"Better Than Nun" By Alice Loweecey: Review/Giveaway

by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it from from Amazon and an indie bookstore.

Just Plain...”Habit-Forming!”
Alice Loweecey, herself a former nun, took her previous vocation experiences and made it an delightful, not overbearing, underlying theme in her popular Giulia Driscoll series. Giulia Falcone, formerly Sister Mary Regina Coelis, “jumped the wall,” they say referring to leaving convent life, with only the possessions on her back. She found work as a member of Driscoll Investigations discovering she had a knack, and the owner, Frank Driscoll? Well, she married him, and is now a mother of a two-month-old, Finn. Frank has returned to the police department as a detective, and Giulia has taken the reins of the private investigations along with assistant Sidney, the “all natural Earth mother of the office,” and Zane, the “gaming geek genius.” They take on a variety of clients with mysteries to solve...of course, not without some giggles, peril, and a few haunting situations.

Changing Habits (2014; Prequel short story)
Nun Too Soon (2015)
Second to Nun (2015)
Nun But the Brave (2016)
The Clock Strikes Nun (2017)
Nun After the Other (2018)
Better Than Nun (2019)



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Image Source Henery Press
Better Than Nun earns 5/5 Mardi Gras Confetti...Engaging Fun!
Countdown to Mardi Gras...Driscoll Investigations has been interestingly occupied in the past, and their one-thirty clients offer them another curious case. Over six months ago, the very wealthy Vernon Jevens died under curious circumstances making the police suspicious of the families’ participation. However, his will was less generous to the family, and they’ve come to Giulia for her assistance. Vernon Jevens was the benefactor for the Children with Cancer charity event to be held at the estate on Mardi Gras, and his surviving son and sister-in-law hope the DI team would in attendance to keep an eye on the festivities. Hidden inheritance? It would just be the old man’s last laugh. But, the tabloid reporter for “The Scoop,” not well liked by Giulia, has his own request as a client. His eleven-year-old son can communicate with ghosts? Just another day at Driscoll Investigations.

Where have I been? Alice Loweecey’s Giulia Driscoll series is brilliant! I started with this sixth book and was a bit confused about some of the “ghost” references, but after a couple of chapters, they mostly ironed themselves out. So, newbies, don’t fear, you can start here. There is so much to unpack in this storyline with greedy relatives vying for a quick payday, charities wanting their due, a tabloid-style reporter, his young son, a couple of suspicious deaths, and a ghost to round out the intrigue. All this is done with a delightful writing style centered around a countdown of the days to Mardi Gras. Loweecey includes descriptive language and dialogue that illustrates well the various settings (Wow, on how she describes the Jevens’ creepy house), characters (pictures form quickly in my mind’s eye), and personalities (mostly admirable, but quirky and annoying come to mind), and the paranormal aspect is very engaging...I’m hooked! She also offers further insights into Giulia’s cloistered past, marriage, and new motherhood personae as it relates to her motivations. It’s a good sized book that will take several sittings to finish. But every time I opened up the book to continue, I was totally engaged. It was only the lateness of the hour that made me pause.

A couple of thoughts beyond the story. I love the cover(s)...the font for the title, the car, the habit blowing behind, this time with Mardi Gras decorations and confetti floating about. Please don’t change them! And her bio mentions a “Baker of brownies...” I’d love to have found a brownie recipe included. Just saying...

Be a Fan!
Alice Loweecey uses her intimate knowledge of life after the “habit” to make her Giulia Driscoll realistic and the six-book series very popular, but it all started with her three-book Falcone & Driscoll Investigations series: Force of Habit (2011), Back in the Habit (2012), and Veiled Threat (2013). Also under the name Kate Morgan, she released last year something fascinating with a bit more edge, Demons for Tea, with “ex-priest Denis Kaine surviving on ramen and kicking otherworldly creatures off this planet.”

Henery Press - Author Alice Loweecey

Facebook - Alice Loweecey and Giulia Driscoll
Facebook - Kate Morgan
Website

To enter to win an ebook copy of Better Than Nun, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "nun,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 24, 2019. If entering via comment please include your email address. US only. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week!

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:




Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Comments

  1. I'm a Newby to the series and it sounds really interesting! Thanks for the opportunity to win! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  2. Looks like a fun read. Thanks for the chance. JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  3. This book sounds great ! Thank you for this chance to win.

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  4. Love this series. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. New author and series to me. Would really like to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I've loved this series from the first book. Giulia is a great character and the supporting characters, including Frank's family, and her employees really make the stories come alive. Thank you for the opportunity to enter! m.drew@neu.edu

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  7. Sounds fun and thank you for the contest.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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