Author: Stephen Clark
Genre: Urban Fiction
Publisher: WiDo Publishing
Published: September 28, 2019
Book Description: Officer Ryan Quinn, a rookie raised in a family of cops, is on the fast track to detective until he shoots an unarmed black male. Now, with his career, reputation and freedom on the line, he embarks on a quest for redemption that forces him to confront his fears and biases and choose between conscience or silence.
Jade Wakefield is an emotionally damaged college student living in one of Philadelphia’s worst neighborhoods. She knows the chances of getting an indictment against the cop who killed her brother are slim. When she learns there’s more to the story than the official police account, Jade is determined, even desperate, to find out what really happened. She plans to get revenge by any means necessary.
Kelly Randolph, who returns to Philadelphia broke and broken after abandoning his family ten years earlier, seeks forgiveness while mourning the death of his son. But after he’s thrust into the spotlight as the face of the protest movement, his disavowed criminal past resurfaces and threatens to derail the family’s pursuit of justice.
Ryan, Jade, and Kelly–three people from different worlds—are on a collision course after the shooting, as their lives interconnect and then spiral into chaos.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This was a book I received directly from the author and I am so happy I did as it was such a great story. This is so relevant to our news cycle and the author Stephen Clark gave us a very real glimpse from multiple POV’s about what happens when a white cop kills a black man in traffic stop that goes extremely wrong.
Ryan Quinn is a young cop who is partnered with his mentor and his dad’s friend who was killed years ago. When they pull over Tyrell Wakefield for his lights being out what ensues will change everyone’s life. Jade Wakefield the sister of the victim will stop at nothing to get back at the cops who did this to her brother. Kelly Randolph is the estranged father of Tyrell and Jade and puts himself in the middle of this narrative, and Jade feels he wants to derail everything she has planned.
This was an extremely fast paced story and even though this story is extremely plot driven, Clark gave special care to give us what each of these characters were thinking and going through. Not everything is what it seems. I found myself really feeling for all parties involved in this novel, because the narrative is just so strong.
Overall, this is an excellent read. Anyone who likes a good cop story, I think will enjoy this. More than that anyone that is interested in the Black Lives Matter movement, this book will shed a lot of light on the topic. Thank you to Stephen Clark who took the time to write a story to show all perspectives.
Obsessed Bookaholic 