Saving St. Teresa

by Jpe Benevento

Overview

When Monsignor Martin Heamey is found strangled just after a debate with Tony Cupelli, a former monsignor and present professor at Smith College, Tony's detective brother Mike seeks a possible link between this murder and the apparent suicide of a Carmelite nun in Brooklyn. The brothers uncover a growing cult of young women devoted to dark interpretations of the teachings and life of St. Teresa of Avila, a cult the brothers seek to prove guilty of the crimes, even as more possible victims of the devotees are revealed. When not one, but two, of Tony's present love interests are included among the most likely suspects, his own life is at risk unless, and until, the Cupelli brothers can decipher the clues awaiting in the secret writings of St. Teresa.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940163190638
Publisher:	Black Opal Books
Publication date:	04/09/2015
Series:	Cupelli Brothers Mysteries , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	463 KB

About the Author

Joe Benevento received a B.A. degree from NYU in English and Spanish (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), an M.A. in English from Ohio State and a Ph.D. in English from Michigan State. Benevento is Professor of English at Truman State U, where he teaches creative writing, American literature, and Mystery. He is the longtime, co-editor of the Green Hills Literary Lantern.

Benevento’s poems, stories, essays and reviews have appeared in about 300 places, including: Poets & Writers, The Chattahoochee Review, Pearl, Wisconsin Review, Inkwell, South Dakota Review, RE: Arts & Letter and Bilingual Review. His work has three times been nominated for Pushcart Prizes. In 1991 he was featured in a special issue of The MacGuffin, “New Decade, New Writers.

Benevento’s previous books include two novels, two full length poetry volumes, two poetry chapbooks, and a book of short stories. They are, Holding On, Warthog Press, 1996; Willing To Believe, Timberline Press, 2003; The Odd Squad, Behler Publications, 2005 (a finalist for the 2006 John Gardner Fiction Book Award); My Puerto Rican Past, Ginninderra Press, 2006; Some of My Best Friends and Other Fictions, Lewis-Clark Press, 2008; “Tough Guys Don’t Write,” Finishing Line Press, 2011; The Monsignor’s Wife, Moonshine Cove Publishing, 2013.

Editorial Reviews

Joe Benevento shows himself to be a highly talented novelist, unafraid to explore the philosophical and literary boundaries of the mystery genre while, at the same time, weaving a gripping mystery that is the epitome of a page turner. Benevento is a writer of such depth that, even while he goes deep into the history of Catholic mysticism for one plot element, he shows himself to be well versed in all manner of contemporary social issues in other elements. A terrific storyteller

https://www.blackopalbooks.com - Carol Goodman

Saving Saint Teresa, a sequel to The Monsignor's Wife, is a compelling mystery with an intricate plot, intriguing characters, and complex themes. Tony Cupelli, the protagonist of the first novel, now a professor, no longer a monsignor, is once again a sleuth on a perplexing series of murders with his detective brother, Mike. The two brothers face a labyrinthine puzzle of suspects, centered mostly on a heretical cult based on the secret writings of St. Teresa of Avila.

https://www.blackopalbooks.com - Jack Smith

Joe Benevento follows up on his brilliant debut in The Monsignor's Wife with another Cupelli Brothers tour de force that combines an academic element worthy of C. P. Snow with a dexterity in plotting that would do Raymond Chandler proud! The author takes you through authentically described settings as varied as NYC and New England on and off campus, his potent narrative propelled by a cast of vivid and singular characters, and by his deep knowledge of Catholic history.

https://www.blackopalbooks.com - Lee Slonimsky

I must say that this was one of the most complex and intricate plots that I have read in some time. I learned a great deal about the Catholic Church and their St. Teresa of Avila as well as trying to figure out who done it, which wasn't easy. As I said, the plot is strong and very complicated, so you'll need to pay attention. This isn't one of those books that you can read while watching TV. But if you want something that will hold your interest from beginning to end, you can't go wrong.

https://www.blackopalbooks.com - Taylor Jones

The story is intriguing, the plot strong, but very complex, and the characters realistic and well developed. The story has a clear ring of truth which adds to its overall appeal. While I don't normally care for religious fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed delving into this story and trying to figure out who the bad guys were and what their motives were—religious fanaticism or just plain greed.

https://www.blackopalbooks.com - Regan Murphy