Police-procedurals present a conundrum for authors and readers alike. While the tried and true ‘whodunnit’ formula will typically satisfy expectations, it presents a challenge for authors looking to break new ground. Unless, of course, they write a story so compelling and satisfying that it defies the need for reinvention. ABSOLUTION, the latest offering from author Henry Hack, is the perfect example of a hard-boiled procedural that pairs a tried and true premise with outstanding character development and exceptional writing.
Late one night, just a few weeks shy of his eighteenth birthday, Joey Noonz got into a friend Pete’s car for a night of cruising. Unfortunately, it was a decision Joey would soon come to regret. Pete would eventually force Joey to help him commit a robbery, a senseless crime that would leave Pete and two others dead and a young child orphaned. The tragic event compels Joey into a life of service, culminating with the seminary. Meanwhile, the orphan, Michael Simon, would grow up to become a member of the NYPD. A lifelong commitment to tying up the loose ends of his parent’s murder eventually leads Michael back to Joey, who is now known as the Bishop of Brooklyn.
For all of its emotional tension, Michael’s final confrontation with Joey is only half the story, as an ongoing investigation into the Catholic church compels Joey to soon enlist the officer’s help. Together, the Catholic priest and the atheist cop form a tenuous partnership and work to unravel the long and winding web of lies and deceit connecting both the NYPD and Catholic Church to a pedophilia ring. Numerous characters, sub-plots, and timelines converge in a riveting final act that sidesteps a tidy happy ending in favor of an emotional conclusion that resonates long after the final page.
With more than a dozen well-received novels under his belt, Henry Hack has proven time and time again that he can write. But the author’s two-plus decades of experience as an officer imbues ABSOLUTION with a rare level of authenticity. Be it the crime-scene analysis, procedural logic, or Michael’s methods as a detective, there’s no need for a suspension of disbelief. In fact, the bone-chilling plausibility at the heart of Michael and Joey’s investigation is downright disturbing. Additionally, Hack’s decision to break up the narrative into six separate sections works wonders toward ensuring a sustained sense of momentum. The novel opens with a bang, plunging us into the worst night of Joey Noonz’s life before shifting gears to the ‘survivor’s’ perspective. It may sound jarring, but the effect is anything but. Additionally, Hack’s meticulous attention to detail pays off again and again–there are a slew of third-act call backs that tie together the various time-periods. The only criticism worth citing is the occasional over-reliance on narrative exposition—there are points where well-intentioned ‘explanations’ feel borderline redundant. Still, it’s difficult enough to write a captivating procedural, let alone one that remains untethered to a linear narrative, and Hack has done just that.
Be it the premise, characters, or setting, there’s little in Henry Hack’s ABSOLUTION that won’t immediately feel familiar, but the author’s air tight plotting and exceptional character development makes for an exceptional read.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader