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Curbchek (Curbchek #1)

by Zach Fortier (Goodreads Author), Wendy Reis (Editor), Blue Harvest Creative (Illustrator)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 132 ratings · 78 reviews

Curbchek debuted at #11 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases list and has been listed in the top ten best sellers in Amazon's true crime best seller list, reaching #8.

Curbchek is the story of a damaged cop, Zach Fortier. Fortier worked in the police department for the city where he grew up. One foot in the world of the cops, courts and legal system. The other in the world of gang...more

Paperback, 2nd, 231 pages

Published May 5th 2013 by Steel Shark Press (first published August 20th 2011)

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Jan 02, 2012 Shannon Gambino rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

The readers venture into the darkest realms of the world after "Daywalkers" have safely crawled into their beds for the night. In the whirlwind rides under the cover of darkness, Zach Fortier tries to remain human and relatively normal while patrolling messed up streets and neighborhoods. The author does a great job presenting the grit police officers face on a daily basis as well as the tension that arises between officers. He also stresses frequently the need for officers to listen to people,...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Olga rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

We watch crime shows on TV and treat it as just fiction. There's often a clear divide between the bad guys and the good guys and although sometimes the writers of those TV shows show us that things aren't so black and white it's still TV, still fiction. This book isn't fiction. It's the real deal and it shows the ugliness on both sides of the law in no uncertain terms. We're all human, regardless of what we do for a living.
I liked Forthier's no-nonsense style of writing devoid of embellishments...more We watch crime shows on TV and treat it as just fiction. There's often a clear divide between the bad guys and the good guys and although sometimes the writers of those TV shows show us that things aren't so black and white it's still TV, still fiction. This book isn't fiction. It's the real deal and it shows the ugliness on both sides of the law in no uncertain terms. We're all human, regardless of what we do for a living.
I liked Forthier's no-nonsense style of writing devoid of embellishments or sugarcoating. Things are what they are and there's that. It's not all heavy though, there's humor and a pretty funny story mixed in with the episodes that are anything but. I could tell that despite everything he's been through the author hasn't lost his ability to laugh, even if it's the kind of laughter that's tinged with bitterness.
The book is set up as a series of episodes telling about the cases Forthier worked as a police officer in his hometown after coming back from military duty. It's clear that he came to the force with certain preconceived notions about the job and the people he'd be working with and when reality intervened I think the adjustment was a difficult process that took time and left its own scars.
The stories within each chapter are grouped based on common themes and this gives each episode more impact. The author talks about his experiences and his reasons for doing things a certain way as well as the challenges of the job, and it's clear why he didn't make many friends among other police officers and that the people he wasn't friends with back then aren't going to be won over by this book.
The book is well-written with pacing, narrative, dialogue and voice working together and creating a satisfying reading experience. The only thing I wasn't particularly fond of was the formatting. As I've mentioned before the various episodes are grouped into chapters but there's nothing that separates these episodes. I think it would've been easier to differentiate one story from the other while still preserving the effect by allowing for a divider symbol or extra space between the paragraphs. The 1.5 spacing wasn't my favorite either because it made the book look like a manuscript, which, while easy to read, doesn't make the book look and feel as a finished product.
If you're sensitive to graphic violence or rough language this book is not for you. Work life of a police officer is filled with crime, altercations and profanity, so that's what you get in Curbchek. However, if you want to see what a real cop has to say about his time on the job I believe that you'll enjoy this book. And may be next time you watch a cop show you'll think about what you see a little differently.

Read more of my reviews at Bibliophile's Corner (less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Patrick Murphy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Curb Chek is a stylized, realistic, engaging read that immediately hooks the reader. Although the book does not read like a novel, it still makes it an easy enjoyable read. Curb Chek is comprised of real life events/situations that have shaped the author into the person who he is today. Curb Chek tells of the real life struggles between doing what is right, and doing what others expect you to do, all while trying to maintain your sanity working for a department that doesn’t necessarily operate a...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Lainy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Blurb from Goodreads

Curbchek chronicles the experiences of a Police Officer as he transitions from a new boot with challenging life experiences to a salty veteran who has been baptized into the dark side of reality by countless hours on the streets.

