Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking “In [this] riveting story of the redemptive potential of the human spirit, Brian MacQuarrie has opened an unforgettable window into the unspeakable horror of an innocent's murder, and into the towering courage of that boy's father to turn from hate to healing. Robert Curley's radical transformation is a lesson for us all.”
Senator John Kerry
“Compelling and deeply moving, Brian MacQuarrie’s The Ride movingly tells the story of Bob Curley’s journey to hell and back, and the power that comes from having the courage to follow your convictions. Curley’s striking transformation in the face of such unimaginable loss and his subsequent work in channeling his grief into the movement against the death penalty is remarkable. Engrossing and provocative, The Ride forces its readers to probe their most deeply held beliefs and wonder how they’d react if—like Curley—their world was turned upside down.”
David Kaczysnki, brother of the Unabomber and executive director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty
“The Ride follows one man’s remarkable journey from unbearable loss to moral epiphany. If anyone had cause to hate, it was Bob Curley after the brutal murder of his young son Jeffrey. But Bob discovers a higher truth as grief over his son sensitizes him to others’ losses, bringing him a new and deeper appreciation of justice. In tracing one man's journey beyond violence, Brian MacQuarrie's excellent book becomes a chronicle of hope for us all.”
Kirkus, 5/1/09
“MacQuarrie’s familiarity with the physical landscape of Boston and its suburbs lends a captivating verisimilitude to the storytelling, and he masterfully captures the rawness of Bob [Curley’s] emotions as he moved from inarticulate rage to a kind of transcendent wisdom. A first-rate combination of true crime and social history.”
Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene, 4/28/09
“A no-holds barred account of the emotional ups and downs that occur over the years for the [Curley] family, placing the reader into the edge of their painful abyss…A study of breaking and redemption of human spirit…An excellent, interesting read.”
Publishersweekly.com, 6/15/09
“[A] vivid account…MacQuarrie’s style is visceral and haunting…This is a gripping, unusual true crime tale, likely to move readers to tears and sure to inspire personal contemplation.”
The Boston Globe, 6/15/09
“A fascinating story of loss, profound anger, pain, and the difficult, soul-searching aftermath of trauma.”
curledup.com
“MacQuarrie has fashioned a tale out of real-life events that is hard to read but important to remember. It’s the story of a child’s pain, a father’s grief, and society’s responsibilities, played out in the courts and in the conscience of one gutsy man.”
Colby, Summer 2009
“Beyond the macabre crime, the book unfolds on multiple levels, incorporating court reporting on the trials, statehouse reporting on campaigns for the death penalty, and, ultimately, an intimate portrait of Jeffrey’s father, Bob Curley, who fitfully rebuilds his life after the murder…The levels reflect MacQuarrie’s varied experience as a general assignment reporter for the Boston Globe for 20 years, covering more than his share of mayhem. MacQuarrie’s animated, finely tuned prose carries the day.”
Infodad.com, 7/2/09
“Harrowing…Novelistic in its treatment of a nightmarish scenario…As it progresses, The Ride becomes less the story of one family and one murder than a societally oriented look at the death penalty.”
Internet Review of Books, July 2009
“MacQuarrie recounts the days before the murder and the dozen years following it with a journalist’s finely trained eye for detail. Reading of murder is not pleasant, and writing about it can’t have been either, but MacQuarrie accomplishes the task with respect and empathy for the Curley family and its continuing grief…Wrenchingly vivid.”
Providence Journal, 8/2/09
“MacQuarrie has brilliantly enlarged his news reports into a riveting book.”
Augusta Metro Spirit, 8/5/09
“A thrilling mixture of social commentary and true crime… MacQuarrie examines the depths of issues surrounding the death penalty in contemporary American society…Written in a gripping narrative that focuses on a powerful issue and a fascinating personal story full of emotions and intrigue, The Ride will send readers careening.”
Federal Lawyer, August 2009
"MacQuarrie shows with clarity and skill how this unsophisticated, inarticulate firefighter becomes an effective spokesman—first locally, then nationally—for individuals and families dealing with their trauma as the relatives of victims of heinous crimes…If you have an interest in the question of putting people to death, read it.”
Roanoke Times, 9/13
“A gripping account…Despite the time span involved and the magnitude of this story, Pulitzer Prize nominee MacQuarrie's vivid writing captures the intensity of each situation and kept me engrossed from the first page to the last.”
Improper Bostonian, 9/22
“A look at a local murder and a father’s complex reaction…With vivid energy and you-are-there dialogue, author Brian MacQuarrie takes us through Bob’s many transformations.”
Acadiana LifeStyle LA, October 2009
“In this true story, there is an amazing turnaround as Jeffrey’s father reconsiders his view and becomes an opponent of the death penalty. No matter where you now stand on this issue, you may find your position changing.”
Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/29/09
“The most emotionally challenging true-crime account I have ever read…I want this book to win every nonfiction reporting award there is…Bob Curley’s story is profoundly important as the debate over the death penalty continues.”
Concord Monitor NH, 11/16/09
“Superbly reported and told…The Ride flinches from nothing, not the perversion of the crime or the human failings of the victim’s family or the flaws in the justice system. Its strength lies in the story at its center: the hard journey of Bob Curley during the decade after the slaying of his son, Jeffrey. Especially compelling is Curley’s struggle over the death penalty…An honest account of a dramatic and trying ordeal…A remarkable story that unfolds well beyond the usual boundaries of the true-crime genre.”
Midwest Book Review
“An outstanding and dramatic account…Will interest any general lending library.”
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