The Easter Confession

On Easter eve 1955, a stranger enters the confession booth of Fr. Hugh Osgood, the protagonist of this superior whodunit from Monagan (Carrie Welton), and confides that he believes he has committed a crime that may be both “too big” for forgiveness and “too dangerous” for the priest to know about, but leaves without saying more. A few days later, the self-described criminal approaches Osgood on the street and adds that he’s connected with the spectacular theft of four paintings by major Impressionist artists from a mansion belonging to a leading Waterbury, Conn., family. After Osgood tells the man that a confession has to be done at the proper time and in the proper place, the thief promises to visit the rectory, but dies, apparently of natural causes, before keeping that appointment. Ethical questions arise as Osgood wonders what information, if any, he can share with the authorities. The puzzle deepens when the stolen paintings start to be returned. This intelligent character study will please fans of Julia Spencer-Fleming. (Self-published)