Supper Sleuths


Ecclesiastical Mysteries:
Priests on the Prowl & Nuns on the Run

This compilation of mystery novels includes mysteries whose sleuths are nuns, priests, reverends and rabbis. This sub-genre was made famous by the Father Dowling mysteries by Ralph McInerny and by Harry Kemelman's "Rabbi" series. Ecclesiastical mysteries tend to be cozies, with the crime taking place "off stage." The sleuths solve these crimes by using their brains, rather than muscle. Also see Metheun's Nevins Memorial Library's list, and a special thank you to Nanci Milone Hill for her description and list.

Thank you, once again, to Beebe Reference Librarian Beth Radcliffe for her thorough research on this list.

Whenever possible, if a series, the titles are in order of publication date. Series characters are after the author's name. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and please let us know if you feel that a title should be here. Please read one or more titles, and come prepared to discuss your impressions of them with the group.

CATEGORY AUTHOR CHARACTER TITLE
NUNS Veronica Black Sr. Joan Vow of Silence (1990)
Vow of Chastity(1991)
Vow of Obedience(1993)
Vow of Sanctity(1993)
Vow of Devotion(1994)
Vow of Penance(1994)
Vow of Fidelity(1995)
Vow of Adoration(1996)
Vow of Poverty(1996)
Vow of compassion(1997)
Alys Clare Abbess Helewise Fortune Like the Moon (1999)
Ashes of the Elements (2001)
Tavern of the Morning (2002)
Margaret Frazer Sr. Frevisse Novice's Tale (1992)
Boy's Tale(1995)
Prioress' Tale(1997)
Maiden's Tale(1998)
Reeve's Tale(2000)
Squire's Tale(2000)
Clerk's Tale(2002)
Bastard's Tale(2003)
Hunter's Tale(2004)
Widow's Tale(2005)
Sempster's Tale(2006)
Kate Gallison Mother Lavinia Grey Bury the Bishop (1995)
Unholy Angels NOT IN NOBLE|OUT OF PRINT (1996)
Devil's Workshop NOT IN NOBLE|OUT OF PRINT (1996)
Hasty Retreat (1997)
Grave Misgivings (1998)
Alison Joseph Sr. Agnes Sacred Hearts (1996)
Hour of Our Death (1997) | Not in NOBLE
Carol O'Marie Sr. Mary Helen Novena For Murder (1984)
Advent of Dying (1986)
Missing Madonna (1989)
Murder in Ordinary Time (1991)
Murder Makes a Pilgrimage (1993)
Death Goes on Retreat (1995)
Monica Quill
AKA Ralph McInerny		 Sr. Mary Teresa Not a Blessed Thing (1981)
Let us Pray (1982)| Not in NOBLE
And Then There Was Nun (1984)
Nun of the Above (1985)
Sine Qua Nun (1986)
Veil of Ignorance (1988)
Sister Hood (1991)
Nun Plussed (1993)
Half Past Nun (1997)
Death Takes the Veil: and other stories (2001)
Priscilla Royal Prioress Eleanor
of Tyndal		 Wine of Violence (2003)
Tyrant of the Mind (2004)
Sorrow Without End (2006)
Winona Sullivan Sr. Cecile Dead South (1996)
Death's a Beach (1998)
Aimee Thurlo Sr. Agatha Bad Faith (2002)
Peter Tremayne Sr. Fidelma
aka Celtic Mysteries		 Absolution By Murder (1996)
Shroud for the Archbishop Not in NOBLE.
Suffer Little Children (1997)
Subtle Serpent (1998)
Spider's Web (1997)
Valley of the Shadow (2000)
Hemlock at Vespers: 15 mysteries (2000)
The Monk Who Vanished (2001)
Act of Mercy (2003)
Our Lady of Darkness (2002)
Smoke in the Wind (2003)
Haunted Abbot (2004)
Badger's Moon (2003)
Whispers of the Dead: 15 mysteries (2004)
Leper's Bell (2006)
PRIESTS E.M.A. Allison Through the Valley of Death (1993)
Michelle Blake Lily Conner Tentmaker (1999)
Earth Has No Sorrow (2001)
Book of Light (2003)
G.K. Chesterton Father Brown Innocence of Father Brown (Omnibus) (1911)
