A Gruesome Discovery

August 1, 2016
In 1923, the Irish War of Independence has ended, but tensions are still high between the IRA and the ruling government. Vast areas of Cork have been burned by the British auxiliaries, targeting anyone suspected of Republican sympathies. But it's the poor who have suffered most. So when city planner James Doyle is assassinated in the city market, the only shocking thing is that young reporter Sam O'Mahoney is accused of the crime. No one saw Sam kill Doyle, but when the shooting ended, Sam held a gun in his hand. With such damning evidence, it's clear Sam will hang for the deed. His mother pleads with Reverend Mother Aquinas, who was in the market when the shooting took place, to find the real killer. Of course, the Reverend Mother wants to help, but in a city torn by hatred and fear, can she uncover the truth? Period ambience, an intriguing look at a desperate time in Irish history, an absorbing plot, and a wise and intrepid amateur sleuth in the form of the Reverend Mother make this an engaging historical mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2018
Cork, Ireland, 1925. The Reverend Mother Aquinas, who runs a school for Cork's poorest children, receives a gift from a local auctioneeran old trunk labeled School Books. But when she opens the trunk, she's horrified to find the body of businessman Henry Mulcahy inside. The reverend mother has confronted death and murder before, so she knows exactly whom to callDr. Scher, to declare Mulcahy dead, and Inspector Patrick Cashman, to investigate the case. There are many suspects. One is Mulcahy's son, Fred, who rebelled against his strict father and joined the Republican Army. A second is Mulcahy's daughter, Susan, who wants to be a doctor but who, much against her will, has been promised in marriage to Mulcahy's business partner. Or perhaps the killer is Mulcahy's wife, who had been badly treated by her husband. When more deaths occur, the reverend mother decides she cannot wait for the police to solve the case and puts her own keen understanding of human nature and excellent deductive powers to use. A gripping plot, memorable characters, and authentic period ambience make for an engaging read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)