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Sister Joan Mystery #9
A Vow of Adoration
It's a fine line between adoration and infatuation.
While out riding one day Sister Joan stumbles across an old, ruined chapel in a lonely area of the moors.
It looks abandoned, but it’s not empty.
On one of the pews lies a man. From the smell, Joan guesses he’s been dead for some time.
With Detective Alan Mill away, Joan goes to his deputy, but the police seem strangely reluctant to help.
Meanwhile, a young woman turns up and begs Sister Joan to help find her missing sister. But the police are not interested in the missing woman either . . .
It looks like it’s all down to Joan. But can she help her fellow man and stay out of trouble?
While out riding one day Sister Joan stumbles across an old, ruined chapel in a lonely area of the moors.
It looks abandoned, but it’s not empty.
On one of the pews lies a man. From the smell, Joan guesses he’s been dead for some time.
With Detective Alan Mill away, Joan goes to his deputy, but the police seem strangely reluctant to help.
Meanwhile, a young woman turns up and begs Sister Joan to help find her missing sister. But the police are not interested in the missing woman either . . .
It looks like it’s all down to Joan. But can she help her fellow man and stay out of trouble?
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 1996
142 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Black
48 books68 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 30 reviews
October 30, 2016
A Vow of Adoration by Veronica Black is the 9th book in the Sister Joan mystery series set in late 20th-century Cornwall. Sister Joan is out exercising the convent's pony, riding farther than usual on the moor, when she happens upon a ruined chapel. Always interested in new discoveries, she explores it, only to find a dead body. Detective Alan Mill, Sister Joan's good friend, is on vacation. Police who investigate in his absence don't do much to find out who the man was or who killed him. Meanwhile a young woman turns up and begs Sister Joan for help to find her missing sister. The police apparently were not interested in the missing woman either. Sister Joan finds the link between the dead man and missing sister, and investigates whenever she can get time away from the convent. Detective Mill returns from vacation as Sister Joan solves the case in an interesting plot twist.
May 31, 2023
The best entry in the whole series, in my opinion. It was a relief to see sister Joan cope without the assistance of always-so-helpful detective sergeant Mill for once, and the mystery was well crafted, this time I didn't guess the murder immediately.
July 31, 2021
Twisted ending.
A young wife is missing,an antique dealer maybe a murderer,and Sister Joan's favorite detective is on vacation and the constable has the measles. It is up to Sister Joan to solve murder and find the who ,why and how .I really like the series but this story has a very twisted ending .I had to read the ending chapters twice to fully understood. This one was too Perry Mason for me . The author had the character to explain in the end .I didn't like it as well as earlier books .
A young wife is missing,an antique dealer maybe a murderer,and Sister Joan's favorite detective is on vacation and the constable has the measles. It is up to Sister Joan to solve murder and find the who ,why and how .I really like the series but this story has a very twisted ending .I had to read the ending chapters twice to fully understood. This one was too Perry Mason for me . The author had the character to explain in the end .I didn't like it as well as earlier books .
March 11, 2023
This was my first foray into Sister Joan's world, and it was all right. I kept turning the pages, but "utterly gripping" this story was not. Later, I'll try another; this storyline has possibilities, but this one could have been better.
Sister Joan Series
1. A Vow of Silence (1990)
2. A Vow of Chastity (1991)
3. A Vow of Sanctity (1993)
4. A Vow of Obedience (1993)
5. A Vow of Devotion (1994)
6. A Vow of Penance (1994)
7. A Vow of Fidelity (1995)
** 8. A Vow of Adoration (1996)
Sister Joan Series
1. A Vow of Silence (1990)
2. A Vow of Chastity (1991)
3. A Vow of Sanctity (1993)
4. A Vow of Obedience (1993)
5. A Vow of Devotion (1994)
6. A Vow of Penance (1994)
7. A Vow of Fidelity (1995)
** 8. A Vow of Adoration (1996)
June 19, 2021
Superb series!
