It could only happen to Lovejoy. One minute a beautiful young girl is asking how to steal a necklace; the next he's in the Channel Isles organizing The Gamble of the Century . . .
Prior George Metivier needs Lovejoy's help. The ancient Albansham Priory is in financial trouble and he would like Lovejoy to assess their valuable antiques. For research purposes of course, Lovejoy and Gesso the cat burglar break into the Priory at dead of night. Gesso is caught, but Lovejoy for once is lucky and escapes with a rare painting.
Yet, despite frantic nocturnal attempts to conceal it, by morning the canvas has vanished from Lovejoy's workshop. Only hours later Gesso disappears, the Priory suddenly closes, and Prior George and his flock are gone. Worse still, at the now eerily quiet Albansham Priory, Lovejoy finds evidence that Gesso has been murdered . . .
