While inspecting the Scarnsea Monastery, one of the commissioners of Thomas Cromwell; Robin Singleton, was brutally murdered. Goodhap is a canon lawyer who was working with Singleton prior to his death. The commissioner originally intended to close the place under King Henry’s rule of wanting to dissolve the workings of Catholic authority. Since the murder, Goodhap has been forced to stay within the monastery’s walls until Matthew Shardlake discovers who is responsible for the beheading. 