Premium Mystery: A Father Gabriel Adventure

A gruesome discovery has been made on the building site of a former disused mine in the sleepy Wiltshire village of Sutton Westford – the skeleton of a child who went missing thirty years ago, during the Great War. Father Gabriel, who has recently returned to St Mary's Abbey, has been called in to investigate this perplexing case, but the task seems almost impossible. How can he uncover a secret that has been so meticulously hidden for three decades? Worse still, as the tragic details of the lost little girl's final moments emerge, Gabriel is tormented by the memory of his own daughter and the life that was stolen from her many years ago.

The village has not been at peace since the return of Joseph Beaumont, a former resident who has now become a London property developer. Joseph plans to build a row of new houses on the grounds of the disused mine, but a local opposition group, led by his boyhood nemesis, is campaigning to stop the development. Joseph finds himself the target of increasingly menacing threats, and the discovery of the child's remains has only served to heighten the tensions within the community.

Missing Presumed Lost delves deeper into Gabriel's own troubled past, exploring the themes of childhood innocence, guilt, and the responsibilities that society faces in protecting the young. As the investigation progresses, Gabriel is tormented by the parallels between this case and the loss of his own daughter, a tragedy that has haunted him for many years. The book examines the profound impact that such events can have on an individual, and the urgent need to confront and lay to rest the ghosts of the past.

The novel presents a complex and compelling mystery, as Gabriel struggles to uncover the truth behind the child's disappearance and death, while also grappling with his own personal demons. The tension builds as the investigation uncovers layer upon layer of secrets and deception, forcing Gabriel to confront the dark realities that lie beneath the surface of the seemingly tranquil village.

Through its exploration of these themes, Missing Presumed Lost offers a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narrative that will linger with readers long after the final page has been turned. The book serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of human life and the enduring impact of trauma, while also highlighting the importance of justice, redemption, and the capacity for healing.

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