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Superbia
The Most Dangerous Police Book Ever Written... After Frank O'Ryan gets shot, his first assignment is working with the most disliked man in his police department, Detective Vic Ajax. Ajax isn't like the other cops. He doesn't like them and they don't like him. He steals trash from suspected drug dealers, searching for evidence. He conducts a futile war with an administration that thinks the only sign of a good cop is writing traffic tickets and waving to soccer moms during school crossings. He hunts pedophiles. Now, Frank will enter a world where being real police means laying so much of your soul on the line, you might not make it out. But as Vic explains, if it keeps a little girl from having to testify about what some monster did to her, it's worth it. Together, they'll resort to any means necessary to take down the scumbags, even if it means employing the interrogative services of a man in a six-foot bunny costume called The Truth Rabbit. Readers the world over have called Superbia's author the 21st Century Ed McBain novel and the successor to Joseph Wambaugh. Both a best-selling author and career police officer, Bernard Schaffer's experience in patrol, narcotics, and investigations has filled the pages with a degree of accuracy and bold, raw, truth that cannot be found in any other work of literature. Often compared to The Wire, the Superbia books have been called the "Most subversive" account of law enforcement since Serpico.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2012
107 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Schaffer
87 books282 followersBernard Schaffer is an author from the Philadelphia area.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 15, 2014
New York City has about 36,000 cops. All report to the same chain of command. Philadelphia is surrounded by counties divided into multiple municipalities, each having its own police force with different standards and operations.
Schaffer uses that structure to examine two detectives in a small police force, Frank and Vic. Frank is coming back from leave having been shot and is assigned to work with Vic, an old-fashioned detective. He’s still in pain but Vic won’t let him have any narcotic pain-killers for fear he’ll become a junkie.
The book is a series of vignettes all tied together by their pursuit of Paris, a vicious drug dealer.
Some of the repartee and scenes are LOL funny. The one where they go dumpster diving and have to wade through diaper feces was hysterical. Others are sad as we watch Vic succomb to alcohol. He’s lost his kids in a divorce, most of his pay goes to child support and alimony, and he realizes the only time he really feels alive is when he’s tricking a pedophile into confessing.
Vic spun around and glared at Frank, his eyes red and streaming with tears. "I am sick of being used by everyone around me, Frank. I give everything I have to Danni, and she only ever wants more. It's never enough. I give everything I have to the Chief, and he only shines me on with promises that will never come true. The only time I feel alive is when I'm standing in blood and guts or talking to child molesters, Frank. Don't you see how fucked up that is? For one second, try and imagine how fucked up that is." "Maybe you need a different job." "Do you know why I became a cop? I was curious," Vic said. "I wanted to peek behind the curtain of evil, but what I saw can't be unseen, Frank. No matter how hard I try. All I had to hold onto was the kids, and without them, it's like the lights have all gone out."
The book is quite good if a bit unusual and provides an intimate look at the strains and pressures of being a cop.
Schaffer uses that structure to examine two detectives in a small police force, Frank and Vic. Frank is coming back from leave having been shot and is assigned to work with Vic, an old-fashioned detective. He’s still in pain but Vic won’t let him have any narcotic pain-killers for fear he’ll become a junkie.
The book is a series of vignettes all tied together by their pursuit of Paris, a vicious drug dealer.
Some of the repartee and scenes are LOL funny. The one where they go dumpster diving and have to wade through diaper feces was hysterical. Others are sad as we watch Vic succomb to alcohol. He’s lost his kids in a divorce, most of his pay goes to child support and alimony, and he realizes the only time he really feels alive is when he’s tricking a pedophile into confessing.
Vic spun around and glared at Frank, his eyes red and streaming with tears. "I am sick of being used by everyone around me, Frank. I give everything I have to Danni, and she only ever wants more. It's never enough. I give everything I have to the Chief, and he only shines me on with promises that will never come true. The only time I feel alive is when I'm standing in blood and guts or talking to child molesters, Frank. Don't you see how fucked up that is? For one second, try and imagine how fucked up that is." "Maybe you need a different job." "Do you know why I became a cop? I was curious," Vic said. "I wanted to peek behind the curtain of evil, but what I saw can't be unseen, Frank. No matter how hard I try. All I had to hold onto was the kids, and without them, it's like the lights have all gone out."
