Murder in the Cathedral (A Reverend Mother Mystery)

by Cora Harrison

The Reverend Mother's investigative skills are called into action again when one of her young pupils is found murdered at St Fin Barre's Cathedral.

"This series ranks near the top among mysteries with a religious lead" -Publishers Weekly Starred Review

1920s. Cork, Ireland. The Reverend Mother's Christmas Day festivities are shattered when the protestant bishop of Cork arrives at the convent with terrible news: one of the Reverend Mother's pupils, the troublesome seven-year-old Edna O'Sullivan, has been found murdered in St Fin Barre's Cathedral. Furthermore, the cathedral's archdeacon, Dr Hearn, is also dead after succumbing to a suspected heart attack in the middle of a service.

When it is revealed that both Edna and the archdeacon were poisoned, the Reverend Mother is drawn into another puzzling mystery. Was the boy used as part of an elaborate plot to murder the archdeacon? And if so, why was he willing to risk his life to do so? As she investigates, the Reverend Mother makes a series of disturbing and intriguing discoveries. Can she uncover the truth behind these heinous crimes?

• ISBN10: 0727850520
• ISBN13: 9780727850522
• Publish Date: 6 September 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
• Imprint: Severn House
• Edition: Main
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Murder in the Cathedral is the 9th Reverend Mother historical mystery by Cora Harrison. Released 6th Sept. 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is such a well written series with well constructed fair-play plots. The author has an impressive versatility and this is one of several disparate series in different genres, and a consistently good one. The author is masterful with atmosphere and setting, and the book is full of the brooding poverty, classism, and culture of 1920s Ireland. 

It's not a cozy mystery, and there are potentially distressing plot elements such as the poisoning death of a child, violence, and despair of which more sensitive readers should be aware. It is exceedingly well written and paced, and the climax, denouement, and resolution are well done, albeit melancholy.

Four and a half stars. This is an enjoyable read and would make a good choice for fans of historical mysteries. It would also make a nice candidate for a buddy or binge read. Fans of Anne Perry, Charles Todd, and Rhys Bowen will find a lot to enjoy here.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.