A Catholic priest, Miguel Flores, falls dead while officiating at a funeral mass and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Detective Delia Peabody are called upon to investigate the suspicious death.
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An autopsy confirms Eve's suspicions that Flores was poisoned, but throws up other startling details including plastic surgery on his face, old knife wounds and faint traces of a gang-tattoo on his arm.
Eve understands that 'Flores' is not an ordinary priest and to find his killer, she would have to first confirm his identity and find out why he ended up as a priest at a church in East Harlem. Why does he have a medal taped to the underside of his desk? The faint tattoo on his arm indicates that he had killed at least once. And a bigger question, where is the actual Miguel Flores if the dead priest is an impostor?
When another religious activist is murdered in the same fashion soon after Flores' death, Eve has to find out whether the murders are connected. Is the killer someone with a vendetta against the church or does he have a personal connection to the victim?
Best part of story, including ending:
In Salvation in Death, Eve's victim is not innocent. She suspects him of having been a former gang member who assumed the identity of a priest for his own purpose. But even this does not stop her from standing for him or finding out his killer.
Best scene in story:
Peabody is upset after grilling the suspected killer in Interview and takes it out on McNab and he tries to make her understand why she had to do what she did. It reveals a mature side to McNab that he usually hides behind his flashy clothes and wit.
Opinion about the main character:
It is the first time that Eve has to deal with religion while investigating a case and she is decidedly uncomfortable in the beginning. Still she develops a personal relationship with Father Lopez who she meets during the course of the investigation and respects him for honouring his calling and chosen profession.
