Jacob is a young man approaching the end of his internship at a hospice care facility. He values the time he spends with the residents, but he has developed a friendly rapport with a terminal cancer patient named Tony. They talk about vinyl records and the emotive music of Mozart. As Tony reflects on his mortality, he requests Jacob mail a DNA kit as he wants to learn if he has any offspring. Jacob complies but worries about whether the results will truly satisfy Tony’s mind. Jacob has problems of his own as he is a divorced father of two young girls whom he sporadically sees. Each visit with his two daughters comes equipped with anticipation and anxiety. Jacob’s problems become compounded when he soon makes the acquaintance of the Archangel Gabriel, who seems to be in close proximity to the residents of the hospice care.

Matters of life, death, and the hereafter all weigh on Jacob's mind in this moving and pensive drama. Jacob is the comforting presence that the patients rely on in their last days, yet his demeanor belies the mess of his personal life. The insecurities and doubts that plague his mind make Jacob a relatable character, even more so when he is placed in transcendental situations. The poignancy of pondering one’s mortality is coupled with the ongoing plight of the now-fallen Archangel Gabriel. His random appearances rattle Jacob but generate some of the story’s absurdly funny moments. The narrative handles the subjects of life, death, and spirituality with dignity and respect, and the payoff is more than satisfactory. This is a book with genuine appeal.

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