Sins out of school

the long version

From the inside cover: She thought the lack of cranberry sauce was going to be her biggest problem, but a missing schoolteacher, a murdered man, and troubled child, and a call for help were difficulties Dorothy Martin most definitely hadn't foreseen. She had wanted to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for her husband, Alan, and some of her friends, a taste of home for a holiday she missed. Then the call came from the school, asking Dorothy to fill in for a few hours because Amanda Doyle hadn't shown up and there was a flu epidemic and no one was available. Three days later, on Thanksgiving, the second call came: John Doyle was dead--murdered--and Amanda was a suspect. Would Dorothy mind caring for their daughter, Miriam, for the day? Please? Dorothy had already sensed that something was not right in the Doyle household: John was clearly abusive, emotionally if not physically, and the church the family belonged to help some very strange ideas about sin and punishment. Now Amanda and Miriam needed her; neither of them could be responsible for the murder, no matter how it looked to the police. With Alan's help and more than a few surprises, Dorothy unravels a nasty knot of family secrets and gives Amanda and Miriam something for which to be truly thankful.