Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

In Don Lehmkuhl's The Angel of Justice: The Ragman Book 2, Josef “Joe” Schatz lives in Cincinnati with his wife Bella and their daughter Claire while working as a philosophy professor at Saint Augustine University. Years earlier, Joe carried out a series of killings under the name the Ragman, a history he attempts to bury while maintaining a stable family life. The effort collapses after Bella is beaten by Franklin Campbell, a violent member of the Blackstones' criminal organization led by Curtis Lee. Joe kills Franklin in retaliation, which allows Curtis to identify him as the Ragman and force him into further assassinations through threats against Bella and Claire. At the same time, federal agent Al Prindle begins linking recent murders to the Ragman’s methods. As Curtis increases his demands, Joe becomes trapped between a criminal leader determined to control him and investigators determined to expose him.

“Your shadow is this Ragman. They call mine, The Angel of Justice.” I love that Don Lehmkuhl refuses to treat justice as a simple idea. Joe is the perfect example of a great character who has a really believable presence, juggling his desire for a normal life with his past as the Ragman, a vigilante murderer who punished violent criminals who escaped the law. That contradiction gives the story its backbone and makes him one of the most fascinating anti-heroes I've come across. The writing is immersive and sharp, taking us into Cincinnati settings that feel lived in, whether the action unfolds inside a crowded motorcycle clubhouse or along streets shaped by criminal influence. Leah Rostov adds another powerful dimension through her relentless pursuit of former Nazi doctor Max Becker, a pursuit that reinforces The Angel of Justice’s central question about accountability. If you enjoy crime fiction built around moral confrontation and decisive characters, this is the series to throw yourself into.