The Hour of Death
As Yuletide settles upon Gwenafwy Abbey, the rural Welsh convent’s peace is shattered. Tiffany Reese, president of the Village Art Society, is found dead on the floor of the parish hall. Sister Agatha, whose interests lie more with reading and writing mystery stories than with making the abbey’s world-renowned organic gouda, is not shy about inserting herself into the case. With the not-entirely eager assistance of Father Selwyn, she begins her investigation.
Sister Agatha has no shortage of suspects to check off her naughty-or-nice list until finally, Tiffany’s half-brother, Kendrick Geddings, emerges as the prime suspect. There never was any love lost between Tiffany and Kendrick, and of late, they had been locked in a vicious battle for control of the family estate.
Series: A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery – Book #2
Author: Jane Willan
Genre: Cozy Mystery – Older Sleuth
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Page Count: 320
Rating: 
The Hour of Death is Jane Willan’s second book in the “Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery” series. This is a charming story. Ms. Willan has crafted a well-written, humorous, thought-provoking story filled with brilliant characters and a lovely location.
Agatha isn’t your usual sleuth or nun for that matter. She has trouble being on time and keeping herself out of police business. Occasionally, she has trouble telling the truth as well. She isn’t just a sometimes mystery writer; she is also a sometimes detective. But this time, she has a lot of suspects with no evidence, and not much time. Her examination has become more of a guessing game than an investigation, and the more she explores possibilities, the more questions she has unanswered.
Father Selwyn is the perfect sidekick. He keeps Sister Agatha on her toes and keeps her from going off the deep end. He is down-to-earth and sensible. He is kind, caring, and very empathetic, the perfect Ying to Agatha’s Yang.
Wales is described lovingly and makes the reader want to pay a visit to see the countryside and meet the people who care deeply for their neighbors, even the ones they don’t like. Christmas in Wales is described in a way that will take readers back to their childhood and put a smile on their faces.
When the reader finds out who the murderer is, most will be happily surprised. This book keeps the reader guessing and keeps them turning the page. In the end, they will sit back and smile, knowing that even if they didn’t solve the mystery, Agatha did!
This new addition to the series is an easy read, highly pleasurable, and will take the reader on an escapade to a faraway place. I highly recommend The Hour of Death to readers who enjoy learning about new places, cultures, and who like their nuns filled with vim and vigor, with just enough snooping to keep them entertained.
About the Author
Reverend Jane Willan is a parish minister and author in Paxton, Massachusetts. She serves the First Congregational Church of Paxton and lives in the church parsonage with her husband Don and their two rescue dogs, Magi and Moses.
Before becoming an ordained pastor, Jane worked in Boston as a science editor, a freelance science writer, a teacher, and a brief stint in biological research at Harvard. In 2003, she became a full-time pastor and took her first church in Iowa. Jane completed her undergraduate work at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio. She has a Master of Science degree from Boston University, and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School.
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