I really enjoy British cozy mysteries and am always looking for cozy series.. This series has an interesting twist, nuns. One in particular who solves crimes with an attractive inspector. The stories are well written and easy to read. The descriptions of the cloistered life are most interesting and create many emotions by in me as I am not a Catholic. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking.
I really enjoy British cozy mysteries and am always looking for cozy series.. This series has an interesting twist, nuns. One in particular who solves crimes with an attractive inspector. The stories are well written and easy to read. The descriptions of the cloistered life are most interesting and create many emotions by in me as I am not a Catholic. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought provoking.
July 5, 2021
Another "Best" in the Sister Joan series!
My goodness, these stories just keep getting better and better. What an intriguing mystery.
If you haven't read any of them, each would stand alone, but they're even better when you read them in order and have the characters growing with each new installment.
My goodness, these stories just keep getting better and better. What an intriguing mystery.
If you haven't read any of them, each would stand alone, but they're even better when you read them in order and have the characters growing with each new installment.
October 26, 2022
Sister Joan finds the body of a middle-aged man in a dilapidated former chapel on the moor. She goes to the nearest house and uses their telephone to call the local constabulary.
Before she knows it, Sister Joan is involved with a missing wife, a murdered housekeeper, and an antique dealer who may or may not be a killer.
She will need all her wits and her faith to survive this adventure.
Before she knows it, Sister Joan is involved with a missing wife, a murdered housekeeper, and an antique dealer who may or may not be a killer.
She will need all her wits and her faith to survive this adventure.
May 22, 2021
An enthralling story
An interesting story with Sister Joan finding herself in a strange mystery. The twists and turns lead the reader into a gripping spiral of confusion, before the final .
An interesting story with Sister Joan finding herself in a strange mystery. The twists and turns lead the reader into a gripping spiral of confusion, before the final .
September 11, 2021
Compulsive reading
I adore the stories of Sister Joan. They have a timeless quality to them. All the characters are well rounded and the mysteries are very clever. I think I've found my new Miss Marple.
I adore the stories of Sister Joan. They have a timeless quality to them. All the characters are well rounded and the mysteries are very clever. I think I've found my new Miss Marple.
June 7, 2024
Great read with twists and turns
One of her best, this mystery keeps you guessing along with Sr. Joan with Lots of twists and turns as she finds herself trying help a young woman searching for her missing sister.
One of her best, this mystery keeps you guessing along with Sr. Joan with Lots of twists and turns as she finds herself trying help a young woman searching for her missing sister.
May 29, 2021
Sister Joan
I find some of the books to be quite good, but it's a take them as you find them.
This is a toss up.
I find some of the books to be quite good, but it's a take them as you find them.
This is a toss up.
June 1, 2021
Great end of series
I really wish there were more of these books to read. I have so enjoyed this series! Very enjoyable mysteries!
I really wish there were more of these books to read. I have so enjoyed this series! Very enjoyable mysteries!
June 6, 2021
An interesting wild ride of a mystery!
As I read on and was trying to figure out who the murderer was I was baffled. Never in my wildest dreams would I have figured it out!
As I read on and was trying to figure out who the murderer was I was baffled. Never in my wildest dreams would I have figured it out!
June 15, 2021
When is the next Sister Joan mystery coming out ?
I enjoyed all of them & looking forward to Veronica’s next one!!
Geri
I enjoyed all of them & looking forward to Veronica’s next one!!
Geri
November 20, 2021
What a good mystery. And all the wonderful sisters are like friends now. Can’t wait for the next book.
October 17, 2022
Oh Sister Joan you is caught up the intrigue again. I have really enjoyed this series
November 3, 2023
Sr. Joan is my new hero!
May 23, 2024
This outing bogged down less than half way in. However, it does have a surprise ending.
