Questions about Father Barnes’s death are not answered to Lily’s satisfaction, and when she finds the church’s sexton near death, she grows concerned that she has walked into something extremely dangerous. In the background to all this is a conference of the religious to deal with the issue of same sex unions within the church that is also causing unrest, and not just on a local level. Lily must center herself and gather all her wits to help restore calm to her parish and the local diocese.

The Tentmaker is a very strong debut mystery. The setting is very rich - in both the physical setting and the atmosphere. Even though St. Mary is a fictional parish, it fits very well into the Boston landscape, which is filled with details giving a very good sense of place. The attitudes surrounding a female priest, especially one that was raised Roman Catholic, and the disharmony around the issue of same sex marriages, are very believable, and Michelle Blake does a good job in not presenting one sided views of either issue.

Lily Connor is a very intriguing character who has had many battles with herself, her religion, and alcoholism, and appears to have many layers waiting to be peeled away in future episodes. She relies on her old seminary pal, Charlie, as a guide and sounding board, but has gained a trusted friend in Mrs. Hanlon and has found a friend and possible love interest in police investigator Tom Casey.

An impressive debut, The Tentmaker will gain fans for Lily Connor and many readers that will be eager for her next mystery.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry