Ask Again, Yes: A Novel

"Two young Irish American cops, Francis and Brian, meet at the police academy, work the streets together briefly and, by coincidence, buy houses next to each other in a small town. Francis’ daughter and Brian’s son quickly become inseparable. But all is not well behind closed doors: Brian’s wife is mentally ill, but no one seems to be able to recognize or address it until it’s too late. That illness and the denial of it set in motion events that mark both families in profound ways. This book reminded me of the people I grew up with and around, even though my family is neither Irish nor suburban. They were people who wore uniforms and a badge; some because they wanted to, some because they thought it was the best they could do. These days, police officers are either heroes or villains; in this novel, they are just human. It’s not a tidy story and there is no tidy ending, but it’s deeply felt and feels real and true."