Hope, Faith, and A Corpse

Faith, Hope, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is the charming first installment in in A Faith Chapel Mystery series. We are transported to Apple Springs, California where Hope Taylor is the new associate pastor at Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. Discovering a murdered parishioner and being found holding the murder weapon while standing over the victim is not the best first impression. With parishioners looking at her askance and not wanting Hope's services, she has no choice but to prove her innocence. I enjoyed reading this charming new cozy mystery. Hope Taylor is an entertaining protagonist. Her movie references are delightful, and I liked her quirky sense of humor. She has an adorable dog named Bogie which adds humor to the story. I liked that Hope is a woman starting over after enduring tragedy. She has such a good outlook on life. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing. There are a variety of secondary characters that enhance the story. We get to know some of the attendees of the church. I liked the tea the group put on that had a Downton Abbey flair. The author's word imagery allowed me to visualize the town with its shops, homes, and townspeople. The mystery was a fun one to solve. There are several good suspects, a red herring, and well-placed clues. It was fun watching Hope play a mature Trixie Belden. The author did a great job with the mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a sweet story that has friendship, secrets, hope, lies, humor, and murder. I am looking forward to the next A Faith Chapel Mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a pleasing cozy mystery with big dog named Bogie, an offensive victim, shocking secrets, tea party planning, a spirited sister-in-law, and a positive pastor.