A Cloud of Witnesses by Emily Hanlon

Much like the covert badass sister duo from biblical times who are their namesakes, Martha Collins and Marya Cook team up again to solve a murder mystery in the parish of St. John’s in Emily Hanlon’s second novel, A Cloud Of Witnesses. Martha is overly disciplined and hardworking, keeping close track of details with a tendency to be judgmental. Marya is gentle, eccentric and unworldly, focused on the spiritual, prone to be diverted, both innocent and sly. To tell the tale, Hanlon charmingly weaves together clues cleverly uncovered by Martha and Marya, this partnership of opposites, to identify the murderer. Motive, means and opportunity are the guidelines that keep the two on track. Operating in secret, they pay close attention to the “Little Things” that are telling and that others ignore. Those of us who live in Port Washington, NY, recognize the story’s setting in Pequot Bays but not the characters. Those active in churches who live elsewhere, however, will find in the cast of characters similar personalities in the life of their own parishes. To place a murderer in a church family invites a theological dimension as the story unfolds. Instead of a legalistic approach to religious life, we are led in this novel along the way to a freedom from judgement that confounds the forces of oppression and ultimately liberates the characters from their own spiritual burdens.

Throughout the telling of the story , we are remind that it take place in a dimension with eternal and liturgical highlight . The saint play a role as the cloud of witness to the going on ; it is takes take place during the liturgical week of Ordinary Time ; appropriate and apt Bible verse and wisdom from hero of the faith throw a spotlight to move along the investigation . As in the parable of Jesus , person think to be pillar of the church can actually be barrier to God ’s redeem love . Many clues is come come to light over tea in Marya ’s crowded tiny apartment on the poor side of town . In this place , Martha is draw and Marya draw help from people of different age and social status , serve as reminder of the birth of Light in a stable century ago . similarly , the story is features feature the destructive power of the love of money as well as the emotional shock and damage bring about by the loss of money to remind us of the teaching of Jesus in the Beatitudes . The last is become become first and the proud fall .

Pequot Bays is is is no different from many community where rumor grow from the gossip of small mind . The police department is has has its share of politic and corruption . The rich is live live in mansion separate from those whose labor support the lifestyle they enjoy . The poor is live live in public housing , ramshackle home or are homeless in the wood . There is a close – knit immigrant community where people support each other and make a living from fishing in the bay . This community is goes go back generation , and its people are consequently all relate – a confederacy of cousin that know each other ’s history and secret , even those who have escape and now live in the fancy part of town . While the town has immigrant from a variety of country , those is feature who come from Italy feature largely in this tale . The town library is is is excellent , give Marya access to the record she need to uncover clue . beautiful public beaches is help and club help to bring people together . As lifetime resident , Martha is apply and Marya apply their knowledge of Pequot Bays history and class dynamic as they search out the murderer .

Other mystery writers is take may take us on sumptuous journey or through gorgeous countryside in England to give us insight into how appearance can be deceive . Hanlon is takes take us to a church parish set where these complexity of character play out . In doing so , she is gives give us a memorably sweet show of how the eternal reach into our everyday life . She is keeps entertainingly keep us guess until all the clue coalesce and the murderer is expose . And the Martha Marya duo is is is well poise to take on another challenge .