White Horse by Joss Stirling

First published in Great Britain in 2020; published digitally by HarperCollins on October 30, 2020

Jessica Bridges is a private detective who specializes in finding missing people. While attending a writers’ award ceremony with her friend Michael, Jess meets Tanglewood White. Tanglewood hires Jess to locate her daughter Lisette. To accomplish that task, Jess joins the Children of the White Horse, a commune to which Lisette apparently belonged. Jess thinks Lisette might still be there and laying low, or at least that other commune members might be in touch with her. She’s not really into the commune lifestyle although she’s attracted to the leader, Father Oak, and hopes to find the opportunity to shag him.

Jess’ investigation merges with a murder investigation conducted by Detective Inspector Leo George when the naked body of a woman who was stabbed to death is discovered draped over the statue of a white horse. Near the woman are a robe and sandals that commune members wear. Initially unidentified, she meets the general description of Lisette. People who look at her photo do a doubletake, perhaps because she resembles the local vicar. She is soon identified as an American FBI agent who was in England for reasons of her own.

Leo relies on Jess to pass along any connection she can find between the murdered woman and the commune. Leo develops an attraction to Jess that she reciprocates, although Jess seems to be attracted to most men. Leo’s obvious interest in Jess causes a problem after a member of the commune dies in an apparent fall from a cliff during one of the commune’s starlight ceremonies. Since Jess was in the general vicinity of two death victims, she joins the list of suspects in what may be a double homicide. Leo’s objectivity is questioned when he discounts Jess’ likely involvement.

The plot is improbable but no more so than is common in modern mystery novels. It’s difficult to believe the FBI didn’t take a greater interest in the murder since the victim was one of their own. One might expect an FBI liaison to light a fire under the local police, who seem rather unhurried in their pursuit of justice.

The commune is, of course, a cult. Crime fiction writers seem to be attracted to cults, as they are to serial killers and human trafficking, all of which are more common in novels than they are in the real world. This story calls attention to the intersection between mental illness and cult membership, an issue that isn’t often discussed in cult-centric fiction, most of which go no deeper than “cults are bad.”

The novel is low-key. It’s a whodunit rather than a thriller, its blurbs notwithstanding. Joss Stirling does treat the reader to a bit of action when Jess breaks into a building that the commune has declared off limits, but even that scene seems a bit reserved. This isn’t a pulse pounding book but mysteries don’t need to be. White Horse offers multiple mysteries to readers who must ponder the relationship between Lisette and the murder victim on the road to solving one or two homicides. The mysteries are entertaining and the solutions are surprising if not particularly credible.

Chapters are narrated from the alternating perspectives of Jess and Leo. Both are good characters, although quite different from each other. Leo is buttoned up in a traditionally British fashion. Jess is more adventurous. Leo is naturally protective, creating a bit of spark between the two characters that appears destined to carry into the next installment in the series. This is the kind of book that might hook readers into the series, if only to see how the chemistry between Jess and Leo plays out. Those who are more interested in mystery than romance will need to hope that the next book avoids the much traveled path of cults, serial killers, or human traffickers.

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