3 out of 4 stars
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Darren Burch's book, Twisted but true is not for the faint-hearted. It begins, right off the bat, with the description of a horrible accident. I could go further into this first incident which shaped the way in which he discovered his true calling in life, but that would spoil the surprise. It's the kind of book you have to read to believe.
The author and protagonist is a police officer who opens up to his reader in a peculiar and engaging style. The book itself is divided in 35 short, easy to read chapters, which might just as well work as short stories in and of themselves. These vignettes could, in fact, be read in any order the audience sees fit, yet in my opinion, become far more enjoyable when read from start to finish.
The reader follows Darren Burch's grisly adventures from starting at his high school years, being allowed to peek into the life of a teenager out and about, enjoying a night out with his three best friends. It's safe to say the night does not end as intended, yet it offers Burch unmistakable evidence of his life's true calling.
Before long, the reader finds oneself immersed in the endless encounters a retired sergeant with 30 years of experience under his belt has come face to face with on a regular basis.
The writing does feature a dash of dark kind of humor one would expect with a title as peculiar as Twisted but true, yet it's not as grim or gory as some people might hope.
Many of the twists at the end of each chapter, I feel inclined to clarify, are not precisely twists in the usual sense of the word, but rather follow up information the author might feel compelled to share, or even thoughts and reflections Sargent Burch has to offer his readers.
I would definitely recommend Twisted but true to all those interested in true crime, mildly dark comedy and insightful remarks about the experiences this veteran police officer has endured through his long career. He is not ashamed to admit his own mistakes and does not seem interested in exaggerating the details, as some vignettes are indeed not overly-impressive, yet enjoyable nonetheless.
I feel a 3 out of 4 rating would fit it well, as it is not perfectly edited and it can prove to be slightly repetitive in its style, yet affords an entertaining and well-written read for all those true-crime lovers out there.
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Twisted But True
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I love unusual crime stories with dark humor. Would definitely check this one out! Thanks for a great review!
