Barbara Cummings Retrospect

A Killing in Retrospect reviews

Kirkus Reviews - Nielsen Business Media

Murder past and present awaits an indecorous nun in Depression-era Rhode Island.

In the 12 years she’s been a Merciful Sister of Mary, Sister Mary Agnes has failed to blossom into a competent cook, housekeeper or administrator. As recent experience has painfully demonstrated, she can’t even sing a five-note “Amen.” Evidently she has only two talents: She can outshoot and out-detect her cousin, Sgt. Josiah Morgan of the Providence Police Department. It’s this last skill that provokes a request from her favorite fourth-grade student, Dante Ricci, who wants her to find the truth about his mother’s death. The official story is that Catherine Ricci was killed when her car hit a tree on the farm owned by her husband, reputed mob boss Vincent Gaetano Ricci. It takes Sister Agnes and her science-savvy sidekick Sister Winifred only a few minutes to deduce that Catherine must have been murdered. Lest the two nuns consider resting on their laurels, there’s a scullery maid’s poisoning, another murder and then reports of three more in the recent past, the victims all associates of Vincent’s ailing father Donato, the nominal head of the family. Armed with Socratic logic—she invokes Plato more often than Jesus—and a liberal supply of anodyne epithets like “Darn my socks!,” Sister Agnes links the killings to a vendetta that’s been brewing for years.

The endearingly disorganized heroine (A Killing on Church Grounds, 2006, etc.) easily upstages the cluttered mystery and the unconvincing killer.

Mary-Kate Figur; Editorial Coordinator

Kirkus Reviews - Nielsen Business Media

770 Broadway / New York, NY 10003

Mary-Kate.Figur@KirkusReviews.com

Harriet Klausner

In Hoover Depression Era Providence, at the Merciful Sister of Mary, fourth grade student Dante Ricci asks his teacher Sister Mary Agnes to uncover the truth about his mother's death. Apparently, Catherine died when her car crashed into a tree on the farm owned by her spouse Vincent, reputed to be the head of the local mob.

Unable to say no to her favorite student, Sister Agnes enlists science guru Sister Winifred to help her uncover the truth. The two nuns quickly conclude Catherine was murdered. Soon afterward, maid Kitty Killian is poisoned and other homicides past and present occur and are revealed. Sister Agnes soon concludes the killings are a mob vendetta tied to Dante's paternal grandfather, ailing Donato, who is officially still the head of the family.

The second Sister Agnes historical mystery (see A Killing on Church Grounds) is a charming cozy due to the chaotic antics of the heroine as she investigates with courage and fortitude. She makes the tale fun with her pious pronunciations and puns. Although there is too many minor sidebars that enhance the time and place but also detracts from the mystery, fans (except bad guys) will enjoy getting a religious education from Sister Agnes.

Harriet Klausner

Booklist Review- in their 10-15-09 issue.

Sister Mary Agnes returns in her second mystery set during the Depression in Rhode Island. This time Sister Mary Agnes promises to help one of her favorite young pupils discover the truth about the death of his mother. The police were happy to call her death an accident, since Catherine Ricci was the wife of Rhode Island’s Mob boss. Sister Mary Agnes is a delightful heroine—the despair of her Reverend Mother because she can’t cook or sew and always seems to be in trouble. But she is a wonderful and empathetic teacher and an even better sleuth. She talks to God, and he answers her, even though she now owes him hundreds of prayers. The rich and complex cast of characters in the series includes several members of the Mob, sidekick Sister Mary Winifred, the monsignor, and Agnes’ policeman cousin. Cultural history from the era is deftly inserted into the story line, especially Agnes’ references to classic films. A too-little-known series that deserves a much wider following among cozy fans. — Judy Coon

Publishers Weekly See

Publsihers Weekly 9/31/09 review

Send a review or a comment to barbara@barbaracummingsbooks.com

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A Killing in Retrospect (Five Star Mystery Series)

A Killing on Church Grounds (Five Star Mystery Series)



