Beyond the Will of God: A Jill Simpson Mystery

If you're looking for something different to read this year, "Beyond the Will of God" is a mystery/thriller that goes completely off the grid. As much as it begins with a murder, the story ultimately points at secrets to many of the unresolved conspiracies people have wondered about for years. Police detective Jill Simpson is investigating the murder of an Amish teenager outside of Columbia, Missouri. Tabloid reporter Frank Harris has been sent into the heartlands to interview a clairvoyant who claims she is having an affair with Elvis. As these two work first separately and then as a team, the storyline twists and turns to include bigger questions that will change their lives forever. "Beyond the Will of God" is a cross between a Tony Hillerman mystery, Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" and Carlos Castaneda's Yaqui Sorcerer series. It is serious yet playful, questioning and entertaining. You could call it a YA novel for Boomers. You could call it a paranormal fairy tale for refugees from another time. Or you could just call it weird, a bit sexy, and an oddly engrossing read.