I really hope SCORCHED GRACE is the first of a new series, because I can see the potential for greatness in these characters and this premise. A chain-smoking, tattooed, queer nun who investigates mysteries? Sign me the hell up! Sister Holiday is one of the most interesting, multi-faceted amateur sleuths I've read in a while, and her test of faith was actually far more compelling than the arson investigation plot. If future books do arrive, as a reader I would love to see the writing develop a bit more to match the grittiness of Sister Holiday's character, and I'd love to see some of the equally compelling side characters be given moments to shine. 3.5 stars rounded down.

Certainly not your typical concept of a nun.She chain smokes, is heavily tattooed , and a lesbian, as well as an amateur detective.Her detective skills are employed to find the arsonist responsible for a series of fires , and an astute reader can make a good guess at the culprit.In the process, we get glimpses of Sister Holiday’s past life and loves, and a vivid description of New Orleans in all of its glory and seamier sides. An interesting read, if at times it bogs down in too many details. Overall , I enjoyed it.

First off thanks to the publishers for the ARC!

This book was a ton of fun, if sister act was a cozy queer mystery this would be somewhat close. Haha. All of the characters feel fully realized and fun, and our main character is so full of life and just so snarky and fun to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The stunning cover of the book and the description initially gripped me, immediately convincing me to want to read this book. The premise of this story focuses on a frequently chain-smoking, lesbian nun who is covered in tattoos from head to toe and is a bit of a “rebel” at times. This protagonist, Sister Holiday, works at a catholic school and witnesses many arson attacks by an anonymous culprit causing her to put her sleuthing skills to the test. This premise really had me intrigued and I was very excited to read this book. There were many parts of this novel that I found to be slow-paced and that I felt dragged a little. It took me a bit to really get into the storyline and feel a connection with the characters. I did like Sister Holiday’s characterization and I enjoyed following the mystery element of the plot. I didn’t feel connected to many of the other supporting characters unfortunately. Overall, some parts fell a bit flat to me and I found myself wanting more at times. I did enjoy some aspects of the book but the story as a whole just lacked that “fast paced” mystery element that I was hoping to find in this story, and at times the fires felt very repetitive. I will say that many parts of this story I found to be very funny and engaging.

TW : loss of a parent, drug abuse

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel. I'd say it's a 3.5 more than a 4, but I rounded up.

I chose to read this book mainly because of the main character, a queer, tattooed *nun* who investigates a series of fires and deaths at the school she teaches at.
The story focuses a lot on Sister Holiday's life and turbulent past, maybe to build a character that will come back in other books? Anyway, I found her interesting, badass and, although not a very realistic character (a lesbian tattooed musician who becomes a nun? Really?), I quite enjoyed following her trains of thoughts and her witty sarcastic remarks.
If the main character is very well developed, though, the fires' and deaths' part is not : there is not very much sleuthing and the conclusion pretty much falls from the sky.
So.... I don't know, an enjoyable read, well written, but not a good crime story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I was really excited to read this one, a tattooed, smoking, sleuthing, queer nun? Yes please! It didn't quite live up to my expectations though. The book is well written, but I felt like it was trying to be a cozy thriller while also including some pretty hefty scenes and themes. The whole sleuthing-nun aspect was a bit cheesy, but still enjoyable. There were also a few plot points that didn't really seem necessary to the story...

However, the characters and the storyline are unique, so bonus points for that! I did enjoy this book overall, but I do wish it would have leaned a little more on the dark side instead of the cozy thriller vibes (it's a strange mix of the two).

Sister Holiday is sure to grab your attention and possibly your heart. I think she is one of the most interesting characters that I have read about recently. You get a real sense of who she was and who she now is. I would love to see this character on the big screen.

This book was not at all what I expected. For some reason, I thought this would be a fun, lighthearted mystery novel. Scorched Grace actually covers some very serious topics and is rather dark. It’s a slower paced story (a bit too slow for my liking) but is beautifully written and I thought the ending was incredible.

