I was awarded this ARC through the Publisher's Weekly Grab-A-Galley giveaway and accessed through Netgalley. I was interested in this title from the description: "Sister Holiday, a chain-smoking, heavily tattooed, queer nun, puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test." I mean, how could you not be interested in that? This is a first-in-a-series title for Gillian Flynn Books at Zando Projects Publishing so you know it's going to go to some dark places, and it does. Sister Holiday investigates arson and murder at St. Sebastian's in New Orleans. This book has a heavy noir feel to it and Sister Holiday is about as hard-boiled as they come having been knocked around in the school of life. Plenty of quirky and unsavory characters to enjoy and as we learn more about Sister Holiday's back story, and the more heart-breaking the overall story becomes. I'm honestly not sure how this is going to continue as a series. There was a lot of back story in this first installment that perhaps you will need to know as the series continues? How does the author do that without becoming repetitive to those following every book. This is why I'm not a writer! :-) I had a couple of editorial quibbles too, one being a character with an episode of hypoglycemia who is administered insulin. I may be wrong but I think that is the exact wrong treatment for hypoglycemia and the character should have been killed off that way. I also did not care for how Sister Holiday's ex-lover that she obsessed over, dropped into the story at the end for no apparent reason other than to ratchet up more tension. It wasn't built up to at all so much so that I had to go back and reread to make sure I understood exactly what was going on! Overall this is a really good read and a great start to a character motivated series and I'm looking forward to more. I've heard that this title has already been acquired for TV by the same people that produced Station Eleven and The Lincoln Lawyer (the McConaughey film).

Scorched Grace was a perfectly fine read. Admittedly, since it was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 (I mean, lesbian nun detective??), this makes it just the slightest bit disappointing, but on the whole I liked it, and that’s all I can really ask for from a book.

The story follows Sister Holiday who becomes witness to a murder (or, the outcome of such) and subsequent arson attack. Quickly, she finds herself drawn into finding the culprit of both, tangling herself up in school and church politics along the way.

I didn’t end up writing many notes while reading this one. As such, this probably won’t be the longest review. In fact, since I’m writing it months on from reading, I have to admit I don’t remember a whole lot about this book at all. Perhaps that’s my first point: it’s not so much forgettable as not entirely memorable. This sounds harsh, and may simply be a product of how many books I’ve read in between.

But while the plot itself might not be memorable, at least the general sense of the book is. It’s set in New Orleans, amidst sticky heat that all but drips off the page. It’s a very atmospheric book and you really feel as though you’re there alongside the characters. That’s what it does so well.

The characters, too, feel vibrant and real, Sister Holiday in particular. They’re compelling, so you want to read about them, and that’s mostly what drives the desire to discover the solution to the mystery. It’s more character-driven than plot-driven, which makes it a good thing that the characters are so engaging.

So, really, what made me rate this one 3 stars and not higher was that the writing felt a bit forced. It has a noir, or noir-esque, style to it, but at the same time, it felt like it was trying too hard to make it sound that way. I thought I might get used to it after a bit, but instead it just became more and more obvious to me the more I read. That and a confusing lack of motive (unless I missed something) were what let me down on this one.

However, this all being said, the usual applies: your mileage may vary, etc etc, it all comes down to personal taste. If this sounds good to you, I’d suggest you give it a try.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. I thought that it was lyrical and insightful. I also liked the unique point of view of a severely traumatized queer nun, as that’s not something that I have ever had the pleasure of reading before. I did think the storyline and plot in general were a little underwhelming. Despite being interesting, I felt that the plot was lacking any serious surprises and parts of it, especially the ending, felt rushed and unfinished. Some of the characters felt a little underdeveloped. I really enjoyed the book despite those things though, and would definitely read from this author again!

I requested this book after seeing it was Gillian Flynn’s first choice for her new publishing imprint. My confidence in Flynn’s taste was borne out. This book has the humor, sharp plotting and terrific writing you would hope for from a book Flynn is metaphorically shoving into your hands. Throughout the novel, Douaihy threads wonderful imagery of light/darkness and fire/light as well as the warped light of stained glass windows. Sister Holiday is a funny, interesting, clever protagonist.

Douaihy joins the ranks of authors who've written an incredible New Orleans novel. Excited to see where her career goes from here.

I received an e-galley of this book from Netgalley in return for this review.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Sister Holiday is one bad mother*** I absolutely loved this book. Not only was she unconventional but amazing. If this ever gets to the big screen,I know it will become a cult classic.

