The Moon Is Always Full [Hardcover]

David Hunter (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rutledge Hill Pr (May 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558530207
• ISBN-13: 978-1558530201
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,326,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by a veteran cop, March 4, 2006

By 

C. J. Leach (Midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Moon Is Always Full (Hardcover)

This book was published in 1989 and is long out of print. Except for some of the technological and policy changes in law enforcement (such as to protect the Rodney Kings of this world) it is still timely. People don't really change. It is one of my favorite books, and THE favorite police-related book in my library.

Author David Hunter was a self-described poet/author that happened to be a cop (rather than vice versa which is usually the case). Hunter hired on with the the Knox County Tennessee sheriff's department rather late in life. He had a police officer's heart, but also the eye and voice of a good writer. He gave song to the relatively invisible and silent group of men and women (overwhelmingly men) who roam the streets all night and, simply put, stand between the bad people and the good people.

I have to disagree with the reviewer that described this book as like watching COPS on TV. In COPS, the officer is never really alone . . . he is accompanied by the two-man camera crew and usually a gang of other officeres that want to be on TV. COPS also doesn't really tell you what is going on inside the officer's mind and gut. Fear and/or disgust, or real compassion, doesn't come across accurately on mass market TV.

The book is a non-fictional account of Hunter's observations, thoughts, and experiences. Much is very funny. Much is heartbreaking. There are moments of terror. All is typical of police patrol work. He's not Ernest Hemingway, but he's pretty good and probably a lot more genuine.

I have spent over 90% of my 16 year police career on night patrol. I buy used paperback copies of this book in quantities and give them to younger nightshift guys that I feel have earned the ability to appreciate these stories.

Most highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, Heartrending, and Brutally Honest!, February 29, 2004

By 

Christiana Washington (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon Is Always Full (Hardcover)

I loved this book better than all the cop story books I've ever read because Officer Hunter keeps it simple and direct. His old fashioned values, positive attitude towards people, and terrific sense of humor make this book a fantastic and easy read. Hunter has a way of grabbing your heart and making you think about life in a new way.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MIRROR OF MY LIFE, February 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Moon Is Always Full (Paperback)

I read this book years ago, before I became a police officer. I have worked the streets for some time now and recently reread the book. Reading The Moon Is Always Full is truly like looking into a mirror of my life. David Hunter puts into words the things I see and do every day. He portrays the joy and sadness this strange job brings with clarity that only a fellow Officer would know. My thanks to Mr. Hunter for giving me a chance to look in the mirror.