Ghouls in the Nave

By Kent Walley

What is going on in the old church that Father Thomas has recently been called to lead? Things go missing. There are spooky, unexplained experiences in the middle of the night. Father Thomas, a priest with a curious mind, a vivid dream life, and an overactive imagination is dragged into the middle of a mystery. Who is behind the strange happenings? Is it the spunky, elderly parish administrator, the simple-minded custodian, the impressive organist, the business-oriented church leader, or is there some spiritual explanation? Ghouls in the Nave is the first in the Father Thomas Mystery Series. In these mysteries there are seemingly supernatural incidents. Is Father Thomas getting divine help to solve the mystery or are these things merely coincidence? You decide as you encounter the cast of memorable characters at the old church where Father Thomas serves as priest and now it seems also as amateur sleuth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kent Walley
• Release date: May 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463065143

Kent Walley

Kent grew up in Western Pennsylvania and loves all things Pittsburgh. He graduated from the University of Michigan, where he focused part of his Bachelor of General Studies degree on English writing and also covered sports for the Michigan Daily newspaper. He is still married to the Michigan girl he met in Ann Arbor who also helps him tremendously with editing his work. They have two grown children. Kent loves jazz, golf, Celtic Christian history and creative pursuits.Kent grew up in a musical family; his mom is an organist/choir director and his brother performed on broadway. Kent enjoys playing jazz piano, but just for fun. After being hired as a technical writer, Kent began a career in computer consulting, but he soon heard a higher calling. He worked in campus ministry with Inter Varsity and was ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1999. He has completed a Masters of Divinity degree from Trinity Seminary in Ambridge, PA and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Seminary.Kent's writes for a wide audience. He loves to include the spiritual element in his fiction, but abhors being preachy or trying to tell the reader what to believe. He likes to raise questions and draw the reader to observe the potential spiritual dynamics at work in the world around us.

Book preview

Ghouls in the Nave

Father Thomas Mystery Number One

By Kent Walley

Copyright 2020 by Kent Walley

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To Joy, my proof reader who happens also to be the wife of my youth and life-long partner, and a great blessing to me.

Chapter One

Ghouls in the Nave

Father Thomas squinted in the dimly lit church. Had something moved? Just on the edge of his peripheral vision he thought there had been movement. Had he seen a shadow dart along the far aisle then disappear under the stone archway? The warm light from the hanging lantern-style fixtures cast shadows against the stone walls. The lights were not bright enough to illuminate the aisles along the sides of the nave nor the entryway near the front of the sanctuary. He walked pensively in that direction. The place was still spooky at night. Ten months in this new parish had not changed that feeling. The stone church, built in 1850, was beautiful by day, but it had a different character when it was empty at night. He felt a cool draft as he walked down the center aisle. He crossed in front of the chancel step and came to within ten feet of the archway. He still couldn’t make anything out in the darkness behind it. He stopped, his heart was racing. Then he steadied himself, and murmured, Good Heavens, I am allowing my imagination to play tricks on me. Really. I am acting more like a jittery teenager rather than a mature clergyman of 40.

He took a deep breath and walked into the darkness. He knew there was a light switch just ahead. He cautiously reached out until he felt the cold stone wall. After sliding his hand up and down the wall for a few moments, he found it, and flipped the switch. Light flooded the alcove that was clearly empty. He checked the door that led to the sacristy and areas behind the altar. It was locked and the exterior door next to the light switch was locked as well. He chuckled at this latest fantastic illusion his imagination had conjured up for him. What had this been? Oh yes, the third time this month. He didn’t believe in ghosts and especially ghosts who seemed to like scotch and money. Well, he wasn’t actually sure. The level on the secret scotch bottle he kept hidden in his office desk drawer seemed lower than he had remembered, but he wasn’t positive. He was more certain that the twenty he’d placed under his desk blotter wasn’t there after the vestry meeting. What next?

He flipped off the light switch,