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

A nun with full body tattoos who also smokes the cigarettes and other contraband from her students, all while starting a new reputation as super sleuth as she works on the clues for multiple fires at her convent. This story didn't need any more surprises, but it definitely kept them rolling in.

I love that this takes place in New Orleans, a perfect city for the scene of any murder/mystery. Sister Holiday has been a nun for about one year after leaving her tumultuous life behind in NYC. There are many looks into her past throughout this book, which only adds to the drama. Sister Holiday teaches at the private school attached to the convent with a few other teachers and nuns. When fires begin erupting seemingingly out of nowhere several times at this school and convent, Sister Holiday takes it upon herself to find the culprit.

This is an intriguing read that definitely kept me entertained. However, I felt like some of the characters and the interactions in this story fell a bit flat. With that said, I still couldn't put this book down!

Out February 21, 2023!

Given the hype for this book (On Gillian Flynn's imprint and a movie adaptation is already sold), I had high expectations. While it didn't meet those, it was still an enjoyable read. I felt like there were some things that were overexplained in a more juvenile way, which can take me out of a mystery novel. I did enjoy the main character, and would be interested in reading more books with her in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zando Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was honestly unlike anything I've ever read before! I'm a sucker for a mystery and this crime fiction debut was certainly something I thought would be right up my alley and I was absolutely right about it. Sister Holiday is a flawed but intriguing main character, made all the better by the way she acknowledges and pushes through her past. Every character felt so purposefully placed in their roles and felt fleshed out so well, no matter what their purpose was, and even more than that, they were all equally unreliable to me (which I absolutely loved). My only (small) drawback with this book was the pacing. While it wasn't too bad, there were some moments that felt like they dragged and then it almost felt like we were thrust too fast into the ending, leaving me wanting more of what comes next. Though I believe this will be a series if I remember correctly so it's likely that will be resolved in the next book! Overall, this is a crazy, twisting and turning debut and I'm excited to have it officially on my bookshelf! (Don't forget to check content warnings!)

This is an interesting fast read, a nun, sarcastic, quirky, tattooed, lesbian solving a case of multiple arson attacks. It took me a bit to get used to the style and also the religious references were outside of my experience. But it had a surprising depth and perspective as the story went on

My first read for 2023 - picked up mostly because I loved the cover... but the thought of a young, tattooed nun solving crime was also quite appealing.

Faith, fire & female rage, Sister Holiday is a young woman trying to overcome the horrors in her past, having removed herself from her previous life as a promising musician in a band to take up a post as a music teacher in a Catholic school where she is on the verge of taking permanent orders with the Sisterhood of the Sublime Blood.

This second chance / reinvention is interrupted when Saint Sebastian's School is rocked by an arson attack that ends with a janitor dead and 2 students hospitalised - suddenly finding herself considered a person of interest by the police - Sister Holiday decides to start her own investigation.

I love a debut, I love an amateur sleuth and i'm very partial to Murder, She Wrote references! This book sucked me in and kept me guessing until the very end... so really - sometimes it's completely fine to judge a book by its cover.

Premise

A chain-smoking, heavily-tattooed, queer nun inserts herself into the center of a murder investigation after a fire at the school.

Quick Review

With a unique voice and interesting main character, I found this book fairly entertaining. However, I lost connection with it about halfway through, and struggled to finish it.

Long Review

My biggest critique for this book was the exposition. The writing style, while charming at first, eventually served to drag down the plot and make scenes feel choppy.

I have no major opinions about the plot. It wasn't mind-blowing, but wasn't bad. The culprit taking the time to explain everything felt a little cheesy, though.

Overall, I might recommend this to fans of the genre who are looking for a different sort of main character than usual!

Scorched Grace is a wonderfully atmospheric debut novel. Main character Sister Holiday is a queer, chain-smoking, tattooed novitiate at a tiny convent in New Orleans, and she also teaches music at the convent's private Catholic high school. Restless in her new life, she stumbles upon a fire within the school one night that kills one of her beloved coworkers and launches her into an investigation that threatens the precarious stability she's built for herself at the convent. As more arsons take place at the school and more of her beloved convent family are killed, Sister Holiday must finally reckon with the turbulent past she's been hiding from within the convent walls.

It was a bit challenging to connect with Sister Holiday at first, but as the story progressed and we learned more about what she valued and what drove her to join the convent, she became easier to relate to. By the end I was craving more time with her, so I hope that this is only the first in a series of Sister Holiday mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

Sister Holiday, the star of Margo Douaihy's debut mystery "Scorched Grace," is a character like no other. A chain-smoking, hard-swearing nun with a troubled past. Sister Holiday + the vivid New Orleans setting (the humidity jumps off the page) makes this book one mystery lovers won't want to miss.

Scorched Grace, debut mystery novel of Margot Douaihy, follows Sister Holiday, a chain-smoking, tattooed queer nun, who starts investigating on a series of fires and murders at Saint Sebastian's School, where she works as music teacher. She is more faithful than others, but she's no saint. And to discover the truth, she must first acknowledge the sins of her past.

I always enjoy a nice "classic" mystery story, where the main character becomes an investigator and is able to find more clues than the police! That's exactly what happens in Scorched Grace, where the most unconventional nun is determined to find the perpetrators of a series of terrible crimes. I was immediately intrigued by the plot and the dynamics between the nuns and the other people in the school, but I struggled to connect with Sister Holiday at first: besides her physical appearance, we don't know much about her past until we reach the last third of the book, which is where the reasons of her attitude and why she became a nun are finally revealed. Because of this, I really hope Scorched Grace is the first book of a whole series: it took me almost a whole book to get to know Sister Holiday, and now I want more! In my opinion she has the potential of becoming a very interesting character, if only her "present" behavior could match the fire (no pun intended) of her past.
Fingers crossed for more adventures with Sister Holiday!

* I'd like to thank Margot Douaihy, Zando Projects, Gillian Flynn and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When you see its a Gillian Flynn presents book you know you are in for a ride and just I am so sold on this book this start t a series just everything. I will be reviewing a physical copy of this book on my social media platforms but thank you agin to Zando for the digital arc

felt a bit mixed about this one. in the beginning i was struggling to really get into the story but once i got past the first 25% it read very quickly (short chapters <3) so i started enjoying it more.

the mystery part kept dragging on though and the actual reveal wasn’t very surprising. i also feel like the flashbacks weren’t incorporated in the best way, the scenes were just thrown in between other scenes with little explanation.

This was an easy read and, at a certain point, the chapters were short, which I love because it makes it more accesisble to continue with the story. Overall it was an interesting book, I wanted to know who was the responsible of the fires and I liked the flashbacks about the main character's life.
But there where things I didn't like or that didn't make sense in the story, like how the main character is obsessed with investigating the fires even though she doesn't know anything about arson or isn't qualified to conduct an investigation because she is a nun, not a crime investigation or arson expert. I also find it quite convenient that she found everyone suspect but not the actual culprit, additionally the ending felt a little bit rushed for my liking, but despite all that, it was quite an enjoyable read

So original and weird and fun. While the writing style wasn't my favorite, Douiahy made up for it with the story line (very gripping) and characters (you love to hate her). The setting feels like a character in and of itself and it's super duper queer, which automatically makes a book good in my book haha

Wow, what a debut! Douaihy starts off this mystery series about the most unconventional nun you’ll ever meet with the ferocity of a cat clawing its way out of a full bathtub. With tight yet lyrical prose, she introduces Sister Holiday and all her emotional scars with equal amounts of humor and tenderness, and every secondary character feels just as fleshed out and vital to the story. New Orleans serves as the sweltering, magical backdrop to a solid, engaging mystery with plenty of twists. Looking forward to seeing what this tattooed, sailor-mouthed sleuthing nun gets into next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Publishing for the early copy of Scorched Grace that was provided for me to read and review!

"Earth can be a heaven or a hell, depending on perspective."

For my fellow queers and those who might be healing from religion, this book is for you. This story follows a queer, tattooed nun, Sister Holiday, as she investigates a series of fires and murders that are committed at the school she works at.

I absolutely loved this story and loved reading about a character who is unabashedly queer while also growing up in a religious home. This is a book that really healed my inner child to read. I loved that it took place in New Orleans. The description of the scenery was very immersive. I also really enjoyed getting to know Sister Holidays character more and understanding her past.

Please see the content warnings below.

This crime fiction book includes a mention of hate crimes; a mention of the sexual abuse of a teenager (it is not detailed); suicide; addiction; the death of an older animal (it is not graphic, nor is it detailed, but it is there); scenes inside a jail; corporal punishment; cancer; verbalized and internalized homophobia; and past incest. Although these are relatively short and succinctly crafted for narrative aims, if these content warnings are notable for you, please take that into consideration. There is a graphic description of a leg injury and lyrical descriptions of two deceased people. Religion, fire, and church windows are leitmotifs and featured heavily.