A murdered life model. A mysterious tattoo. A secret from Priest’s own past.

The body of a woman is found in windswept parkland near Halifax. She’s been beaten so badly, she’s unrecognisable. Then Priest sees the tattoo on her backside stating ‘Property of the Pope’ — and a chill runs down his spine.

He knows her.

Magdalena was a life model. She once mesmerised a room of young artists. Priest was one of them.

Meanwhile, a scandal erupts when MP Edward Goss is found hanging in his hallway, his reputation shredded by an anonymous smear campaign.

Priest suspects the cases are connected. But the more questions he asks, the clearer it becomes that he’s made a powerful enemy. Now it’s not just Priest’s career, it’s his life on the line.