Love, Death, and Other War Stories: Tales of Crime and Punishment in the Wild West (Paperback)

~ Victor Cass (Author)
Key Phrases: young gees, bling bling, field training officer, Victor Cass, Other War Stories, One Shot (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Pasadena Police Detective Roy Gildard finds himself on a collision course with the ruthless gangster, Johnny "One Shot" King. Roy is determined to catch Johnny, whose vicious gang, the P-9s, gets involved in a turf war with the Squiggly Lane Gangsters.

In the meantime, Roy finds true love and a deeper meaning to his life when his cop friend and ex-lover, Mary Eloyan, sets him up with the pretty but troubled LA Sheriff’s Deputy Laura Reel.

Helping Roy battle the gangsters is veteran training officer, George Denney, a suspected racist who gets a soft spot for his rookie trainee, the beautiful, mixed African-American officer, Ingrid Neilson. Together, their efforts to catch Johnny are almost thwarted by the German-Mexican siblings, Karl and Noemi Bernau, whose red harvest has struck terror in the immigrant community.

What the beautiful people don’t know can hurt them, as the bodies pile up in Pasadena.

About the Author

Victor Cass was born in 1968 in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Pasadena, California. He is a 12-year-veteran of the Pasadena Police Department, having been a street cop in the Northwest neighborhood, and a detective, assigned to Bunco-Major Theft. He lives in Pasadena.

Product Details

• Paperback: 703 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595332927
• ISBN-13: 978-0595332922
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,781,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Reality of Law Enforcement, June 1, 2005

By	Elizabeth Blake (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Love, Death and Other War Stories is an excellent read for those who enjoy police or action novels. It's a bit slow getting started, but once all the characters have been introduced it moves quickly through continual action, both in the long-term plot and in the daily interactions between the Pasadena police and their neighborhoods. Told from the standpoints of everyday cops on the beat, an ongoing series of vignettes gives a good look at their feelings, motivations and reactions to their work. Cass's characters, unlike the standard cop-fiction action heroes, are reality-based- insecure, confused, humorous and caring. In addition, the plotline (like real life) is unpredictable, keeping the reader on edge. Though the book is graphic, sexually explicit at times, and scatters four-letter words throughout (not for the faint-hearted), it is enjoyable and closes with an unexpected and truly heartwarming twist. This is less an action novel than a good, close-up look inside the world of law enforcement. Add this to your summer reading list.

5.0 out of 5 stars policeman's chronicles of the Northwest, September 4, 2009

By	Elizabeth Smith "Liz" (Monrovia, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Tales of a seasoned policeman; written with different perspectives, dramatic, funny, compassionate and blunt. Victor Cass does not disappoint and neither do his detailed characters of life as citizens and police officers in the City of Pasadena. Enjoyed the detailed descriptions of each character and City were events take place. Although fiction I'm sure much of what is told in this novel is based on true accounts of experiences that Mr. Cass and colleagues have had while on duty; makes for interesting and delightful reading. Chupacabra, gang bangers, seasoned officers, rookies, loves, friends and family all make for enjoyable and interesting reading.
Victor Cass is a true storyteller able to get and hold your attention to the end, and leaves you wanting and waiting for more.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Unpredictable Read, March 5, 2009

By	H. George (Monrovia, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Love, Death and Other War Stories is a fun and interesting read for anyone who enjoys crime or action novels. However, it isn't all about the action. Cass does a great job of developing his characters. The more information you read about a character, the more your opinions and feelings about them change. Cass also does a good job in setting the scene and taking the reader through all of the action, as if you are in the passenger seat of the police car. If you are interested in law enforcement, you will enjoy this book. However, it is not all police drama. The book follows the characters in their personal lives as well. Overall, a very good read.