The book is quite good if a bit unusual and provides an intimate look at the strains and pressures of being a cop.
March 11, 2014
Great writing. Not what I expected at first, but once I was into the story I loved it. Gritty, realistic and honest.
January 28, 2012
Superbia by Bernard Schaffer is a super fast pasted, adrenaline laced story about the life of a cop.
Frank O'Brian is a newbie in a relatively small town that basically only handles misdemeanors. After only being on the job for a few short years, he was injured in a robbery gone wrong arrest. When he got back from recovery, he was placed in the unit's Detectives team... that consisted of just one lonely hard ass, Vic. Together Vic and Frank work on a few cases that come into the station... one a drug bust, the other a molestation charge. The cases wear down on them. It affects their personal lives, their family lives and their sanity.
This book goes into the dark, behind the scenes evils that cops have to deal with on a daily basis... and it's not pretty. I really appreciated how Vic and Frank were real people. They were't super hero cops... they weren't pompous or over righteous. They were messed up! The job got under their skin, as I'm sure it does in real life. It's clear that Schaffer is/was a cop... the details about the job and the politics within are too close to home to not be real.
I read this book in just 3 days... leisurely. I had no intention to rush, but it was too good to put down. Schaffer's writing is top notch. He is funny, dark and tortured throughout. I was laughing at one page and then crying at the very next. The dialogue and relationship that blossoms between Vic and Frank is both rich and deep. My only complaint would have to be that it ended too suddenly. I would have liked a little more... but maybe that's just me being greedy?
Overall, Superbia offers a very interesting look behind the dark and gory curtain of life as a cop.
4.5 stars
I was offered a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Frank O'Brian is a newbie in a relatively small town that basically only handles misdemeanors. After only being on the job for a few short years, he was injured in a robbery gone wrong arrest. When he got back from recovery, he was placed in the unit's Detectives team... that consisted of just one lonely hard ass, Vic. Together Vic and Frank work on a few cases that come into the station... one a drug bust, the other a molestation charge. The cases wear down on them. It affects their personal lives, their family lives and their sanity.
This book goes into the dark, behind the scenes evils that cops have to deal with on a daily basis... and it's not pretty. I really appreciated how Vic and Frank were real people. They were't super hero cops... they weren't pompous or over righteous. They were messed up! The job got under their skin, as I'm sure it does in real life. It's clear that Schaffer is/was a cop... the details about the job and the politics within are too close to home to not be real.
I read this book in just 3 days... leisurely. I had no intention to rush, but it was too good to put down. Schaffer's writing is top notch. He is funny, dark and tortured throughout. I was laughing at one page and then crying at the very next. The dialogue and relationship that blossoms between Vic and Frank is both rich and deep. My only complaint would have to be that it ended too suddenly. I would have liked a little more... but maybe that's just me being greedy?
Overall, Superbia offers a very interesting look behind the dark and gory curtain of life as a cop.
4.5 stars
I was offered a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest review.
February 1, 2012
Superbia is a bit like an old fashioned amusement ride that dares you to sit back and take a tour of the dark side of police work--and of the human race itself. While much of the ride is amusing, you won't forget that this is a horror-themed ride at its core. It's a fast-paced journey with a well structured plot, likeable characters, and a few surprises lurking in its shadowy corridors. Recommended for mature readers who aren't afraid to be exposed to the ugly side of human nature and witness the havoc this darkness can wreak on the people who confront it on a daily basis.
July 12, 2013
Fantastic read. Superbia is funny, brutal, sad, and tragic all at the same time. The author pulls from his experience in law enforcement and gives the reader and intimate glimpse into the day to day of a police officer. The pacing is fast, the characters three dimensional, the dialogue top notch. Highly recommended
May 13, 2018
Bernard Schaffer is a twenty-year police veteran, and that experience is constantly on display in Superbia, a short novel about a suburban Philadelphia police force somewhat similar to the environs in which Schaffer has served. However, at the time he wrote this book, he wasn’t a twenty-year crime fiction writing veteran, and that inexperience also shows in a fragmented plot and some highly stereotyped characters.
