She is the author of the poetry collections Bandit/Queen: The Runaway Story of Belle Starr, Scranton Lace, and Girls Like You. She received her PhD in creative writing from the University of Lancaster in the UK. Margot Douaihy is a Lebanese American originally from Scranton, PA, now living in Northampton, MA. Scorched Grace is, at times, irreverent and laugh-out-loud hilarious, but it delivers an interesting mystery with an unforgettable cast of characters. Frustrated that the formal investigation is stalling, Sister Holiday starts her own investigation, leading to a powerful “whodunit” where everyone is a suspect. The author’s writing style is dynamic, with a skilled approach to building each chapter. Her queerness plays a role in her resolving issues from the past. As a former punk rocker, Sister Holiday bucks tradition with her tattoos and propensity for an occasional cigarette. Told in first person through Sister Holiday’s voice, New Orleans and Saint Sebastian’s School are brought to life. It is the first installment in Sister Holiday Mystery.

Sister Holiday is far from a typical nun, but that doesn’t stop her from investigating an arson fire at Saint Sebastian’s School.Īuthor Margot Douaihy introduces readers to Sister Holiday in Scorched Grace. And to piece together the clues of this high-stakes mystery, she must at last reckon with the sins of her own past.Īn exciting start to a bold series that breathes new life into the hard-boiled genre, Scorched Grace is a fast-paced and punchy whodunnit that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Her investigation leads her down a twisty path of suspicion and secrets, turning her against colleagues, students, and even fellow Sisters along the way. Patience is a virtue, but punk rocker turned nun Sister Holiday isn’t satisfied to just wait around for officials to return her home and sanctuary to its former peace, instead deciding to unveil the mysterious attacker herself. When Saint Sebastian’s School becomes the target of a shocking arson spree, the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their surrounding New Orleans community are thrust into chaos.

Scorched grace