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The Mourning Sexton: A Novel of Suspense
In this deft, multilayered thriller, a disgraced lawyer trying to revive his tattered career stumbles across a hidden case of cold-blooded murder and discovers that he must pursue justice even though doing so might just cost him what little he has left—possibly even his life.
Attorney David Hirsch was the managing partner of one of St. Louis’s most prestigious law firms, until he was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the federal penitentiary for seven years. He emerges from prison humbled and genuinely contrite, eager to patch things up with his estranged daughter and to build up a modest legal practice. In forging his life afresh, Hirsch has rediscovered his Judaism and has become part of the daily minyan , the group of ten men necessary to pray together, at the synagogue near his home. When an elderly man in the group asks for his help with a product liability case involving his daughter’s death, Hirsch reluctantly takes it on—only to discover that the seemingly straightforward lawsuit conceals a cold-blooded murder.
With the help of Dulcie Lorenz, the altruistic, public-spirited attorney the dead woman worked for, Hirsch pursues the liability case while quietly amassing evidence against the highly placed person he suspects of murder. His attempt to bring his powerful adversary to justice draws Hirsch into a fierce, seesawing battle of wits—and ultimately to an act that expresses the true depth of his atonement.
A page-turner in the tradition of Scott Turow, The Mourning Sexton goes beyond the question of “who done it” to explore the more intriguing questions of why the crime was committed and what it reveals about human nature. Set against the richly textured backdrops of St. Louis’s legal establishment and the city’s tight-knit Jewish community, and animated by a vivid cast of characters, it marks the debut of an extraordinary new talent.
Attorney David Hirsch was the managing partner of one of St. Louis’s most prestigious law firms, until he was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the federal penitentiary for seven years. He emerges from prison humbled and genuinely contrite, eager to patch things up with his estranged daughter and to build up a modest legal practice. In forging his life afresh, Hirsch has rediscovered his Judaism and has become part of the daily minyan , the group of ten men necessary to pray together, at the synagogue near his home. When an elderly man in the group asks for his help with a product liability case involving his daughter’s death, Hirsch reluctantly takes it on—only to discover that the seemingly straightforward lawsuit conceals a cold-blooded murder.
With the help of Dulcie Lorenz, the altruistic, public-spirited attorney the dead woman worked for, Hirsch pursues the liability case while quietly amassing evidence against the highly placed person he suspects of murder. His attempt to bring his powerful adversary to justice draws Hirsch into a fierce, seesawing battle of wits—and ultimately to an act that expresses the true depth of his atonement.
A page-turner in the tradition of Scott Turow, The Mourning Sexton goes beyond the question of “who done it” to explore the more intriguing questions of why the crime was committed and what it reveals about human nature. Set against the richly textured backdrops of St. Louis’s legal establishment and the city’s tight-knit Jewish community, and animated by a vivid cast of characters, it marks the debut of an extraordinary new talent.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2005
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Michael Baron
46 books46 followersI grew up in the New York area and I’ve lived there my entire life. I worked in retail and taught high school English before I got my first book contract. I have gotten several additional book contracts since then, which is fortunate because I didn’t have the patience to work in retail and, while I quite enjoyed teaching, my approach was a bit too unconventional for most school systems. One school administrator told me that, “there are more important things than being a dynamic teacher.” Since I couldn’t name any of those things (at least in the context of school), I figured I didn’t have a long-term future in the profession. Hence, I became a writer, where I believe people appreciate a certain level of dynamism.
Though I started with nonfiction, I have always loved fiction and I have always wanted to write it. I’ve always had a particular affection for love stories. In fact, the very first book-length thing I ever wrote, when I was thirteen, was a love story. Mind you, it was the kind of love story that a thirteen-year-old boy would write, but it was a love story nonetheless. I have a deep passion for writing about relationships – family relationships, working relationships, friendships, and, of course, romantic relationships – and I can only truly explore this by writing fiction. These novels have given me a way to voice the millions of things running through my head.
My wife and kids are the center of my life. My wife is the inspiration for all of my love stories and my children enthrall me, challenge me, and keep me moving. One of the primary reasons I wrote my first novel, When You Went Away was that I wanted to write about being a father. Aside from my family, I have a few other burning passions. I’m a pop culture junkie with an especially strong interest in music, I love fine food (and any restaurant shaped like a hot dog), and I read far too many sports blogs for my own good.
