Through the night -- in which the priest's murder turns out to be not the only one -- Holmes and Watson track down several false leads, and encounter one surprising twist after another. Thanks to Holmes' astuteness and Watson's agility, the crimes are solved in less than 24 hours -- or so it seems. Two weeks later, as the great detective reflects on the case, Father Brown, the meek, young priest-translator, pays a call to reveal "a few loose ends" -- and a very unexpected turn of events.

A fast-paced, intrigue-filled tale subtly laced with larger themes: the intertwining of religion and politics, the realm of faith as a setting for sin, the dark corners of the human heart that can erupt in violence, enmity between brothers, the power of forgiveness or the lack thereof, and the everlasting hope for a glimpse of truth.