Great start to this new series! I really like the characters and the plot! Hope is a 42 year old pastor who has just arrived at her new church and the action starts then!

I love books that move quickly! This one held my attention throughout, plus Bogie was amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I love a good ecclesiastical mystery. Father Brown, Alison Golden's Reverend Annabelle Dixon, Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael, I read them all. (The Father Brown TV show was pretty awesome, too.) And now, I can add Episcopal priest Hope Taylor to the list.

This book was DELIGHTFUL. I could not have enjoyed it more if there were two of me to read it twice. Hope gets off on the wrong foot as the new pastor of Faith Chapel Episcopal Church when she shows up for her first day on the job, finds the body, and ends up as a suspect right off the bat. Even worse, she has the audacity to be...a WOMAN.

The corpse, one Stanley King, shows up early on, and Hope doesn't remain the prime suspect for long. Everybody in town seems to have had an axe to grind with the decedent (or the King, as he liked to be called). His children, Todd and Samantha. His brother-in-law, James. Marjorie, the old guard of Faith Chapel, and no fan of either Stanley or Hope. So lots of people had reason to not mourn his passing. But who actually struck the killing blow?

Ms. Walker does an admirable job of laying down trails that make you think you've figured out whodunnit and then going another way, and she does so while giving you a vivid picture of life and people in a small town. Hope is an extremely likable character. You get snippets of her thought life as she talks to herself, usually after she's committed some unintentional social faux pas. That made me feel like I knew her a little better, and like she'd be someone I'd sit down with for coffee and pie at Suzie's (although Hope would have tea).

And one thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the faith aspect. Not only is it clean in the sense that there's no swearing, no 18+ themed material, it also has a main character who actually talks about her faith. Sure, she's a pastor, so we know she has faith. But it isn't shuffled off to the side or implied. Hope talked about times where she held off on a decision or action and God confirmed what she'd thought to do. I find that positively refreshing!

A lot of people may have the notion that "Christian fiction" doesn't always make for great reading. Perish that thought here. Hope, Faith & a Corpse is a cracking good read, well written, set in a believable world, with characters that are just like the folks you might see in your hometown. I hope Ms. Walker has more of Apple Springs and Pastor Hope to share with us - I'll be first in line to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

5 stars = Outstanding!
I loved this! My second mystery series launch from this author in 5 months (Murder Most Sweet) - and both were fantastic!

I loved the faith and pastoral pieces of this, especially from a female perspective. I have several clergy friends who are women, and this seemed to line up well with the experiences some of them have shared. The faith pieces for this secular novel were right on target as well. They felt genuine - something Christian fiction can struggle with in my experience.

The mystery was great - and twisty. In fact, there were two bodies that Hope had to deal with in the course of the book. The suspects and the sleuthing were just right for a cozy mystery. I was especially pleased at how well the author balanced the introductory pieces for her characters and setting with the details of the mystery.

I loved all of it - the writing, the humor, the heart, the mystery, the characters, and the setting. I will definitely be sticking with this series - and this author - in the future! (Some language)

Hope, Faith, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is the 1st book in A Faith Chapel Mystery, and my first book by this author. I enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. This book had a good plot, and fun humor. I recommend this book to everyone who likes cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I know I'm in for a great read when I'm laughing from page one. The first laugh comes when Hope literally runs into Elvis - complete with his famous white number cut sown to his waist. Boy, can he pack a punch. From there to the discovery of the deceased takes no time at all. Hope recovers from her encounter with The King and sets out to find her new boss, Father Christopher. Before she can find him she finds the towns' resident jerk, a wealthy man disliked by almost everyone. Not the best way to start a new job. Being found holding the murder weapon, a burial urn covered in blood, gets more than a few fingers of suspicion pointed at her and even more fingers pointing her to the town's exit sign.
Spending time with Hope was just what I needed. I'm old enough to remember when our church hired the first female pastor and people were very vocal in their opinions. Some left in a huff. That was many decades ago and those attitudes are still around and facing Hope as she tries to fit into her new congregation. With her quirky sense of humor, her inner Trixie Beldon urging her into investigating and the addition of her delightful sister-in-law, Vicky and a sweet dog named Bogie make for a great team.
As for the mystery, it's solid, complex and had enough red herrings to keep me guessing. The setting of Apple Springs sounds to me like a place I would be happy visiting and maybe staying for a spell.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hope, Faith, and Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is a new cozy mystery series whose protagonist is an Episcopal priest who is the assistant in a parish in Apple Springs, California, an hour east of Sacramento. It is a new assignment for her and is off to a rocky start what with her discovering a dead body and all. There are people in the parish that are not excited about her being there, some sexist, some just not amenable to change. She is making friends, though; some within the church; some without. She has purchased a lovely little home, and has her dog to keep her company. She is making headway in this new life of hers at Faith Chapel.
Hope is a terrific character: mid-life at 42, widowed by a man she loved more than anything; the stepmother and step grandmother to David's daughter and grandchild; and has a best friend in Sacramento with whom she is in touch daily. Since being in Apple Springs she has collected bodies, but that is to be expected, isn't it? This was a good, multi-faceted murder mystery with murders in this century as well as 150 years earlier. It made for a fun read and is an exciting new entry into the genre. I look forward to more in this series.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Hope, Faith, and Corpse by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #hopefaithandcorpse

