Precinct 11 - The Brotherhood and The Betrayal

Boone Drake has it made.

He’s a young cop rising rapidly through the ranks of the Chicago Police Department. He has a beautiful wife and a young son, a nice starter house, a great partner, and a career plan that should land him in the Organized Crime Division within five years. Everything is going right. Until everything goes horribly, terribly wrong. His personal life destroyed and his career and future in jeopardy, Boone buries himself in guilt and bitterness as his life spirals out of control. But when he comes face-to-face with the most vicious gang leader Chicago has seen in decades, he begins to realize that God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart . . . and forgive the worst of crimes.

One of the things I dislike about some Christian fiction books....the main character loses everything in a tragic circumstance, becomes bitter, angry and turns from God, at the last minute to return at the end and all is happy. This book had a smattering of that, while realistic, it went on a bit too long, but redeems itself as the story progresses.  Once the Organized Crime part got going, I was hooked.  It was refreshing to read a cop drama where the character is working out his faith and not always with complete success. A good beginning to a trilogy.  A couple of times I felt it was bordering on too preachy.

Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Published: January 2011
Pages: 384
Genre: Christian Fiction/Police Thriller
Source: Library
Finished: 8/19/11

Detective Boone Drake has just pulled off the most massive sting in Chicago history, bringing down the heads of not only the biggest street gangs in the city but also the old crime syndicate. The story is the biggest in decades, and the Chicago Police Department must protect the key witness at all costs. Yet despite top secret plans to transfer the witness ahead of his testimony before the grand jury, an attempt is made on his life.

It soon becomes apparent that someone inside the Chicago PD leaked information to the shooter. As evidence mounts and suspicion points too close to home, Boone doesn’t know whom he can trust. An investigation reveals that the turncoat might be someone very close to him, even someone he loves—or is the guilty party just trying to cover up corruption at the highest level of the police department? Trusting the wrong person could prove fatal.

I was offered this book for review and, of course, had to read the first book in the trilogy. To get the full story of Boone, it is a good idea to start with The Brotherhood.  This book picks up right where the other ended and it does not let up with the page-turning action.  You will be glued to the story as Boone uncovers a betrayal at the highest level and methodically works to bring it to light.  I look forward to the third installment. This is a book that you can recommend to readers of all ages.  The faith element is there, but not at all preachy.

Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Published: September 2011
Pages: 290 (ARC)
Genre: Christian Fiction/Police Thriller
Source: Tyndale House Publishers.
Finished:  9-8-11

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Tyndale House Publishers and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.