Ken White has struck gold with The Atonement of St. Jude. Dark undercurrents abound in a richly drawn village in the heart of Kent. He has created an oddball couple of characters whose humour lightens the darkness of the plot. Despite dealing with the intense traumas of infant death and sexual abuse this is not a depressing read. The author’s powerful narrative drive has created a real page-turner. A bevy of well-rounded characters flesh out the twists and turns of the various sub-plots which make this a truly exciting read. I eagerly anticipate the sequel.