Read
February 16, 2025I really enjoyed this book. I have now read the entire series, but I hope more are coming
February 12, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable read
February 18, 2023
Sister Joan discovers the body of a male in an abandoned Chapel, with no identification on him. Meanwhile Michael Peter insists his wife Crystal is on holiday with her family. But her sister Caroline Hayes arrives in the area looking for her sister. Sister Joan helps DS Mill with his investigation.
An enjoyable cozy modern mystery.
Originally published 1996
An enjoyable cozy modern mystery.
Originally published 1996
June 19, 2021
Gripping read
April 16, 2013
Sister Joan finds a body while she is out exercising Lilith, the pony belonging to the Order of the Daughters of Compassion of which she is a member. Unfortunately D S Alan Mill is away on holiday but the death is reported to Constable Petrie in his absence.
Brother Cuthbert – who has been occupying the former schoolhouse owned by the convent – has returned for a month to his monastery in Scotland. Sister Joan visits the school house to assess the possibility of letting it while he is away and stumbles across a young woman who appears to be sleeping rough and offers her the premises for a week.
Mysterious antique dealers, young wives conspicuous by their absence, lonely houses on the moor and a ruined chapel provide the background to this entertaining mystery. There are darker strands to this story than to some of the books in this series but it is still a relatively light read. I found it kept me turning the pages as the strange events mounted up and Sister Joan struggled to keep her mind on her duty to God as well as a her duty as a citizen.
If you like your mysteries with an added dimension then this might be a series for you. All of them are well plotted and worth reading. The religious background adds something to the story though it is not overdone. DS Mill, the main police character is agnostic and that provides a certain amount of tension which stops the religious theme being too cloying for non-believers.
Brother Cuthbert – who has been occupying the former schoolhouse owned by the convent – has returned for a month to his monastery in Scotland. Sister Joan visits the school house to assess the possibility of letting it while he is away and stumbles across a young woman who appears to be sleeping rough and offers her the premises for a week.
Mysterious antique dealers, young wives conspicuous by their absence, lonely houses on the moor and a ruined chapel provide the background to this entertaining mystery. There are darker strands to this story than to some of the books in this series but it is still a relatively light read. I found it kept me turning the pages as the strange events mounted up and Sister Joan struggled to keep her mind on her duty to God as well as a her duty as a citizen.
If you like your mysteries with an added dimension then this might be a series for you. All of them are well plotted and worth reading. The religious background adds something to the story though it is not overdone. DS Mill, the main police character is agnostic and that provides a certain amount of tension which stops the religious theme being too cloying for non-believers.
October 12, 2012
I picked this book up and liked the idea of a sleuth nun. Sister Joan is surplus to requirements at the convent, and spends time helping the other nuns or excercising the horse and walking the dog Alice. While out riding across the moors in Cornwall, she discovers a body in an old chapel. From here, she follows a trail of clues and uncovers a gruesome murder. As the book begins, it seemed a gentle whodunit, as it went on, it turned into a phsycological twisting tale that was quite creepy. Looking forward to reading more from Veronica Black.
June 1, 2007
Another in the Sister Joan, the Cornwall Catholic nun, mysteries. As usual it involves murders which she helps solve. This story has many more twists and turns than her usual mysteries have along with the usual cast of convent characters and Detective Sergeant Alan Mill.
July 2, 2008
Not a hard mystery to figure out. I can see why this author stopped writing after 11 books.
One more that I own and then I think I will move on to something more stimulating.
One more that I own and then I think I will move on to something more stimulating.
October 6, 2008
This is a nice series of mysteries that I forgot all about. Nothing like a nun who is a sleuth!
November 3, 2009
I think Veronica Black is slipping. Mystery was definitely not as interesting as the others.
January 22, 2016
Sister Joan Mysteries set in Cornwall. It's a good cozy read.
March 30, 2018
Very good book! Ending totally from LEFT FIELD!! Never saw THAT coming!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews