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Before the Devil Knows

by R. John Dingle

A crime investigation shaped by scripture and ritual

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A crime investigation shaped by scripture and ritual

In rural northern Maine, FBI agent Gus Wheeler and his partner investigate two bodies found in separate unmarked graves, each marked by a lead cross. The case draws them into a community where locals resist cooperation and a church’s strict Old Testament doctrine complicates the search for answers. A theology and biblical studies expert helps connect the killings to ancient scripture and religious burial practices. As threats grow, an unknown person within the church offers clues, leaving the agents unsure whether the guidance will clarify the case or deepen its dangers. The premise combines a missing-person investigation with questions of religious interpretation, secrecy, and trust.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers of crime thrillers involving FBI investigations and unsolved murders
  • Readers interested in plots that draw on biblical studies and religious practices
  • Readers who enjoy mysteries involving a secretive community and uncertain informants

Themes

Crime investigationReligious doctrine and ritualSecrecy and trust

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Sometimes it's not the devil you know...

When the disfigured body of a missing teenager is found in an unmarked grave in northern Maine, FBI agent Gus Wheeler and his partner arrive to investigate. They discover a second grave, but these remains are so badly burned, identification proves difficult. Yet the two bodies have something strange in common: a large lead cross laid upon each chest.

The locals are uncooperative, and the rural law enforcement is two steps behind. Enlisting help from a theology and biblical studies expert, they discover the murders are lifted straight from ancient scripture and the burials consistent with an archaic religious practice. Connecting the victims to a specific church adhering to a strict doctrine of the Old Testament creates more confusion than clarity.

As the investigation widens, the agents face threats and suspicion. Then someone inside the church begins leaving them clues, but are they friend or foe? With time running out, Gus must determine if their secret guide is leading them toward the answers or deeper into an underworld of twisted dogma and ancient rituals.

 

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