Newly ordained priest Matthew Linley is excited to take up the position of curate in a seemingly perfect parish, but his fresh start is ruined when he finds a dead body his first night in town.

What was presumed to be an accident is soon proved to be murder, and as the victim's double life is exposed, Matthew's own past catches up to him. He finds himself under suspicion from the police and under pressure from his new boss, Reverend Frank Maguire, who is not all he appears to be. Reverend Maguire oversees more than Sunday services and before long, Matthew is mixed up in a series of bizarre criminal schemes – all run by Frank and his aging flock.

As the police close in, Matthew may very well have to commit a crime and solve one if he's to hang on to his new life. But is it truly possible to shepherd a flock while also flouting the law?



Nicola Whyte has loved books for as long as she can remember, particularly crime fiction. She writes novels and short stories for both adults and children.

Her work has been listed for the Comedy Women in Print Prize, the Cheshire Novel Prize, the Daily Mail First Novel Competition, the BPA First Novel Award, and The Times Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition. Her Marchfield Square mystery series is published by Bloomsbury.

Nicola lives near Stonehenge in Wiltshire with her family, a ridiculous spaniel, and two demanding tabby cats.