Ex-con Joe Ruby is a volunteer at a local priory, tending to the grounds, seeking forgiveness and attempting to start a new life, all under the kind but watchful eye of Father David.
But when the body of one of the monks is found hastily buried in a remote part of the priory grounds, Oxford-educated DI Rose O'Connell and her green second-in-command DS Raj Singh are sent to investigate.
The mysterious circumstances make it a tricky case to solve. What secrets are these sacred grounds hiding? And what do these God-fearing suspects know about the murder? There's Brother Christopher, the gentle monk who loves to garden, Sister Marie, the stern but kindly nun who runs Bible class and Father David, the cryptic, ever-wise prior. Alongside them is the victim's brother Benedict, who is someone in need of support and money. And then there's Joe himself, who with his criminal past becomes suspect number one for Rose and Raj.
But when Joe comes up with some insights from his own dodgy history, Rose senses that Joe may prove useful after all.
Finding themselves investigating alongside each other, Joe and Rose set out to solve the mystery of who killed Brother Mark, frustrating each other at every turn, only to uncover a truth far more shocking than either anticipated.
