Trett does an excellent job covering the complex racial politics of policing in the Black Lives Matter era, and presents all sides with aplomb. We get Taylor himself, a white man who doesn't seem to have given race relations any serious thought until the day of the tragedy. The assailants appear in fearsome detail but also with a sympathetic light, as one of the attackers has an eventual epiphany. Also nicely limned are a grieving mother, an opportunistic reporter, and a civil rights activist who has turned into a cynical propagandist Although some extraneous storylines detract from the theme, and the switches from first-person to third-person narration can be confusing, the main narrative never fails to grip the reader.

Although the shooting is the main story, Trett effectively rounds out Taylor's character with a love triangle subplot. And he gets a surprise from his past that may change his life, even as he contemplates the possibility of being convicted for murder. Trett weaves the personal and legal threads into a series of satisfying and believable conclusions, giving readers reason to cheer for the growth of his formerly callow protagonist.

Takeaway: The gripping story of lives forever changed when a man gets involved in a police shootout.

Great for fans of: Sheldon Siegel’s Serve and Protect, Kenneth Eade’s Arresting Resist.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+