A Pact With Satan

Father Bredder #2

by Leonard Holton

When Father Bredder gets involved with murder—Heaven only knows what will happen next…

Father Joseph Bredder thought Mrs. Wentworth must be deranged. How could a sane woman expect him to believe that her dead husband was trying to burn her to death? Dr. Wentworth had died in a road accident when his car had crashed into a pylon and burst into flames. Now his widow heard his voice at night, threatening her with the same fate…

Named “A Red Badge Novel of Suspense” alongside Agatha Christie, Michael Innes, and Hugh Pentecost, The Father Bredder Mysteries, written by Leonard Wibberley under the pen name Leonard Holton, inspired a television show starring George Kennedy.

The Father Bredder Mystery Series by Leonard Holton
The Complete Series Coming Soon To Kindle

The Saint Maker
A Pact with Satan
Secret of the Doubting Saint
Deliver Us from Wolves
Flowers by Request
Out of the Depths
A Touch of Jonah
A Problem in Angels
The Mirror of Hell
The Devil to Play
A Corner of Paradise

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

A pseudonym used by Leonard Wibberley to publish the "Father Joseph Bredder" mystery series, Dodd, Mead (New York)

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely better than the first one. I felt like it flowed better and was an easier story to follow. The solution of this one was predictable from the beginning but getting there was pretty enjoyable nevertheless. And honestly I'm a sucker for redemptive stories. I like that he makes Father Bredder focus so much on souls. It reminds me of G.K. Chesterton and Father Brown.

[Gilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable

At approximately page ten, I know the outcome of the story. There were a few twists and turns in the plot, but as I feared the "mystery" unfolded as I predicted. The first book in the series was a better read in my opinion ... a light, unpredictable mystery with the addition of the element of Christian spirituality without being didactic.

[Steve Banes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing major here, a perfectly fine mystery with an almost too obvious / easy to figure twist... definitely not as suspenseful or as atmospherically spooky as Holton's great "Deliver us from Wolves" (which features the same crime fightin' holy man), but still a good little weekend read with a few gruesome touches and fun characters.

[Julia Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The priest is growing on me!