Part 1
Cornwall, August 1958
As Father Miles Dalgliesh cycled up the drive towards the Montague family home, Pendrift Hall, he took pleasure from the golden sun that filtered through the lime trees, casting luminous spots of shimmering light on to the gravel and surrounding ferns, and swept his bespectacled eyes over lush fields of soft brown cows. A fresh breeze swept in off the sea and gulls wheeled beneath a cerulean sky. Father Dalgliesh was new in town. Old Father William Hancock had recently passed away to continue his work on the Other Side, leaving his young prodigy in the hot seat rather sooner than anticipated. Still, God had given him a challenge and he would rise to it with gladness in his heart.
Today he would meet the Montagues, the first family of Pendrift.
Pendrift Hall was a pale stone mansion adorned with wisteria, tall sash windows and frothy gardens that tumbled down to the sea. Pigeons cooed from the chimney-pots and every year a family of swallows made its nest in the porch. The house was large and somewhat shabby, like a child’s favourite toy worn out by love. It had an air of contentment and Father Dalgliesh’s spirits rose even higher when he saw it. He knew he’d like the family and he anticipated an enjoyable afternoon ahead.
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