Father Gabriel Mystery

In this third installment of the Father Gabriel Mystery series, the detective priest finds himself an unwilling guest at a wealthy local family's Christmas party. Only the excellent – and likely black market – cuisine softens the horror of meeting the odious Victor Gladstone, a veteran reporter and ardent anti-cleric, the sole witness to a wartime massacre no one wishes to revisit.

The next morning, when Victor is discovered dead on the Martin estate, the apparent victim of an unfortunate accident, Gabriel is drawn into the mystery of which of the family's chattering guests could have wanted the old man dead. Gabriel quickly realizes that Victor Gladstone, like any skilled reporter, had a nose for corrupt behavior, but as his investigation moves towards its tragic conclusion, he faces not one but two pressing questions: Who is guilty of Gladstone's murder, and is anyone truly innocent?

This mystery focuses on the issue of indirect involvement in evil, particularly the buying and selling of property stolen from victims of the Nazis, as well as the witnessing of Nazi crimes. As Gabriel delves deeper, he uncovers a web of deceit and complicity that challenges his own moral convictions.

The wealthy Martin family, hosts of the ill-fated Christmas party, are a complex and troubled clan, each member harboring their own secrets and motives. Gabriel must navigate the treacherous social dynamics of this elite circle, all while grappling with his own doubts and the weight of the moral quandaries he encounters.

Through this investigation, Gabriel is forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that even those who consider themselves righteous may be complicit in the sins of the past. The lines between guilt and innocence become increasingly blurred, and Gabriel must ultimately decide how far he is willing to go in his pursuit of justice.

As the mystery unfolds, the reader is drawn into a world of moral ambiguity, where the pursuit of personal gain and the desire to conceal the past collide, with devastating consequences. The Father Gabriel Mystery series continues to explore the complexities of the human condition, challenging readers to consider the ethical implications of their own actions and the ways in which they may be indirectly implicated in the evils of the world.

product information: