Customer Reviews

Tales of a Country Cop in Africa

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In Tales of a Country Cop In Africa, Michael Jaquish gives the reader an intimate experience of a "man's world", including the searing soul sacrifices of a man who holds his personal Code of Honor as his guiding principle. This book is more than a compilation of stories of a man of adventure. It is the story of a man's courage to face life's most difficult decisions on his terms. I am far from politically conservative. Neither am I a huge fan of the military, nor a fan of the use of violence as vehicle for entertainment, but Jaquish's articulation of his remarkable journey, his choices, his heartbreaks, his losses and his victories have allowed me, the reader and a woman, into the rarified world of a Hero's Code of Ethics. I feel privileged to have witnessed this Hero's Journey and I would recommend this read to anyone who wants to touch into the intimate world of the psyche of a man faced with the unimaginable: from the separation from his beloved young daughters, to the forced abandonment of his imperiled lover, to civil war carnage that he was forced to witness and helpless to prevent, the author's strength, his sacrifices, and his vulnerabilities are unforgettable. I think this book should be renamed: "Beyond Courage".

Mike does a wonderful job of conveying to the reader some of the realities that law enforcement officer's and professional security personnel can experience on a daily basis. His stories actually draw you into his realm as if you were right there with him, seeing what he see's, feeling what he feels. If you have never been involved in the law enforcement/security community, this will give you a well written taste of what it is like and help you experience the dramas that unfold each day, both physically and psychologically. His ability to divulge his own feelings shows that cops are in fact people too. His tales of Africa are humorous, gripping and spellbinding. I was able to visualize his environment and it made me wish I had I had taken up his offer to go to Africa a few years ago just to experience the way of life.

Part of the appeal of the book is that it starts off as a country cop in America (Okanogan County in eastern Washington State), who goes into Africa and gets immersed in spies and international espionage. Along the way he encounters terrorists and rowdy Friday-night cowboys. You learn that small-town cops can do it all, and security guards at African embassies get a maid, a driver and, if they want them, diplomatic driver's license plates. Since I live in Okanogan, and knew Mike (a loooong time ago), his tales from here sound very familiar and are very entertaining. But Africa, that is a completely foreign area, that Mike's made accessible for us. There certainly are similarities between both professions. I'm glad he opted to keep both perspectives in one book.

Michael Jaquish has told exactly what it's like to be a country cop in a rural town, and what it's like to be a merc in Africa. He goes into great detail on the emotional and physical experiaces he has endoured, and has made it into a great story you wont want to put down. This is not some fictional thing you would read in a Tom Clancy book, this is REAL, and Micahel's gift for writting makes it a down right great book. Not only do you get a look into what it's like to be a cop/merc, but you also get a history leson as well on the culture and ways of the African people. It's a book that will have your complete attention from start to finish.

There are many types of heroes and persons who have the courage to live while all the odds are against him or her. This story will place you into a world and a time where ethical behavior was unheard of, these unsung heroes made the difference that made Africa what it is today. Touching moments and ugly scenes of violence bring out the story into the light of what once was, and continue to terrorize as nobody bothers to listen to the voices crying out for savior. I personally loved the way the author has demonstrated heartbreak and reality of being a country cop in Africa. Decisions made in the best interests of the whole leave out many that are considered expendable. There is no way for one man to save the world but this country cop tried his best to make the world he lived in, a better place to be. Deep thought was put into this story making it a touching and sincere read. We recommend that you buy this book if you love a great story about the way it is in many parts of Africa and the courage it takes to survive there. Michael Jaquish will make you sad enough to cry and fills you with a sense of adventure that wants to live forever. Outstanding book with stories creating a plot filled with love and chilling adventure. The book covers paint a story of tranquility but after reading the book we find everything quite adventurous and indulging. Brfe LLC Inc. Publishing co. recommends that you buy this book to experience a sense of what it is like in Africa. Filled with such great love and beauty, only Michael Jaquish can truly illustrate his experiences and convey a feeling that you were there in Africa with Michael Jaquish.

Tales of a Country Cop in Africa is a fascinating peek inside the mind of one seeking to rescue the world from its own insanity. He is one of those inexplicable men involved in the battle for justice on the front lines. He is with all his being endeavoring to keep the world safe for ordinary lives. Anyone involved with Critical Incident Debriefing would benefit from reading first hand about the onslaught of horrific activities encountered in Jaquish's spellbinding account of his adventures. One can only think about Superman in his quest for Truth, Justice and the American Way as you become one with the life of this man. At the same time, one feels empathy for the personal loss of intimacy that his chosen profession creates along the way. As he becomes more and more desensitized to the worst in human nature, he loses his own ability to feel compatible with simple human bonding. As a therapist, I appreciate both the humanness and the hero in this story. I would recommend this book if only to read the last page which leaves you with a feeling of pride and hope in all that is defined by the hero. Michael Jaquish, in your quest for justice, in your quest for adventure, and in your quest for an end to your emptiness, you have given us your soul.
B. Diane Donovan-Vaughn, LMFT, LADC Las Vegas, NV www.destinyretreats.com