Thank you NetGalley and Zando Projects, Gillian Flynn Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

This is a story that will expand and enrich the whole of the whodunit genre! While I didn't feel particularly connected to the characters, the way the story balanced between wild and the structured makes it feel like a totally unique experience for mystery lovers.

This was an interesting concept. I liked the story, I liked the characters, but I'm not sure it was my favorite. I guessed the killer really early, and I feel like the ending was too open ended. I wanted to know Sister Holiday's choice. Whether she followed through or got out. Also, this is automatically getting downed 1 star from what my review would have, because a character kills a pet.

Thank you to Netgalley

*I received this book as an ARC from Zando Projects, Gillian Flynn Books and #NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you so very much for allowing me to read and review!*

Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy had me hooked from the beginning. It is a classic whodunit told by the perspective of a very unconventional MC. Sister Holiday is a tattooed, queer nun who teaches music classes at a catholic school in New Orleans. As a series of arsons take place on campus, Sister Holiday is driven to solve the mystery and unmask the invisible assailant. This book goes on many twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. I loved the character development, I just wish there were more chances for side characters to be fleshed out. Hopefully in future books! Sister Holiday’s life story was the most captivating as the traumatic experiences and other events that molded her during her life pre-vows are unraveled throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book and cannot wait to read more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kindle from Zando Projects, & Gillian Flynn Books for the advanced reader copy!

Margot Douaihy has written SUCH a fun book. As someone who used to work in a convent (I know...), this one was a real treat. I think that we all adored Sister Holiday, such an icon. This is admittedly one of the first real mysteries I have read (I typically reach for thriller/suspense if there's any mystery at all), and it was a wild ride. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll say this: Sister Holiday is a saint in her own way.

“Sister Holiday, a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun” !?! What more could you need? Scorched Grace was a great book, I can’t recommend it more! It’s such a funny read

This book is CLAIRE DEWITT AND THE CITY OF THE DEAD meets AGATHA OF LITTLE NEON. If that sounds good to you, I highly recommend this title.

In fact, I have been looking for a RIYL punk-rock detective like CLAIRE DEWITT for quite a while. While this book (1st in a series) isn't as grungy as the DeWitt series, it does share an ethos of spirit.

Thank you for the ARC.

I am a sucker for an imperfect protagonist and a good noir feel mystery and Scorched Grace delivered for me on both fronts! I wish Sister Holiday the queer riot girl musician nun had been my music teacher at school! The mystery was compelling however I also enjoyed just reading about the characters lives in New Orleans and during the flash backs. There is plenty of depth and mystery in her character which is fitting given this is the start of a series and I expect we’ll learn more about her as the series continues. I am looking forward to the next installment!

Many thanks to Zando Projects/Gillian Flynn Books for an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Scorched Grace follows Sister Holiday, a queer, gold-toothed, tattooed, crimefighting nun in New Orleans. When the Catholic school on the grounds of Sister Holiday's convent goes up in flames and leaves the school janitor dead, Sister Holiday feels she is the only one trying to crack the case. When further acts of arson threaten the school and convent, Sister Holiday has to act fast if she wants to protect her new religious home and everybody she cares about.

This book has a fantastic, engaging premise with unique, standout characters--but unfortunately, the prose and plot do not deliver. The prose is at times too descriptive, and often choppy, clunky, and disjointed. The narrative style obscures the plot, which itself feels thin and too slow. The characters felt inconsistent, as well--I had trouble getting a handle on each of their personalities. Additionally, the climax and denouement feel unbelievable and far too abrupt. For a book about a sleuth trying to crack a case, I felt the clues were few and far between and didn't add up in the end.

Overall, I give this book a 2-star rating. I still think the premise has significant promise, but the prose and plot did not deliver.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Zando Projects, Gillian Flynn Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Sister Holiday's a queer, tattooed, chain-smoking nun you're bound to adore. I feel you need to discover Sister all by yourself, like a treat to unwrap on a holiday (pun intended).

Thank you, Gillian Flynn Books, for allowing me to read Scorched Grace early!

Both thrilling and emotional, I adored this mystery novel starring a fearless queer nun.