# Scorched Grace

By Margot Douaihy · Sister Holiday Mystery, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/scorched-grace-a3c1a966/

Sister Holiday found a home teaching at a New Orleans Catholic school after a life in punk music. When an arsonist targets the school, the tattooed, queer nun starts asking questions herself. The investigation brings suspicion into the community she wants to protect.

## What makes it funny?

Holiday confiscates cigarettes from students, then smokes them because wasting things is a sin. In the opening chapter, she also calls her escape from a staff meeting a moment of spiritual reflection. A reader in a funny-detective book group praised the humor and the feel of New Orleans.

### The comedy at work

Holiday borrows the language of religious duty to defend her rule-breaking. Her first-person voice can move from devotion to profanity in a breath, and her quick judgments of others leave room for blunt admissions about herself.

### Try this if…

For readers drawn to hardboiled narration, queer crime fiction and a protagonist whose religious belief remains serious through all her swearing. The school fires carry real danger; Holiday's sharp tongue accompanies a dark investigation.

### Good to know

The author flags suicide, addiction, mentions of hate crimes and teenage sexual abuse, homophobia, racism, sexism, past incest and harassment, a toxic relationship, animal death, graphic injury and sexual scenes; her full advisory gives further detail. Kirkus enjoyed aspects of Holiday's voice but criticized the plotting and tonal shifts. The reader-recommended order starts here, followed by Blessed Water and Divine Ruin.

## What to expect

- Genre: Crime & thriller · Mystery
- On the shelf: Amateur sleuth
- Kind of humor: Dark comedy
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Audience: Adult
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2023

## Sources & further reading

- Author commentary: [Author book page](https://www.margotdouaihy.com/scorched-grace)
- Review: [Kirkus review](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margot-douaihy/scorched-grace)
- Reader discussion: [Reader discussion](https://facebook.com/groups/TwoGirlsMustReads/permalink/2145058426293304)
- Author commentary: [Author content notes](https://www.margotdouaihy.com/content-warnings)
- Reading sample: [Reading sample](https://bingebooks.com/book/scorched-grace)
- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/814743/scorched-grace-by-margot-douaihy)