I'm not a big reader of corruption and crime stories. Not that I don't like them, it's just that they tend to fall into similar patterns and the characters are more or less cookie-cutter. I decided to give "Beachside PD: The Reluctant Knight" a try because one of the authors works in crime prevention and law enforcement: I was hoping for an authentic read.
My book arrived on a weekday, so I didn't open it until Friday night. I was immediately drawn into the story by the voice of the first narrator, Danny Phillips the main character. It felt real. I was even more intrigued by the fact that Danny did not start out being somebody who was bent on solving crimes, nor was he looking to be an avenger. So why and how did he end up being "the Reluctant Knight"? I was eager to find out.
Some friends came and interrupted my reading.
On Saturday I picked the book back up. And I didn't put it down except for meals and necessary breaks until close to midnight Sunday. Even though I had an early day the next day and the "sensible" voice inside my head told me I should get to bed, I flipped back to some of the good parts (and there are a lot of them) and re-read them before I finally put it down.
Wow! It was such a treat that left me longing for more.
The characters are natural, authentic and complex. And they are all "likable," including the scumbags. While reading I was constantly amazed how the authors could bring out a character, so rich in personality, to life within just a scene and a dialogue. There's only one explanation: They know people. And they know people well. It is always such a delight when I read a book and I feel like I have made a few friends. Danny and Anna have most certainly become my friends in the course of my reading. I found myself truly caring about them and wanting to know more about them.
The story does follow a bit of a corruption and crime pattern so I got the sort of enjoyment I expect from those stories. But it also gave me a lot more. It had enough twists and turns that I was never able to predict what might happen to Danny next or how he might deal with it. It brings in some other minor characters' stories so there are enough side stories to provide a rich context to the main plot. The scenes and the plots are definitely not cookie-cutter. In fact they are quite fresh. Some are even hilarious. Even the behavior of the criminals is surprising. I learned a lot more about the world of crime and the inside operation of law enforcement.
Last but not least, the language is simply beautiful. I don't mean it is poetic or anything like that. On the contrary, even though it is strong and adult at times, it was beautiful because it never got in my way of enjoying the story itself. It subtly adds to the story. There are so many scenes where the authors' humor, sensitivity, knowledge, and wisdom shine through via the mere word and syntax choice. Good language--it reads like music. And in this sense, "Beachside PD: The Reluctant Knight" is a fantastic symphony. The authors took the bold approach of telling the story through the first person voice of the characters. And they did it exceptionally well (including the times when they told the story in the voice of a female).
And yes, there is authentic cop speak! The language is gritty and meant for an adult audience.
Among all of the self-published books I've read (and I have read a dozen at least), this is the only one that shows mastery of all three important elements: character building, storytelling and language.
The only complaint I have about this book is that it ended for me. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Beachside PD: The Gypsy Hunter.
Thank you Neil L. Yuzuk and David A. Yuzuk, an unusual father and son writing team, for a great read!
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![Beachside PD: The Reluctant Knight by [Neil L. Yuzuk, David A. Yuzuk]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51hnjtHf-cL._SY346_.jpg)
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