When The Hammer Falls

Father Logan a much-troubled Priest with a sense of spiritual guilt is transferred to a new Parish. Soon after his arrival two Murders occur. Both victims had received three envelopes, each with a pencilled caption. In the first envelope was a drawing of two ears muffled, the second, two eyes closed, the third, a mouth zipped tight. The fourth arrived by separate post; this one shows two hands together in prayer with a question mark protruding from the fingertips. At various auction houses of late, valuable paintings have been disappearing in unusual ways. Two women totally different in dress and manner appear to be involved and both appear to be associated with one particular dealer. This dealer had engaged the first murder victim Bryan Kinley to value a painting at the Auction at Phillips and Cowan where Kinley had made an unofficial phone bid Contacting an old friend from his time in the London Met, in pursuance of other Art thefts, Langton, knowing Father Logan had been a priest at St.John's Church in the East End of London, discovered he had been questioned with other priests from St.Johns Church regarding a valuable painting and Silver Artefacts that had been stolen. Although they were all cleared, Father Logan was sent for again. After that second interview the Silver items were mysteriously returned, but not the Painting. The second Murder for Langton to solve occurs and the dealer has some connection with the victim. For Father Logan a request by a young Woman parishioner for him to trace a young boy whom she witnessed had killed his father for whom his mother took the blame, creates tension not only for him but also between Langton and his Chief Superintendent, And who is Rosie?