My Review

Zach Fortier takes us on a brutally honest journey through some of his time as a cop and military officer (mostly a cop) and the things and situations he came across. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, there is a lot of cursi...more Blurb from Goodreads

Curbchek chronicles the experiences of a Police Officer as he transitions from a new boot with challenging life experiences to a salty veteran who has been baptized into the dark side of reality by countless hours on the streets.

My Review

Zach Fortier takes us on a brutally honest journey through some of his time as a cop and military officer (mostly a cop) and the things and situations he came across. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted, there is a lot of cursing and bad language and the book is oozing testosterone.

We are invited in to graphic descriptions of events, how the officers behave around each other and to suspects and quite a bit of racism too. As an officer Zach was sometimes unlikeable for me because of his foul mouth and in your face way of handling some of the criminals (sometimes over the top force), however that is easy for me to say sitting safe behind a book and not having a huge 6 foot bear of a man trying to beat on me. I know this is a contradiction but as much as Zach was sometimes unlikeable I really loved how he stood up for what was right and more often in the interest of the people rather than scoring points or making targets.

It is a marmite book for me in that some bits of it I really liked and others I disliked and got under my skin. For example swearing doesn't often bother me but it was every other line so I thought that was a bit much and some of the scenes where so graphic and horrific but it also made it compelling reading.

The other big thing for me was there was no introduction of this is why I decided to become a cop or really any background, it just jumps right into scenes and situations. This may be a welcome change for some readers who get bored caught up in the introductions and it certainly jumps you straight into the action. Everything considered I did really enjoy it but the things that I didn't has to be recognized so it is a 3/5 for me and I would read this author again. If you like a read that is stripped of all the fluff and padding, graphic and straight to it then this is the book for you.

Available for only £0.77 on the kindle or on paperback for £6.85 on Amazon.co.uk

Thank you so much to Zach for introducing me to his work and giving me the chance to read Curb Check(less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Veronica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Veronica by: won in goodreads giveaway

Shelves: first-reads

This is a quick, enjoyable read once you learn to overlook the poor editing. Had the book undergone the scrutiny of a good editor before being published, I might be inclined to bump up its rating a bit. I was pretty forgiving of this at first, having gone into it thinking these were real accounts from a cop, not a writer. I was a bit disappointed to discover that it is a work of fiction.

However, it is still well worth the read. The vignettes feel genuine, and it truly is a testament to the autho...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Hayley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

This book could have been five stars. The stories themselves were good and incredibly intriguing. However, the entire thing was riddled with simple grammatical and spelling errors that, after awhile, got incredibly irritating. I can forgive an odd error, but tons of them? And on easy things, such as forgetting to make a word plural or having sentences that don't make sense? Someone should have proofread it...

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Jul 03, 2012 Catherine Coffman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

When I received this book for review, I was given fair warning that it’s not based on fiction, and may not be quite what I was expecting. I have a deep and hidden love for crime stories though, so I was willing to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. While Curbchek doesn’t flow in the manner of a fictional story, the stories related in the book are interesting, funny, astounding, and wrenching at different times, and I am very glad I had the opportunity to review this book.

Zach’s story is not on...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Dan G. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great job on your book Zach.. But I really wanted to say thanks for writing this.. not for me, but for my girlfriend (who will soon be reading your book). I wish I could say I had LEO experience, but I can't. I do know my time in Iraq has made me sketchy about being in certain situations since I've been out.. its hard to convey to her why I look for every possible exit when entering any structure, why we sit in the back of restaurants facing the door and why I look for potential dangers EVERYWHE...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Dan Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Curbchek was definately a "can't put down" read. I received the book shortley before Christmas 2011. But didn't sit down to read it until after the Holidays. Once into the book I realized I was in for a wild rollercoaster ride through the many calls and experiences of Zach. As He talked about his Military life and experiences, I'm sure I could've walked right beside him, as I too was a MP in SAC. Brought back some very good memories. I would recommend this book to anybody who wishes to hear the...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Step Into Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jessica

This is definitely something one doesn’t want to read if they don’t like hearing about violence because what you read is reality. This is a book compiled of many different cases that the author, Zach Fortier, had to work on when he was in the force. Some of them made me cringe because of how violent people truly can be.

Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

Review completed by: Jessica

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Apr 15, 2013 Nena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie-books-good-and-bad

Kindle Edition:

I had a review here which seems to have simply disappeared. Fallen into some Goodreads black hole I imagine. I think this book deserves a review so I am going to attempt to do that again right now.

I remember reading this when it first appeared on the Amazon Kindle store as a promotional giveaway. I picked it because of the cover art - I am a sucker for a good cop story. As usual, I just barely skimmed through the book description before I downloaded it (assuming it was one of thos...more Kindle Edition:

I had a review here which seems to have simply disappeared. Fallen into some Goodreads black hole I imagine. I think this book deserves a review so I am going to attempt to do that again right now.

I remember reading this when it first appeared on the Amazon Kindle store as a promotional giveaway. I picked it because of the cover art - I am a sucker for a good cop story. As usual, I just barely skimmed through the book description before I downloaded it (assuming it was one of those plot driven fictional police drama's I am so addicted to) and was surprised to find that this was not a fictional crime drama at all but rather, someone's real life story. (Since I am also a sucker for a good memoir, I was not disappointed.) As I recall in my original review, I had said that this sounds a little bit like a guy with a gripe. Now that I have read other works by this author, I realize that I couldn't have been more inaccurate in what I said. So many wrongs in an occupation that is supposed to be so right. So much evil in people that are supposed to protect and to serve.

These are short recounts of the cases that this police officer responded to over the course of his 20-some odd years on the force. Some bizarre, some funny, some very brutal and some just mind-boggling. At least one of these stories was so bizarre that it stays in my mind to this day.

At the time I read this, I also remember that the book was in need of quite a bit of editing. I don't know if the author has done that, but if you are willing to forego some spelling, grammar and formatting issues, in favor of the gritty real-life story he is offering here, then this is a book that is worth reading. The ends justifies the means.

After reading three more of his books (CurbCheck, CurbCheck-Reload and Hero to Zero) it's a mystery to me how Zach can keep his sense of humor or his sanity given the horrific things he has seen and the unethical, immoral, sick and twisted people that have crossed his path, not to mention the heartbreaking victims who never see any justice. Although this is not my favorite Fortier book, it gives a clear cut inside view of the real goings on in the life of a cop and in order to appreciate the other books, you have to start with this one.

At the time I wrote my original review, I recall giving this three stars. I am giving it four today because after reading the other two, now I "get" it. Now I "get" Zach and I "get" the reason why he is writing. And it's not because he has a gripe, that's for sure.

Read this and ride along with Zach Fortier, a real cop, and let him show you the streets. You won't be disappointed and I guarantee you will never look at cops the same way again.

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Mar 31, 2013 George Gutowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Zach Fortier knows how to grab you with intense narrative that can only be based on screwed up real experiences. After reading about twenty pages or so I bought the other two books he has writen. Money well spent.

Gritty and tragically funny at times, Zach recounts how those on the wrong side of the tracks exist despite themselves and especially despite a supposedly liberal society that provides for all but then doesn't.

Written as several stories with only the common character of Zach Fortier po...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Masquerade Crew rated it 5 of 5 stars

BEC'S REVIEW

If I had to describe Curbcheck I would say it is a memoirs or even a collection of short stories (though memoirs fits better). There is no actual overlying plot to curbcheck, rather it tells a series of interesting (and sometimes scary and frustrating) experiences that Zach Fortier has gone through in his life as a cop. Some of the experiences are amusing, others are horrifying but all make for an interesting tale.

It can be a bit disconcerting to read this book if you are expecting...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Kreag Sheehan rated it 5 of 5 stars

The crime genre is not one that I have ever read. When Zach Fortier asked me to review Curbchek, I decided it was time to give crime a try. Like the crime genre, not real crime... anyway I digress...

From the first page of Curbchek, I was hooked. Each chapter was a story in and of itself that led through Zach's life as a cop. Usually I don't like reading books where there are lots of little stories within, but I have to admit, Zach won me over with Curbchek. I loved just about every single story...more The crime genre is not one that I have ever read. When Zach Fortier asked me to review Curbchek, I decided it was time to give crime a try. Like the crime genre, not real crime... anyway I digress...

From the first page of Curbchek, I was hooked. Each chapter was a story in and of itself that led through Zach's life as a cop. Usually I don't like reading books where there are lots of little stories within, but I have to admit, Zach won me over with Curbchek. I loved just about every single story in this book, and I found myself flying through the pages, needing more and more and more. I couldn't put it down! The stories were action packed and brutal. Beware if you don't have a strong stomach! This book gets intense, which was one of the things I loved about it. A lot of what I usually read doesn't cross a certain line when it comes to violence, but this book delivers it in all its reality. It was terrifying and intriguing.

At first, I found it a little hard to get into Zach's writing style. Zach writes in a way that is very direct and to the point, with a lot of his thoughts out in the open. I'm not really sure how to describe it besides that. At first, the style sort of threw me off. I wasn't used to Zach's style of writing, but by a couple chapters in, Zach's writing really grew on me. I can honestly say I really enjoy his writing style now, and I look forward to more of it in Streetcreds, his second book.

At times, Curbchek was sad, and at times it was a bit terrifying. I loved that Zach told the stories like they really happened. I would highlight my favorite ones, but there were too many to name. Some were long and some were short, but they all had some story that drew me in. I admit, I squirmed a bit when reading a few of the stories, and sometimes I felt a bit sad. I was surprised by a lot of what happened in the book. One story I would expect one thing, and it turned out completely different. I loved how realistic the book was, as I said before, and I never expected to enjoy something realistic as much as I did with Curbchek.

Overall, I give Curbchek 4.5 stars! Though it took a few chapters to get used to the writing, I ended up loving it, and I look forward to more. If you are looking for a realistic, action packed, highly enjoyable book, then i recommend you check out Curbchek!(less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Sandra Lopez rated it 2 of 5 stars

Curb Chek by Zach Fortier is a behind-the-scenes look at a cop’s work. It illustrates some of the various cases worked on by Zach Fortier during his tenure as a police officer. Each case read like a story filled with unraveling action and a voice so blunt and gritty yet poignant and endearing—a mark I found particularly favorable.

The details concerning Fortier’s experience added a raw spice that jumps out at the reader; however, I did feel that some of the jargon didn’t quite cater to the everyd...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Jackie Paulson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: done-reading-in-2012

Curb Chek by Zach Fortier

I received this book complimentary from Zach himself! This book chronicles the experiences of a Police officer's life. It tells us what the ups and downs are of the Police officers day to day calls. Anyone who is interested in becoming a police officer or who likes this type of work would feel the realities of each story or call Zach displays.

In Chapter one he tells us that "I wonder how the taxpayers might feel if they knew that only three cars patrolled the entire unin...more Curb Chek by Zach Fortier

I received this book complimentary from Zach himself! This book chronicles the experiences of a Police officer's life. It tells us what the ups and downs are of the Police officers day to day calls. Anyone who is interested in becoming a police officer or who likes this type of work would feel the realities of each story or call Zach displays.

In Chapter one he tells us that "I wonder how the taxpayers might feel if they knew that only three cars patrolled the entire unincorporated are of the county, all that space between the city and town, the wide open patches between the island of civilization. That's three cars and a sergeant, and maybe a k-9 unit-if we're lucky." What I already knew because I had dated a cop in my past for three years and know all about the police industry. I learned the lingo back then and it was crazy to me that they might have two cops on duty for four beats...which means that if they had one accident across town then all the officers would be at that one and no cop patrolled or were able to get to other calls. Talk about pressure! That is reality! I could go on and on but you get my drift and the authors drift. Basically, we as a society are not protected as you may believe.

Before Zach was a police officer he served in the military as a police officer. I had thought that being a police officer would be easier as a civilian job or career once a man did Military experience. In the Military they would train to scan fields and buildings and watch traffic flows for anything out of the ordinary. In the military "you take orders from higher ups." In the police departments you get a call and just do what you have to do with the training you have learned. Zach talks about being MP and how it lacked opportunities for real experiences because all you did was train and drill and independent thinking was not encouraged. In the MP you learned to handle your weapon in the dark, reloading, unloading, fixing failures by feel, not by sight and learned to shoot effectively at night before the invention of night sights.

