Darkness Take my Hand by Dennis LeHane

Kenzir and Genarro #2
Review by Elleanore G. Vance 

Angie has left Phil, and Patrick is dating a medical resident who has a young daughter. The pair still work out of offices in the church belfry, but the prologue tells us after the book ends it has become covered in dust.

Our story starts when the phone rings. A woman who knows a school chum of the detectives' is calling for help with these anonymous threats she's recieving. After the initial interview, Patrick and Angie do all the usual flatfoot type work, including a covert follow operation, turning up nothing. We find out Angie is connected to the mafia and she doesnt want to use that connection. 

When they don't find anything, the pair and their client decide it's pointless to continue to waste money when no credible threat can be found.  

And then a body is found having been crucified.  
That changes the whole damn game. 

Patrick does an about face from the last book as a womanizer to a faithful man in passionate love. It is jarring. 

Angie finally signs those divorce papers, and we get a glimpse into the past of our core quartet.  

Bubba, for all his faults, is my favorite Avenging Angel. The scene where he dresses Phil down and spells out what is coming due is amazing! 

This book is a perfext examle of what i think of as Reality or Realistic Horror. We see an unflinching look at the worst of humanity. Keep that in mind, because it will be heavy. You will deal with stuff you would probably rather not.  

This book its not for the squeamish as it has several graphic descriptions of mutilated bodies and torture. I am coming to believe that the grit, heaviness, and darkness is a trademark of a Dennis LeHane novel. Not for the faint of heart

⭐⭐⭐⭐4/5



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