As Schaffer notes in his introduction to the book, the Philadelphia suburbs actually comprise a number of small jurisdictions, towns and townships, each with its own rather small police department. So, while the Philadelphia suburbs in combination have the same demographics and crime problems as those of other major metropolitan cities, each jurisdiction has to deal with crimes within its borders with limited resources. Superbia details the exploits of the only two detectives in one such township. Frank O’Ryan is recovering from severe wounds suffered in a shootout in which his former partner was killed (and dealing with an overreliance on pain killers), while his more experienced new partner Vic Ajax is recovering from a messy divorce in which he lost custody of his kids (and dealing with an overreliance on booze).
The plot of Superbia more closely resembles a few episodes of Dragnet back to back rather than a conventional detective novel. O’Ryan and Ajax do get involved in a couple of cases, trying to bring down a good-sized drug ring and a child molester who assaulted his niece, but the book progresses in a series of individual, almost stand-alone scenes that portray the nitty gritty of police work. About the nittiest and grittiest example is a dumpster diving detail, when O’Ryan has to search a drug dealer’s garbage for evidence mixed up with some rather disgusting other material. Also disgusting, but in a different sort of way, is the interrogation of the child molester, in which Vic must at first empathize with him in order to elicit an incriminating statement. The dialogue and byplay in these scenes sounds incredibly authentic and is very entertaining to read.
While individual scenes and moments in Superbia stand out, the overall storyline does not. Individual plot threads are dropped rather abruptly, and the transition between scenes is equally abrupt and lacks explanation, resulting in confusion until a reader figures out just when and where a scene is taking place. Even worse, Schaffer trots out some of the worst fictional stereotypes, the anal-retentive police superior who makes life miserable for O’Ryan and Ajax while being consistently wrong, and Vic’s ex-wife who is always hounding him about needing more money and claiming that he forfeited all his rights to his kids as a result of the divorce. In a fairly short novel, readers are “treated” to minor variations of her stump anti-Vic speech on several occasions.
The parts of Superbia that work are quite good and sound very true to life. Indeed, I get the feeling that if Schaffer had written a memoir based on his career as a Pennsylvania cop, he could have expanded on those parts of Superbia. But this book isn’t a memoir; instead, it connects this material with a storyline that is often poorly thought out, confusing, and contains too many annoying stereotyped characters. I can still recommend Superbia for the enjoyment factor of the sections that do work. Schaffer has written number of books since then, so his plotting and character development may well have improved since then. Superbia, however, is not superb.
As Schaffer notes in his introduction to the book, the Philadelphia suburbs actually comprise a number of small jurisdictions, towns and townships, each with its own rather small police department. So, while the Philadelphia suburbs in combination have the same demographics and crime problems as those of other major metropolitan cities, each jurisdiction has to deal with crimes within its borders with limited resources. Superbia details the exploits of the only two detectives in one such township. Frank O’Ryan is recovering from severe wounds suffered in a shootout in which his former partner was killed (and dealing with an overreliance on pain killers), while his more experienced new partner Vic Ajax is recovering from a messy divorce in which he lost custody of his kids (and dealing with an overreliance on booze).
The plot of Superbia more closely resembles a few episodes of Dragnet back to back rather than a conventional detective novel. O’Ryan and Ajax do get involved in a couple of cases, trying to bring down a good-sized drug ring and a child molester who assaulted his niece, but the book progresses in a series of individual, almost stand-alone scenes that portray the nitty gritty of police work. About the nittiest and grittiest example is a dumpster diving detail, when O’Ryan has to search a drug dealer’s garbage for evidence mixed up with some rather disgusting other material. Also disgusting, but in a different sort of way, is the interrogation of the child molester, in which Vic must at first empathize with him in order to elicit an incriminating statement. The dialogue and byplay in these scenes sounds incredibly authentic and is very entertaining to read.
While individual scenes and moments in Superbia stand out, the overall storyline does not. Individual plot threads are dropped rather abruptly, and the transition between scenes is equally abrupt and lacks explanation, resulting in confusion until a reader figures out just when and where a scene is taking place. Even worse, Schaffer trots out some of the worst fictional stereotypes, the anal-retentive police superior who makes life miserable for O’Ryan and Ajax while being consistently wrong, and Vic’s ex-wife who is always hounding him about needing more money and claiming that he forfeited all his rights to his kids as a result of the divorce. In a fairly short novel, readers are “treated” to minor variations of her stump anti-Vic speech on several occasions.
