The Mother's Day Murder

3.5***

This is book twelve in the cozy mystery series featuring former nun Christine Bennett. A young novice appears at Chris’s door one evening. She’s come to Chris for help; the novice, Tina, was adopted and thinks she has found her birth mother, but she wants some corroborating evidence before approaching the woman. Before Chris can get answers, however, Tina is murdered, and the police suspect the woman Tina believed to be her mother of committing the crime.

I really like this series. I like Chris Bennett’s careful approach to solving the mysteries that come her way. She’s deliberate and cautious, but she inspires confidence in those she questions. She’s also discreet, careful not to spread rumor and innuendo but wait for show more facts to back up any suspicions before sharing the information with authorities or others.

I like to read series in order, and this series is best done so because the relationships of the main characters evolve over time. I was “forced” to read this one out of order because my library no longer carries the full series, and I couldn’t wait for inter-library loan. But I will do better about planning ahead in the future. show less