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310 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2022
For the Minds and Wills of Men by Jeff Lanier is a complex and atmospheric mystery set in Manhattan during the House UnAmerican Activities Committee hearings in 1953. The Rosenbergs had been found guilty of espionage, selling national secrets to the Soviets, and their execution was imminent. The country was roiling in fear and distrust, neighbors suspicious of neighbors and willing to point the finger, the frenzy maintained by a sensation-seeking press and politicians all too happy to provide them with their next target. Lanier captures and conveys this tumultuous period perfectly, and I felt like I’d stepped back in time as his protagonist, Will Oxley, unraveled the mystery behind an art gallery burglary.
Like most men of the time, Will is a veteran of WWII, returned home to a changed country, a changed man himself; he suffers from what is now diagnosed as PTSD. He’s a likable guy and successful at what he does. I was frequently reminded how much technology has advanced and our lives have changed since the 50s as Will and his partner, Charlie, conducted their investigation. Information is physically analyzed by hand, and leads are literally chased down in person, at all hours of the day or night, at locations all over the area.However, while technology was simpler then, the scope of the plot certainly was not. What initially began as stolen artwork evolved into a deeper, far-reaching venture; it was riveting reading. Well-known artists of the time appear among the characters, and Will’s new love interest is decidedly shady. With its atmospherically noir feeling and absorbing storylines, this book would make a great film.
I recommend FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN to mystery readers, those who enjoy historical fiction, and readers who would enjoy a thriller set in the art world.