Customer Reviews

Precinct Puerto Rico: A Luis Gonzalo Novel, Book One

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first Precinct Puerto Rico novel is a dark and brutal picture of a small town and an even smaller police force. Torres makes the reader painfully aware of the consequences of evil acts. Can't wait to read the rest.

In Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, bodies are washing up on shore. They are the dead bodies of refugees from the Dominican Republic who were killed while trying to flee their country and gain entry into the United States. Sheriff Luis Gonzalo, of a nearby town, helps with the victims. He notices one man has been killed with a head wound that looks suspiciously like it was caused by a hammer. He suspects murder. However, Gonzalo is forcibly removed from the beach by local police who want to assume complete control. Upon following up on the dead man, he discovers that the body has disappeared and nobody knows where it went. As he searches for the truth, Gonzalo finds himself threatened and his family in danger.
Steven Torres does an admirable job in his first effort. I always admire relative brevity in a debut work. However, this book is a bit too brief. There were several subplots that deserved some further exploring such as the fate of the ill fated Dominican boat pilot who we meet in the first chapter. Characters range from the well developed to the stereotypic. The plot was reasonably well paced and compelling enough keep the pages turning. A mild recommendation.

I enjoyed this book as much as his previous four. His main characters Gonzalo, Collazo, Mari, Maria Garcia, etc. are well developed and the story very realistic. My mother is from Naranjito and I know the area where the story takes place (of course there is no Angustias); Mr. Torres is correct "To give an idea of the beauty of these views is beyond the power of words. Perhaps the word "miraculous" comes closest to explaining the sights." From my grandmother's house at the top of the mountain you can see Puerto Rico 360 degrees.

My only criticism and is a minor one is that the book is to short just as the previous four. I read them usually between two and three sittings. There is room for further development of the stories and he should venture out.

I will be looking for Book Six of Precinct Puerto Rico.

Luis Gonzalo, long-time sheriff of the Puerto Rican hillside town of Angustias, visits his wife's relatives in seaside Rincon. That night, a ship with refugees from the Dominican Republic brakes up off the coast and Gonzalo hurries to help. He notices that one of the dead did not die naturally, but was murdered. As he tries to investigate this murder he runs into a wall of corrupt police who will do anything to keep their secret. Diversionary maneuvers include a bloody bank robbery and manhandling of the Gonzalo family.

This is not the kind of book where the good guys suffer no lasting damage. It is written with a great deal of realism, and with feeling for the people of Puerto Rico. It is a wonderful book, well written with fully rounded characters.

Steven Torres has written a book that is hard to put down. It falls into the "Police Procedural" genre of crime fiction, and the story it tells is gripping, interesting, and very realistic. If you like crime fiction, I think you'll enjoy this book. I have given this book to others to read, and I hope Mr. Torres will write more. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the next book Mr. Torres writes.

<An> Amazon review states that the book misses an opportunity be more politically minded about the desparation of Dominicans (which gets this novel started). Well, yes, but the story isn't about poverty and illegal immigrants, and Torres does a good job of identifying the evil in people who prey upon the desperation of others less fortunate.

The reviewer very rightly points out that the book is so vividly written that it could become a screenplay. I hope so. My friends who have read the book are already speculating on which actors will play the roles that Mr. Torres has created. I'd love to see this book on the big screen.

Desperate for work, Marcos agrees to sail from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico with nine illegal immigrants on board. However, a wary and worried Marcos leaves his small hometown with twenty-two passengers in his hold and not much of his prepayment. They reach their destination with everyone, including Marcos, is dead, their bodies washing ashore.

Luis Gonzalo, Sheriff of Angustias since the early 1970s, knows that recently the drug traffickers discovered his seaside town forcing the mayor to double the staff from three to six. Near retirement veteran Emilio Collazo and rookie Rosa Almodovar form one team. Computer guru Iris Calderon and wild man Hector Paredo are paired. Luis and San Juan transfer Abel Fernandez form the third squad. However, instead of just dealing with druggies and the occasional murder of passion (seven homicides since Luis joined the force in the sixties), the six cops finds themselves investigating a mass murder of illegal immigrants. The inquiry is further complicated by seemingly every other law enforcement organization preferring the case washed out to the sea rather than solved.

PRECINCT PUERTO RICO BOOK ONE is a powerful opening police procedural that will remind the audience of the 87th Precinct novels. The story line is loaded with action as the three police teams investigate the major homicide case as well as what now appears to them as minor crimes. The deep personalities of the characters enable the audience to delineate each member of the sheriff's office and several prime secondary players too. Steven Torres provides a strong debut of a new series that sub-genre readers will welcome.

Harriet Klausner