"On opening an evil-smelling trunk labelled 'old books', the Reverend Mother is horrified to discover the dead body of one of Cork's richest merchants. Many had reason to loathe the hides and skins merchant, but when suspicion falls on a former lay sister from her convent, the Reverend Mother decides to help find the real killer."--Publisher's description.

"The Reverend Mother is delighted with her new entrant to the convent. Young Sister Gertrude is well-educated, has worked for an accountant and has an appealing sense of humour. But one autumn morning, Sister Gertrude is found dead inside a small wooden shed, just beside the river. Surely a young nun could not die from alcohol poisoning? But when the Reverend Mother delves more deeply into Sister Gertrude's background, she finds some puzzling anomalies....