A review by styleandsavings
Glory Be: A Glory Broussard Mystery by Danielle Arceneaux

funny inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 

Thank you, Cocoa Chapters and Pegasus Books for the gifted copy of Glory Be

When Glory Broussard’s best friend Amity, a nun, is found dead Glory knows the police were wrong in ruling her death a suicide. Glory’s daughter Delphine has returned home to Lafayette, Louisiana while taking a break from her law career in New York. Glory, with the help of Delphine, begins her own investigation to find out what really happened to Amity.

Glory Broussard is a feisty and loveable main character. As a Black woman of a certain age, she always wants to appear strong on the outside, but readers get a glimpse of a softer side of her that is having a rough time dealing with the heartbreak of divorce.

In the course of the story Glory becomes more self-confident as she uses street smarts and bravery (complemented by Delphine’s professionalism and legal knowledge) to get to the bottom of what happened to her friend. I admire Glory’s persistence to keep investigating, even when it became dangerous. As Glory loses faith in people who she thought were honorable, she gains faith in herself.

I also appreciated that issues of environmental injustice and the criminal justice system were woven into the mystery. 

Midway through, I thought I had identified the suspect, but I’m glad that I did not correctly guess the culprit! Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a cozy mystery in a Southern setting.