Hope, Faith, And A Corpse is the first book in the A Faith Chapel Mystery series.

I love this series; at first, I had my doubts, but it didn’t take long to get into the story and its lovely characters. The story is humorous and, at the same time, seriously deals with those members of the congregation that feel that a woman shouldn’t be a priest. I would like to add, don’t be put off that the main character is an Episcopalian priest, as religion doesn’t enter into the story.

Our main character, Hope Taylor, arrives at the church where she will be the new pastor. While looking for the rector, Father Christopher, she enters the columbarium and soon discovers Stanley King’s body, an elder and significant donor. She unknowingly picks up the murder weapon, an urn that has blood on it. A couple of parishioners are ready to accuse Hope of murder. Hope needs to clear her name and soon finds that King was not well-liked and that there are many suspects. Hope will get help from some church members, the owner of a diner, and her neighbor in finding the killer.

The story is well-written and moves at a comfortable pace. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and very enjoyable. The community, Apple Springs, seems to be a nice place to live, and I look forward to learning more about the town.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this intriguing new series.

A female pastor finds the body of the parishioner who said she would a pastor at Faith Chapel Episcopal Church over his dead body. Of course, he was murdered. So much for first impressions on the first day on the job. This is the first cozy I've read where the lead is a female pastor, and someone I think I could be friends with. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although it did not grab my attention, fans of cozy mysteries may enjoy it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Faith, Hope, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is the charming first installment in in A Faith Chapel Mystery series. We are transported to Apple Springs, California where Hope Taylor is the new associate pastor at Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. Discovering a murdered parishioner and being found holding the murder weapon while standing over the victim is not the best first impression. With parishioners looking at her askance and not wanting Hope’s services, she has no choice but to prove her innocence. I enjoyed reading this charming new cozy mystery. Hope Taylor is an entertaining protagonist. Her movie references are delightful, and I liked her quirky sense of humor. She has an adorable dog named Bogie which adds humor to the story. I liked that Hope is a woman starting over after enduring tragedy. She has such a good outlook on life. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing. There are a variety of secondary characters that enhance the story. We get to know some of the attendees of the church. I liked the tea the group put on that had a Downton Abbey flair. The author’s word imagery allowed me to visualize the town with its shops, homes, and townspeople. The mystery was a fun one to solve. There are several good suspects, a red herring, and well-placed clues. It was fun watching Hope play a mature Trixie Belden. The author did a great job with the mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a sweet story that has friendship, secrets, hope, lies, humor, and murder. I am looking forward to the next A Faith Chapel Mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a pleasing cozy mystery with big dog named Bogie, an offensive victim, shocking secrets, tea party planning, a spirited sister-in-law, and a positive pastor.

This is a great start to a new series. I loved that the main character is a female pastor. The mystery was well written with fun twists. I highly recommend this book.


I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

It all started with Hope Taylor's first day of work when she ran into Elvis the King but that bump on her head was nothing compared to what happened later. Hope Taylor, Episcopal priest, was starting over in a new town and church and was excited but nervous. She entered the church looking for Father Christopher but instead discovered a body. Now as a self proclaimed accidental sleuth she finds herself involved in one or maybe even two murder investigations.

I enjoyed the uniqueness of a female priest as a protagonist and the author did a good job of also humanizing the character. The diversity of the secondary characters added a lot to the story too. Thanks to Crook Lane and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this would be a fun read from the title and was not proven wrong. Plenty of fun twists with a mystery that keeps you guessing, while leaving enough clues to make it fun.

A new author to me. Although she has written a number of books this is the first in a new series.

Hope, Faith, and a Corpse is a great title and it gets even better when you discover that the main character is an Episcopalian Pastor. Her name is, rather appropriately, Hope, and this is her first job. Her very first act is to discover a dead body in the church. Not the best beginning for someone who is already going to find her work difficult in the face of sexism.

