Review
"For a debut novel, Michael Phelps has outdone himself. "The Execution of Justice" gives a great in depth look at the life of a police officer. Mike Walsh must try to balance his work life and his home life, which I can only imagine must be extremly difficult for an officer of the law. Hardships hit and long hours at work take place as he goes through case after case, tryting to catch the criminals who threaten his city. At the same time he must try to fight off and deal with the tensions that are slowly developing at home. I found this book to be an insightful read and loved how much I learned about police life. It was very realistic, making it very clear that Michael Phelps has experience in the investigative field. The writing was well done and the characters were expertly developed. I was looking for more of a focused plot meaning that I would have liked to see one case take precedence, with the mention of other cases, but thay may be just me. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I recommend "The Execution of Justice" to anyone who is looking for a good read, looking to learn more about police detectives, or enjoy crime drama." , --MR. TONY PETERS, Author/Book Critic of Swift Current, SK, Canada, 3.375 STARS on June 5, 2009.
"This is the story of Mike Walsh a policeman and then a Robbery-Homicide detective for the Indianapolis Police Department. The book is based on a true story. The fact that thestory took place in Indianapolsi was what first drew me to the book. I was born, raised and live in Indianapolis. I enjoyed the book very much and particularly knowing the parts of town where the story took place added to my interest. I could not put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, because the author made you feel like you were with the detectives, and you could feel their pain, and elatiuon when they were able to close a case. One Christmas Eve Mike Walsh and his partner Brad Reccio were called to a domestic dispute. Brad was gunned down and was seriously hurt. The suspect had Mike in his line of fire and he was unable to get to his partner. Becaue of this, Mike put himself in danger and came forward to try and talk the suspect into surrendering. Mike was successful and Brad was rushed to the hospital where Mike learned he would make a full recovfery. Soon after this incident Mike Walsh was promoted to the robbery-homicide division. He was assigned to work with his one time mentor Jack Lovell. Mike found that he was quite good at being a detective and with Jack's guidance he became very good at his job. The bulk of the novel deals with the different cases Mike works on and how a detective investigates cases and gathers information. The story also focused on the married life of Mike Walsh and how his job affected his marriage. Detectives put in a lot of time tracking down information and different leads that come from their informers. Joanne, Mike's wife found that his new hours on his new job meant that he was not home very much. She also worried about his safety all the time. This put a huge strain on their marriage. I don't think many people think about that part of a policeman's or detective's life. Their families really have to put up with them bringing the job home with them and the inherent danger of the job. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who especially enjoys crime novels or just a good read." --MS. KAREN HENE, Book Critic, Indianapolis, IN, FIVE STARS on May 1, 2009
"While reading this excellently written story, I felt as though I was beside the police as they performed their daily duties, while on or off duty and trying to keep up a social and family life. I have never read a book that placed me into the life of those valiant men and women that protect us as well as this book. Mike Walsh is a patrolman on the Indianapolis, Indiana Police force. Mike and his latest partner, Brad Reccio, were racing in their patrol car to a domestic dispute. These disputes are one of the most dangerous calls a lawman can receive. Whenh they arrived shots were fired and Brad was wounded. The descriptive words that the author uses to describe this scene and all the other stories that play out in the book are what keep the reader from placing the book down. The backup police that help keep a scene safe while assisting in the apprehension and questioning all those in the area are a huge part of laaw enforecemnt. "The Execution of Justice" takes you from Mike the patrolman, to Mike who becomes a Robbery-Homicide Detective, through a rough marriage as endured by almost all policemen, through several partners, to crimes that defy a human's imagination. Criminals have no scruples and this book describes many of the activities that our law enforcement goes through every day. You will be in the middle of shootouts, bloody bodies, wounded police, shot victims, forensics, work in the morgue, and practically every crime involvement these men and women have to endure daily. Then they have to go home and try to keep their mind off of what they saw that day. Some face it with alcohol which is the worst thing they could do as it only leads to wanting more and more alcohol that doesn't really take their minds off of the bad things they see and do. To face deaath, brutal force, no fear of police, shooting anyone in sight, and trying to overcome your fears regarding all of these, makes our law enforcement special - very special. I feel I don't have to go into much detail about this book because as you flip from page to page you will come to understand what Michael Phelps is telling us with such detail and vividness. Thank you Michael Phelps for allowing us to read some of the many things our police endure for humanity. I look forward to your next book. To think that this story is based on fact makes the reader shocked even more." --MR. CY HILTERMAN, Book Critic of Cherry Tree, PA, FIVE STARS Review on May 8, 2009.