You might have noticed that I haven't published a photo of myself. This isn't because I'm involved in the Witness Protection program or because I have an innate fear of cameras. It's because Michael Baron is a pseudonym. I'm writing these novels “undercover” because they're not entirely compatible with the nonfiction books I write and I didn't want to confuse readers. We're all different people sometimes, right? I just decided to give my alter ego another name.
My third novel, The Journey Home, has just come out. It’s a love story, too. Naturally.
Though I started with nonfiction, I have always loved fiction and I have always wanted to write it. I’ve always had a particular affection for love stories. In fact, the very first book-length thing I ever wrote, when I was thirteen, was a love story. Mind you, it was the kind of love story that a thirteen-year-old boy would write, but it was a love story nonetheless. I have a deep passion for writing about relationships – family relationships, working relationships, friendships, and, of course, romantic relationships – and I can only truly explore this by writing fiction. These novels have given me a way to voice the millions of things running through my head.
My wife and kids are the center of my life. My wife is the inspiration for all of my love stories and my children enthrall me, challenge me, and keep me moving. One of the primary reasons I wrote my first novel, When You Went Away was that I wanted to write about being a father. Aside from my family, I have a few other burning passions. I’m a pop culture junkie with an especially strong interest in music, I love fine food (and any restaurant shaped like a hot dog), and I read far too many sports blogs for my own good.
You might have noticed that I haven't published a photo of myself. This isn't because I'm involved in the Witness Protection program or because I have an innate fear of cameras. It's because Michael Baron is a pseudonym. I'm writing these novels “undercover” because they're not entirely compatible with the nonfiction books I write and I didn't want to confuse readers. We're all different people sometimes, right? I just decided to give my alter ego another name.
My third novel, The Journey Home, has just come out. It’s a love story, too. Naturally.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 13, 2018
written under a pseudonym by author of Rachel Gold series, published by Doubleday in hardback. A legal procedural, I guess, is the genre. Held my interest as it explained a complicated and illegal scheme. Interesting characters, and the murder victim becomes a real person we root for as the investigator follows the trail of clues. Investigator is redeeming his life after a ton of bad decisions and the case takes on an element of quest for him. Lots of st louis scenery to look at, which is fun for us locals.
July 25, 2018
Many similar elements to the Rachel Gold stories, but a shade darker.
December 11, 2018
Enjoyed this book of a down and out lawyer who perseveres in this case. At last the dead girl got some justice.
Read
February 9, 2022Set in St.Louis with just enough places familiar for a native St Louisian.
Plot was an intriguing legal case.
Plot was an intriguing legal case.
August 3, 2024
A good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2015
I love when I come upon a book at random, with little to no expectations, and I end up not being able to put it down because it is so good. The Mourning Sexton was one of those books. Given to me in a bag of books that a co-worker brought in (he gifts me books he finishes by the bag full, which is extremely wonderful), I decided after putting together a new set of bookshelves that I'd start selecting books at random to read. This was my first "grab".
Though I had to consult the glossary in the back, as well as ask a friend of mine at times to explain, some of the Jewish traditions and ceremonies, after awhile I felt that I understood more about the religion, and what the title refers to. It was exciting to learn about a part of life I have little experience with, and it helped to ground the lead character, David, into something about himself that had no real bearing on the central mystery, but was necessary to bring him to life, all the same.
This was a crime mystery which involved politics, journalists, lawyers and corruption in the courts and justice system. Not a unique genre in that regard, but what was unique is the redemption story that exists within the criminal mystery. My favorite part of this book had to do with that redemption, and the humanity at the core of it all. I especially enjoyed the friendship between David and his friend/partner in law, Seymour - their relationship was rich and complex and believable, and the strongest in the story. I like that our lead was not perfect, that even in his "redemption" there were flaws.
My only criticism of the story was that the female characters were not as richly drawn as the male ones. I wanted to know more of Dulcie than we saw, though I know she was only seen from the perspective of David, I still wanted a few more conversations that would tell her story. Judith, the "dead girl" of the case, I could understand not being painted in full form as she was only brought to life in pieces left behind, but I did want Dulcie to be richer, as well as David's daughter, Lauren. I will say, I was glad that the underlying "romance" of the book was kept on a back burner. I believed in its existence, I just didn't think it needed to take center stage, so I was glad it didn't.
There was great suspenseful moments in this book that kept me turning the page, and the short chapters worked in the pace of the story, keeping it moving at times as fast as I could read. For a first novel I'd say this was a good read, and the author shows tremendous promise. I will definitely seek out another from him when I have the opportunity.
