A Fearsome Moonlight Black

A Fearsome Moonlight Black 

The decision to go into law enforcement requires a huge commitment. Each case you handle is unique and how you handle it requires following protocols, knowing how to ask for backup, and hoping that in the end, only paperwork will seal the deal that it’s solved. Hoping you don’t have to pull out your weapon yet to protect innocent witnesses and victims. Dave Beckett is a rookie cop and has to overcome the jokes, the ribbing, and more as he climbs the different hurdles and hopes he does fall. A trainee deputy in 1979 as he patrols the streets, covers many areas, and finds himself facing killers, robbers and car thieves, and more and at times wondering who he can count on to have his back. 

Visiting the Market and meeting Beth would send Dave spiraling in many up and downhill directions. No matter how much he showed her he cared he was not the one she pined for. Promising to get the file to find out what happened to Cole puts Dave in a bad position when supervisors find out. Why risk it for Beth and was she playing him? The first felony case, murder cases, and his way of handling them yet we experience his fears hid doubts, and fumbles plus understanding his determination to solve cases and get justice for the victims. Not every case goes in the right direction and at times he does miss clues. Some would haunt his nightmares like the Shearer case and the case of the missing teen plus the case involving the car keys. Who was Elise Stoner and why is her murder on his list Jimmy Maslow always had his back why was he arrested for her murder? Jobs well down gifted a gun and dealt with the higher-ups and those on his side while some wanted him out. Never faltering and never giving up. 

Book 2 takes us 8 years later and his broken marriage to Beth. Unsympathetic, cold, and refusing to accept Cole is gone, Dave hopes to fix his marriage but sometimes you need to cut your losses. 

Dave is tough yet kind, and moral most of the time as the author allows us to experience each win, and each conflict and hear his inner voice hoping to clarify his direction and more. Deaths, suicides, the math to assess the crime scenes, the heartfelt nights with Maslow the revelations about Jubal. 

Then getting thrown off all of the teams and becoming a Bone Dectective changes his perspectives, and does not hinder coming to the aid of officers who need help but the heart-wrenching scenes with Maslow solidify his loyalty and friendship. 

Twenty-one to over 30 and more as his journey from the sheriff’s academy, 90-day probation with Maslow as his trainer plus the boredom interspersed with fear and terror. Shoplifting, burglaries, traffic stops, murders, and domestic disturbances that could turn deadly, author David Putnam takes readers on a roller coaster ride filled with collision courses, dangerous highways and a young cop named Dave who is a victim turned predator at times, in pursuit of justice, taking down the criminals and working both sides of the fence at times. 

A simple welfare check turns into what appears to be a suicide as the author describes the victim and the scene leaving readers with unanswered questions. How does he deal with traffic crashes, the horrors that follow, and the rise to detective and an explosive ending you won’t see coming? The author creates a creative narrative told in Dave’s voice and the police procedures are defined and easy to follow. 

Dave Beckett has his ways of dealing with superiors, fellow officers, and suspects as the author takes us down many roads until we come to the end of A Fearsome Moonlight Black.  A cliffhanger ending and the hopeful anticipation of what comes next. 

Fran Lewis just reviews