Reviews

Under Color of Law by Aaron Philip Clark

readbydusk's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

readingrainpau's review

reflective tense

3.75

theirresponsiblereader's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Three Events 

There are three major events that define the career of LAPD Detective Trevor “Finn” Finnegan. 

The first happens in his teens and leads to him deciding to abandon his plan to pursue an artistic career and follow in his father’s footsteps and apply to the Police Academy. The second is the event that puts him on the accelerated track to promotion as a detective. 

The third is the case that is the focus of this novel. A black Police Academy recruit is found dead—in a way that screams both suspicious and weird. Finn is assigned to work the case solo—his partner is on medical leave—despite the volatile nature of this case. 

The media scrutiny on the case is intense, BLM protesters are turning it into a rallying point, and Finn isn’t making fast progress—making him a target for the command structure, the media, and the community. And Finn is sure that the answers that he will find aren’t going to make anyone happy—assuming he can live long enough to find them. 

Father and Son 

Finn’s father is retired LAPD, and still has a degree of pull and respect from his former colleagues. But he’s putting it at risk—he’s playing a very visible and loud role in BLM (and similar) protests that were going on even before Finn’s case. 

His health and mental acuity are in decline—yet he’s still able to advise and cajole Finn in between their regular bouts of arguing. It’s a complicated relationship that feels rather real (more than a few others in the book). 

A Complicated Morality 

Finn says that he wants to rise in the ranks so that he can be a force for reform—particularly when it comes to the way that the LAPD deals with minorities. And he really does seem driven by those concerns. 

But what’s the cost for advancement in the LAPD? How many things does he have to overlook to save his career? How many rules will he bend? How many compromises are necessary? 

There are no easy answers, no clear-cut moral distinctions—a lot of what Finn does (and doesn’t do) will make the reader uncomfortable, and should. 

He really seems to be a guy who wants to do the right thing—but doesn’t what that is all the time. And when he does know what the right thing he is, he’s not sure how to do it. Which makes him seem pretty human and relatable, if not the typical hero. 

A Series? 

I thought I’d read that this was the first in a series about Finn—but as the book continued, especially as it moved into the endgame, I couldn’t see how it would continue. I actually assumed that I remembered incorrectly and that it wouldn’t keep going. 

Then when Clark tips his hand and shows how the story can continue, I was pretty impressed—it’s not at all what I saw coming, but think it’ll be rich with opportunity for continued stories. 

So, what did I think about Under Color of Law? 

It took me a while to really see what Clark was doing here, I expected Finn to be your usual driven detective—and in many ways he was. But in more ways, he wasn’t. Think of Bosch at his most political (especially early on) and you’ve got the beginnings of an understanding of how Finn works within and against the system. 

The further I got into it, the more I could see how the event that made him want to be a cop shaped him, how much he’s grown since the first two events I listed. 

But more than that, this novel is a great exploration of the morality of law enforcement as well as a compelling novel about a murder investigation. Many of the twists and reveals seemed obvious, but just as many blind-sided me. 

The narration was just as strong, Butler did a great job of bringing Finn and his circumstances to life. 

I can’t help but feel that I’m short-changing this book, it deserves more from me, but I can’t think of what it is that I’m missing. 

Under Color of Law is a dark and tense novel, with just a hint of hope. It’s worth your time. 

chfugal's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

Audible own
Black police Detective investigating the death of a black police recruit.  To much time spent on Detective Finnagin back story and not on actual investigation. 

kevink's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

tlaynejones's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m judging this book primarily on the interesting and somewhat unique personal arc of the MC. I look forward to book 2. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Murder and Violence

Minor: Rape

mororlesley's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

jbrendanshaw's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.0

The central mystery here - the death of a Black LAPD recruit - and the main character - a Black police detective grappling with the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement - are both compelling. The backstory of the hero was interesting but dropping in a 50 page background chapter early in the book sort of slowed the momentum of the present day (and I didn't see all the things raised there coming back in a way that meant the full backstory dump was meaningful). At times the prose is a bit overly affected - perhaps noir is the goal but it could get purple. Still, the character is interesting and the conclusion sets the stage for a clear follow-up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

readermonica's review against another edition

3.0

I need to think about how to write this one up. I like Clark's writing and I like the bones of this story, but there are some things that I didn't enjoy as much as I had hoped. I wanted to be more firmly behind Finn and his struggles but I had a hard time being empathetic to him. That lack of wanting to fully cheer for him is an odd feeling for me because in essence Finn is a young Black man wanting to succeed in a police department notorious for corruption and racism and he does get over on them by being made a detective young and quick. You'd think that would make me be happy for the character, but somehow it didn't. It's how/why he does it and his shaky respect for his father (whish isn't completely unearned) that's giving me issues. I haven't sorted it out yet but I will be getting book 2 when it releases to see how it continues.

Would I recommend this one? Yes, I am actually thinking of re-reading it to see if it was my mood that kept me off kilter while reading it.

Full review to come.

***I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase

tracyreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0