Dark deeds in Holy places

The Canterbury Murders (A Stanton and Barling Mystery #3) by E.M. Powell  

****

It's Easter, 1711 and Aelred Barling has a personal and exacting challenge metered out from his confessor--to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury. Our dour King's clerk has a deep, dark secret that pulls him down. He takes Hugo Stanton with him. Stanton of course is looking forward to the rumoured delights that abound on the pilgrimage trail but is foiled by the more moderate stops that the sanctimonious Barling chooses, much to Stanton's bitter chagrin.

After a penitent and bloody approach to the Cathederal, Barling is in line on the steps, almost through the door, ready to complete his task, yearning for the spiritual relief this will give him, when he's hauled out of the line at the King Henry II's request to support no lesser a powerful being, than Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Murder has taken place and Barling is called upon to investigate. As the killings escalate he and Stanton struggle to find links that will  lead to resolution.

Once more this unlikely duo are thrust into a situation that will stretch and test them.

As always a different but highly satisfying read.

An ARC provided by the author via NetGalley