Sign of the Cross: A Mystery (A Collins-Burke Mystery)

Be careful what you wish for, his mother used to say. Yet how many times, in his twenty years defending the underclass, has Monty Collins wished for a client who is intelligent, articulate and tattoo-free? Now he has one, but it's not long before his mother's warning comes back to haunt him. Father Brennan Burke was born in Ireland, raised in New York, educated in Rome — he's equally fluent in Latin and the language of the street. And he is the prime suspect in the killing of a foxy young girl whose body was found carved with a religious sign, a sign that points straight to the priest. From their first meeting, Monty finds Burke acerbic, arrogant, and evasive about his relationship with the victim. Conflict between lawyer and client simmers all through the ordeal that lies ahead, as evidence piles up and murder charges seem inevitable. With Burke remaining tight-lipped about his past, Monty has no choice but to go behind his back and conduct a probe into the life of his own client. Never in his career has Monty been so lost for answers, until a long-forgotten incident takes on new and ominous meaning... Be careful what you wish for, his mother used to say. Yet how many times has Monty Collins wished for a client who is intelligent, articulate and tattoo-free? Now he has one, but it's not long before his mother's warning comes back to haunt him. Father Brennan Burke is the prime suspect in the killing of a foxy young girl whose body was found carved with a religious sign, a sign that points straight to the priest. With Burke remaining tight-lipped and evasive about his relationship with the victim, Monty has no choice but to secretly conduct a probe into the life of his own client. Never has Monty been so lost for answers, until a long-forgotten incident takes on new and ominous meaning ... Winner of the 2006 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel Halifax attorney Monty Collins defends Father Brennan Burke, born in Ireland, raised in New York, the prime suspect in the mutilation and killing of a young girl