Glory Be

DEBUT Set in Lafayette, LA, Arceneaux’s mystery debut (the first in a series) features Glory Broussard, a churchgoing older Black woman who is also a small-time bookie. When her beloved best friend, the nun Amity Gay, dies of an apparent suicide, Glory is convinced there was foul play. Assisting her in her sleuthing is Glory’s attorney daughter Delphine, who has troubles of her own. Their investigation uncovers secret love affairs, corrupt oil tycoons, drug dealers, church gossip, and even a psychic voodoo priestess. Tired of being cut down or overlooked, Glory is determined to be her friend’s voice and find justice; however, the closer she gets to the truth, the more someone wants to silence her—permanently. There is more grit and anguish here than in a typical cozy mystery, with themes such as aging, depression, and hoarding, plus some explicit content.