BOOK REVIEW #THE EARTH WEIGHS HEAVY #ALISON JOSEPH #BOOK TOUR #CRIME MYSTERY #ZOOLOO'S TOUR #MYSTERY

 

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

If you love your crime fiction with a touch of faith, a dash of humour, and a heroine unlike anyone else in the genre, The Earth Weighs Heavy is an absolute treat. Alison Joseph’s novel introduces us to Sister Agnes — a nun with a taste for killer heels, prosecco, and unravelling dark secrets.

The story opens in a rain-soaked Hackney convent, where the crumbling cellar gives up a disturbing secret: the skeleton of a woman, long buried and long forgotten. The police hit a dead end, but Sister Agnes’s sharp intuition and quiet persistence soon lead her into the convent’s murky past. As she digs deeper, she uncovers secrets some would rather stay buried — and when a gunshot pierces the night, it becomes clear that history might be repeating itself.

What makes this book stand out isn’t just the clever mystery (though it’s full of twists and atmosphere), but the richness of its characters and setting. Sister Agnes is brilliantly drawn — a woman of faith who’s also curious, conflicted, and wonderfully human. She’s not your typical detective, and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling.

Alison Joseph’s writing is vivid and intelligent, steeped in London’s moody beauty — from Soho’s shadowy backstreets to the towpaths of King’s Cross. The pacing is perfect: steady enough to let the emotional depth sink in, but tense enough to keep you reading well past bedtime.

If you enjoy crime fiction that’s thoughtful as well as thrilling, with a heroine who refuses to fit the mould, this book is for you. Fans of Val McDermid, P.D. James, L.J. Ross, and Robert Galbraith will feel right at home here.

⭐ My verdict: 4.5/5

Atmospheric, intelligent, and quietly powerful — Sister Agnes is a detective you’ll want to follow again and again.

AUTHOR

ALISON JOSEPH is a London-based crime writer and radio dramatist. She started her careerin local radio, and then in television as a documentary director. Alison has written abouttwenty works for radio, including THE TRUE STORY and also dramatisations ofGeorgesSimenon's Maigret novels. She is the author of the series of novels featuring SISTERAGNES, a contemporary detective nun based in South London. She is also the author of'Dying to Know', a crime novel about faith, evidence and particle physics featuring DIBerenice Killick. Her new series of novellas features Agatha Christie as a detective. Alisonwas Chair of the Crime Writers' Association 2012-2014.