Hardly anyone attends St Martin's Church, Kengrave Square, in West London, and it's very nearly falling down. But when news gets out that it's to be closed, and possibly sold, there's a significant flurry of interest. The site is worth millions. Aziz Developments are after it, and so is the Community of Investors for Jesus – a curious American group of tele-evangelists. Enter the Honourable Mrs Monica Lodey, Kengrave Square resident, whose grandfather built the church. The venerable Mrs Lodey is determined to save St Martin's. She's not only rich but she can also exert huge influence: her brother is Chairman of Grenwood, Phipps, the merchant bankers, where Mark Treasure is Chief Executive.
When the vicar's wife launches a fund to repair St Martin's, there's a rowdy parish meeting where Treasure's actress wife Molly is the first to promise money. Treasure hopes that can be the extent of his involvement. But when a sudden death follows, spawning more dramatic events, both he and Molly find themselves gradually drawn into yet another investigation, and this time very close to home ground.
'As nifty a puzzle as clever Williams has yet devised, redolent with the reddest of herrings.' Sunday Times
'As usual, the writer salts his tale with humour: but, also as usual, you leave the book with the sensation of having read more than just another thriller.' Financial Times
'Anyone who regrets the passing of the old-fashioned detective story could do much worse than turn to Mr Williams, with his astute but wry characterisation of English social life and his adept plotting.' Sunday Telegraph
Stuart David Williams was a writer best known for his crime novel series featuring the banker Mark Treasure and police inspector DI Parry.
After serving as Naval officer in WWII, Williams completed a History degree at St Johns College, Oxford before embarking on a career in advertising. He became a full time fiction writer in 1978.
Williams wrote twenty-three novels, seventeen of which were part of the Mark Treasure series of whodunnits which began with Unholy Writ (1976). His experience in both the Anglican Church and the advertising world informed and inspired his work throughout his career.
Two of Williams' books were shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award, and in 1988 he was elected to the Detection Club.
