Sister Eve, Private Eye

Starred review from September 8, 2014
A Harley-driving, traffic-ticket collecting, undercover investigator nun? Hinton (Pie Town) will delight her longtime fans with the inaugural “Divine Private Detection Agency Mystery.” Sister Evangeline Divine (pronounced Div-EEN) has taken a leave of absence from the convent where she has lived for 20 years in order to care for her ailing father, a retired private investigator recovering from surgery. When a star actor is found murdered on the outskirts of their hometown of Madrid, N.M., Eve and her father are pulled into the investigation. Was it the clueless girlfriend, the betrayed ghostwriter, or another recent visitor to the tiny desert community? With a penchant for independent thinking and out-of-the box methods, Eve pursues clues and questions persons of interest with such enthusiasm that some, herself included, question her loyalty to the convent. Adding to her spiritual turmoil, Eve’s new duties as caretaker for her father aggravate their complicated relationship, although
frustrations are eventually replaced by
enlightenment. This well-paced, entertaining whodunit explores the complexity of family and the mysteries of faith while highlighting the beauty of the New
Mexico desert. Agent: Sally McMillan,
Sally Hill McMillan & Associates.

Harley-riding Sister Evangeline seems like a cliché. So does the actress she'll help defend against a murder charge. When the two first meet, narrator Hillary Huber emphasizes their initial awkwardness, but depth develops as their friendship grows. In a subplot, Eve deals with taking care of her father, a private eye who is coping with a leg amputation. Through grumpy, barbed humor Huber draws out his feelings of anger and helplessness. The argumentative exchanges between father and daughter gradually reveal a warm, loving relationship. Listeners will enjoy the strong characterizations as they consider the issues Eve and her family face. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine