Jane Willan - Widow's Walk Book Event

In the small coastal town of Sparrow, Maine, tradition runs deep—and change is rarely welcome...

In the quaint coastal parish of St. Gabriel-by-the-Sea, Reverend Miranda McCurdy arrives with visions of renewal—only to find her progressive ideas crashing against the rocky shores of tradition. When she challenges the cherished Thanksgiving pageant’s outdated “Pilgrims and Indians” costumes, she unwittingly ignites a firestorm within her congregation.

As tensions escalate, a desperate Honduran woman seeking sanctuary in the church forces the parish to confront its deepest values, fracturing the community Miranda had hoped to rejuvenate. Facing a congregational vote of no confidence, the siren call of her former life as an executive chef at Seattle’s hottest new restaurant tempts her—an escape from the stormy waters of parish politics.

But fate intervenes—in the form of a stray dog and an intriguing stranger—forcing Miranda to make an impossible choice: retreat to the familiar comforts of her culinary career or weather the tempest to nurture the fragile roots beginning to anchor her heart.

About the Author

Jane Willan is the author of the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery series, cozy whodunits where faith, community, and murder intertwine. A pastor at Plantsville Congregational Church in Connecticut, Jane draws inspiration from her ministry and love of liturgical traditions. She holds degrees in Religion, History, Theology, and Biology, bringing depth and variety to her storytelling. Widow’s Walk, introduces Miranda McCurdy, a former chef turned priest navigating life and healing in the coastal town of Sparrow, Maine. When not writing or preaching, Jane enjoys New England’s beauty with her husband Don and their rescue dog, Ollie. Learn more at janewillan.com.