Saint's Gate

July 25, 2011
This novel of suspense from Neggers (Cold River) uneasily combines Maine artists, Irish saints, Viking artifacts, convent life, and the FBI. Puzzled by a mysterious painting that may hold clues to the whereabouts of an original Rembrandt, art conservationist Sister Joan Mary Fabriani invites FBI special agent Emma Sharpe, a former novice at the Sisters of the Joyful Heart convent, to the tiny religious order on the Maine coast to investigate. When Sister Joan is murdered and the painting disappears, Emma draws on her family's background in art investigation to find the cause. The search leads her to Ireland, where her grandfather, the founder of Sharpe Fine Art Recovery, is attacked. Colin Donovan, an FBI undercover agent with local roots, is put on the case as well, and sexual sparks soon fly. Neggers shows her skill in the feisty couple's romantic skirmishes, but the charm of their byplay can't compensate for the far-fetched backstory, chunks of unnecessary filler, and predictable denouement.

Carol Monda shines with a vocal presence that touches all aspects of this mystery. In a convent on the coast of Maine, the Sisters of the Joyful Heart specialize in the restoration and preservation of fine art. The tranquil life at the convent is shattered when a Sister is murdered and a painting goes missing. Enter FBI Special Agent Emma Sharpe, who specializes in fine art crimes and who was once a novice at the convent. The local priest, who is from Ireland, also takes an unusual interest in the case. Monda projects emotions at a cadence that fits the tempo of the story line and adds dimension to the diverse cast of characters. T.J.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine