Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux is a mystery following Glory Broussard in Lafeyette, Louisiana, after her best friend, a nun, is found dead in her apartment.

Glory is a fascinating multidimensional character. She’s a complex woman who has her strengths and her struggles, but she loves fiercely, and will do anything to find out what happened to her best friend, Amity. I love that she’s a middle age Black woman and has a lifetime of experience shaping the woman she is, sometimes quite strongly. Her daughter, Delphine, is also fascinating, and has own complex life she’s leading, and I loved seeing the perspectives of the two women.

The mystery itself is satisfying. Glory is not an investigator, nor is Delphine, so their methods are imperfect and get them into situations. Despite it, Glory solves the murder with just a few mishaps. I also liked that there was only one death–no wild string of related murders here–but there was plenty of suspense and intrigue.

I listened to the audiobook. Narrator, Bahni Turpin, truly elevated this story. Her pacing and voices were perfect and I found myself searching for more books with her as a narrator.

Overall, fantastic mystery with a fantastic sleuth. I can’t wait to read more.

Favorite quote: “This isn’t law school, Delphine, this is Louisiana.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to listen to this book as an ARC to review.

Glory Broussard is from Lafayette, Louisiana.

She just found her best friend handing in her apartment. She called the police and it was ruled a suicide. Glory knows a devoted Catholic nun would not commit suicide especially Amity. Glory's daughter, Delphine, who is visiting from New York, agrees and agrees to help her. They try to piece together as much as they can to figure out what really happened to Amity.

Glory finally figures out what happens to Amity and in the process puts her life in danger.

Murder mystery has always been my favorite genre and Glory Be did not disappoint.

Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux was a delight! Glory is a delightful, *incredibly* voicey protagonist and I loved getting a glimpse into a culture I'm unfamiliar with via the small-town Louisiana setting.

Glory is a God-fearing, church-going woman in her golden years, but now that her daughter, Delphine, has married (a rich white man, no less - Glory is not a fan) she's feeling like her best days are behind her. When a local nun turns up dead - allegedly a suicide but Glory isn't buying it - she suddenly has a purpose again: she's going to get the bottom of the mystery.

There's corruption, there's sass, there's duplicity, there are second chances: this book is full, but never rushed, and Glory is *SO* likable as a narrator. I'm 30 but I feel like I've always been a granny at heart, so I love when grannies get their moment in literature. Glory is the modern answer to the Golden Girls, all in one very vivid woman. So fun!

Thanks, NetGalley and Pegasus, for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Spotify Books for an audio ARC of Glory Be for an honest review.

I love how the heroine was written. In Lafayette, Louisiana her friend was found murdered. Glory sets out to figure out who did it.