JT Patten constantly ups his game and he branches out and scores big time with None Witness, an unexpectedly terrific thriller.
Killian Kane has a past. He grew up as a reluctant enforcer of the Chicago Outfit. A chance encounter lands him in the sights of a secretive organization; a Vatican-adjacent authority known only as the Resolution Office. They remake him as a custodian, cleaning up the unforgivable messes. When a priest is brutally murdered in New York, Killian is tasked with investigating it. He soon follows the trial across multiple ritualistic murders, perpetuated by someone sharing a similar past who is hellbent to expose the dirty secrets of the Resolution Office. With time running out, Kane must face both the threat of the killer and his past that comes calling with vengeance.
Patten is a master of dark, bold and gritty stories that cut through to the deepest levels of our psyche to give us the ultimate reading experience. His attention to detail towards building storied characters whose motivations and agendas stand above surface-level cliches go a long way to cement the story as a memorable tale through the darkest vestiges of humanity while simultaneously entertaining you with intrigue and well-timed action sequences that are earned through plotted storytelling. From the unpredictability of the main antagonist to the strong arc of the protagonist on his journey from a cleaner of messes to dealing brutal justice, every single chapter feels like a reward that keeps on giving.
None Witness is an excellent thriller that stands fresh and tall among its peers and adds subtle commentary of the world without bogging down the pacing. Be warned, the ending is going to break you. All the more reason to read it.
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