A Poisoned Chalice by Alison Joseph

Published by Joffe Books Ltd
24 October 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-83526826-1(PB)

Sister Agnes works at a young people’s homeless hostel where several people come looking for Jay Sorrell who has gone missing including his wife Neave. Not long after, the derelict old church of St Bruno’s is set on fire and Jay’s body is pulled from the ashes. The church safe had also been prised open.

It doesn’t help that she is certain that her old and trusted friend Father Julius knows something about Jay that he’s not telling her. This she finds particularly disconcerting when the two had shared each other’s confidences for so long. She does know that Julius was given the artifacts from St Bruno’s for safekeeping when the church was decommissioned. Did the arsonist set fire to the church because he’d failed to find the legendary Judas chalice which, according to Julius, went missing some time ago. Did someone break into the church to look for the chalice and then set the place on fire in frustration when he failed to find it? Did he know Jay was sleeping rough in the crypt? Was Jay involved in some way?

Sister Agnes is determined to find answers even if it means bringing down the wrath of her convent superior Sister Winifred.  

This is Book 8 of Alison Joseph’s Sister Agnes Mysteries, but it can be read as a standalone. This is the first in the series that I have read, and I confess though it would have been helpful to have been more familiar with the various ongoing characters and their relationships at the start of the novel, but it did not stop me from enjoying the book.

Having been brought up in convent schools, worked with nun colleagues throughout my teaching career and numbering nuns among my friends, including two or three who didn’t conform to the perceived image, I have to say, Sister Agnes is nothing like any nun I’ve ever come across. Her dress choice of jeans and trainers I can just about credit, but it took me some time to adjust to her love of prosecco.

What I enjoyed most was the convoluted plot which kept me on my toes. With so many different threads, it was impossible to guess how they would all be woven into a credible finale, though Alison Joseph managed to do very successfully.
--------
Reviewer: Judith Cranswick  

Alison Joseph was born and brought up in London. She studied French and Philosophy at Leeds University, and then worked in local radio in Leeds as a producer and presenter. She moved back to London in 1983 and worked for a Channel 4 production company, making short documentaries. In 1985 she set up her own company, Works on Screen. Productions included Through the Devil's Gateway, a series about women and religion presented by Helen Mirren, which was broadcast by Channel 4 in 1989. A book of the series was published by SPCK. Her first Sister Agnes mystery was published in 1996. There are now eight books in the series. Alison has also written short stories for Radio 4, for YOU magazine, for Critical Quarterly and for various women's magazines, as well as abridging novels for Radio 4's Book at Bedtime and The Late Book, including the award-winning production of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. She is the author of two radio plays, both broadcast on Radio 4, Go For The Grail (1995) and Baby on Board (1996).
Alison lives in London with her husband. 

www.alisonjoseph.com 

Judith Cranswick was born and brought up in Norwich. Apart from writing, Judith’s great passions are travel and history. Both have influenced her two series of mystery novels. Tour Manager, Fiona Mason takes coach parties throughout Europe, and historian Aunt Jessica is the guest lecturer accompanying tour groups visiting more exotic destinations aided by her nephew Harry. Her published novels also include several award-winning standalone psychological thrillers. She wrote her first novel (now languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere) when her two children were toddlers, but there was little time for writing when she returned to her teaching career. Now retired, she is able to indulge her love of writing and has begun a life of crime! ‘Writers are told to write what they know about, but I can assure you, I've never committed a murder. I'm an ex-convent school headmistress for goodness sake!’ Her most recent book is Journey To Casablanca  

http://judithcranswick.co.uk/