I pictured Hope as a version of the Vicar of Dibley with the same sense of humour and a touch of political incorrectness although still very caring. Hope though fancies herself as bit of a sleuth and since her role means people tell her their secrets she has a good chance of working out who has done what.

I enjoyed the whole book. The characters were well drawn, the mystery was good with lots of red herrings, and the solution was appropriate. I also enjoyed the fun everyone had in organising the English high tea. It made me think about cucumber sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream.

I will be looking out for book two.

What a lousy first day at a new job in a new town! Hope, a widow, has moved with her dog Bogie to become the first female pastor at Faith Episcopal Church, very much against the wishes of Stanley King, the elder she finds dead in the church. This is a nice start to a new cozy series which is well suited for those who enjoy the genre. It's obviously a set up book but the characters, especially Hope and her sister in law Vickie, are already nicely well rounded. There are lots of movie references (it makes sense), a little humor, and a good sense of what it's like to be the newcomer in this sort of situation. The mystery itself is classic cozy- Stanley annoyed lots of people- but I didn't guess the culprit. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

Delightful book and I enjoyed the descriptions of California that took me back to my childhood in California. The book had a great pace and interesting characters. I recommend this book

I spent part of the day reading this delightful cozy mystery. Love the movie references and the music too. I am of an age to recognize all of them. Hope is such a lovely character. She is human and a priest without the preachy tendencies. She seems to be saying the wrong thing as often as doing good. Her nosiness is what makes the book work. She is surrounded with characters that add to the fun of this book. And the guilty one was not obvious. What a great way to spend a gloomy day!

HOPE, FAITH, AND A CORPSE by Laura Jensen Walker brings murder to a new cozy mystery series set in Apple Springs, California. This is a story that brings warmth and humor while tackling serious situations, examining prejudicial attitudes and focusing on a unique amateur sleuth. It was one of the most enjoyable cozy mysteries that I have ever read.

Our protagonist, 42 year old Hope Taylor, arrives in Apple Springs to start as the first female pastor of Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. While searching for the rector and her new boss, Father Christopher, she enters the columbarium and nearly trips over church elder Stanley King. When kneeling to check on him, she happens to pick up an urn that has blood on it. When Father Christopher and two of the women of the church enter, one of them accuses Hope of murder. What a dreadful first day on the job! To clear her name, she focuses on her inner Trixie Belden while taking on her new duties at Faith Chapel. But will the community give her a chance? Many are not open to changes and focus on long-held prejudices against women in church leadership.

The descriptive writing made the cottages, bungalows, shops and people of Apple Springs come to life. I felt like I was visiting the town and trying to help Hope. Her quirky sense of humor is not always obvious to others and this actually makes her more relatable. The secondary characters were a mixed bag with varying levels and depth that worked great for a first novel in a series. There were enough challenges and adventures with secondary characters to keep the situation lively while Hope moved forward with solving the murder. Sister-in-law Virginia’s visit and phone calls added snarkiness in addition to some much needed support for Hope. Bogie, Hope’s Labrador, provided moments of humor as well as adding another dimension to Hope’s life. The story had plenty of suspects and twists along with a fast-paced plot.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Hope’s world. It was filled with lots of humor, but also kindness, friendship, hope and the challenges of starting over against a backdrop of murder, arrogance, lies, secrets and more. This was a fun and entertaining read that I did not want to put down.

This is the first book in the Faith Chapel Mystery series, and I highly recommend it to those that enjoy the genre. Additionally, if you love share Hope’s love of classic movies, this may be the next book for you. It was a fun, relaxing, and entertaining read and I can’t wait for the next book featuring Hope, Father Christopher and the other residents of Apple Springs.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Laura Jensen Walker via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 12, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This is the first book in the new "Faith Chapel Mystery" series by author Laura Jensen Walker. I highly recommend this debut series. The charcters were well developed, the sleuth was well crafted and it was a enjoyable fun read. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We are introduced to our protagnist Hope Taylor who is the Pastor of a small town church in California. Right away I love the descriptions of the small fictional town. The town of Apple Springs is welcoming her and her lab Bogie who is her constant companion. When Hope arrives she searches for the churches elderly Pastor and instead she stumbles upon a Elder who has been murdered. Unfortunately for Hope she was seen arguing with him and although he is disliked in town she is prime suspect number one in his murder. Hope must investigate the murder and save her reputation and her new job.

I like Hope as a Christian woman of good values who is independent and on her own. I loved the sleuth that was well crafted and kept me guessing to conclusion. All of the charcter development was pleasing and likable. I look forward to the next in series.

I enjoyed it. I recently started reading cozies themed like this one. It was a quick and light read.