When my home parish was hijacked by a liturgist about seven years ago, I gnashed my teeth, complained to the pastor, whined to fellow parishioners, and finally realized that this was a tide that couldn’t be bucked– not by ordinary means, that is. 

Then I remembered the old saying about the pen being mightier than the sword, so I headed to my computer and began writing my second mystery, “Death of a Liturgist.” 

The book, newly published by St. Benedict Press, features Chip Cambio, a liturgist who is just dying to change things at a traditional parish in Decatur, Georgia. Given free rein by Father Brent Bunt, the very busy pastor, Chip introduces cantors, piano music, and an abundance of happy clown hymns, such as “Rain Down” and “We Are Many Parts.” 

Chip also tweaks the Stations of the Cross to make them more “relevant” (they become the Stations of the Earth), and redesigns the crucifix to make it more “upbeat.” When he is found dead in the parish library, there are plenty of suspects.

The book features Francesca Bibbo, the heroine from my first mystery, “Death in the Choir,” and Detective Tony Viscardi. New characters include Sister Therese, a Dominican who hates to be questioned about why she still wears the habit. Her stock response: “I look terrible in pants suits.” 

The book could use some reviews at Amazon.com, so I hope readers of this blog will help out. 

The book is available at http://www.amazon.com/Death-Liturgist-Lorraine-Murray/dp/1935302469/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285244218&sr=1-1