The parts of Superbia that work are quite good and sound very true to life. Indeed, I get the feeling that if Schaffer had written a memoir based on his career as a Pennsylvania cop, he could have expanded on those parts of Superbia. But this book isn’t a memoir; instead, it connects this material with a storyline that is often poorly thought out, confusing, and contains too many annoying stereotyped characters. I can still recommend Superbia for the enjoyment factor of the sections that do work. Schaffer has written number of books since then, so his plotting and character development may well have improved since then. Superbia, however, is not superb.
November 18, 2017
WOW, a tense, humorous fast read you must not miss!
After slogging through four mundane, stultifying "suspense" novels, I found this jewel! Granted I had read them because they were free if I would review them which proves the principle "there's no free lunch". This one too was free and I am ecstatic to find this author. This is not your typical mystery or police procedural. The author grabs you by the throat from the beginning and throws you into this whirlwind of a small PD. You hit the ground running meeting the key character right away. Schaeffer creates tension from the start. He maintains a fast pace throughout. He gives economical descriptions of the characters but they explode fully developed in your imagination. There is humor throughout the novel in the repartee between Frank and Vic. This isn't your usual hero meets murder, hunts down doer and solves it neat and tidy. It's messy, quirky, shocking and keeps you guessing about several plot lines. When you finish, I guarantee you will look to see what the next one is. I'm thrilled I found this guy and that he's a prolific writer.
After slogging through four mundane, stultifying "suspense" novels, I found this jewel! Granted I had read them because they were free if I would review them which proves the principle "there's no free lunch". This one too was free and I am ecstatic to find this author. This is not your typical mystery or police procedural. The author grabs you by the throat from the beginning and throws you into this whirlwind of a small PD. You hit the ground running meeting the key character right away. Schaeffer creates tension from the start. He maintains a fast pace throughout. He gives economical descriptions of the characters but they explode fully developed in your imagination. There is humor throughout the novel in the repartee between Frank and Vic. This isn't your usual hero meets murder, hunts down doer and solves it neat and tidy. It's messy, quirky, shocking and keeps you guessing about several plot lines. When you finish, I guarantee you will look to see what the next one is. I'm thrilled I found this guy and that he's a prolific writer.
July 18, 2018
Dj
Omg this book is so boring i don't get why people even make books like this I hate this book
Omg this book is so boring i don't get why people even make books like this I hate this book
June 28, 2023
Good Read!!
January 26, 2013
Superbia is a book that drags you through the emotional roller coaster of being a cop. I loved the book because it peals back the thick panels separating the public from the police and I hated it because it brought back bad memories. It's a concentrated slice of the police world I lived in for 29 years.
Although the characters are fictional, they are personalities that do exist in just about every law enforcement agency in the world. The character of Sgt./Chief Erinnyes brings back very bad memories. I've worked for guys like him and they are scary because they're all black and white in a profession that works mostly in the grey.
I've seen dozens of Vics. Good men beat down mostly by the system, but also by the job. They're tough on the outside and easy prey inside. Their police work is sterling and their private life is a shambles. Pray for them.
The Franks in this world make up the majority of cops. They work hard and believe in what they do. They manage to maintain some balance in their lives. They have a strong sense of justice and follow the rules...most of the time. Every once in a while, they rise up in indignation against the BS. When they do, there's hell to pay.
Being a cop takes it's toll on every man and woman who accepts the truly awesome responsibility of the badge. Superbia makes you feel the constant stress, the confusion of no right answer and the deep satisfaction of nailing a truly bad criminal. Schaffer lays it out for us and pulls into this stark, blunt, roller coaster of a world and let's us sample the frustration, contradiction and tragedy that all to frequently messes with officers' minds.
Bernard Schaffer is one the finest writers of our time. His writing is bold and courageous and shows us the truth about the world and ourselves. Superbia is no exception and it is a progression in Schaffer's already extraordinary writing career.
