Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Arceneaux's delightful debut cozy introduces Glory Broussard of Lafayette, La., a self-described "old, fat, black woman" whose weeks revolve around churchgoing and her gig as a small-time bookie. One Sunday, while she's crunching numbers at her usual table in CC's Coffeehouse, Glory strikes up a conversation with police officer Beau Landry, whom she used to babysit. Partway through their chat, he's called to a crime scene at the home of Amity Gay, an activist nun and Glory's best friend. Glory insists on coming along, and when they arrive, the pair finds Amity strangled by her habit--one end is knotted around her neck, the other tied to a doorknob. The police are quick to declare it a suicide, but Glory's not convinced. Determined to find justice, she employs the help of her daughter, Delphine, a high-powered New York City lawyer, and launches an investigation that takes them through Lafayette's elite circles in search of answers. Arceneaux successfully avoids a mountain of cozy clichés--no bookshops, baked goods, or love interest for Glory--and works potent critiques of Southern racism into her well-oiled plot. Readers will be eager to spend more time with Glory in future installments. Agent: Alice Speilburg, Speilburg Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
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
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