Louis Buss: The Ogre's Laboratory [1999] paperback

When the previous incumbent in the parish of Wodden commits suicide in mysterious circumstances, Julian Snow, an immensely gifted young Catholic priest, is sent to take his place. Wodden is the home of a number of prominent Catholics, including a powerful Tory politician and an old Catholic family, the Trevellyans, whose ancestral seat, Flamstead House, dominates the village. One of Father Snow's duties is to say Mass at Flamstead and he dicovers that the ancient legends about Everard Trevellyan, the third Earl of Wodden, are still current in the village. Monstrous in size, dissipated in morals, Everard is said to have preyed on the local children. Soon after Father Snow has become convinced that there are good reasons for the continuing currency of the legend, that something very sinister indeed is happen-ing at Flamstead. And. furthermore, he has fallen in love...A compel-ling and atmospheric modern Gothic novel, and a moving exploration of a priest's crisis of faith, THE OGRE'S LABORATORY is an immensely impressive achievement.