Close to the Hand of God

By A.F. Whitehouse

Thriller/Kidnapping Crime Fiction

310 Pages

Duncan Books

Reviewed by Jennifer Rupp

In A.F. Whitehouse’s newest novel, Close to the Hand of God, layer upon layer of trauma threatens to crush Chicago homicide detective Ace Turnowski, the least of which is the fact that his parents named him Horace. Anger issues have gotten him a six-month leave from the force. Since his girlfriend recently kicked him out, he figures it’s time to visit his mother—the first time in 17 years. He is shocked to find that his once fastidious mother has become a hoarder, and her house is in danger of being condemned. The initial crushing trauma that brought both Ace and his mother to the precipice of personal disaster was the murder of his kid sister. Ace blames Sheriff Gordie Mansfield for the death of his sister. So, when the sheriff asks Ace for help solving the recent murder of a young woman and the disappearance of her 4-year-old daughter, Ace flatly refuses. To get his cooperation, the sheriff leverages his power to condemn Ace’s family home. Pitted against one another, the two extremely flawed law enforcement officers recklessly race to see who can solve the crime first. God help anyone who stands in their way.

Despite what the title implies, this is not a deeply religious novel. It is a dark, sometimes deeply disturbing thriller. It captures the reader and won’t let go until the next page is turned, and the next, and the next. Whitehouse’s first detective series, the Dana Demeter Mysteries, was a joy to read. Close to the Hand of God, the first of which I hope will be a new thriller series, is just plain addictive. If you love Louise Penny or Ann Cleeves novels, you will dig Close to the Hand of God.