A man lies in a pool of blood at the bishop's house, and the comfortable and uneventful existence of Father Vincent Ross is about to be turned upside down. Ugly secrets are being concealed by the church that he serves, a murderer is on the loose and getting closer by the minute. For years, Vincent has enjoyed the tranquil, celibate life of a small-town parish priest, listening to the sins of others, celebrating the mass and visiting the sick, his main pleasures being found in fine wines, gossip and the friendship of a few clever women.

But one foolish act, and a string of drunken words intended for his ears alone, draws him into a dark, corrupt world, opening his eyes and forcing him to question old certainties. Unable to rely upon the police and armed only with his own intelligence, he sets out to stop the killer but, in so doing, the accidental detective finds he is now the prey.