The Wages of Sin by Dennis Barker

When Ida Schmidt dies in the small town of Peaceful Prairie, Minnesota her rundown bungalow is bought, sight unseen, by an out-of-town buyer. His mystifying appearance piques the interest of the locals, including miscreants Stan and Arvin. While Sheriff “Sidewinder” Lang investigates the theft of communion wine from the Peaceful Prairie Lutheran Church and Janet Warren schemes to discover the true relationship between her husband, Pastor Warren, and Caroline, the young church organist, events are set in motion that will entangle them all and lead to a shocking conclusion.