In the cop world, it really is the exact opposite. In his book each chapter has a new story or a new call that he experienced firsthand. He had to deal with "almost being killed," to "making friends with the gang members." He talks about that few seconds he could have been there to save the "dead woman" by her estranged husband. After telling his life experiences and several failed marriages he finally turns in his badge for a better life.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R16B5HOY...
Jackie Paulson © 2012 All Rights Reserved.

http://getreadingnow.wordpress.com/20...(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I remember the author contacting me to read his book. He had me interested with the little bit that he had shared with me in the e-mail. I knew that the book was going to come in the mail at some point just didn't know when. Then I got the book in the mail. Loved the cover, loved the way his style of writing. He is a great author. He does not pussy foot around a subject. I found that extremely refreshing! This is not a book for everyone I must say. If you don't like the harsh reality of Mr. Fort...more I remember the author contacting me to read his book. He had me interested with the little bit that he had shared with me in the e-mail. I knew that the book was going to come in the mail at some point just didn't know when. Then I got the book in the mail. Loved the cover, loved the way his style of writing. He is a great author. He does not pussy foot around a subject. I found that extremely refreshing! This is not a book for everyone I must say. If you don't like the harsh reality of Mr. Fortier's work then you will not enjoy this book at all. To see what police officers have to face day to day was really eye opening for myself. I knew their job was not easy, I mean they have to face the lowest of the lows of society. See things that no one should ever have to see! It was a great book to read. I cannot give it enough accolades, I mean it was great!

When I got the book it was right at the start of me making supper for the family. By the time I was done making supper and setting up the table I was a little more than half way through the book. During supper I wanted to pick up that book more than anything, but at lass I did not (don't want to make the hubby and kids mad!). I manged to read the book in 6 hours. Now that is saying something about the book. The book had me going through a bunch of emotions, there were times I was laughing, crying, cringing, mad, etc. I really cannot go with how different emotions I went through. There are some stories in there that I think about and wonder how everything worked out for those victims and those that were the criminal.

This is an awesome book. I cannot say enough praises for this book. After I read it, and my husband was completely blown away that I read the book so fast, wanted to read it for himself. He read it in a couple of days (with work and sleep). He enjoyed the book also. He liked how the book had individual cases but at the all tied together and made the book interesting and brought the book together.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone. Please remember if you are to read this book he does not skirt around the subjects he is real and he let's you see what it is all about.

****I was given a book for my honest review****(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Autumn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review posted on From the TBR Pile on Nov. 16th, 2011

Curbchek doesn't really flow like a novel, it's more like a anthology of vignettes. It's labeled as fiction, but it reads like a non-fiction account of a ride along with a cop on the streets. Some of the stories are more developed than others, some are more interesting, some are better written, some made me roll my eyes at the arrogance.

You might be sensing that this wasn't my favorite book. It wasn't necessarily, because of the choppy style....more

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Oct 05, 2011 Aimeekay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

"The reality is any good street cop, the guy you praise and pin medals on, is damaged, really damaged."

This book is amazing, I mean really amazing. Fortier gives a glimpse inside a world that the average person doesn't really know or understand. Both the mental world of the cops who are out there on the street, and the world itself that they are patrolling. The world where "retaliation is a very real fear..." While this statement was directed towards people living with the day to day drama of ga...more "The reality is any good street cop, the guy you praise and pin medals on, is damaged, really damaged."

This book is amazing, I mean really amazing. Fortier gives a glimpse inside a world that the average person doesn't really know or understand. Both the mental world of the cops who are out there on the street, and the world itself that they are patrolling. The world where "retaliation is a very real fear..." While this statement was directed towards people living with the day to day drama of gang warfare. It also seemed to apply to the police station as well. Since being a cop "...it's also job like any other, with petty, in-house jealousies, grudges, cliques and office politics..."
He also gets his point across without being preachy or condemning to the people that are living in the world he has chosen to help defend. He understands the thinking the people he interacts with on a daily basis, and this comes through in his retelling of his experiences. He also has a sense of humor. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
To be honest I didn't know if I would like this book at first. I'm not usually into crime novels, and before I evened opened the book I felt some trepidation about reading it, but I was determined to give it a fair shot. I thought that even if it wasn't my cup of tea that wouldn't stop it from being someone elses. I was very pleasantly surprised. I was also interested in whether or not Fortier would address the issue of some officers behaviour. All cops make the decision to put their lives on the line for people they don't even know, but some choose to use the power and authority they receive to an unfair advantage. Fortier wasn't afraid to address this subject either. He tells stories of the good cops he worked with as well as the bad.
The picture he paints of the world he lived and worked in is vivid and compelling. Whether you are a huge crime/cop fan that devours every novel even remotely related to the subject, or you are only looking for a decent book to occupy a raining afternoon, you definitely want to pick up a copy of CurbChek. For better or for worse you will never look at that police
officer who is patrolling your neighborhood the same way again. As for the rest of the people inhabiting it, to quote the author, remember: "There are day people, and there are night people, and there is a huge difference."

