"Father Dowling, respected by all, is well known for his willingness to lend a helping hand however he can. So it's no surprise when Stanley Collins shows up at the St. Hilary's rectory to confide in Father Dowling about the troubled marriage of one of the church's parishioners. Dowling promises to do his best to find a way to help, but it's soon too late. One of the parties involved is viciously killed in a hit-and-run car accident." "Is it murder? Dowling knows there is good reason to suspect so, but when his friend Detective Phil Keegan labels it an accident, Dowling's hands are tied. It's a question of ethics. Unable to break Collins's confidence, he can only keep tabs on the investigation from afar. While searching for the truth, Dowling must protect the secrets of his parishioners at all costs."--BOOK JACKET.