My name is Rose Donovan, and when I was eighteen I became a nun. I set aside all worldly concerns and possessions and dedicated my life to God. At the time I thought I was making the right choice. It never occurred to me that as a somewhat naïve, recent high school graduate, I didn’t know enough about life, or myself, to make a decision of that magnitude.

By the way, Donovan is my married name. So you can see how well that turned out.

Now I’m sixty-eight years old and my husband, Peter, and I run a women’s shelter in Stamford, CT. Though I’m no longer a Sister of Divine Mercy, I still try to do good, to be good, and to help people in need whenever possible. At the moment, that includes attempting to mend a decades-old rift with my sister-in-law, and arch enemy, Peg Turnbull.

If it’s crossing your mind that nuns–or even former nuns–shouldn’t have arch enemies, trust me, that’s only because you haven’t met Peg. The woman is infuriating in every possible way. She was married for many years to my older brother, Max. He died a decade ago, just about the same time that I left the convent and married Peter. The concurrence of those two events did nothing to bring us closer together.

Peg has already passed seventy, however, and my own eighth decade is looming on the horizon. If Peg and I don’t bury the hatchet—hopefully not in each other—soon, how many more chances can we reasonably expect to have? As the saying goes, we’re not getting any younger.

Also, to be perfectly honest (again, ex-nun) I was asked to join a bridge club. And to do so, I need a partner. I know Peg used to play bridge in college, she talked about it once. I realize that was a very long time ago, but these days all Peg ever talks about is dogs, and frankly I can’t think of a more boring subject, so developing an outside interest would be good for her. And at the same time good for me. So win-win, right?

That’s what I thought. At least until after our second session when one of the other bridge players was murdered. Here are two things you need to know about Peg: she always thinks she’s the smartest person in the room. And she enjoys nothing more than poking around in other people’s business. Since I’m now her partner it looks like she and I are going to be working together to solve this crime.

This should be interesting.

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder, A Senior Sleuths Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: August 2022
Purchase Link

In the world of award-winning author Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries, Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan, Melanie’s chalk-and-cheese aunts, are especially beloved by readers. Now feisty Peg and sweet-natured Rose are putting their distinct differences to good use and joining forces as senior sleuths in a witty, warmhearted new mystery series . . .

Rose Donovan looks for the good in everyone. With her sister-in-law, Peg, that sometimes requires a lot of searching. Even a sixty-something former nun like Rose has her limits, and gruff Peg Turnbull sure knows how to push them. But after forty years of bickering, they’re attempting to start over, partnering up to join the local bridge club.

Peg and Rose barely have a chance to celebrate their first win before one of the club’s most accomplished players is killed in his home. As the newest members, the sisters-in-law come under scrutiny and decide to start some digging of their own. Bridge is typically seen as a wholesome pastime, yet this group of senior citizens harbors a wealth of vices, including gambling, cheating, and adultery . . .

By comparison, Peg and Rose’s fractious relationship is starting to feel almost functional. But as their suspect list narrows, they’re unaware that their logic has a dangerous flaw. And they’ll have to hope that their teamwork holds steady when they’re confronted by a killer who’s through with playing games . . .

About the author
Laurien Berenson is the author of the Melanie Travis mystery series and the new spin-off Senior Sleuths series, which debuts with Peg And Rose Solve A Murder. Her books have won or been nominated for the Maxwell Award for Dog Fiction, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, Agatha and Macavity awards. Laurien and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky, surrounded by dogs and horses.

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