"This is the story of Mike Walsh a policeman and then a Robbery-Homicide detective for the Indianapolis Police Department. The book is based on a true story. The fact that thestory took place in Indianapolsi was what first drew me to the book. I was born, raised and live in Indianapolis. I enjoyed the book very much and particularly knowing the parts of town where the story took place added to my interest. I could not put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, because the author made you feel like you were with the detectives, and you could feel their pain, and elatiuon when they were able to close a case. One Christmas Eve Mike Walsh and his partner Brad Reccio were called to a domestic dispute. Brad was gunned down and was seriously hurt. The suspect had Mike in his line of fire and he was unable to get to his partner. Becaue of this, Mike put himself in danger and came forward to try and talk the suspect into surrendering. Mike was successful and Brad was rushed to the hospital where Mike learned he would make a full recovfery. Soon after this incident Mike Walsh was promoted to the robbery-homicide division. He was assigned to work with his one time mentor Jack Lovell. Mike found that he was quite good at being a detective and with Jack's guidance he became very good at his job. The bulk of the novel deals with the different cases Mike works on and how a detective investigates cases and gathers information. The story also focused on the married life of Mike Walsh and how his job affected his marriage. Detectives put in a lot of time tracking down information and different leads that come from their informers. Joanne, Mike's wife found that his new hours on his new job meant that he was not home very much. She also worried about his safety all the time. This put a huge strain on their marriage. I don't think many people think about that part of a policeman's or detective's life. Their families really have to put up with them bringing the job home with them and the inherent danger of the job. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who especially enjoys crime novels or just a good read." --MS. KAREN HENE, Book Critic, Indianapolis, IN, FIVE STARS on May 1, 2009
"While reading this excellently written story, I felt as though I was beside the police as they performed their daily duties, while on or off duty and trying to keep up a social and family life. I have never read a book that placed me into the life of those valiant men and women that protect us as well as this book. Mike Walsh is a patrolman on the Indianapolis, Indiana Police force. Mike and his latest partner, Brad Reccio, were racing in their patrol car to a domestic dispute. These disputes are one of the most dangerous calls a lawman can receive. Whenh they arrived shots were fired and Brad was wounded. The descriptive words that the author uses to describe this scene and all the other stories that play out in the book are what keep the reader from placing the book down. The backup police that help keep a scene safe while assisting in the apprehension and questioning all those in the area are a huge part of laaw enforecemnt. "The Execution of Justice" takes you from Mike the patrolman, to Mike who becomes a Robbery-Homicide Detective, through a rough marriage as endured by almost all policemen, through several partners, to crimes that defy a human's imagination. Criminals have no scruples and this book describes many of the activities that our law enforcement goes through every day. You will be in the middle of shootouts, bloody bodies, wounded police, shot victims, forensics, work in the morgue, and practically every crime involvement these men and women have to endure daily. Then they have to go home and try to keep their mind off of what they saw that day. Some face it with alcohol which is the worst thing they could do as it only leads to wanting more and more alcohol that doesn't really take their minds off of the bad things they see and do. To face deaath, brutal force, no fear of police, shooting anyone in sight, and trying to overcome your fears regarding all of these, makes our law enforcement special - very special. I feel I don't have to go into much detail about this book because as you flip from page to page you will come to understand what Michael Phelps is telling us with such detail and vividness. Thank you Michael Phelps for allowing us to read some of the many things our police endure for humanity. I look forward to your next book. To think that this story is based on fact makes the reader shocked even more." --MR. CY HILTERMAN, Book Critic of Cherry Tree, PA, FIVE STARS Review on May 8, 2009.
Product Description
MIKE WALSH is a young Patrol Officer with the Indianapolis Police Department. On a frigid, snowy Christmas Eve, he and his partner are dispatched to a domestic dispute. As they arrive shots pierce the still air, his partner is seriously wounded. A derranged gunman stands at the door; gun in one hand, holding a little girl hostage with the other. Arriving Police units and Fire-Rescue can do nothing but watch the unfolding drama. Walsh crawls on his belly to place himself between his fallen partner, then stands to face the gunman, with his gun in hand. After several tense moments, he succeeds in talking the man into surrendering and releasing his child-hostage. Walsh's partner is rushed to the hospital. His heroic act leads to his promotion to Detective in the elite Robbery-Homicide Division, where he is partnered with his one-time mentor, Detective Sergeant Jack Lovell. In the ensuing months, they handle a variety of cases; armed robberies, and a couple of murders. Walsh finds that the hours required of being a detective are much longer than being on patrol. His marriage begins to suffer, and his alcohol intake increases. He and his partner, Lovell are assigned the case of a vicious gang of armed robbers. With no real clues to follow, victims' and witnesses' descriptions that are strange and conflicting, the gang is on a spree and they become more violent with each crime, resulting in the cold-blooded murder of a Brinks Armored Guard. In a subsequent bank robbery, memebrs of the gang get involved in a shoot-out with an off-duty cop. He wounds one of the fleeing suspects, who begs for help from his cohort, the gunman shoots him in the head. The slain robber is identified, and provides Lovell and Walsh with their first solid lead to the gang's identities. Lovell and Walsh asemble a team of detectives and uniformed officers for backup and carefully plan a raid of three dwellings, where they have a tip the gang members are hiding out. Lovell plans the raid to be executed simultaneously in the pre-dawn hours of a cold December morning, just two weeks before Christmas. Tragedy is about to strike the team, and Walsh's life is turned upside-down. He is forced to make changes, both professionally and personally. Will he survive?
