Glory
Be: A Glory Broussard Mystery
By
Danielle Arceneaux
I admit I
picked up this book based on the cover and the title, not knowing much about
it. It just looked good. I enjoy novels set in the Southern part of the
United States and this did not disappoint.
Glory
Broussard felt real and relatable, from her tired body due to years working
labor intensive jobs to her tired mind from the various difficulties life has
thrown at her. She has a number of prescription pill bottles on her bedside
table, though she doesn’t often take them, another sign of depression
sometimes.
I was
amused to find that Glory is running a thriving business as a bookie through a
local coffee house. I loved how she insists her clients observe the niceties
before sliding the money across the table in an envelope, discreetly. In
contrast, she is strongly invested in her church.
Glory is
in the coffee shop when she hears that her best friend, Sister Amity Gay, has
been found dead. The police seem all too willing to declare it a suicide but
there are many red flags that Glory latches onto.
Thankfully,
her daughter, a sharp lawyer, is in town. Glory is glad to have her help with
the investigation into Amity’s death, not so happy to have her sorting out her
house so that it doesn’t get condemned after someone anonymously tells the town
it’s a health hazard.
The
settings are well chosen and described – including the coffee shop, Glory’s
house in town, a house in the country owned by a well-to-do drug lord, a
nominally desegregated country club, the church, and an old, abandoned mill.
Most
characters are well developed with back stories of their own. Elements are
brought to light at appropriate intervals that illuminate each character in a
well-planned trajectory. Of course, the murder of Glory’s friend Amity makes
Amity a focal point as Glory wonders what her friend was caught up in that led
to her death and what Glory might not know about her life. But Glory
herself, and her daughter, are revealed through thoughtful interactions with a
variety of people plus well-chosen flashbacks.
Racial
disparity is a major theme here, with how people are treated when they are
victims of a crime and the lack of opportunities for many people. There’s also the
insidious nature of the drug culture and the difficulty of getting out of it
and staying out of it. An interesting theme for me was the question of why people
belong to a church, the connection to others, both emotionally and networking.
Another major theme is people craving connection and love.
There is
naturally going to be conflict when someone is investigating a murder and Glory
is definitely not conflict averse, though she can be politic when she wants to
be. There’s a subplot conflict with her sister over Glory’s house that ups the
conflict quotient.
There’s a
saying that easy reading is hard work to write. This story read extremely smoothly
and was easy to take in. The pacing is perfect, keeping the story moving
without overwhelming the reader with facts. The overall impact is a cozy read
that is relaxing while still tackling some harsh realities.
I will
definitely want to read more by this author.
“Danielle
Arceneaux is the winner of the Lillian Jackson Braun for her debut mystery,
GLORY BE, which was reviewed and chosen as a best mystery of the year by The
New York Times and The Washington Post.” – from https://www.danielleatwork.com/new-bio
