The fictional creation of former nurse Doris Simpson, writing under the pseudonym Anthea Cohen, Agnes Carmichael, an English nursing sister, stars in a series of crime novels about a different kind of nurse--one who avenges wrongdoing in her own simple, direct way: she kills.

Sister Carmichael is efficient, both in her nursing and in her extracurricular activities. She likes order. She doesn't like troublemakers, or busybodies, or people who are in her way.

One can't help feeling empathy for poor Sister Carmichael, with her lack of social graces, her heartbreaking loneliness, her inability to fit in, her pain. At least she can take pride in her profession: "It was wonderful to see a patient helped, worry taken away from her. She felt that her nursing training was so justified, so right, and she had removed three people who might have injured it ... She was the one to deal out justice, not a stupid magistrate ... No, she was the one, she was the one" (Guardian Angel).

Angel Without Mercy, 1982
Night superintendent Marion Hughes is a petty tyrant who makes the staff at St. Jude's miserable--but sometimes a person who's being bullied finally decides to push back. [Available at Amazon.com]

Angel of Vengeance, 1982
The little girl who kept being brought into the hospital was clearly being beaten at home, which was bad enough, but then that beastly father carelessly rammed Sister Carmichael's car. [Available at Amazon.com]

Angel of Death, 1983
Agnes Carmichael's been promoted to nursing officer, and now she even falls in love, with a blind diabetic patient. Surely a caring nurse like Agnes would be better for him than that glamorous but shallow woman he's married to. [Available at Amazon.com]

Fallen Angel, 1984
Sister Carmichael's come down in the world; after a breakdown, she's working at a poorly run nursing home and feeling rather muddled--till she discovers evildoing that needs to be avenged by her own distinctive methods.

Guardian Angel, 1985
Some young punks visiting a hospitalized friend are terrorizing patients and staff. When they vandalize her cottage and her two precious cats go missing, Sister Carmichael knows it's time to seek justice. [Available at Amazon.com]

Hell's Angel, 1986
Sister Carmichael begins dating a man who might make a suitable husband, but she wonders if he's being entirely truthful with her. [Available at Amazon.com]

Ministering Angel, 1986
When one of the innocent young nurses on her staff becomes pregnant, Sister Carmichael contemplates vengeance against those who have victimized her. [Available at Amazon.com]

Destroying Angel, 1988
Despite a secret inheritance, Agnes loves nursing too much to give it up. She's also not about to give up her more deadly pursuits, creating a to-die-for mushroom dish for a special someone.

Angel Dust, 1989
[Available at Amazon.com]

Recording Angel, 1991
[Available at Amazon.com]

Angel in Action, 1992
[Available at Amazon.com]

Angel in Love, 1993
Agnes's interest is piqued by the newly arrived vicar, a handsome, popular addition to the community, who harbors a deadly secret.

Angel in Autumn, 1995
Agnes moves to a new home, where she discovers an old connection to her interesting new neighbors, from whose home a young boy has disappeared under curious circumstances.

Dedicated Angel, 1997
[Available at Amazon.com]

Angel of Retribution, 1998
[Available at Amazon.com]

Angel and the French Widow, 2000
[Available at Amazon.com]

Angel and the Deadly Secret, 2003

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