by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of The Clock Strikes Nun, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

Even though their previous case proved that a Bed and Breakfast was NOT haunted, click-bait advertising has Driscoll Investigations the number one choice of the haunted and ghost-phobic. One of the many at their door seeking a tarot reading, exorcism, or Ouija Board session is agoraphobic heiress Elaine Patrick. Orphaned by brutal home intruders, the new head of Dahlia designer clothing enterprise has uncharacteristically left her castle to incoherently plead for help removing her home of poltergeists. Her Paul Newman-esque husband whisks her away before Guilia Driscoll can offer advice, but they are soon followed by Elaine’s even more unusual steampunk cousin and housekeeper. The two separately hire DI to prove who may be attempting to prove the business prodigy incompetent to run her company, focusing on Dahlia’s three unhappy Board of Directors who ceded their power when Elaine came of age. This explains how DI becomes Driscoll Investigations Ghost Tamers/Ghost Breakers/Spiritual Springer Cleaners, with the former nun Giulia taking a crash course from her neighboring psychic and downloading ghost hunting apps.

A possible haunted house may be the most normal aspect of Giulia’s investigation, as she soon learns that the design company is its own little cutthroat, sniping “Real Housewives of Dahlia.” Being wealthy means that insanity is considered eccentric, and the understandably troubled but brilliant Elaine may be a target for relatives, staff, or employees who all want to share her wealth. Certified as an exorcist by her priest brother-in-law, Giulia uses her nun-inspired interrogation skills to stare down her suspects and explore Elaine’s possibly haunted castle.

Who could ever have thought that the shy, guarded convent-escapee, readers first met in 2011, would have transformed into this smart-alecky, Mel Brooks-loving, stalwart detective? Or that she would be married to the religious-phobic, once condescending private detective who hired her? That the pair has come together so believably is a testament to the writing of the author, herself a former nun with a love of whimsy. Giulia’s love of film and television is appropriately shared with her staff and friends, with references ranging from “Supernatural” to “MST3K” to Jerry Springer. This continues to be a thoroughly fun and entertaining series, and Giulia proves to be a skilled investigator on her own. The snappy banter between Giulia, her husband, and her friends is reminiscent to that of the films of the 1950s, adding layers of humor and wit to an intriguing haunted house mystery.

Check out other Henery Press mysteries on their website.

To enter to win a copy of The Clock Strikes Nun, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “nun,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 17, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

The Clock Strikes Nun

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.