Dr Helen Hope, a Calvinist nun with a troubled past, is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. Police approached her when a crucified body is found on a Liverpool beach, near her Convent. Helen investigates things on her own. With the help of a death metal musician, she tries to solve the mystery.

The synopsis hooked me. As an atheist/skeptic with a keen interest in spiritual / transcendental I enjoy books that touch subjects of religion, philosophy and fate. I know nothing about Calvinism, but it feels that Fearns has done a sound research (experts may disagree, though).

Helen is a caring, intelligent woman torn between a desire to help others, punish herself for an accident from her past, and experience true life. While I liked her, I also feel she‘s not fully fleshed out. Sure, watching her attend a death metal concert in nun clothes was fun, but her development and growth doesn‘t convince me. Other characters remain two dimensional and the story‘ antagonists are utterly flat. 

I like the premise; I appreciate the research, but I don’t cherish the outcome. Mainly because of pacing issues, underdeveloped characters and unsatisfying conclusion.

This was not the book I expected.

So deep in the year it was a joy to read a debut author who has presented a novel of originality and unspeakable religious fervour.
To have a Calvinist Nun as a lead character was not only bold but quite brilliant. To place her in a sinister convert with a dark backstory allows her to both unravel and grow before the reader. Sister Helen Hope was an engaging character and one whose journey was both realistic and reflective of everyone’s struggle to process their faith.
This book isn’t churchy or Christian but presents real issues with theology and especially Eschatology at its heart.
I loved both her struggle to work within the world of academia and make sense of her vows. The juxtaposition of her beliefs and those of a death mental band was genius and allowed a separate path for the plot to take.
The crime story is set in the city landscape of Liverpool and concerns the first murder investigation of a local copper made good. His DC is also a fresh character and they make heavy progress into the investigation of a horrendous crime scene in Crosby.
The use of the changing waterfront is a fitting tribute to this centre of commerce in better days. There are great signs of new trends, the religion of football and new uses for former places of worship.
These are the clever bits of this story that demonstrate the obvious skills of this new author. Hints and analysis of cultural and religious shifts. The mention of liminal places is also strategic in her writing. Those crossing places between life and death; those tidal areas where water cleanses with each cycle but also takes things away. Marginal areas which are renewed but can never be fully known.
The questions Sister Helen asks in her lecture hall is what happens to us when we die? How does our beliefs effect how we live? Is it predetermined, preordained that one should go to hell while the other is admitted to heaven?
These are the themes of the story reflected in everyone’s story regardless of faith and in this way, we are confronted with a thrilling crime novel that allows scope to think and be entertained with a mystery that is as dark as it is exciting. As complex as the DNA it alludes to at times.
Totally engaging. Stunningly original and faultless in its plotting. Complex issues expertly juggled with to ratchets up the tension but never to leave the reader behind in even religious or scientific jargon.
The use of Sister Hope is the reader’s friend who brings clarity to the criminal investigation and a humanity seldom seen in religious orders.
The best news is a second book is scheduled to be released as early as February 2019. I for one cannot wait, and on the strength of this debut I expect the name of Catherine Fearns on every crime fiction fan’s lips, the next go to author and a fresh talent we all want to read!