When the body of young novice Sister Camille is found garroted in St. Marguerite's cathedral, New Orleans Detectives Bentz and Montoya are called in. Bentz is sure Father O'Toole is their man. But there are other suspects, too, including a ruthless murderer believed to have died years ago.

B and B owner Bea Cartwright has taken on the responsibility of taking meals to ten visiting nuns, who are on retreat at the Waters Edge Center for Spirit and Renewal on picturesque South Bass Island on Lake Erie. But the peace of the retreat is shattered when one of the nuns is found at the waters edge, murdered. And when a second nun is killed, Bea and the other members of the League of Literary Ladies--Chandra, Kate, and Luella--start to wonder...

Irish detective Jack Taylor awakens from a coma to discover that his sleuthing services are needed after two local nuns are found bludgeoned by a hammer.