Gerald Paul Mullane, or "Jeep," ex-NYPD Detective now Police Chief of Middle Brookville, has his hands full. As the law enforcement agent of the swanky Long Island North Shore, he is responsible to five mayors, and his beat often butts heads with the Nassau County Police Department. Illegal immigrants set up an upscale car ring targeting the area's fancy cars of wealthy owners, and they're boosted through the Port of New Jersey as fast as they're snatched. So far, the criminals just grab the cars and go, but it might be escalating. Meanwhile, a body of a forty- something man washes ashore with no ID, and a mauled face...unfortunately Jeep sees a tattoo of crossed lacrosse sticks over the body's ankle and can immediately make him. It was rich kid Johnny Chambliss, his best friend since high school, who lived his life in and out of trouble. Even though their lives intertwined for years, Jeep was always the "townie," while Johnny was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He spent his life fighting his heritage, while also enjoying its privileges, earning the pejorative nickname "Johnny Careless." And for some reason, both of these crimes seem to intersect.
This is Wade's debut novel, but he is absolutely no stranger to the written word. His screenplays include Working Girl and Meet Joe Black, and he helped shape the television series Blue Bloods. He really knows how to do this! The reader is immediately caught up in the police procedural while the fast pace of the action also allows time for great character development-we follow Jeep and Johnny's complicated friendship, the influences of their families, and the woman who loved them both. This is a gritty story of a tough detective, but the novel also has its humorous side, especially when Jeep has to deal with his snooty bosses and their misplaced values systems. Can Jeep catch a break or will money win? I hope this is the beginning of a new police series-Jeep would be a great addition to the genre and I would happily follow his adventures.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
January 28, 2025
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