Tangled Web UK Review May 2000
The Night Watch by
Alison Joseph
hbk out April 00
Published by Headline
at £17.99
Sister Agnes Boudillon has been given the job of overseeing two young
novices at her order's base in London. This responsibility brings to the
fore her own doubts and anxieties about whether she can commit herself to
taking final vows. Through her best friend Father Julius, Agnes meets three
brothers, Patrick, Matthias and Tad. Their reappearance in Julius' life
unsettles the priest but he refuses to confide in Agnes and fails to support
her in the crisis she faces.
Matthias is killed in a bizarre riding accident, hit by a golf ball and
thrown from his horse. When Agnes learns that another rider had survived a
similar event a few days before she begins to question whether Matthias'
death really was murder. And who on earth would have any reason to kill
him? Agnes finds out about a land dispute involving people who live near
the stables and there are tensions between the local Hunt and saboteurs.
Could any of these people have wanted Matthias dead? Or was it someone
closer to home? When a second death occurs Agnes is sure that a killer is
at work and determines to track them down.
This is the sixth outing for sleuthing nun Sister Agnes, a likeable
protagonist: perceptive, intelligent and troubled. Joseph has created an
assured and well-paced murder mystery in which she explores questions of
choice, chance, faith and uncertainty.
Manchester Evening News 14.4.2000
(
Cath Staincliffe
)
