Father Anselm Thrillers

A Whispered Name reaches into the mysteries of one man's past and casts light on the long shadows war leaves behind. In the Larkwood Priory, secrets are rare. So Father Anselm is deeply dismayed by an allegation against Herbert Moore, one of the founding fathers of the Priory and the man who shaped his own vocation. The claim is inconceivable, but Anselm soon learns that Herbert did indeed have secrets in his past that he kept hidden all his life. While investigating the accusation, Father Anselm discovers the horrors of a long-buried secret of war involving the young Captain Moore. A novel of moral complexity, superb characterization and, above all, profound humanity, A Whispered Name is fit to stand with the finest thrillers inspired by the First World War.

In The Day of the Lie, Father Anselm receives a visit from an old friend with a dangerous story to tell-the story of a revolutionary in Eastern Europe during the icy grip of the Cold War. As a young woman, Roza Mojeska was part of an underground resistance group in Communist Poland. Betrayed by someone close to her-someone still unknown-she was sent to the dark of a government prison and forced to make a terrible choice that would haunt her to this day. Now, decades later, Father Anselm peels back years of history, decades of secrets, a half-century of lies, in order to expose a truth that victim and torturer would keep hidden. A perceptive examination of guilt and redemption, The Day of the Lie is a gripping, intricate mystery.

Featuring the brilliant criminal lawyer-turned-monk/ detective whose specialty is the intersection of murderous deeds and moral questions. In The Day of the Lie, Father Anselm receives a visit from an old friend with a dangerous story to tell-the story of a revolutionary in Eastern Europe during the icy grip of the Cold War. As a young woman, Roza Mojeska was part of an underground resistance group in Communist Poland. Betrayed by someone close to her-someone still unknown-she was sent to the dark of a government prison and forced to make a terrible choice that would haunt her to this day. Now, decades later, Father Anselm peels back years of history, decades of secrets, a half-century of lies, in order to expose a truth that victim and torturer would keep hidden. A perceptive examination of guilt and redemption, The Day of the Lie is a gripping, intricate mystery.

An anonymous letter accuses a prominent academic, Peter Henderson, of a grotesque murder: the calculated killing of Jenny, his disabled partner, believed by everyone to have died peacefully two years ago. Time has moved on. Grief and loss were tempered by a comforting thought: Jenny was spared a long and painful illness. Knowing the truth behind the soothing lie, Father Anselm-former barrister, current clergyman-must move cautiously to expose the killer and the killing without harming young Timothy, Jenny and Peter's son. But Jenny's father is looking out for his grandson, and he is capable of anything if he thinks it's for the best. He has set out to execute Peter Henderson. Death, dying, and killing have never been so complicated.|William Brodrick was an Augustinian friar before leaving the order to become a lawyer and novelist. Winner of the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award, he is the author of six novels featuring Father Anselm.

In The Silent Ones, Brodrick tackles head-on the topical and sensitive social issue that's become the modern scourge of the Church to create an intricate thriller that's as devastating as it is impactful. Father Anselm is enlisted to trace the missing Father Livermore, an American priest with a troubled past. His disappearance is undoubtedly connected to allegations made against him by the family of eleven-year-old Harry Brandwell, but a mysterious visitor to the Priory urges Father Anselm to find out why Harry is prepared to blame an innocent man. Father Anselm finds himself on the trail of an imposter, unaware that he is being drawn into the shadows of a mysterious conspiracy, his reputation for integrity exploited by those closest to him, and behind the victim there also stand the ranks of the Silent Ones-those who have chosen silence as a way to face their own horrors-who also seek justice. Contemporary, disturbing, and elegantly plotted, The Silent Ones is a compelling novel about the anatomy of silence, the courage of victims, and the redemptive power of public justice.

An English barrister-turned-monk looks into a disabled woman's death: "Strikes a nice balance between sleuthing and character-driven suspense." -Kirkus Reviews CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning author An anonymous letter arrives at the priory accusing a prominent academic, Peter Henderson, of a grotesque murder: the calculated killing of Jenny, his disabled partner, believed by everyone to have died peacefully two years ago. Time has moved on. Grief and loss were tempered by a comforting thought: Jenny was spared a long and painful illness. Knowing the truth behind the soothing lie, Father Anselm-former barrister, current clergyman-must move cautiously to expose the killer and the killing without harming young Timothy, Jenny and Peter's son. But Jenny's father is looking out for his grandson too. He is capable of anything if he thinks it's for the best. And he has set out to execute Peter Henderson . . . "William Brodrick's crime novels have the great (and unusual) merit of being unlike anyone else's." -Spectator "Classics in the making." -Jeffery Deaver

Gold Dagger Award Winner: "This complex thriller . . . explores some of life's biggest moral questions and puts a human face on the war to end all wars." -Kirkus Reviews A Wall Street Journal Best Mystery of the Year In the Larkwood Priory, secrets are rare. So Father Anselm is deeply dismayed by an allegation against the late Herbert Moore, one of the founding fathers of the Priory and the man who shaped his own vocation. The claim is inconceivable, but Anselm soon learns that Herbert did indeed have secrets in his past that he kept hidden all his life. While investigating the accusation, former lawyer Father Anselm discovers the horrors of a long-buried secret of war involving the young Captain Moore. A novel of moral complexity, superb characterization and, above all, profound humanity, A Whispered Name is fit to stand with the finest thrillers inspired by the First World War. "A Whispered Name holds its own?in moral purpose and expressive prose?with the best of Graham Greene." -The Wall Street Journal "Poignant . . . with incredible pacing . . . a thought-provoking, nuanced story." -Publishers Weekly "William Brodrick's crime novels have the great (and unusual) merit of being unlike anyone else's." -Spectator

A monk must locate a missing priest accused of sexual abuse in a mystery thriller "by turns shocking, poignant, enlightening and inspired" (Wall Street Journal). Monk-turned-lawyer-turned-novelist William Brodrick has proven with each new installment of his Father Anselm series that he's the "writer of choice for those who prefer a cerebral challenge with a moral and social message". In The Silent Ones, Brodrick tackles head-on the modern scourge of the Catholic Church to create an intricate thriller that's as devastating as it is impactful (Crime Review). Father Anselm is enlisted to trace the missing Father Livermore, an American priest with a troubled past. His disappearance is undoubtedly connected to allegations made against him by the family of eleven-year-old Harry Brandwell, but a mysterious visitor to the Priory urges Father Anselm to find out why Harry is prepared to blame an innocent man. Father Anselm finds himself on the trail of an imposter, unaware that he is being drawn into the shadows of a conspiracy while his reputation is exploited by those closest to him. As he probed deeper, he discovers that behind the victim stand many others who have chosen silence as a way to face their own horrors. Contemporary, disturbing, and elegantly plotted, The Silent Ones is a compelling novel about the anatomy of silence, the courage of victims, and the redemptive power of public justice.