This was my first exposure to the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery series and it was absolutely charming. I loved being inside of Sister Agatha's head and seeing her delightful world. The town of Pryderi and surrounding areas of Wales was so richly drawn that I could imagine myself there. The mystery is exceptional, with twists and turns that kept me enthralled until the satisfying conclusion. I can't wait to visit Gwenafwy Abbey again!

A really decent book. An Anglican nun and a priest who 'aid' the police in finding a murderer in a small Welsh village. Good humoured and an interesting look at Wales from an American viewpoint.

A SISTER AGATHA AND FATHER SELWYN MYSTERY

The second in the series finds us back at Gwenafwy Abbey, in the village of Pryderi, with Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn.

Christmas is almost here and things are in full swing at the Abbey as well as in the village. There is an enormous call for the cheese the Abbey sells and at the church preparations are underway for an art show as well as the Christmas Cantata. 

When the president of the Village Art Society turns up dead in the parish hall, Sister Agatha jumps in with both feet. Even though the police aren't investigating this as a murder, the good sister and her willing partner, Father Selwyn put their heads together to figure out who wanted the lady dead. Trouble is there seems to be quite a few folks who couldn't stand her or her so-called talent.

Will Christmas find our favorite sleuthing nun on the naughty list? Or will she uncover who the guilty party is first?  There is always more than one thing going on in this series. What do they really know about their new tenant? For that matter how well do they know anyone?

This is a lovely series and I'm a big fan of the characters. Sister Agatha has her own unique way of investigating. A bit scattered and a bit unconventional for a nun but it works well in my opinion.

Another really well done work.

Netgalley/Severn House  October 09, 2018

A very fun cozy mystery read to perfect to curl up under a blanket and read! I’ve been having that longing for Christmas time lately and this help satisfy that. Such a fun atmosphere and characters that seem to come alive!

The crime fighting duo of Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn is back again to solve a murder in the little Welsh village of Pryderi, and boy are they a great team! She who likens herself to Stephanie Plum on a stakeout, and he who never yells (well, except during the World Cup and at the Great British Bake Off) set out discover who killed the church's lead soprano before Christmas, even when the local constabulary doesn't believe there's been a murder. Add in some art fraud, a secret long thought buried, and a ruthless politician, and you've discovered the loveliness that is Jane Willan's second cozy mystery - The Hour of Death. Perfectly written and perfect with a nice pot of Welsh brew (and maybe some Welsh rarebit with a slice of Heavenly Gouda), this book will keep the reader enthralled from first page to last. I adore my British cozies, and The Hour of Death has just become one of my faves!

I haven't read the first Sister Agatha mystery, though I may go back and do so now. I really enjoyed this lively, funny nun and her approach to mystery solving. Her relationship with Father Selwyn and the other nuns felt warm and real. And while I usually dislike mysteries involving protagonists who are aspiring writers, it worked for me in this case. A quick, thoroughly enjoyable read with a satisfying resolution.

What a delightful mystery! Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn grew up together in Wales and are still BFFs after all these years…and together they seem to solve mysteries while providing support for their community.

When a well know, but not beloved, village resident is found dead in the church, it appears to be natural causes. But is it? Sister Agatha doesn’t seem to think so, but then again she sees murder everywhere she looks…but can she prove it when the local constable won’t even consider he reasons? Time, and further circumstances, will tell whether there is something amiss in the village or whether it’s all just a coincidence.

Really enjoyed this mystery and glad I didn’t give up after the first few pages. Once I got a little further in I was hooked and taken in my Sister Agatha and the sister of Gwenafwy Abbey.

This is the second Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn mystery set in the village of Pryderi, Near Snowdonia. The Sisters of Gwenafwy Abbey live in a idyllic world of village life with Christmas Church Galas, Welsh Cakes at the Buttered Crust Tea Shop, Crafts and Art Galleries. The Sisters try there own hand at cheese making when they become overwhelmed with their first online orders needed in time for Christmas. Amongst this idyllic village life is the Sisters and villages current battle with DRM Development to stop the changes to the environment and building of cheap housing. Art Society President Tiffany is murdered. Sister Agatha is the only one who believes the death is more than it seems and her trusty purple notebook comes in handy.
This is an charming enjoyable book set in a Midsomer Murders style village where you are encouraged to follow our detectives in the solving of many more mysteries.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

The Hour of Death by Jane Willan features Sister Agatha as the protagonist in this gentle mystery that takes place in a small town in Wales. She is helped in her endeavor by Father Selwyn with additional assistance by some of her fellow nuns and the mother superior. The convent to which they belong is somewhat unconventional in that personal dreams are noted and encouraged when the sisters reach a certain age, thus Sister Agatha has started pursuing her goal of becoming a mystery writer. This interest has encouraged her to become an actual sleuth, having already solved a murder previously. Her internal thoughts frequently refer to fictional detectives she admires as well as an instructional podcast she listens to on a regular basis.