Though I had to consult the glossary in the back, as well as ask a friend of mine at times to explain, some of the Jewish traditions and ceremonies, after awhile I felt that I understood more about the religion, and what the title refers to. It was exciting to learn about a part of life I have little experience with, and it helped to ground the lead character, David, into something about himself that had no real bearing on the central mystery, but was necessary to bring him to life, all the same.
This was a crime mystery which involved politics, journalists, lawyers and corruption in the courts and justice system. Not a unique genre in that regard, but what was unique is the redemption story that exists within the criminal mystery. My favorite part of this book had to do with that redemption, and the humanity at the core of it all. I especially enjoyed the friendship between David and his friend/partner in law, Seymour - their relationship was rich and complex and believable, and the strongest in the story. I like that our lead was not perfect, that even in his "redemption" there were flaws.
My only criticism of the story was that the female characters were not as richly drawn as the male ones. I wanted to know more of Dulcie than we saw, though I know she was only seen from the perspective of David, I still wanted a few more conversations that would tell her story. Judith, the "dead girl" of the case, I could understand not being painted in full form as she was only brought to life in pieces left behind, but I did want Dulcie to be richer, as well as David's daughter, Lauren. I will say, I was glad that the underlying "romance" of the book was kept on a back burner. I believed in its existence, I just didn't think it needed to take center stage, so I was glad it didn't.
There was great suspenseful moments in this book that kept me turning the page, and the short chapters worked in the pace of the story, keeping it moving at times as fast as I could read. For a first novel I'd say this was a good read, and the author shows tremendous promise. I will definitely seek out another from him when I have the opportunity.
June 15, 2020
This book was gifted to my branch library and found its way to my desk... and I'm so glad it did. Reading this story has gotten me through a few days of the "lockdown" as an example of a book not only that I couldn't put down, but that I was not even tempted to "skim" to plot points. I didn't want to miss a single intriguing legal description, conversation, or clue! Many thanks to the author for a stimulating and redemptive novel of suspense.
I do have one comment/question for the author: as the novel-long "Don Quixote" theme played along, I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to comment that the "Dulcie" nickname was most certainly a reference to the Don Q.'s love, Dulcinea. Or maybe it's just supposed to be a (wink-wink) inside joke for those in the know?!
Highly Recommended.
I do have one comment/question for the author: as the novel-long "Don Quixote" theme played along, I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to comment that the "Dulcie" nickname was most certainly a reference to the Don Q.'s love, Dulcinea. Or maybe it's just supposed to be a (wink-wink) inside joke for those in the know?!
Highly Recommended.
October 11, 2010
This is called a thriller but I did not get thrilled nor did I feel driven to turn the next page as they say. But I did enjoy the book. Michael Baron, the author, is the Jewish John Grisham of law dramas. I found this book as interesting as any Grisham novel I have ever read so that may make it appealing to many people. The story line is that our main character is a lawyer who spent time in prison for being a greedy pig. He had is all and took advantage of everyone on his climb to success--success measured by money, sex, and drugs. In prison he found his way back to religion and now serves as gabbai and leads a minyan for those in mourning. He is approached by an elderly Jewsih man who had decided to file a wrong full death suit for hsi young daughter killed in an auto wreck--or was she? And so the story goes with most everyone in the book a bad fellow except for the dead daughter. If you like legal dramas you probably like this book.
January 15, 2014
Excellent legal thriller. Must find more books by this author.
Hah! He has a whole prior series of legal thrillers featuring Rachel Gold, an attorney/detective. Series began in the early 1990's and uses the author's real name of Michael Kahn.
Hah! He has a whole prior series of legal thrillers featuring Rachel Gold, an attorney/detective. Series began in the early 1990's and uses the author's real name of Michael Kahn.
February 17, 2008
An enjoyable legal thriller from the author of the Rachel Gold series (under Michael A. Kahn).
January 13, 2010
St. Louis lawyer and a Federal judge fight it out for justice for the death of a young lawyer.
June 24, 2015
A formerly disgraced lawyer takes on a wrongful death suit and then finds that it involves murder and intrigue. Very interesting mystery with a Judaic undertone running through it. Really enjoyed it.
March 26, 2011
Fairly formulaic, but even so, I could not put it down until I finished...
January 17, 2016
Kahn's Rachel Gold series is fun and smart and always enjoyable, but this standalone book caught me someplace much deeper. Beautifully written, and spellbinding.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews