find a link between the ritualistic murders of ex-nuns and the gangland-style executions of young boys residing at Damien House, a haven for runaways. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Mystery

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

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).

Pen name of Jane Haddam.

Reviews

[Rev. M. M. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer is targeting former nuns in New Haven, Connecticut. An ambitious district attorney begins a widely publicized investigation of a priest who runs a home for runaways on sexual abuse charges. An auxiliary bishop is caught between wanting to advance his career and doing the right thing. The head of the Homicide Squad is puzzled by the execution-style killings of boy prostitutes. The DA's sister after years in the convent is trying to fit into her old life in the family home while figuring out what to do with her life. And then there is the serial killer whose identity remains a surprise until the end even though we have some insight into his thoughts. All of this and more makes for an intriguing read in Orania Papazoglou's novel Charisma.

Under her pen name, Jane Haddam, Papazoglou is the author of the Gregor Demarkian series. This novel has more of an edge to it and maybe not as many characters, but it does share certain similarities with the Demarkian books. The main similarity is the characterization; we really get to know these people. They are three-dimensional, not just cut-outs pasted on the page. Unlike the Demarkian series, the author does not telegraph the solution; I was nearly at the end when I figured out the identity of the killer but there were other surprises as well (which I will not go into for fear of ruining your reading).

Interestingly, the Catholic Church plays a part in the story. All of the main characters are or have been, Catholic. Not surprising perhaps given the fact that the story is set in New Haven which, Yale to the contrary, is a very mostly Irish Catholic town. However, Papazoglou doesn't seem all that familiar with Catholic terminology. The auxiliary bishop in the story is most often referred to as "Father" which is something he might do in informal conversation (although I don't know any bishops who do that) but it would not be used by anybody else. There also seems to be sympathy, if not a clear preference, for the pre-Vatican II Church. It seems that this attitude plays into the mind of the killer who has developed a warped idea of his charism (hence the title).

Still, in spite of my quibbles, this was a good book with which to pass the time. In these days in which we have to put up with lockdowns and stay at home orders, it's good to have a book that takes one out of the sameness of confinement. Papazoglou has not written as many books under her real name as she has as Jane Haddam, but I look forward to reading more.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-paced mystery with well-defined main characters, but the book should come with a warning about graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse. There were paragraphs I needed to skip for my own well-being, and I doubted my desire to continue reading just to find who was committing the killings.

[Sue Kelso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. What I love the most is Oriana's/Jane's writing style. Every word seems deliberately chosen.

I didn't look until I finished the book to see when the book was written and it was 1992. It is not dated at all except for 2 things. The Homicide Detective carries a pager and everyone smokes. Indoors!!

Susan Murphy decides to leave the nunnery (Is it called that?). At the same time, someone is killing ex-nuns. There is also a series of murders of young boys happening in New Haven at the same time. The descriptions of New Haven are really well written as are the main characters. Susan decides to become involved with Damien House which helps young people leave the streets. Her brother the DA charges the Priest who runs Damien House with abusing children. All of this ties together at the end and wraps up nicely.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back in 1993 and don't remember a lot about it except that it was a reasonably fast paced crime novel whose main character is an ex-nun. And elderly nuns and gays are being murdered and there seems to be a connection.

[Pauline]

non de plume of Jane Haddam