Curbchek 2nd edition [Kindle Edition]

Zach Fortier (Author), Wendy Reis (Editor), Blue Harvest Creative (Illustrator)

Book Description

Curbchek debuted at # 11 on Amazon.com in Hot New Releases, and has been listed in the top ten on Amazon's true crime best sellers listed at #8. 

Curbchek is the story of a damaged cop, Zach Fortier. Fortier worked in the police department for the city where he grew up. One foot in the world of the cops, courts and legal system. The other in the world of gangs, drugs, thugs and street violence. Where the laws and rules are made by the strongest, the schemers and most brutal. Read about the transformation of Fortier from a green rookie to a damaged paranoid veteran seeing danger in every situation. Follow along as he walks this tight rope. Trying to make difference, breaking the laws he promised to enforce. This is a story of law and order uncensored.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ZACH FORTIER WAS A POLICE officer for over 30 years specializing in K-9, SWAT, gang, domestic violence, and sex crimes as an investi- gator. He has written three books about police work. The first book, CurbChek, is a case-by-case account of the streets as he worked them from the start of his career. The second book, Street Creds, details the time he spent in a gang task force and the cases that occurred. The third book, Curbchek-Reload, is by far the most gritty. The author is danger- ously damaged, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and the day-to-day violence of working the street. Hero To Zero, his fourth book, details the incredibly talented cops that he worked with but ended up going down in flames. Some ended up in prison and one on the FBI’s ten most wanted list. If you are looking for gritty, true crime stories, be sure to check out all of Zach Fortier’s novels.

Product Details

• File Size: 6369 KB
• Print Length: 186 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615816126
• Publisher: Steele Shark Press; 2nd edition (May 8, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005IC6DQA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,987 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A disturbing look into the life of a cop... February 7, 2012

By T. Sparks

Format:Paperback

I received a review copy of Curbchek from the author, and was immediately struck by the intriguing cover. Curbchek describes the gritty, day-to-day working life of a cop on the city streets, and that cop's name is Zach Fortier, just like the author. Now, I've actually read quite a few books where the author decides to give the main character their own name, and to be honest, I've never really understood why writers do this. Nonetheless, I started reading, knowing that Fortier based his book on his personal experiences as a police officer.

The book is a series of short chapters, each focusing on a different street incident that takes place in an unnamed city. Some of these stories are fairly banal and even humorous, but most are truly horrific and sometimes shocking. Fortier definitely has a gift for lurid description, and he and his trash-talking fellow cops come across as authentic, if disturbing. But while the crimes themselves are hard to stomach, I found the most disturbing part of Curbchek was the "character" of Zach Fortier. I honestly don't know how much of the book is autobiographical, but if this is the real Fortier, I don't think I want to meet him. In the Preface, he actually describes himself as "damaged," and he's not wrong. Fortier was in the military police before coming over to the civilian side, and his training instilled in him a loathing for authority of any kind. When he started working the streets, he realized he could finally make his own decisions, and many of those decisions come across as downright reckless.

We've all heard about police brutality, and seen it in action on TV, but most of us probably don't think much about it on a daily basis. So when I started reading Curbchek I was not prepared for Fortier's casual descriptions of the treatment of some of the perpetrators. Although I acknowledge that police work is dangerous and officers have to be alert and ready for violence at all times, I felt a lot of the bad treatment of criminals went above and beyond what was necessary to keep them in check. Instead of cheering on the cops for protecting society, I was horrified by what I interpreted as sadistic cops who take out their aggressions on the job.

Most perplexing to me is how many people really loved this book. I checked the reviews for Curbchek on Amazon and Goodreads before I started writing this review, just to see if I was on the same page as other readers, and I found that I am not. Curbchek is getting glowing five-star reviews from most people, which is great for Fortier, but confuses the heck out of me. I have to conclude that those who have read and reviewed this book are reacting to its shock value, and not the fact that it is a poorly constructed "novel." If Fortier had actually created a fictional character and a story arc that provided the reader with a beginning, middle and end, it would have been much more successful. Even throwing out the idea of a novel and calling it "non-fiction" would have made it better. In any case, when I evaluate a book there is one thing that has to be present in order for me to give it any kind of "thumbs up." If the characters, even the bad guys, do not have any redeeming human qualities, the story just doesn't work.

I'll leave you with this definition of "curbchek" from the introduction, which sums up very nicely how I felt after finishing the book:

"Curbchek: Placing an unconscious or immobile individual's head against a curb with their mouth open, then stomping on or kicking them in the head."

Mission accomplished.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surviving September 14, 2011

By oldwiseman

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Curb Chek tells it like it was and is. I was a part of this when it occurred. What you read is revealing and shocking but for the most part very accurate, understanding it is from the authors point of view. Yet it reveals the pain, tribulations and effects endured by the officers who serve the community of which this book is written. Their world is truly different from what most citizens believe theirs to be. Especially the night which is so graphically and accurately revealed to be. I am glad to see the author put down on paper his experiences and hope it helps him as he continues with his life today. It has helped me realize what pain and inner turmoil I endured as a result of serving in the same community. I am thankful to have survived and retired from it. Thank you for a great read and hope to see you write more.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Reading!! August 23, 2011

By SenieBG

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a fan of reading I like to find new books that capture my attention from start to finish. Curbchek definitely did that! A friend pointed me in the direction of this book and I must say you will not be disappointed!! Each short story in itself draws you in and keeps your interest. The first few hours I could not put the book down, had to make myself go to bed!! Awesome reading!!

More About the Author

Zach Fortier was a police officer for over 30 years, specializing in K-9, SWAT, gang, domestic violence and sex crimes as an investigator. He has written three books about Police work. "Curbchek" the first book is a case by case account of the streets as he worked them from the start of his 30 career. "Streetcreds" the second book details time Zach Spent in a Gang task force and the cases that occured. The third book is by far the most gritty: "Curbchek-Reload". In "Curbchek-Reload" Zach is damaged and dangerously so, suffering from PTSD and the day to day violence of working the street. "Hero To Zero" is Zach's fourth book and recalls cops he worked with that were incredibly talented but ended up going down in flames, some ended up in jail, prison and one on the FBI's ten most wanted list. If you like True Crime, take a look at Zach Fortier. You wont be disappointed.