Although the characters are fictional, they are personalities that do exist in just about every law enforcement agency in the world. The character of Sgt./Chief Erinnyes brings back very bad memories. I've worked for guys like him and they are scary because they're all black and white in a profession that works mostly in the grey.
I've seen dozens of Vics. Good men beat down mostly by the system, but also by the job. They're tough on the outside and easy prey inside. Their police work is sterling and their private life is a shambles. Pray for them.
The Franks in this world make up the majority of cops. They work hard and believe in what they do. They manage to maintain some balance in their lives. They have a strong sense of justice and follow the rules...most of the time. Every once in a while, they rise up in indignation against the BS. When they do, there's hell to pay.
Being a cop takes it's toll on every man and woman who accepts the truly awesome responsibility of the badge. Superbia makes you feel the constant stress, the confusion of no right answer and the deep satisfaction of nailing a truly bad criminal. Schaffer lays it out for us and pulls into this stark, blunt, roller coaster of a world and let's us sample the frustration, contradiction and tragedy that all to frequently messes with officers' minds.
Bernard Schaffer is one the finest writers of our time. His writing is bold and courageous and shows us the truth about the world and ourselves. Superbia is no exception and it is a progression in Schaffer's already extraordinary writing career.
August 8, 2012
I'm unhesitatingly giving this novella 4 stars because of the fine quality of the writing. It's a good story with characters you can care about.
Schaffer is a working detective and this police story (which he claims is based on true personal experiences)could easily be a pilot for one of the better and more realistic TV "cop shows", like Southland, The Killing, The Wire, and NYPD Blue, and stand up in that company like a champ.
And that's the problem. We have been here before. All the classic elements are there: great bonding between partners (males in this case), great moments of sardonic humor, an older cop with an obssessed devotion to the job that arises from deep psychological wounds suffered from seeing too many things that should never be seen, and frustration at trying to fight crime while facing the fierce headwinds of cynical management and corrupt politics within the department and without.
All of these pressure and contradictions inevitably lead to marital problems, abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs, and - perhaps most importantly - a warped sense of how much the rules can or must be bent to serve the higher purpose of fighting crime and punishing the guilty. And, of course, there is the younger partner who can still see the gray areas between good and evil and who is struggling to reconcile the contradictions he faces every day.
So what's new here? Unfortunately, not much. Given his great writing and storytelling skills, I'm hoping that Mr. Schaffer will find his way to somewhat more complex and sophisticated moral dilemma's and resolutions as can be found, for example, in books like Mystic River and Gone Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane.
Schaffer is a working detective and this police story (which he claims is based on true personal experiences)could easily be a pilot for one of the better and more realistic TV "cop shows", like Southland, The Killing, The Wire, and NYPD Blue, and stand up in that company like a champ.
And that's the problem. We have been here before. All the classic elements are there: great bonding between partners (males in this case), great moments of sardonic humor, an older cop with an obssessed devotion to the job that arises from deep psychological wounds suffered from seeing too many things that should never be seen, and frustration at trying to fight crime while facing the fierce headwinds of cynical management and corrupt politics within the department and without.
All of these pressure and contradictions inevitably lead to marital problems, abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs, and - perhaps most importantly - a warped sense of how much the rules can or must be bent to serve the higher purpose of fighting crime and punishing the guilty. And, of course, there is the younger partner who can still see the gray areas between good and evil and who is struggling to reconcile the contradictions he faces every day.
So what's new here? Unfortunately, not much. Given his great writing and storytelling skills, I'm hoping that Mr. Schaffer will find his way to somewhat more complex and sophisticated moral dilemma's and resolutions as can be found, for example, in books like Mystic River and Gone Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane.
