Lest Ye Be Judged

Widely viewed as a liberal, Dunstan Mitchell, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Kentucky, has been aggressively pressing his agenda for the Episcopal Church, including ordination of openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex marriages. His actions have severely offended the more conservative elements of the Diocese. Mitchell also has some personal habits that his allies in the Church find distasteful, and it soon becomes apparent that he is a liability-one that the church may want to eliminate.

Six weeks later, the bishop's desecrated body is found in the covered swimming pool of one of his archenemies, crusty Circuit Judge James Chancellor. An extensive police and forensic investigation leads to many possible suspects, none of whom are in the least upset that Bishop Mitchell is gone, including his exwife, rival priests, and disgruntled former parishioners. Ambitious prosecutor Ron Gaither soon gets his way, however, and indicts Judge Chancellor, a conviction that will ensure Gaither's political future.The trial becomes a battle of wills between these formidable men that leads to a surprising and disturbing conclusion .

Set against the backdrop of the theological and political turmoil plaguing the modern Episcopal Church, "Lest Ye Be Judged" is a compelling page-turner that escalates the tension all the way through the final page.