Ethan Black, At Hell's Gate

At Hell's Gate

Ethan Black

Simon & Schuster, August 2004, 320 pp.

ISBN 0743243986

When the pilgrims came over on the Mayflower, the Voorts were not far behind. Ever since their arrival in the new world, the Voorts were loyal to their country. Wealthy New York police officer Conrad Voort heads the clan. He is engaged to the woman he loves and is looking forward to his marriage only four months away. One day while Voort and Camilla are kayaking near Hell's Gate, they find a dead man and bring him to shore.

Almost immediately, Voort learns that the man was interested in the ship the Hussar that went down in New York waters during the Revolutionary War supposedly carrying a lot of gold. That clue leads him to the murder of two men who sailed a tugboat. That information causes three men to assault and almost rape Voort. They threaten to harm him and his loved ones if he does not leave the country. Humiliated, and afraid for his fianc e and his family he does what they want but it burns his soul to comply. He returns to New York in secret intending to bring down the men who did this to him knowing he battles treasure-hunting killers who are not seeking gold.

This police procedural is one of the most heart wrenching crime thrillers anyone will ever read. The hero's reaction to his near rape and its' aftermath will make readers feel for him and like Voort want vengeance. This leads the audience to accept some of the questionable actions he takes. He is full of pride and in this case, it is a big fault because he cannot tell Camilla what happened to him and she is left feeling alone and abandoned. Ethan Black knows how to pull emotions out of his audience and we love him for it.

Harriet Klausner