With Our Blessing

Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds and DS Ray Lennon have been called out early on a December morning to Phoenix Park in Dublin where the body of an elderly woman was discovered.  She has been nailed to a tree in a crucifixion pose with “Satan’s Whore” carved into her chest.

Reynolds immediately assembles his murder squad.  This murder is given priority over any other cases the team may have been working.  It doesn’t take long for the victim to be identified.  She was a Reverend Mother from Limerick.  The nun from the convent in Limerick, who has come to identify the body, doesn’t paint a very nice picture of the deceased.

When Lennon goes to pick up DC Laura Brennan at her home, they are both surprised by Brennan’s mother being quite bitter about the convent.  It turns out that the convent was a Magdalene Laundry!  Could it have been someone exacting revenge for how they had been treated in the past?

Reynolds takes his team to the convent to begin the investigation.  They are greeted warmly by the nuns and given accommodations so that the team can interview the nuns.  As Tom points out the following morning, the place is all honey on top and vinegar underneath.

On the third day of the investigation, the village priest is found dead.  The pathologist sees evidence that he had been injected with something.  Exploring the priest’s house brings shocking revelations to the team.  They will now need a larger team to continue their investigation.

With suspects in mind, Reynolds’ team gathers evidence.  However, he is blindsided by his Superintendent when he sends a criminal psychologist down to help.  He feels there is no need for this intrusion.  However, the psychologist provides another theory for Reynolds to mull over.

But will that theory lead to the killer?  Author Jo Spain’s murder mystery has plenty of suspects, but which one is it?  This thriller is concluded with a surprising twist.  Spain’s first novel is well done and a very good read.