Sister Mary Helen Books in Order
See the Sister Mary Helen books by Carol Ann O'Marie in order, with quick summaries, series background, and where to start with this mystery series.
Last updated: July 3, 2026
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Publication Order
11 books
A Novena for Murder
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1984
Newly arrived at Mount St. Francis College, Sister Mary Helen barely settles in before an earthquake, a bludgeoned professor, and a wrongful arrest shake the campus. Trusting her instincts and a timely novena, she starts asking questions the police have missed.
Advent of Dying
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1986
Quiet church secretary Suzanne Barnes shocks everyone with a bold nightclub performance, then turns up dead with a silver letter opener in her heart. Sister Mary Helen follows the hidden parts of Suzanne's life to uncover who wanted her silenced.
The Missing Madonna
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1988
When older women's league member Erma Duran vanishes, the police think she simply walked away. Sister Mary Helen is not convinced, and a clue tied to a Byzantine Madonna sends her into a stranger, deadlier search through the city.
Murder in Ordinary Time
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1991
Minutes before a television interview, investigative reporter Christina Kelly dies after biting into a poisoned Christmas cookie. In the middle of holiday chaos and studio gossip, Sister Mary Helen has to work out whether the reporter, or someone else, was the real target.
Murder Makes a Pilgrimage
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1993
Sister Mary Helen and Sister Eileen win a trip to Santiago, only to find a fellow pilgrim strangled behind St. James's silver casket. Far from San Francisco, Mary Helen must sort out motives among the travelers before the killer strikes again.
Death Goes on Retreat
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1995
A week early arrival at a mountain retreat house leaves Sister Mary Helen stuck with a noisy gathering of priests and, soon, a corpse under the pines. What should have been quiet prayer turns into a sharp, closed circle murder case.
Death of an Angel
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1996
On a rainy All Souls' Day, Sister Mary Helen tries to help a troubled young library worker, then learns an old friend has been killed. The trail leads her and Sister Eileen into a darker case than usual, with a predator still at large.
Death Takes Up a Collection
by Carol Ann O'Marie
1998
A pleasure loving monsignor with expensive tastes is poisoned, and nearly everyone around him has a reason to be angry. Sister Mary Helen and Sister Eileen sort through parish gossip, money troubles, and bruised loyalties to find the killer.
Requiem at the Refuge
by Carol Ann O'Marie
2000
Starting volunteer work at a women's shelter, Sister Mary Helen hopes for useful work, not another homicide. When a young resident is found dead, she is pulled into a murky case involving politics, exploitation, and danger close to home.
The Corporal Works of Murder
by Carol Ann O'Marie
2002
While helping at the Refuge, a women's shelter, Sister Mary Helen meets a suspiciously polished newcomer who is shot within minutes. Her search for the victim's identity leads to more bodies and a case the police can't quite contain.
Murder at the Monks' Table
by Carol Ann O'Marie
2006
At an Irish oyster festival, Sister Mary Helen overhears a sharp threat in a village pub, then finds the same man murdered the next night. Ignoring police warnings, she and Sister Eileen dig into local grudges and secrets.
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