The Crown of the Forgottten King

THE CROWN OF THE FORGOTTEN KINGThe story opens with the mysterious death of Stephen Ross found in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, prompting an investigation led by Carter Mardell under the guidance of Professor Evelyn Hartley of MI5. The investigation is complicated by political pressure to label the death a suicide and suspicions of German sympathies among local clergy, particularly Dean Simon Forster-Scorgie and his wife  .
Mardell's inquiry reveals conflicting local perceptions: Ross is publicly maligned as a philanderer and petty thief, but this is a cover for his true role as an undercover agent. The cathedral community is fraught with tension between religious authority and secular dissent, exemplified by the mysterious disappearances of men linked to the National Secular Society, who disguised their meetings as a stamp collecting group.
The Dean's fervent sermons against the secular faction heighten social divisions   . Mardell shadows the Dean, uncovering his complex personality shaped by a controversial military past and his clandestine dealings in London's silver market and covert exchanges involving sacred relics. The Dean's public dignity contrasts with private financial strains and secretive behaviours, suggesting deeper intrigue and possible smuggling or espionage activities   .
Following eerie encounters in fog-shrouded ruins and an attempted assassination via a dynamite-laden breakfast, Mardell faces increasing threats. The narrative introduces supernatural undertones, including a spectral wolfhound and ominous symbols tied to the murders and ancient rituals. The murdered men's affiliation with the National Secular Society reveals a dangerous ideological clash with religious factions.
Their freethinking activities and possession of controversial literature like Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason marks them as targets of lethal suppression. This conflict underscores the story's themes of faith, politics, and espionage  . A dramatic Zeppelin air raid on Bury St Edmunds causes destruction and chaos, serving as a distraction for more covert operations. The community's resilience highlights social unity amid wartime threats, while the presence of German spies and the strategic importance of the ancient crown deepen the espionage plot  .
Mardell discovers that the murders align with chapters and verses from the Book of Revelation, suggesting ritualistic and symbolic killings. Dean Forster-Scorgie's obsession with apocalyptic prophecy positions him as a central figure in the unfolding conspiracy, linking religious fanaticism to espionage and murder  . The archaeologist Robert Koldewey uncovers the legendary Crown of the Forgotten King near the Abbey Gardens.
The crown is believed to grant invincibility and is sought by German forces. A supernatural storm and a shadowy entity's emergence upon its discovery symbolize the intersection of myth, history, and wartime espionage  . Detective Buster Bill's betrayal, accepting bribes from the Dean's wife and implicating the couple in murder and espionage, culminates in his death at the hands of henchmen. Mardell is captured but manages a daring escape, emphasizing his resilience amid escalating danger  .
The appearance of a giant wolfhound as a spectral guardian at the site of Koldewey's disappearance symbolizes ancient protection tied to the crown. Mardell contemplates following the hound into the unknown, facing the forces awakened by their discoveries .