Wisdom of Father Brown (Omnibus) (1914)
Incredulity of Father Brown (Omnibus) (1926)
Secret of Father Brown (Omnibus) (1927)
Scandal of Father Brown (Omnibus) (1935)
Blue Cross (SS Collections)
Vol.1 Costain/Stories to Remember (1956)
Dagger and Wings: & other stories (1984)
Father Brown and the Church of Rome (Omnibus) (1996)
Umberto Eco Name of the Rose (1983)
Andrew Greeley Father Blackie Ryan Happy Are the Clean of Heart (1985)
Happy Are those Who Thirst for Justice (1987)
Happy Are the Merciful (1992)
Happy Are the Peace Makers (1993)
Happy Are the Poor in Spirit (1994)
Happy Are those Who Mourn (1995)
Happy Are the Oppressed (1996)
Bishop at Sea (1996)
Bishop and the Three Kings (1998)
Bishop and the Missing L Train (2000)
Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain (2001)
Bishop in the West Wing (2002)
Bishop Goes to the University (2003)
Bishop in the Old Neighborhood (2005)
Susanna Gregory Brother Michael &
Matthew Bartholomew		 Plague on Both Your Houses (1996)
Unholy Alliance (1996)
Bone of Contention (1997)
Killer in Winter (#9 series) (2003)
Mark of a Murderer (#11 series) (2005)
Paul Harding Brother Athelstan Nightingale Gallery (1991)
Red Slayer (1994)
Catherine Jinks Inquisitor (2002)
William X. Kienzle Father Robert Koesler Rosary Murders (1979)
Death Wears a Red Hat (1980)
Mind Over Murder (1981)
Assault with Intent (1982)
Shadow of Death (1983)
Kill and Tell (1984)
Sudden Death (1985)
Deathbed (1986)
Deadline for a Critic (1987)
Marked for Murder (1988)
Eminence (1989)
Masquerade (1990)
Chameleon (1991)
Body Count (1992)
Dead Wrong (1993)
Bishop as Pawn (1994)
Call No Man Father (1995)
Requiem for Moses (1996)
Man Who Loved God (1997)
Greatest Evil (1998)
No Greater Love (1999)
Till death (2000)
Sacrifice (2001)
Gathering (2002)
D.Keith Mano Topless (1991)
David Manuel Brother Bartholomew Matter of Roses (1999)
Matter of Diamonds (2000)
Matter of Time (2002)
Whit Masterson Hunter of the Blood (1977)
Ralph McInerny Father Dowling Her Death of Cold (1977)
Seventh Station (1977)
Bishop as Pawn (1978)
Lying Three (1979)
Second Vespers (1980)
Thicker Than Water (1981)
Loss of Patients (1982)
Grass Widow (1983)
Getting A Way With Murder (1984)
Rest in Pieces (1985)
Basket Case (1987)
Abracadaver (1989)
Four on the Floor:SS (1989)
Judas Priest (1991)
Desert Sinner (1992)
Seed of Doubt (1993)
Cardinal Offense (1994)
Tears of Things (1996)
Grave Undertakings (2000)
Triple Pursuit (2001)
Prodigal Father (2002)
Last things (2003)
Requiem for a Realtor (2004)
Blood Ties (2005)
Prudence of the Flesh (2006)
William Montalbano Basilica (1998)
RABBIS Harry Kemelman Rabbi Small Friday the Rabbi Slept Late (1964)
See complete series list.
Joseph Telushkin Rabbi Daniel Winter Eye for an Eye (1991)
REVERENDS Isabelle Holland Claire Aldington Death at St. Anselm's (1984)
Lover Scorned (1986)
Fatal Advent (1989)
Long Search (1990)
David Willis McCullough Ziza Todd Think on Death (1991)
Point No-Point (1992)
Philip Rickman Merrily Watkins Wine of Angels (1999)
Midwinter of the Spirit (2000)
Crown of Lights (2001)
Cure of Souls (2002)
Lamp of the Wicked (2003)
Prayer of the Night Shepherd (2004)
Smile of the Ghost (2005)
Julia Spencer-Fleming Clare Fergusson In the Bleak Midwinter (2002)
Fountain Filled With Blood (2003)
Out of the Deep I Cry (2004)
To darkness and Death (2005)
All Mortal Flesh (2006)


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