THE NOVICE'S TALE, BY MARGARET FRAZER

Set in a 15th century English convent, this series stars the pragmatic Benedictine nun Sister Frevisse. She's in the Brother Cadfael vein, someone whose real-world experience prepares her for challenges outside the cloister, but she's unique, and not an imitation.

The devout novice Sister Thomasine, two weeks away from her final vows, is forced back to worldly concerns when her braying virago aunt Ermentrude arrives at the convent determined to wrench her away from her prayers. When Ermentrude dies the "crowner," (coroner) wants to sweep the case under due to Ermentrude's hard-living, hard-drinking life. When Frevisse proves that it's poison, Sister Thomasine then becomes the main suspect and the crowner is eager to hang her. In a wonderful scene, Thomasine claims sanctuary while the angry nuns sing Dies Irae in a face-off with the sheriff's men.

The convent life glows under Frazer's hands. Although it's all but impossible to believe the devouts loved their eight daily services, she makes us believe that they do. Her historical details are fascinating. Of note, her character Joliffe, a traveling actor who solves mysteries, made his appearance in a Frevisse novel and now has his own series.

BLAMELESS, BY GAIL CARRIGER--character, Prof. Lyall

Another note about this werewolf/vampire series: I recently listened to the CD and fell in love again with Prof. Randolph Lyall, the always correctly dressed and greatly put-upon Beta of the London Woolsey Werewolf pack. His huge Alpha, Lord Connall Maccon, gets ridiculously drunk over a personal crisis. (It takes formaldehyde, as werewolves are not affected much by alcohol.) Knowing that the Alpha is incapacitated, a "loner" wolf comes to challenge for the control of the Woolsey pack, and Prof. Lyall must fight in his leader's place. He's much smaller than most weres, but has skill, speed, cunning, and over a century of experience. During the fight the drunken Alpha Maccon arrives and literally tosses Lyall to the sidelines. Lyall hates being untidy, even in wolf form, and he cleans up the blood "surreptitiously licking his ruff like a cat." Wonderful character.

And the series also has the flamboyantly gay vampire Lord Akeldama, who's invented the Pink Slurp drink--blood mixed with champagne. Now you're all set for the next W-V party. Be sure to get the cravat straight.