3 out of 4 stars
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The Thin Blue Li(n)e by Brian Cook is a book in the fiction genre. It is the second book in the trilogy and picks up the threads from where Hands Across the Sea ended. The story plays out in the city of Vasco.
Sheriff Callaghan and Undersheriff Ulrich investigate further into the Union’s complaint, trying to protect the reputation of the Agency (the Office of the Sheriff). The battle gets tougher with increasing scrutiny of the Board of Supervisors, as well as growing criticism from the denizens about the rising crime rate in the city. The foursome of Sergeants Eric Anderson, Bob Murdock, Richard Ulrich, and Seth Alexander continue to face ups and downs in their friendship, thanks to a woman and the growing debate on racism in the Agency.
Seth’s fiancée Vikki discovers an important clue about her mother’s murder but will her discovery add fuel to the tension between her and Seth? Retired official Asa Belle confronts his nightmares and decides to meet the convicted killer, Daniel Bouchette, but is it too late to find out the truth? Phoebe and Monica unearth a secret they were better off not knowing, but now that the cat is out of the bag, what are they going to do about it? Retired Sheriff Cottrell, in the grip of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, reveals far too much, which could mean another storm for the Agency. Will the lies buried long ago finally see the light of the day?
Since this is the second book in the series, I expected some challenge in understanding the storyline. However, it was far more difficult than I anticipated, as the author does not give enough backstory to understand the characters and it took me a while to get a hang of the storyline. Another disappointing aspect of the book were the crude references about women in certain places, which could have been toned down.
Moving on to the positive features of the book, and there are plenty, the greatest strength of this novel is the author’s brand of storytelling. Written in third person omniscient point of view, the book is split into fifteen parts, where each section begins with some interesting anecdote or pearls of wisdom shared with the readers. The plot line is largely dialogue driven, which gives the feeling of watching a sitcom and kept me glued to the book (once I got a grip on the plot). The author cleverly switched between the multiple subplots, ensuring that the larger storyline doesn’t bore the reader.
When I think of novels featuring cops, a crime thriller jumps to my mind. But this isn’t a novel involving cops; it is a novel about cops. This book goes further than pushing the envelope; it tears it to unveil the politics, challenges and daily struggles faced by law enforcement officials and their families. This novel also gives a nuanced understanding of racism and prejudice at workplaces. Not that murder mysteries and thrill is totally missing in this novel. The story ends at an unpredictably high suspense point, leaving the reader anxious for the next installment to find out what happens next.
The funny yet insightful narrative on what happens behind the scenes in law enforcement agencies, will entertain not just readers interested in reading about police personnel, but also every reader who enjoys novels offering an amusing take on office politics. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
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The Thin Blue Li(n)e
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