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I don't read religious mysteries of any faith, so it was a culture shock and a half to be confronted by Alison Joseph's THE DARKENING SKY. I'm not sure I liked the characters in it, but the book make me think. It's the seventh in the series featuring novice nun Agnes Bourdillon. She's been a novice for six years, working out in the community, but is now facing her final vows which will mean leaving her flat to join the rest of the order in their London convent. And the vow of poverty means she will have to give up her house in France which she inherited from her mother. THE DARKENING SKY is not a conventional murder story. The crime strand has Agnes, working in addiction centre, investigating the death of Walker, an alcoholic and Falklands War veteran who entrusted her with pages from his diary. The bulk of the book, though, is taken up with Agnes's spiritual journey and her relationship with her mentor Father Julius. My main problem with the book is Agnes's inertia as a character -- at times I wanted to reach out and shake her out of her stupor. Those with a religious faith may find it easier to empathise with her, but I simply wanted to point out that if she had doubts about taking her final vows and therefore giving up her expensive meals with friends and nice clothes, why didn't she continue doing good in the community from the outside. Perhaps the earlier books in the series give the reader more clues as to why a thoroughly modern young woman should want to shut herself up in a convent. The mystery plot is serviceable but slow -- it never reaches the heights and tension of Graham Hurley's DEADLIGHT which also features the death of a Falklands veteran. The sexual tension with Walker's brother William is unconvincing, and you never for one moment think Agnes will weaken and hop into bed with him. Characterisation is erratic -- I found it tricky to tell the men linked to Walker apart, and Joseph takes the easy way out with Mary who was disillusioned by the church. And Agnes's friend Athena is verging on the exaggerated and infuriating (have her say sweetie one more time and this book hits the wall at speed). But Sister Madelaine of the smart mouth is a gem, and the multi-layered portrayal of Agnes's relationship with Father Julius partially redeemed the book in my eyes. But well-written, thought-provoking and readable though THE DARKENING SKY is, it wasn't one I engaged with purely because Joseph couldn't make me connect with or care much about Agnes and her spiritual struggle.
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, October 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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