John J. Crimi

The Errant Cord John J. Crimi

The Errant Cord is set in Havenshire, a township outside of London during the eighteenth century. A champion of the citizenry and their waning loss of freedom, Squire Peter Beckford?s popularity grows. Alarmed at losing control plus silencing the disturbing reports of an apparition terrorizing the citizenry, the town council calls an emergency meeting. Meanwhile, Jonathan Payne, a member of a celestial organization, The Augustinian Society, also hears of an apparition wandering Havenshire and is immediately summoned to rescue the spirit as well as investigate the growing concerns that Mayor Farragut is an evil entity masquerading as a mortal. Trouble in his personal life surfaces when Beckford?s mistress, Kate McConnell who is determined to become his bride faces opposition from his children, Natalie and Jeremy who see the family fortune at risk if the marriage takes place. Prunella Mayhew, Jeremy?s betrothed and her opportunist mother, Prunella join the children in their fight to hold on to the family fortune. Lord Henry Fenwick, a womanizer and gambler has financial ties to Farragut but his friendship with Beckford prods him to warn of the looming danger. Refusing to take him seriously, Beckford meets and befriends Jonathan who encourages Beckford to challenge Farragut in an upcoming election. Bishop Ellerby, a cleric with a lavish lifestyle joins Farragut to silence Beckford. They enlist Amos Carlton. Beckford?s vicar, to ensnare him into committing blasphemies against the Church. During the fray, Farragut encounters Beckford?s dead wife, Annora who has no memory of her mortal life. Seeing her as a useful tool to destroy Beckford, he entices her to commandeer a mortal?s soul close to Beckford. What?s in it for her? Immortality. Beckford?s battle for the restoration of lost freedom, the growing government and clerical wrath, the condemnation of his family and friends, the fury of a wayward spirit out to destroy him make The Errant Cord a page turner.