March 13, 2014
This is the first in a series of three police novels. It reminds me of "The Wire" or "Chicago PD," in that it exposes the dark side of police work. Frank is our protagonist, he's a small town policeman. Circumstances get him reassigned to partner up with Vince, the department's only investigator. Frank winds up getting injured in a shooting where his former partner is killed, hence the reassignment. Pain pills don't do enough to take the edge off as Frank tries to walk on his reconstructed knee. Vince has a shrew for a wife, and has been kicked out of his house and denied visitation of his kids. Booze is Vince's more and more frequent companion. The chief of police is nearing retirement and insensitive to the needs of his only two detectives. A sergeant has his eye on the chief's job, and he promises Frank and Vince that both will be writing traffic tickets, "real police work," if and when he takes over. A drug dealer kidnaps a confidential informant, and a 75 year old pedophile is arrested. Each is given "enhanced interrogation techniques" to facilitate closure of the cases. Frank learns Vince is on the edge of the abyss, after being arrested for allegations of domestic violence. This book is not for readers who are shrinking violets. Lots of insightful glimpses into the lives and personalities of those who make up the "thin blue line." I plan to explore what happens in the 2 sequels. The author has real world law enforcement credentials.
April 7, 2014
Superbia by Bernard Schaffer
A cop and robbers book for the suburbs. The relationship between two cops, their department and the perpetrators they handled.
The author claims authenticity in his story. Not necessarily in fact of the cases or people but in the feel of the circumstances.
Schaffer made cops real live, fragile and strong people. Post traumatic stress doesn't just plague those in the military but those who serve the public in many ways. I don't know if Mr. Schaffer was proselytizating or not but I read a lot of humanity between the lines.
We, the public, put enormous stress on those that we expect to protect us. Personally I am grateful for those who are willing to give up their time, sometimes their relationships or even their lives so the rest of us can sleep at night.
Sadly Schaffer also points out the chickenshit that occurs in any organization, regardless of their laudable goals. If nothing else besides a good story, this book clearly shows cops are as human as the rest of us and deserve more accolades than they get.
This book does have some graphic violence and gritty sophism when dealing with perpetrators.
BTW I enjoyed his book Guns of Seneca 6 too.
I recommend it.
A cop and robbers book for the suburbs. The relationship between two cops, their department and the perpetrators they handled.
The author claims authenticity in his story. Not necessarily in fact of the cases or people but in the feel of the circumstances.
Schaffer made cops real live, fragile and strong people. Post traumatic stress doesn't just plague those in the military but those who serve the public in many ways. I don't know if Mr. Schaffer was proselytizating or not but I read a lot of humanity between the lines.
We, the public, put enormous stress on those that we expect to protect us. Personally I am grateful for those who are willing to give up their time, sometimes their relationships or even their lives so the rest of us can sleep at night.
Sadly Schaffer also points out the chickenshit that occurs in any organization, regardless of their laudable goals. If nothing else besides a good story, this book clearly shows cops are as human as the rest of us and deserve more accolades than they get.
This book does have some graphic violence and gritty sophism when dealing with perpetrators.
BTW I enjoyed his book Guns of Seneca 6 too.
I recommend it.
January 20, 2014
Respect.
This books starts out with a bang...literally, but then slows down. This is not an exciting book, nor a feel good book. But it is an interesting book in that we see the life of a police officer and what they deal with in the office, in the field, at home and then how they try to cope and get a handle on all their emotions and responsibilities.
It takes a very understanding spouse to be married to a law enforcement office. All the crap and low lives they must deal with and yet not bring it home too much.
Although I may get aggravated at some cops that take their authority above what it should be, on the whole, I have total respect for police officers and think they are crazy to keep a job like that. But am thankful that they do.
I look forward to reading Superbia 2, because I definitely connected with the characters and want to see what happens in their lives next.
This books starts out with a bang...literally, but then slows down. This is not an exciting book, nor a feel good book. But it is an interesting book in that we see the life of a police officer and what they deal with in the office, in the field, at home and then how they try to cope and get a handle on all their emotions and responsibilities.
It takes a very understanding spouse to be married to a law enforcement office. All the crap and low lives they must deal with and yet not bring it home too much.
Although I may get aggravated at some cops that take their authority above what it should be, on the whole, I have total respect for police officers and think they are crazy to keep a job like that. But am thankful that they do.
I look forward to reading Superbia 2, because I definitely connected with the characters and want to see what happens in their lives next.
