Suspicious and doubting, Glory Brussard decides to investigate after learning that her best friend, a nun beloved by her Lafayette, Louisiana community has died mysteriously and has been ruled a suicide by the authorities. - (Baker & Taylor)

The first in a vivid and charming crime series set in the Louisiana bayou, introducing the hilariously uncensored amateur sleuth Glory Broussard. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club.

*A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of the Year*

It’s a hot and sticky Sunday in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Glory has settled into her usual after-church routine, meeting gamblers at the local coffee shop, where she works as a small-time bookie. Sitting at her corner table, Glory hears that her best friend—a nun beloved by the community—has been found dead in her apartment.

When police declare the mysterious death a suicide, Glory is convinced that there must be more to the story and, with her reluctant daughter, with troubles of her own, in tow, launches a shadow investigation in a town of oil tycoons, church gossips, and a rumored voodoo priestess.

As a Black woman of a certain age who grew up in a segregated Louisiana, Glory is used to being minimized and overlooked. But she’s determined to make her presence known as the case leads her deep into a web of intrigue she never realized Lafayette could harbor. Danielle Arcenaux’s riveting debut brings for an unforgettable character that will charm and delight crime fans everywhere and leave them hungry for her next adventure. - (Simon and Schuster)

Danielle Arceneaux is a public relations veteran that lives in Brooklyn, NY with her border terrier, Birdie, and an ungovernable cat. When not writing, she enjoys traveling around the world to fly fish. For more information, visit www.daniellearceneaux.com - (Simon and Schuster)

Library Journal Reviews

DEBUT Set in Lafayette, LA, Arceneaux's mystery debut (the first in a series) features Glory Broussard, a churchgoing older Black woman who is also a small-time bookie. When her beloved best friend, the nun Amity Gay, dies of an apparent suicide, Glory is convinced there was foul play. Assisting her in her sleuthing is Glory's attorney daughter Delphine, who has troubles of her own. Their investigation uncovers secret love affairs, corrupt oil tycoons, drug dealers, church gossip, and even a psychic voodoo priestess. Tired of being cut down or overlooked, Glory is determined to be her friend's voice and find justice; however, the closer she gets to the truth, the more someone wants to silence her—permanently. There is more grit and anguish here than in a typical cozy mystery, with themes such as aging, depression, and hoarding, plus some explicit content. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed Laurien Berenson's "Senior Sleuth" mysteries or The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann will fall in love with Glory. She is a refreshing protagonist: a brash, vocal force of nature who is fiercely loyal and brave when it comes to those she holds dear.—Linsey Milillo