In Saxon's Bane by Geoffrey Gudgion a car crash on a lonely country road, caused by the sudden appearance of a stag, leads to very unexpected results.

Many weeks later the driver is visited in hospital by one of the two people who found him and his dead colleague, triggering bizarre memories of the crash and leading him to visit her village to thank her when he is discharged. He finds strange events happening in the village; an archaeological dig finds the body of a Saxon in an old bog, with a still visible tattoo, the village Church is being desecrated and evil rituals are being performed...

A good horror mystery with romance added to the mix, Saxon's Bane is an excellent debut novel and thoroughly enjoyable read.