June 19, 2014
A rough and tumble, head-smashing, throat-grabbing novel that features two very unsympathetic detectives who are thrown together and have to make the best of a bad situation. Some sympathy eventually arises as their extreme personalities evolve and mesh and eventually... well, I won't offer a spoiler here. Just know that this isn't the warm and fuzzy buddy cop movie you were anticipating. Vulgar and gritty and violent and often times outrageously funny, this story is adult oriented and not recommended for the faint of heart. It will, however, satisfy fans of Konrath, Crouch, and other indie writers who press the boundaries of the police procedural genre. Author and ex-cop Bernard Schaffer has rightfully joined their ranks and should be on the 'to read' list for those who like dark humor served with their action thrillers.
August 29, 2014
I don't give a lot of five star reviews but this one earned it and then some. I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this but it didn't take long before I noticed chunks of time going by while I was immersed in this book. It is very gritty and in your face. It has such a ring of truth to it that you cannot help but think it is a biography. It shows you what great lengths cops will go to in order to protect the ones they love and how hard they will make it on the ones they don't. It shows you what a destroying factor the police job is on the policeman and yet it also shows you the rewarding side of all the voiceless victims who have been helped by an officer. I really liked this book and this is author is up on the top shelf with the likes of Joseph Wambaugh. Don't miss this exciting series.
December 12, 2012
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I work in the court system and know a lot of police officers and I can see their faces in the characters in this book. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors in their day to day work but nothing mentioned in the book really surprises me. its sad that that's how it is but not surprising. I absolutely think law enforrcement is underpaid and underappreciated. they are true heroes to pit their lives on the line every day for the peanuts they make and the abuse they take. the simplest call can turn deadly. there's never a guarantee they will make it through their shift. on a more literary note the book is very well written and the author really brings the characters to life. I'm going to go start the next one right now.
November 29, 2013
So, this isn't my sort of novel. At all. However, the writing was simple and yet clever and the store was about what you would expect from a novel like this. It wasn't fully comprehensive, and to be honest the resolution in the story is NOT where you would expect the resolution to be. The ending leaves more questions than answers, but the questions that are answered are the ones you need to have answered by the end of the book. Like what in the Hell is a Truth Rabbit?
The novel offers insight into a cop's world while leaving you in the dark. It shows that not all crimes are solved and not all cases go the way they should. It's worth a read, it's a quick novel and Schaffer knows what he's making noise about.
The novel offers insight into a cop's world while leaving you in the dark. It shows that not all crimes are solved and not all cases go the way they should. It's worth a read, it's a quick novel and Schaffer knows what he's making noise about.
June 8, 2014
by Bernard Schaffer
Some men see psychiatrists, some take up martial arts, some lift weights or punch bags, and some write. Everyone finds a means of venting their demons or they’ll explode. This author apparently works in law enforcement. The book has an abrupt ending and the storyline is unfinished because there are indeed volumes 2 and 3 in the series. The writing style is straight forward and refreshingly well-edited for a change. This police procedural will carry you along but be warned the details can be graphic and squalid. The writer does not paint police in a particularly positive light. It will leave the reader wondering just where the dividing line between the good guys and the bad guys lies.
Some men see psychiatrists, some take up martial arts, some lift weights or punch bags, and some write. Everyone finds a means of venting their demons or they’ll explode. This author apparently works in law enforcement. The book has an abrupt ending and the storyline is unfinished because there are indeed volumes 2 and 3 in the series. The writing style is straight forward and refreshingly well-edited for a change. This police procedural will carry you along but be warned the details can be graphic and squalid. The writer does not paint police in a particularly positive light. It will leave the reader wondering just where the dividing line between the good guys and the bad guys lies.
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July 19, 2013It's a cop story--there are drug dealers, and prostitutes and bad cops and good cops and young cops and cops who aspire to be chief so they will kiss butt and lie at any opportunity. There is swearing and families that function without their police dad--some better than others. There are cops who see terrible, awful things that they can't ever un-see. There are people who defend the child molester uncle instead of the child victim. There are cops that keep secrets for the right price and those who are beaten to keep secrets. I don't think cops could function without a huge helping of arrogance. It had it all. I'll read book 2.
June 19, 2015
First in a police procedural series, written by a former police officer. He also has a SciFi Western series and a few other books,heavy on the SciFi, out there.
