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Penitent
Brief Description
When Father Tom Morgan hears the confession of a murderer, he is faced with an impossible dilemma: whether to violate the sacred seal of confession and betray his vows, remain silent while the killing continues and risk innocent lives, or take justice into his own hands...
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29th
September 2026
(Approx. Date)
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Penitent
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A holy confession. A string of ritual killings. An impossible choice.
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Description
When Father Tom Morgan hears the confession of a murderer, he is faced with an impossible dilemma: whether to violate the sacred seal of confession and betray his vows, remain silent while the killing continues and risk innocent lives, or take justice into his own hands at the cost of his faith and conscience.
Meanwhile, Detective Atalia Reid is hunting a killer who ritually stages the bodies of his victims. As she finds more clues that seem to implicate Tom's parish, her suspicion of the troubled priest intensifies, leading her to believe he is concealing a dangerous secret.
Driven by mistrust and a mounting sense of dread, Tom and Atalia are drawn into a deadly contest between faith and justice. With each new murder, Tom's silence becomes harder to justify.
Penitent is a morally charged thriller about guilt, conscience and the impossible choice between a sacred duty and saving a life.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781760689896
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 September 2026
Country: Australia
Imprint: Echo Publishing
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 304
About the Author
A.W. Hammond was born in South Africa and emigrated to Australia as a child. He has a nomination for the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel. He works at RMIT University and lives in Melbourne with his wife and daughters.
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