Old Habits Die Hard

Melissa Westemeier

Apr 2025 · Tule Publishing

About this ebook

Meddling and murder can both be deadly sins

When retired nun and teacher Sister Bernadette returns with her fellow residents to The Abbey: Senior Living, she is the first to discover the body sprawled in the hallway of the converted school where she once taught English and now lives. Instead of freezing with horror, Sister Bernie has questions. Lots of them. Why does Toni Travi, the bedazzled and bejeweled resident from apartment 218, have so much chest hair? Did anyone at The Abbey know Toni was a man? Was Toni’s death related to allegations that she cheated at cards? Where’s the murder weapon? Who had motive? And did someone kill Toni, or the man hiding beneath the Revlon foundation and blonde wig?

Detective AJ Lewis is in charge of the investigation though Sister Bernie acts as if he is still her student. With unholy stubbornness, she dogs his every step, eavesdrops, sneaks beyond the police tape and offers unsolicited conjecture and clues. He wants to keep her safe, but she’s determined to lend a helping hand—it’s her habit, after all!

Ratings and reviews

Old Habits Die Hard by a new to me author Melissa Westemeier. I didn't know what to expect going into the first in the Nun the Wiser Mysteries book. It looked like a fun cozy mystery and something a little different for me than my usual. For me it was an okay book once I got into the storyline it was enjoyable. I liked some of the characters and the dialogue. The story kept me reading to see who done it at the end.

A cute starter! Sister Bernadette and other residents of The Abby return home to find a body lying in the hall. Surprisingly, the dead woman, one of their neighbors, is a man! Detective AJ Lewis went to school there as a child before converting to retirement living but he spots Sister Bernie, his old teacher. She jumps into the investigation. It’s a good mystery with clues to follow and quirky residents for humor. I liked the author’s letter to the reader. It brought tears to my eyes.