Two corpses are found in the sacristy of a small provincial church. Murder? There is no doubt about it.
But what connects the victims—an impoverished drifter, Harry Mack, and retired politician Paul Berowne? A seasoned detective, Adam Dalgliesh, leading the investigation, is convinced that the motives for the crime must be sought in Berowne’s closest circle. After all, none of the residents of this luxurious house can explain what exactly Sir Paul was doing on a deaf night in an old church. The beautiful widow, her respectable brother, an aristocratic mother, a silent chauffeur—each of them seems to be keeping some kind of secret. Perhaps one of these secrets is the name of the murderer?
Another title: Obsession with Death