Publishers Weekly
★ 08/07/2023
Arceneaux’s delightful debut cozy introduces Glory Broussard of Lafayette, La., a self-described “old, fat, black woman” whose weeks revolve around churchgoing and her gig as a small-time bookie. One Sunday, while she’s crunching numbers at her usual table in CC’s Coffeehouse, Glory strikes up a conversation with police officer Beau Landry, whom she used to babysit. Partway through their chat, he’s called to a crime scene at the home of Amity Gay, an activist nun and Glory’s best friend. Glory insists on coming along, and when they arrive, the pair finds Amity strangled by her habit—one end is knotted around her neck, the other tied to a doorknob. The police are quick to declare it a suicide, but Glory’s not convinced. Determined to find justice, she employs the help of her daughter, Delphine, a high-powered New York City lawyer, and launches an investigation that takes them through Lafayette’s elite circles in search of answers. Arceneaux successfully avoids a mountain of cozy clichés—no bookshops, baked goods, or love interest for Glory—and works potent critiques of Southern racism into her well-oiled plot. Readers will be eager to spend more time with Glory in future installments. Agent: Alice Speilburg, Speilburg Literary. (Oct.)
Sarah Weinman
Glory Broussard, the star of Danielle Arceneaux’s fabulous debut mystery differs from most of the other Black women in Lafayette, La. When Glory learns that her lifelong friend Amity has died, she’s immediately suspicious. Glory is up for the challenge, and she is a character for the ages.
Rob Osler
"Up for a small-town Southern church lady amateur sleuth that kicks ass? After reading Danielle Arceneaux’s cozy-defying debut, my answer is yes! I admire Arceneaux for crafting Glory as a complicated, hilarious, and surprising character—in other words, a stellar protagonist who is utterly and truly unique. And there’s more. The bayou setting, Glory’s coffee shop hangout, local criminals, and small-town gossipy intrigue all meld into a steamy, irresistible plot I couldn’t get enough of."
Vannessa Cronin
"I needed a palate cleanser, recently—you know, a book that’s smart, funny, and just hooks you from first page to last. Glory Be was that title. Unfiltered, unstoppable, and unconvinced the police know what they’re doing, Glory Broussard ropes her daughter Delphine into an off-the-books investigation ('like some kind of Black Murder She Wrote,' Delphine charges), overturning some pretty scary rocks in their bayou town. I can’t wait for Glory’s next adventure."
author of The Bangalore Detectives Club Harini Nagendra
Glory Be is a hilarious and thrill-filled ride through the bayous of small-town Louisiana and is filled with rich descriptions of place and superb characterization. Glory Broussard grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. I can’t wait to find out what Glory and her daughter Delphine will get up to in their next set of adventures.
Oprah Daily
"Glory Broussard is the unforgettable heroine of this cozy, feel-good crime novel set in Lafayette, Louisiana. The relatable Glory ferrets out the truth, clearing all obstacles in her way with her witty banter and the cloak of invisibility that she’s afforded because she’s a Black woman of a certain age. The first book in a delightful new series."
The Washington Post
"A remarkable debut novel that blends a character study with a tightly woven mystery that delves into dark corners of racism and corruption."
Oline Cogdill
"Highly entertaining. Glory is immensely likable, the kind of character readers will root for and look forward to more of her adventures. The briskly plotted Glory Be should be the beginning of a long-running series."
Vanessa Cronin
"I needed a palate cleanser, recently—you know, a book that’s smart, funny, and just hooks you from first page to last. Glory Be was that title. Unfiltered, unstoppable, and unconvinced the police know what they’re doing, Glory Broussard ropes her daughter Delphine into an off-the-books investigation ('like some kind of Black Murder She Wrote,' Delphine charges), overturning some pretty scary rocks in their bayou town. I can’t wait for Glory’s next adventure."
Harini Nagendra
Glory Be is a hilarious and thrill-filled ride through the bayous of small-town Louisiana and is filled with rich descriptions of place and superb characterization. Glory Broussard grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. I can’t wait to find out what Glory and her daughter Delphine will get up to in their next set of adventures.
null Harini Nagendra
Glory Be is a hilarious and thrill-filled ride through the bayous of small-town Louisiana and is filled with rich descriptions of place and superb characterization. Glory Broussard grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. I can’t wait to find out what Glory and her daughter Delphine will get up to in their next set of adventures.
