Absolution

by Henry Hack

On a hot June night in 1957, seventeen-year old Giuseppe Mastronunzio (Joey Noonz) is joyriding with his friend, Pete Salowski, whose heroin addiction seeks him to burglarize a residence for money and jewelry to support his habit. The crime goes terribly wrong and a young couple, a police officer and a schoolteacher, is murdered by Pete who also gets shot and killed. Joey, wounded, and knowing he probably left blood and fingerprints behind, flees the scene as he hears the wailing cry of an infant.

The infant grows up to be police Lieutenant Mike Simon, now determined to solve the cold case and find “the one that got away,” And 40 years later when he does find him, Lieutenant Simon makes the most difficult decision of his life, resulting in an investigation that reaches up to the highest echelons of power in the NYPD and the Archdiocese of New York.

299 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2021

About the author

Henry Hack served for twenty-two years in the Nassau County, NY Police Department rising to the rank of Inspector. He commanded the Scientific Investigation Bureau and was qualified as an expert witness in several forensic fields including blood, narcotics and trace evidence. He also commanded the Eighth Patrol Precinct in Levittown for four years. His academic credentials include a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Adelphi University and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Long Island University. Henry is a lifelong New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, and currently resides in coastal North Carolina with his wife, Lorraine.

Reviews

[Caleb Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Powerful, layered, and unforgettable.”

This book doesn’t rush. It pulls me in slowly chapter by chapter until i realize am fully inside Joey’s guilt, fear, and hope.
Henry Hack writes with the kind of clarity that makes even the quiet moments feel sharp. The investigation threads are tight, the emotional beats land, and the ending leaves you thinking long after you close the book.
It’s not just a crime thriller; it’s a story about redemption and the price of the truth.
One of those books i keep thinking about days later.

[Jonas Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A slow-burn thriller that hits deeper than expected.”

Absolution surprised me in the best way. I went in expecting a crime story I got a moral storm. Joey “Noonz” isn’t just a character trying to outrun his past; he’s a man wrestling with guilt in a way that feels painfully real.
Henry Hack moves the story between timelines so smoothly that you barely notice how much tension he’s building until it hits you all at once.
What hooked me most was the contrast between Joey’s inner battles and Simon’s relentless search for the truth. Their arcs feel heavy, human, and earned.
If you enjoy thrillers that blend crime, conscience, and consequences, this one is worth your time.