It is 1961, and Mo and Birdie are called out to a murder in Yidtown (Jewish part of Toronto). A murder has been committed in the community of Orthodox Jews. Mo (Mordecai Gold) is called because he is a Jew and knows the community and its ways. Birdie, his partner, a six-foot-seven Black man, is invaluable to Mo and their private investigator practice. The murdered man turns out to be the husband of Mo’s childhood sweetheart, which complicates matters. As Mo digs deeper into the life of the murdered man, he upsets some dangerous men as well as some very orthodox Jews. As the case develops, he tries to navigate his connection with Miryam while staying objective and finding the murderer. As Mo deals with the case and the memories of Miryam when they were younger, Mo also remembers Irit, the Israeli soldier he met when he joined some friends in Palestine to help train the fledgling army of the yet-to-be declared Israel. In this army, young people signed up to give their lives for a country they believed is promised. W. L. Liberman tells a story of prejudice and zealous belief and the consequences those left behind must deal with in Miles to Go, the second Mo and Birdie mystery.

In Miles to Go, W.L. Liberman writes an engaging story that keeps the reader guessing. He speaks of serious issues which are lightened by Mo’s comments, view of people, and circumstances. The use of sarcasm and wit help to convey the serious content which is dealt with and the vibe of the 1960s is successfully conveyed. Liberman writes fluently and intertwines the two timelines so that they complement each other and let the story unfold naturally. There is some sexual content but not too explicit and it blends in with the style writing style and atmosphere of the novel. The Lord's name is used a few times and, in the Jewish context, it makes sense, although readers should be aware of this.

Miles To Go is a work of fiction in the crime and thriller subgenres. It is intended for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author W. L. Liberman. This novel forms the second story in the Mo Gold and Birdie Mysteries series, where we see our dynamic duo reunited when a body is discovered with a steak knife in his heart in the Jewish Quarter of Toronto. When Mo realizes he has a long-lost connection to the widow of the deceased, life takes an even more complicated turn than usual. Can Mo and Birdie solve the mystery, the murder, and Mo’s conflicted heartache, all at once?

Crime mysteries are plentiful in the wide world of fiction these days, but it’s rare to come across an original story that takes so many popular tropes but makes them seem fresh and exciting because of the way they’re portrayed. Author W. L. Liberman has achieved this with the cultural authenticity and realistic personalities of the ensemble cast of this excellent novel. Liberman made me care deeply about Mo and Birdie, their investment in the mystery at hand, and also in one another as sources of support and partnership. I liked the way that the plot complemented and tested the characters to their limits, but also stood up in its own logical and contextual right. As the story unfolds, these strong elements are combined with atmospheric descriptive techniques and highly engaging dialogue to make Miles To Go a new must-read for crime, thriller, and mystery fans everywhere.

Miles To Go by W. L. Liberman is the second in the Mo Gold and Birdie Mysteries series. Mo is struggling with everything about his life and needs Birdie to keep him from drifting off course. What he needs is a case. When they get the call to solve a murder in Yidtown, the Jewish quarter in Toronto, Mo realizes the victim is known to him. Mendel Black is married to Miryam, Mo’s soulmate, and his first meeting with her in many years is not going to be good. Everyone is a suspect, including Miryam, and Mo and Birdie are about to learn a lot about their victim. Wrapped up in so many schemes, it’s tough for them to figure out who might have wanted to kill him but that’s just what Mo and Birdie have to do. The question is, can they catch the killer before he strikes again?

Miles To Go by W. L. Liberman is the second in the series – I didn’t read the first one but felt that this worked well as a standalone. That said, you would get a better insight into the main protagonists if you read them both in order. The story itself has a tight, exciting plot, with plenty of action and excitement. It’s mostly about the crime they are solving but interspersed with snippets of their personal lives, which brings an air of reality. The characters are great, well-developed with real lives and flaws that we can all relate to on some level, and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. It’s set in the 1960s and the action and dialog fit the era perfectly. A good story, very enjoyable.

Miles To Go by W. L. Liberman brings back Mo and Birdie in another page-turning crime thriller. As Mo continues to question everything he believes in, they are called in to investigate a murder in Yidtown, Toronto’s Jewish quarter. This is going to be a special case for Mo as he knows the victim, Mendel Black, a diamond merchant who was once married to Mo’s soulmate, Miryam. The notoriety of Black’s death has stirred a great deal of community interest as there are plenty of reasons why anyone would want him dead. For starters, Black was a shady businessman who had been diverting diamonds from incoming shipments and selling them for extra cash. On top of that, he was a class-A putz who was not a good husband, son, and brother. As Mo and Birdie try to find the killer, they unravel the sinister schemes that Black operated. Someone wanted him dead, but who?

Mies To Go has the kind of mindful plotting and exposition that makes it a very compelling and engaging crime story. Mo continues to navigate the conflicts in his life, and these conflicts often blur the line between personal and professional. He does a lot of questioning, thinking, and even maneuvering to get to the bottom of the truth. As usual, W.L. Liberman effectively positions Mo entering criminal investigation territory that can prove perplexing where Birdie becomes an indispensable partner. Liberman’s story doesn’t offer excessive spins. Rather, it keeps you invested in the characters and the moral imperatives that go with the handling of the case. It is an intelligent crime thriller, one that is refreshing to read for the sanity of its perspective.