St. Louis lawyer Michael A. Kahn, in his just-published novel “The Dead Hand,” combines an expertise in law with his well-honed skills as a mystery writer. 

“The Dead Hand” (Poisoned Pen Press, $26.95, cloth; $15.95 paper), which deals with complex legal issues involving inheritance law, is the 10th Kahn novel featuring St. Louis-born  lawyer-sleuth Rachel Gold.

Fans of Rachel, including this writer, have come to know the protagonist of this engaging series as a savvy, tough-minded but tenderhearted, attractive young woman. 

The University City High School grad, after practicing law at a large law firm in Chicago, where she met her longtime friend colleague Benny Goldberg, has moved back to St. Louis and set up a solo practice. Benny, whose legal brilliance is surpassed only by his insatiable appetite for spicy, high-fat foods, has become a professor at the Washington University School of Law and a frequent guest on CNN to discuss legal issues and high-profile cases. 

Rachel has been widowed since her husband, Jonathan Wolf,  died in a plane crash and is raising their son Sam and Jonathan’s two daughters from his previous marriage. Rachel’s mom, Sarah Gold, proudly wearing the badge of a matchmaking Jewish mother, wants her to start dating again and arranges for her to met Abe Rosen, a Jewish doctor-dreamboat who seems to have been sent by Central Casting. Their chemistry for each other is effectively described. Rachel’s comforting visits to Jonathan’s grave are poignant and affecting.

Kahn skillfully engages the reader to be in Rachel’s corner as she faces personal as well as legal challenges in her life without resorting to melodrama. 

In her small but busy law practice, Rachel has handled numerous family cases, including divorce, paternity and death. In “The Dead Hand,” she is confronted with two cases of an attempt by a wealthy decedent to control his family’s assets and future generations from the grave through complex instruments prepared before death. 

Her first client, Cyndi Mulligan, is the trophy widow of the late Bert Mulligan, a billionaire business executive whose will leaves his estate to Cyndi’s unborn daughter. Bert’s angry first wife and her only son challenge the bequest.  

In the other case, Rachel represents Marsha Knight, the first wife of a wealthy lingerie manufacturer. She is being sued by her ex-husband’s young widow, who wants to overturn Marsha’s divorce settlement. 

“The Dead Hand” is better than most mystery novels, with its engaging characters and a page-turning pacing that holds the reader’s attention from start to finish. 

 For readers who didn’t go to law school, Kahn makes legal concepts, such as the arcane and inscrutable Rule Against Perpetuities that figures into Marsha’s case, simple to understand. 

As always with Rachel Gold novels, St. Louis readers, especially Jewish ones, will feel right at home. Rachel is a member of Central Reform Congregation. Kahn describes the history of competing Jewish country clubs. Benny’s prodigious appetite is sated with barbecue from Pappy’s and Sugarfire, pizza from Pi and, of course, toasted ravioli. Rachel’s mom is a gracious hostess and creator of many delicious Jewish dishes and desserts. Each chapter is preceded by a Yiddish proverb, such as: “Man plans and God laughs.”

Kahn vividly describes a cast of characters — honorable and smarmy lawyers, vindictive surviving or spurned spouses — to provide some excellent visuals to move the story along. Each of the chapters is only a few pages long, so readers will feel encouraged to read on to find out how Rachel and Benny’s latest caper will be resolved. 

“The Dead Hand” is a worthy addition to Kahn’s Rachel Gold series and again confirms his ability to write interesting, engaging and entertaining mysteries.