In the attempt to solve the mystery of who killed on of the village residents, Sister Agatha frequently travels into the small town to question people and follow various leads that occur to her. Her questions and pursuits lean heavily on ideas that occur to her as she wonders what several fictional detectives would do in certain situations.

The residents of the convent and the town are encouragers of Sister Agatha with the notable exception of the detective in charge of the case who isn’t convinced a murder actually occurred. It takes almost half the book for him to believe the victim was murdered, then several fall starts and arrests before the murderer is revealed which comes as a result of a previously unknown fact that causes everyone to change the way they are looking at the events.

The disjointed nature of Sister Agatha’s investigation and questioning lead to a feeling that she was more bumbling through to the solution than applying any type of method toward the solution. This approach leaves the reader little ability to solve the mystery on their own which, for me, was frustrating.

The characters were interesting, but not as fully developed as I would have liked. Additionally, the places frequented by Sister Agatha in the town such as the tea shop and the vegan grocery were mentioned, but again there was limited development of them beyond a repeat of their names every time they were mentioned.

In terms of a cozy mystery, this book provides clean, writing little violence, and kind characters. I would prefer a book which offers more direct plotting and clues which offer the reader an opportunity to follow a clear path to it’s solution.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn are not the everyday run of the mill clergy. Clearly independent thinking, very much part of the clergy and part of the tiny village in Wales Sister Agatha is permanently on the look out for murders and mysteries after she solved one murder very nicely. Sister is also writing a book and all murders are grist to her writing mill! That her Superior understands this was also unusual because the usual brakes that would be put on an over imaginative mind were absent and Sister was allowed a fairly loose rein which I don't think applies in nunneries!

The President of the Village Art Society is found dead. Apparently a heart attack and most people including the Police accept that it is a natural cause for death. Not the Sister. Until the Police who ignore her throughout are made to see that there is more to the death than meets the eye Sister Agatha will not let it go. Unraveling the mystery piece by piece she puts together a story that seems improbable for this small village but which will eventually ring true.

A lot of suspects are involved and all of them must be cleared by Christmas if the pageants and the festival is to continue with its choir without any impediment. A mystery which was also very humourous and added to the lightness of the story.

It's Christmas time in the Welsh Highlands, a lovely setting, near the Irish Sea. Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn are investigating the death of Tiffany Reese. Along with the discovery of her death, a painting is missing. The coroner and the local authorities believe she died from natural causes, but Sister Agatha believes she was poisoned.
This is a delightfully, charming story with a puzzling mystery. Sister Agatha is so likable and Father Selwyn is a warm, caring individual. The two work well together and have the support of the sisters. The secondary characters are likable and there were a couple of surprises that will captivate and encourage the reader on, to finish the book without stopping!
I haven't read the first book in this series, but it is now on my TBR list! I certainly hope there are more mysteries to come!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a charming cozy mystery! I love Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn solving a mystery. He's the calm sense of reason to her gungho take charge and investigate attitude. The setting is wonderful and the secondary characters bring a rich addition to the book. I feel as if I'm there in Wales solving the mystery too! I haven't read the prior books un the series but enjoyed this one so much that I've downloaded the others.

I would like to thank the Author/Publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a charming little cozy mystery with likable characters and a wonderful setting. I really enjoyed the mystery, and the atmosphere was perfect for it. I had not read any other books by Do plan prior to reading this one, but I definitely plan to do so.

I love this series! This first instalment was really and I'd high expectations for this new book.
All my expectations were met. Even if it's just the second book it was like reconnecting with a group of friends.
I love Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn as much as i love the cast of characters. Everyone has his/her quirks and specific traits and are well described.
The mystery is good, with no plot and the book kept me hooked since the first page.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley