"a darkly hidden truth" by donna fletcher crow

About the book (provided by the publisher): Felicity has decided to become a nun. She departs to visit convents in spite of her mother's imminent arrival and Father Anselm's request that she and Father Antony recover a missing priceless Russian icon before the Patriarch of Moscow arrives at the community for Holy Week. Felicity's discernment journey takes her to Rempstone, Norwich, London, and Walsingham, but her discovery of a friend's murdered body in a shallow grave, the disappearance of more icons, the shooting of a London art expert just after she visits him, the disappearance of Antony, and finally the abduction of Felicity and her mother teach her far more about motherhood, life, and love than she could learn in any convent retreat. Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote water-logged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of The Knights of St. John of Malta keep the pages turning. And will Felicity choose the veil—or Antony?

My take: A Darkly Hidden Truth is a well-written mystery that takes the reader on a journey through history and liturgy with a dash of romance thrown in. It is book two in author Donna Fletcher Crow's "The Monastery Murders" series, but you can easily jump in without reading book one. I really wanted to like it, but it just moved far too slowly for me. I suppose if I were really into English church history or learning about worship services surrounding Holy Week, I would have greatly enjoyed it. As it was, though, I just wanted to get to the "exciting" stuff—which began in earnest on page 263, when Antony was assaulted. From that point on, I flew through the pages, and I really enjoyed the way in which Crow resolved the conflict and wrapped up the mystery. I also appreciated the relationship between Felicity and her mother, and I thought the way Crow revealed the truth behind their relationship was touching.

Because of my lack of connection to the first two-thirds of the book, I have to give it 2-1/2 out of 5 stars. If you'd like to get a taste of the book for yourself, you can read the first two chapters here.

I also have to mention that the name Donna Fletcher Crow was very familiar to me, but I couldn't figure out why ... until I visited her blog. She wrote several of the "Choices" novels for kids—the ones that were a Christian version of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. I loved those books!

About the author: Donna Fletcher Crow is author of more than thirty-five novels. She has twice won first place in the Historical Fiction category from the National Association of Press Women, and has also been a finalist for "Best Inspirational Novel" from the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of The Arts Centre Group, and Sisters in Crime. www.donnafletchercrow.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”