	A Killing in Retrospect reviews Kirkus Reviews - Nielsen Business Media Murder past and present awaits an indecorous nun in Depression-era Rhode Island. In the 12 years she’s been a Merciful Sister of Mary, Sister Mary Agnes has failed to blossom into a competent cook, housekeeper or administrator. As recent experience has painfully demonstrated, she can’t even sing a five-note “Amen.” Evidently she has only two talents: She can outshoot and out-detect her cousin, Sgt. Josiah Morgan of the Providence Police Department. It’s this last skill that provokes a request from her favorite fourth-grade student, Dante Ricci, who wants her to find the truth about his mother’s death. The official story is that Catherine Ricci was killed when her car hit a tree on the farm owned by her husband, reputed mob boss Vincent Gaetano Ricci. It takes Sister Agnes and her science-savvy sidekick Sister Winifred only a few minutes to deduce that Catherine must have been murdered. Lest the two nuns consider resting on their laurels, there’s a scullery maid’s poisoning, another murder and then reports of three more in the recent past, the victims all associates of Vincent’s ailing father Donato, the nominal head of the family. Armed with Socratic logic—she invokes Plato more often than Jesus—and a liberal supply of anodyne epithets like “Darn my socks!,” Sister Agnes links the killings to a vendetta that’s been brewing for years. The endearingly disorganized heroine (A Killing on Church Grounds, 2006, etc.) easily upstages the cluttered mystery and the unconvincing killer. Mary-Kate Figur; Editorial Coordinator Kirkus Reviews - Nielsen Business Media 770 Broadway / New York, NY 10003 Mary-Kate.Figur@KirkusReviews.com Harriet Klausner In Hoover Depression Era Providence, at the Merciful Sister of Mary, fourth grade student Dante Ricci asks his teacher Sister Mary Agnes to uncover the truth about his mother's death. Apparently, Catherine died when her car crashed into a tree on the farm owned by her spouse Vincent, reputed to be the head of the local mob. Unable to say no to her favorite student, Sister Agnes enlists science guru Sister Winifred to help her uncover the truth. The two nuns quickly conclude Catherine was murdered. Soon afterward, maid Kitty Killian is poisoned and other homicides past and present occur and are revealed. Sister Agnes soon concludes the killings are a mob vendetta tied to Dante's paternal grandfather, ailing Donato, who is officially still the head of the family. The second Sister Agnes historical mystery (see A Killing on Church Grounds) is a charming cozy due to the chaotic antics of the heroine as she investigates with courage and fortitude. She makes the tale fun with her pious pronunciations and puns. Although there is too many minor sidebars that enhance the time and place but also detracts from the mystery, fans (except bad guys) will enjoy getting a religious education from Sister Agnes. Harriet Klausner Booklist Review- in their 10-15-09 issue. Sister Mary Agnes returns in her second mystery set during the Depression in Rhode Island. This time Sister Mary Agnes promises to help one of her favorite young pupils discover the truth about the death of his mother. The police were happy to call her death an accident, since Catherine Ricci was the wife of Rhode Island’s Mob boss. Sister Mary Agnes is a delightful heroine—the despair of her Reverend Mother because she can’t cook or sew and always seems to be in trouble. But she is a wonderful and empathetic teacher and an even better sleuth. She talks to God, and he answers her, even though she now owes him hundreds of prayers. The rich and complex cast of characters in the series includes several members of the Mob, sidekick Sister Mary Winifred, the monsignor, and Agnes’ policeman cousin. Cultural history from the era is deftly inserted into the story line, especially Agnes’ references to classic films. A too-little-known series that deserves a much wider following among cozy fans. — Judy Coon Publishers Weekly See Publsihers Weekly 9/31/09 review Send a review or a comment to barbara@barbaracummingsbooks.com Click Below to buy on Amazon A Killing in Retrospect (Five Star Mystery Series) A Killing on Church Grounds (Five Star Mystery Series)	<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wwwthecumming-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=1594147841" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"> Click here for more covers
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	Author Career Quotes: “Barbara Cummings paints strong, vibrant characters who hurtle across a tapestry woven with intrigue, deception and heroism.” Nora Roberts Praise for Barbara Cummings’ novels: For Prime Time: “… an excellent novel—one you shouldn’t miss.” Affair de Coeur “Just say yes to Prime Time … the book is charged with exhilarating triumphs as [a] new breed of journalist faces private loss and uncovers public shame from Washington to Las Vegas ….” Kathleen Gilles Seidel , New York Times bestselling author of Till the Stars Fall, More Than You Dreamed and Please Remember This For Frontier Fire : “Rich, evocative, clever … [Barbara Cummings is] a bright and talented … author.” Patricia Gaffney , New York Times bestselling author of Saving Graces, Circle of Three, and Flight Lessons WRITING AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS 1994 -- Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Best Contemporary Glitz Novel for Prime Time 1994 -- Washington Romance Writers--Outstanding Achievement Award (1st Recipient) 1993 -- Independent Mystery Booksellers Association--6th Bestselling Original Paperback Mystery--Clively Close Series, Book #1: "Dead As Dead Can Be"