David Trimble

Lest Ye Be Judged David Trimble

Widely viewed as a liberal, Dunstan Mitchell, bishop of the EpiscopalDiocese of Central Kentucky,has been aggressively pressing his agendafor the Episcopal Church, including ordination of openly gay clergy and theblessing of same-sex marriages. His actions have severely offended the moreconservative elements of the Diocese. Mitchell also has some personal habitsthat his allies in the Church find distasteful, and it soon becomes apparent thathe is a liability-one that the church may want to eliminate. Six weeks later, the bishop's desecrated body is found in the covered swimmingpool of one of his archenemies, crusty Circuit Judge James Chancellor. Anextensive police and forensic investigation leads to many possible suspects,noneof whom are in the least upset that Bishop Mitchell is gone, including his exwife,rival priests, and disgruntled former parishioners. Ambitious prosecutorRon Gaither soon gets his way, however, and indicts Judge Chancellor, aconviction that will ensure Gaither's political future. The trial becomes a battleof wills between these formidable men that leads to a surprising and disturbingconclusion Set against the backdrop of the theological and political turmoil plaguing themodern Episcopal Church, Lest Ye Be Judged is a compelling page-turner thatescalates the tension all the way through the final page.