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cleches's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Racism
sbnich's review
4.0
This is a fantastic book, quite possibly because it was so much more than I expected it to be.
Having never heard of Clark, I selected this book from my Amazon First Reads because I have so much going on, I have erred on the side of entertainment reading vs reading that stretches me. It is a mystery/police procedural of sorts, and I expected it to be tense with the crime taking center stage.
Instead, to my surprise, the characters too center stage, the crime was really the setting, and the setting was one of the characters. Clark so richly described L.A., I could easily feel as if I was there, in both its quirky California-ness and its grittiness. The characters, particularly Trevor, were complex, imperfect, and felt real, not like the unexplainably super human or super villan detectives of most procedurals.
Trevor was relatable because he was sometimes unable to restrain his emotion on and off the job; sometimes he was unable to make the perfect choice, which in reality was only a perfect choice in hindsight; sometimes he was the character you wanted to hug and tell him he wasn't as awful as he considered himself.
All in all, a surprisingly complex mystery tackling current issues without being preachy. Clark's prior experience with LAPD and his deep L.A. knowledge shine through.
Having never heard of Clark, I selected this book from my Amazon First Reads because I have so much going on, I have erred on the side of entertainment reading vs reading that stretches me. It is a mystery/police procedural of sorts, and I expected it to be tense with the crime taking center stage.
Instead, to my surprise, the characters too center stage, the crime was really the setting, and the setting was one of the characters. Clark so richly described L.A., I could easily feel as if I was there, in both its quirky California-ness and its grittiness. The characters, particularly Trevor, were complex, imperfect, and felt real, not like the unexplainably super human or super villan detectives of most procedurals.
Trevor was relatable because he was sometimes unable to restrain his emotion on and off the job; sometimes he was unable to make the perfect choice, which in reality was only a perfect choice in hindsight; sometimes he was the character you wanted to hug and tell him he wasn't as awful as he considered himself.
All in all, a surprisingly complex mystery tackling current issues without being preachy. Clark's prior experience with LAPD and his deep L.A. knowledge shine through.
readinggrrl's review
4.0
What a well written and timely book. I love flawed characters and Finn definitely qualifies. He is an outcast in the LAPD due to how fast he moved up in the ranks. When he was a rookie he witnessed something he knew was wrong and now his inaction is coming back to bite him. Tasked with finding the killer of a new black recruit Finn finds himself confronting his past and trying to figure out who he wants to be and if being a cop is really the future for him. Before he was a cop, he was an artist, a really talented artist but a horrific incident made him turn his back on his art and look toward law enforcement, following in his fathers footsteps. But the LAPD hasn't quite caught up with the times yet and the racial imbalance in their ranks is obvious.
In the wake of the current climate of Black Lives Matter and the move toward holding police accountable for their actions while on duty this book is perfect. The perfect blend of acknowledgment of the corruption while also showing how sometimes good cops stay silent. It's a peak behind the blue wall of silence. Wonderfully written with well developed characters I really enjoyed this book. I even pre-ordered the 2nd!
In the wake of the current climate of Black Lives Matter and the move toward holding police accountable for their actions while on duty this book is perfect. The perfect blend of acknowledgment of the corruption while also showing how sometimes good cops stay silent. It's a peak behind the blue wall of silence. Wonderfully written with well developed characters I really enjoyed this book. I even pre-ordered the 2nd!
bookishlibrarian's review
3.5
Trevor Finnegan is a Black LAPD officer whose career has been accelerated by a moral compromise he made early in his career. His newest case involves the murder of a Black LAPD trainee, and it quickly becomes clear that the recruit's death may have been an attempt to silence him. His colleagues become suspects. Trevor's father is also a former LAPD officer who has his own ideas on how Trevor should proceed. This first in a series tackles ethical dilemmas, departmental politics, old boy networks, police brutality and corruption. Trevor himself is a flawed character--not only in his past actions but also in his current relationships. A flawed first outing that has me curious to see how the author and character develop in later books. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
kacinvel's review
3.0
Alright. Didn't really suck me in like some other readers. Interesting plot though, would love to see this as a movie.
moreads14's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Racial slurs
Moderate: Rape and Racism
terriep's review
challenging
medium-paced
4.0
I've read MANY Amazon first reads and most of them are ho-hum. This one made me sit up and take notice. The story attempts to show the experiences of a black cop (Trevor) who wants to make a difference in the department and his community but finds he has to make some uncomfortable compromises along the way. When one of those decisions surfaces later and impacts a case he is investigating, he's faced with hard choices again. I like that the character isn't a paragon of virtue - he makes decision that seem right at the time but are morally wrong - all in the name of the greater good. Who among us hasn't made similar decisions? That's what makes a character believable - some flaws that the reader can identify with. The ending created a lot of questions so I'm interested in seeing what happens to him next.
readbydusk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism