Ballyglass

Ballyglass is a small town in Ireland. It is the primary setting of the novel. After a Catholic priest is murdered in Ballyglass, Detective Inspector St. John Strafford is sent from Dublin to investigate. Strafford finds very little concrete evidence, and the Catholic Church attempts to suppress the investigation, but Strafford remains determined. Over the course of the investigation, he meets and converses with various locals.

Ballyglass House

Ballyglass House is the largest residence in Ballyglass. It is owned by the Osbornes, a wealthy Protestant family. Tom Lawless’ body is found in the house’s library, after Lawless was apparently stabbed to death. Strafford finds no signs of forced entry in the house, so the most likely suspects are the four members of the Osborne family who currently reside there.

Dublin

Dublin is the capital of Ireland, as well as its most populous city. Strafford generally lives and...