Thursday, realistic cops and criminals…

Black Cat Book Review

Critical Pursuit by Janice Cantore

When she was a child Brinna Caruso was kidnapped, abused, tied to a pole in the desert and left to die.  Her dramatic rescue is what eventually leads to the career she now has as a cop with a search and rescue dog, Hero.  Her mission is to find missing children; she will do whatever it takes to find them.

Because of a recent successful search and rescue of a child the media wants to know more about her and Hero.  A journalist is given permission to ride along with them during one of their night-time patrol shifts.  During this shift Brinna is involved in a fatal shooting of a suspect.  She becomes the focus of an investigation by a high-profile attorney known for her cases against the police department.  The investigation is fueled by the less than flattering article written by the ride along journalist.

During this time Brinna is teamed with ex-homicide detective Jack O’Reilly who is fighting his own demons since the tragic death of his pregnant wife.  Neither of them are happy with the pairing but it is only for two weeks and they decide to make the best of it.  While they are partnered the twin granddaughters of a friend of Brinna’s are kidnapped.  The MO of the kidnapper is much like the man who took Brinna 20 years ago, a man believed to have died years ago.  What ensues is the reliving of a nightmare for Brinna and the reawakening in the spirit of Jack.

This is an exciting story without unrealistic stunts and heroism often found in police dramas.  The author is a retired police officer and writes from experience with a realism that is refreshing.  There is also the back story of faith lost and regained and the struggles of both Brinna and Jack to reconcile with the God they don’t want to acknowledge but desperately need.

This book was sent to me without charge by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for this review.