Dialog a bit cliched, couple dream scenes, a bunch of episodes thrown together instead of one big case. Lots of high "domestic drama". Called "gritty" by some - meh. Biggest issue is, this is supposed to be suburban Philly, but could be suburban Phoenix just as well. No local color.
Short and quick, but I doubt I will be reading any of the subsequent volumes in this series. Not horrible or bad, just better stuff out there.
Dialog a bit cliched, couple dream scenes, a bunch of episodes thrown together instead of one big case. Lots of high "domestic drama". Called "gritty" by some - meh. Biggest issue is, this is supposed to be suburban Philly, but could be suburban Phoenix just as well. No local color.
Short and quick, but I doubt I will be reading any of the subsequent volumes in this series. Not horrible or bad, just better stuff out there.
March 9, 2012
The author is a policeman, and has managed to bring an underlying sense of "this is how it is" to this story.
Following two cops forced to pair up together while one recovers from a traumatic shooting, this story made me laugh, gasp, and at the end just about broke my heart.
Schaffer shows the human heart of police work, far removed from the gloss of CSI's pretty people and makes you care about them.
Warning :Strong language and some nasty details for the sensitive souls out there.
Recommended for : everyone who wants a good, hard look at police life without the sparkly bits.
Following two cops forced to pair up together while one recovers from a traumatic shooting, this story made me laugh, gasp, and at the end just about broke my heart.
Schaffer shows the human heart of police work, far removed from the gloss of CSI's pretty people and makes you care about them.
Warning :Strong language and some nasty details for the sensitive souls out there.
Recommended for : everyone who wants a good, hard look at police life without the sparkly bits.
December 19, 2013
Fucking great book. There. I said it. Not my most brilliant piece of mind but it's heartfelt. I don't know how much of this was made up or real and I don't particularly care. It's damn good. The writing is clever, clear and with no bullshit. Not my usual type of book at all. In fact, I was pretty reluctant to read it but I'd had it for a couple months and thought I should give it a try. I don't regret it one bit. I didn't put it down once after I started reading it. It was fun yet scary. Entertaining yet painful. Passionate and yet...brutal. It has real feeling behind all of it. Well done.
April 24, 2012
Kinda like Wambaugh's "Choir Boys", but a bit more dark. Some cop humor and a peek inside a police department. Mr. Schaffer is a real life police detective and a writer. This is a novel, but he draws on his long career as a law enforcement officer. This is a pretty decent, tight story about a patrol cop assigned to partner with a small police force's one-man detective department. Pretty good read if you like police stories and dark cop humor.
July 6, 2015
It is a bit dark and has little humor, but it is part of a trilogy. It shows the seedier side of police work. The main character is a patrol cop thrown in to detective work while he recovers from being shot. He doesn't mind going outside the box, but has a problem with the corruption. The second book looks like it deals with how he plots his revenge, so if you like this book, plan on reading the entire trilogy.
April 17, 2012
This is a fantastic novella (I read it in a day) that reads like an episode of Castle with the two main characters treating each other just like Ryan & Esposito. There is serious tragedy balanced out with much levity - and I personally found the levity hysterically funny. It's a really great, funny, gritty peek into the lives of cops in small town Suberbia.
April 6, 2013
Police officer Frank O'Ryan is left with a shattered knee and a growing addiction to Percocet. Then he is assigned to assist the most despised person in his police department, Detective Vic Ajax.
Superbia is the funniest, scariest, most brutal account of what police officers truly experience. I recommend it.
Superbia is the funniest, scariest, most brutal account of what police officers truly experience. I recommend it.
December 18, 2012
Definitely a fun read. I won't put the story in the same league as The Wire, but it was engaging enough for me to have a hard time putting down the Kindle. The book avoids using unnecessary complicated literature which is always a plus for me. I do consider reading the rest of the book series.
January 18, 2015
I rather enjoyed this book. It's not your typical Police story. I like the passion, aggression and feeling that's in this story. I enjoyed the plots, twists and thread of the story. I feel it was very well written, and told. I can't wait to delve into the next one.
December 13, 2013
So far so good... This book is the first in a series, but it seems more like the first chapters of a long novel. I'm into it and want to read the rest of the story, but unfortunately I have to read it in chunks due to the stupid limits on my Amazon Prime library checkouts.
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