A total surprise. I was expecting a more or less usual crime novel when I downloaded By Any Means (from NetGalley) by a new (for me) author. Instead I was amazed by Chris Culver’s skill in sucking me into the story and then the life of his main character. I now know that By Any Means is Chris Culver’s third Ash Rashid novel.

Ash Rashid is a homicide detective. In doing what he believed to be the right thing, he pissed-off his boss and was re-assigned to the police community relations department, giving speeches at elementary schools. Then one day while going home he comes across an apparent car wreck but soon finds it was actually a double murder.

Ash is assigned to be part of a team leading this investigation. Things quickly get more complicated after that. He has a difficult history with some on his team. He struggles with an alcohol problem. Alcohol is forbidden by his Muslim faith but he has sought refuge with drink in the recent past to deal with some of the horrible things he witnesses in his work. His sense of right and wrong doesn’t always line up with others in the law enforcement community.

Chris Culver tells a great story. I completely enjoyed By Any Means and I hope you will too.