Jack Ryder is a fuxer, a guy who will get the job done.

This story set during the first World War, although written in simple language, seems to move at a breakneck speed.

Would certainly transfer well to screen.

3 + stars ⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked that this book was not only a good mystery novel but also a really good historical novel. The characters were great and I liked how well the plot was.

There is a lot to like about “The Hidden Hand of Death”, the first book in a new series (The Jack Ryder Mysteries) by Lawrence J. Epstein.

The setting is New York, just as the US has entered WW II. Our main character is Jack Ryder, a fixer (not a private detective), working out of a booth at an all-night diner, with a sassy waitress as his assistant. Ryder is a hit man with a moral code, used by the mob but also helping the innocent. Haunted by the death of his wife (suicide? maybe not) for which he feels responsible.

We see a cross-section of people who try to enlist his help – some successfully, some not. We get three main stories here: a police detective looking for his missing sister, a gangster looking for his wife’s sister (to tie up loose ends), and the FBI looking to infiltrate a Nazi ring.

Mr. Epstein balances all three stories admirably, the action is fast-paced and the dialogue is witty. We constantly see Jack making choices that dispense what he considers justice: not always the legal answer, not always what his client was looking for, but what he believes is right. The unraveling of his wife’s death became a fourth story arc, providing Jack with some much-needed closure.

I found Ryder an interesting combination of two other literary “Jacks” in the same vein: F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack (a New York fixer) and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher (lone vigilante helping the weak). I realize that this is the first book in a series, so I give a little leeway for character introduction, but at times it felt like Jack’s “goodness” was a bit heavy-handed: candy for the poor kids, helping a client confront the country’s racism, bringing in someone who wants help with the Holocaust. The characters were very black and white, with only Jack showing some shades of gray.

But overall a straightforward, enjoyable, quick read, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Fig Hollow via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is my first book by this prolific author, whose talents are nicely displayed here. It's written in an engaging style, has an interesting plot, and compelling characters. Entertaining and well-paced, it's recommended for mystery/thriller fans.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

I was not sure how to introduce this book, I started and erased a few generic versions and then realized that mentioning that process alone might work as an opener. The story here is so packed with events that it felt like it moved at breakneck speed (which it probably did). We have a world-weary and mildly grieving hitman whose varying shades are shown to us through his actions.
Immediately after the initial introduction, Ryder has a lot asked from him. He is almost treated as a consulting detective while he actively works to dispel that illusion to those who approach him (not always successfully). In the span of a few days, he is told to kill a few people. He doesn't kill them but instead does others in, saves a few innocent people and provides helpful counsel. He has a two-part backstory, one is explored in this instalment, and maybe the next books might tackle the bigger mystery. As mentioned earlier, it is a fast-paced book with a sort of anti-hero and lots of action. The killing becomes a little repetitive, but it is in keeping with the storyline, so I could keep going. The writing was simple and straightforward. I will read the next one if I get the chance.

I loved The Hidden Hand of Death. From its beginning in the Times Square of 1942 I was all in. Jack Ryder is a likable main character, and the surrounding characters are fleshed out well-enough for their part in the story. Honesty has its rewards as well as risks, and Ryker exemplifies them both. On a likability scale, The Hidden Hand of Death ranks high!
Thanks NetGalley, for the ARC.

Jack Ryder calls himself a fixer rather than a detective. He is known for killing bad people as well as helping innocent or good people. His office is a booth in an all night diner where the waitress takes messages for Jack eith by phone or in person when Jack isn’t there. Jack has never been able to get over his wife’s death. The police say it’s a suicide but Jack thinks it was murder. However there is no clues. A police detectives meets Jack in his office asking for help in locating his missing sister. He agrees to give Jack the police records on the murder of Jack’s wife if Jace can find his sister. Will Jack find her? Jack has another case where he is trying to help a woman hide from the mob. They are afraid she knows “something” that could hurt them. Will Jack succeed in helping her to escape the mob? The FBI contacts Jack to work for them. The FBI has already lost two agents and thinks they need someone who isn’t a FBI agent. They want to stop the Nazis from sending information to Hitler. Will Jack be able to fool the Nazis?

The author has written an engaging novel with keeping the reader off balance. He creates an exciting pace. Jack is a compelling character. His ability to help others but not himself made me sad. This story reminds me of the “Jack Reacher” character (by Lee Child), though they both Are unique characters and how their work is done. The book is a great beginning for a new series. I look forward to read his next Jack Ryder novel.

190 pages

5 stars

Jack Ryder is kidnapped by a vengeful gangster named Remington. Remington is very angry that Ryder didn't complete a “fixing” job for him to his satisfaction. Remington tried to hire Ryder to kill his wife. (Ryder is a fixer, not a killer and he doesn't kill women.) But Ryder did agree to locate the wife, but knowing that Remington wanted to kill her, he told her to run.

Remington knows that he can't kill Ryder for he is too valuable to other gangsters who need his services. So he has him beaten. Then he tells him to find his wife's sister- or he will kill all of Ryder's deceased wife's family.

Ryder is also a compassionate man. He helps people. A police detective called him the “saint of lost causes.”

The book follows Ryder for a few days while he is solving problems and dealing his own brand of justice. In his journeys, he meets some very bad people and some good, kindhearted people. From a young man who questions his decision to go to war against the Nazis to solving a vexing murder, Ryder does it all.

This book is exciting, awe-inspiring and peopled with some very interesting characters. I liked Ryder and the waitress in the diner. (I kept urging her to drop her husband...) I was frankly surprised when he identified the murderer and didn't kill him outright. I liked him even more for that. My only criticism of the book is that the characters were so black and white. Of course, we really didn't have time to get to know them well. We all know that life is not really like that, but it is very nice to hold to that dream. This is my first Lawrence Epstein novel, but it won't be my last. I immediately went to Amazon, GoodReads, etc. to read his reviews and put him on my “follow” lists.

I want to thank NetGalley and Mr. Epstein for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review.