Trying to identify a novel from the 1980s or 1990s. Tone was more detective/supernatural mystery thriller than outright horror
Trying to identify a novel from the 1980s or 1990s. Or at least that’s when I came across it. Could be earlier?
What I remember:
- Maybe set in New York City but the US
- Main character was a male detective/police investigator.
- A mysterious man is found either unconscious or dead and ends up in a morgue/mortuary.
- Detective viewed and spoke with mortician.
- The mortician/pathologist was female it possible they knew each other
- The body had unusual blood or blood characteristics that drew attention.
- The man had puncture wounds and/or wounds resembling stigmata. Also had a stab wound in his side.
- A thorn was found embedded in his head/scalp. When investigated, it was determined to originate from the Middle East.
- Strong implication throughout the story that this man may actually be Jesus Christ or a returned messiah figure.
- The body later disappears from the morgue.
- At some point later in the novel, the detective encounters the man alive again, possibly while sitting on a porch/veranda at home. The man enters his gate and walks up to the detective.
- The mysterious man interacted casually with the detective and may have shared a drink (beer or wine).
- Tone was more detective/supernatural mystery thriller than outright horror.
- I do NOT believe it was ever made into a film or TV series.
- It is NOT:
- Messiah
- The Second Coming
- Falling Angel
The book had a grounded, noir-ish detective feel rather than being heavily religious or preachy.
Does this ring a bell for anyone?