| Father Will is happy to step
in and take confession when Father Attwood has to go to the
hospital. The first person to arrive is a woman who confesses
to a murder, and shortly afterwards a body of an unknown man
is found on the moors. Then Father Attwood is discovered to
have vanished. Could this be to do with a terrible secret
held by one of the monks? It is up to retired Inspector Nick
Rhea to rally his band of monkstable and help the police get
to the bottom of it all.
Nicholas Rhea is the celebrated and prolific author of many
books, including the Constable series that inspired the popular
Heartbeat TV series. This is the second in a new series about
the adventures of his alter ego Nick Rhea in his retirement,
bringing the series up to the present day and his new career
at Maddleskirk Abbey. It follows on from Murder at Maddleskirk
Abbey (also reviewed on this site) and rewards readers with
being a lot less pedestrian and more interesting. As the author
was in the police force himself much of it had the ring of
authenticity, making it more than just a gentle continuation
of the Constable series. Despite the cozy feel of the book
this is still very much a police procedural with a good description
of a hunt for the perpetrator. To say more would spoil the
story, which is not exactly a mystery after the first few
chapters but more a closing of the net, which again makes
it a bit different to the usual murder tale. There is even
a brief appearance by one of the Heartbeat characters, all
making it an enjoyable and relaxing read.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Murder
at Maddleskirk Abbey #1
Confession
at Maddleskirk Abbey #2
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