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I'm disclosing that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
(I may I recommend everybody should go check out all the awesome first read giveaways they have!)
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May 31, 2012 Ashley Fontainne rated it 5 of 5 stars

*Fair Warning*

If you can't handle the gritty underbelly that seethes in our society and are the type that sees the world through "rose-colored glasses" then this book isn't for you.

There, I warned you.

First of all, I come from a long line of cops. My father was a L.A. Sheriff's Deputy for years and was actually a fresh recruit when the Watts Riots broke out in 1965. His father was a vice detective for LAPD during the 40's-50's. I have worked in and around the judicial system my entire adult life...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Celine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

When the author asked me to review Curbchek, I had no idea what to expect. It's completely out of my comfort zone. I had nothing to compare it to. And the reviews I read didn't make it any clearer for me at all. So for once, I started reading a book without any prejudices at all.

And it turns out that is what saved the book. Had I expected convoluted plot twists, I would have been disappointed. A psychological thriller about a cop wrestling with his job and personal life? I probably would have b...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Dana Burgess rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoy the genre of true crime, you will definitely enjoy this book. The situations Zach describes are brutal, sad, frustrating, anger inducing, occasionally funny, and very real. Although the accounts have been fictionalized, the basics are true. I found CurbChek hard to read because I hate that there are people out there in such sad circumstances; on the other hand it was heartening to read about the police who are out there every day doing their job and keeping these truths at bay for m...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, short-stories, first-reads

I won this book for free off of Goodreads firstreads and just for the record it took me entering at 4 different giveaways to finally win it. I am glad I did. I have often wondered what it would be like to be a cop. Not the cop who pulls you over and gives you the speeding ticket and not the cop you see on the edited shows on television. I am talking about a real police officer. Zach Fortier pulls back the curtain and allows us to see the drama that goes on not only between the officer and the pu...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Anita de la Porte rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a compilation of tough cases an inner city cop faced during his career. Curbchek is very eye-opening about the dangerous lives of cops, as well as politics in the workplace. It's pretty graphic and he uses colorful language--there are curse words every other line.

This is definitely a book of short stories rather than a novel, which makes for a quick and easy read. He gets straight to the point of each case, describing everything very clearly and efficiently. I don't feel as though Forti...more

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May 12, 2012 Stephani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow and again wow. Zach takes the reader deep into the city streets of violence, gangs and drugs. Completely taken back again as Curbchek is the 2nd book of his I have read. Amazing, spooky look into the law enforcement side. Amazing what others do in situations like the author has been in. This and Street Creds are MUST READS. I am moving on to Curbchek Reload....See you all after~!~!

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Jun 20, 2012 Zoe Saadia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book took me completely by surprise. I expected to read another police thriller and found myself immersed in a beautifully written account of many real-life cases the author seemed to go through. I kept turning page after page, feeling like listening to someone relating me stories, with a humorous, a matter-of-fact tone. From funny episodes to a blood-freezing incidents and horrible things that are happening all around us without our knowledge at all.

This book is extremely well written. The...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Rubysbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, drama

Curbchek is one of those books I couldn't put down. The raw honesty I could feel in each and every single one of the stories made me want to keep reading. There were moments where I laughed out loud, because some of the scenes were quite funny, moments when I cringed because of the imagery of some scenes, moments when I was sad or even angry.

At times, the violence was a little overwhelming, but I think that's what makes the book seem so fresh and enjoyable. You read so many books with cops, see...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read Zach Fortier book CurbChek in 1 sitting.

