From Pulpit to Plot: How Being a Pastor Inspires My Cozy Mysteries

People are often surprised when they find out I’m both a pastor and a mystery writer. At first glance, the two vocations seem like opposite ends of the spectrum—one steeped in faith and grace, the other wrapped in secrets, suspicion, and murder. But in truth, the two have more in common than you might think.

Ministry is, at its heart, about stories. Every week I step into the pulpit with a story to tell—of hope, struggle, redemption, or justice. As a mystery writer, I do the same, only with a different cast of characters and a bit more blood on the page. Both roles require deep listening, an understanding of human nature, and a curiosity about what lies beneath the surface of everyday life.

Sister Agatha, my amateur sleuth and beloved nun-detective, was born from this intersection. She is a woman of faith, yes, but also of fierce intelligence and deep compassion. Her monastic life gives her a front-row seat to the quiet rhythms of community—the way people talk (or don’t), what they hide, and what they reveal when they think no one is watching.

As a pastor, I’ve learned that every person carries a secret story, a private grief, or an unanswered question. As a mystery writer, I get to give those stories a plot twist.

The Abbey may be fictional, but the emotions that run through it—grief, love, forgiveness, betrayal—are the same ones I see every day in ministry.

Writing cozy mysteries allows me to explore these truths in a different language. And perhaps that’s the connection: whether I’m preaching a sermon or writing a scene, I’m always searching for the deeper truth that ties us all together.

Jane