At times laughing out loud other times holding back my tears, then feeling sick to my stomach.

Zach after serving in the military returns to his home town to fight crime. He tries to make his hometown safe thinking he would rather be anywhere else but home. Winning battles and loosing some because sometimes life is just wrong. Good Cops Bad Cops it is all in there. Wondering how he stays alive then learning why he survives. The demon he fights the...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Kayleigh Murphy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Curbchek is a behind the scenes, no holds barred look at life as a cop in America. Zack Fortier spent a portion of his life working as a cop both in the army and as part of the police department, and has a valuable position to tell some of the more dark, disturbing and occasionally bizarre stories that occur when you patrol the streets as a cop.

The book takes the form of a loosely chronological patchwork of stand-alone stories and more in-depth chapters which deal with the lessons he learned whi...more Curbchek is a behind the scenes, no holds barred look at life as a cop in America. Zack Fortier spent a portion of his life working as a cop both in the army and as part of the police department, and has a valuable position to tell some of the more dark, disturbing and occasionally bizarre stories that occur when you patrol the streets as a cop.

The book takes the form of a loosely chronological patchwork of stand-alone stories and more in-depth chapters which deal with the lessons he learned while on the job. The mingling of internal and mostly philosophical narration with the anecdotal conversations, interactions and confrontations works well, creating a smooth story that was rich, chaotic, interesting and, at times, disheartening. I feel like I came out of the other side of this book with a much more comprehensive understanding of people, what makes them tick, what sets them off, and what leads them down certain paths. At no time does Zach Fortier portray himself as an expert, but the clarity of his insights helps makes certain jigsaw pieces in your own life turn and fit together.

Zach makes an interesting character (not in the fictional sense). He admits early in the book that he is hardly a perfect or undamaged person, as he describes on page 10;
"I knew that with my personality and various triggers, it was better for everyone concerned that I be something of an authority figure rather than be subject to authority figures without recourse."
He openly discusses his troubled marriages, his (sometimes violent) confrontations with other cops, and his unorthodox (for his area) relationships with victims and culprits alike. And while he discusses his complete disdain for most of the internal politics and practices at the police station (some will infuriate, some will make you sick) and his opposite outlook on most issues, he never puts himself on a pedestal as the "perfect" or "ideal" model of what is right and good. One of the quotes that best represented this to me came towards the end of the book (page 173). Zach was explaining why he tries hard not to resort to violence, rather than immediately jumping at the suspect with a nightstick and a closed fist;
"fighting wasn't a victory for me. I don't like how it makes me feel; I feel like a failure when I fight because it means that I misjudged the situation. I believe I should be able to think my way out of anything, and most times I did."
Curbchek isn't your typical police memoir. While there is a sense of pride in helping others and not descending to a level of violence and racism which would have been better accepted by his colleagues, the main focus is on the inherent self-destruction or problem that most men (and women, although this isn't brought up specifically) who join the force suffer from. It blurs the line of "us and them", and paints a dark and nihilistic personal view of the current state of the American police services and the road it is heading down.

I know how depressing I've just made this sound, but this is an incredibly well-written and well-thought out book, and there are funny or interesting cases sprinkled throughout. It was a real eye-opener, and I'd love to read an Australian equivalent of life in the force down here. I wonder how different or similar it'd be.

A final caveat, there is frequent swearing within the book, and while I had no problem with it and I think it plays an important function in retelling these stories, it's something you should be aware of before going in.(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 JenniferJ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzz2012, kindle

This was interesting and also a bit disturbing at times. There were a few moments I was happy I had not just eaten because I may have upchucked but other moments where Zach's adventures had me laughing out loud like when he finds a crossdresser acting out in a canyon.

The book is raw in your face accounts of Zach's military and police life and it is NOT for the faint of heart. It's not all pretty and wrapped up in a bow. This is real life drama and parts of it well...I just had to stop and take a...more

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About Zach Fortier

Zach Fortier was a police officer for over 30 years, specializing in K-9, SWAT, gang, domestic violence and sex crimes as an investigator. He has written three books about Police work. "Curbchek" the first book is a case by case account of the streets as he worked them from the start of his 30 career. "Streetcreds" the second book details time Zach Spent in a Gang task force and the cases that hap...more

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