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American Ruin: Life and Death on the Streets of Detroit - America's Deadliest City
When Michael Matthews first visited Detroit, he was grimly fascinated by the place. The sheer scale of the crime and desolation was unlike anything he had seen before. He was hooked, and returned whenever he could. Over dozens of visits, he got to know the people – cops, reporters and gang members as well as ordinary Detroiters trying to live their lives in peace – and formed deep bonds with them, which led him into places and situations no writer has ever seen before.
AMERICAN RUIN is the story of Michael’s journey into the soul of this broken city, a shocking, violent and heart-breaking portrayal of a modern tragedy.
Detroit was once the richest city in America, celebrated around the world for its prolific car production and flourishing music scene – the American Dream come true.
Then came its fall. Detroit became the deadliest place in America, with more murders per capita than any other major city in the country. With drugs and guns rife on the streets and its administration riddled with corruption, the city was dying and anyone who could was getting out...
AMERICAN RUIN is an explosive portrait of a city trying desperately to get back on its feet and the people prepared to give everything for their home.
***
Michael Matthews was a police officer in London, UK, for more than twenty years. He spent fourteen working in Specialist Operations, including eight years at Scotland Yard. He has travelled extensively across the US, spending time with a large number of police departments and law enforcement agencies, and has vast experience with many different aspects of policing. He is considered an expert on US and UK policing, and has appeared on television and radio around the world. American Ruin is Michael’s third book. His first, We Are the Cops, is a collection of stories gathered from American police officers. His second, The Riots, is a fast-paced account of the devastating 2011 English riots, told from the point of view of frontline police officers.
- GenresNonfiction
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2019
70 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Michael Matthews
4 books8 followersMichael Matthews spent over 20 years as a police officer in London, UK, including 8 years at Scotland Yard.
He has travelled extensively across the USA and has vast experience with, and knowledge of, American policing. He continues to spend time working with US police departments and is considered a ‘US and UK police expert’. He has appeared on television and radio in the UK, USA and Canada, commenting on issues around crime and policing.
Michael’s first book, We Are The Cops (a collection of stories gathered from American police officers), was a Kindle Non-Fiction number 1 bestseller.
He has had articles and photographs published in a wide variety of newspapers, books and magazines around the world.
Michael continues to spend time with police departments in the US and UK, and is passionate about the city of Detroit.
He has travelled extensively across the USA and has vast experience with, and knowledge of, American policing. He continues to spend time working with US police departments and is considered a ‘US and UK police expert’. He has appeared on television and radio in the UK, USA and Canada, commenting on issues around crime and policing.
Michael’s first book, We Are The Cops (a collection of stories gathered from American police officers), was a Kindle Non-Fiction number 1 bestseller.
He has had articles and photographs published in a wide variety of newspapers, books and magazines around the world.
Michael continues to spend time with police departments in the US and UK, and is passionate about the city of Detroit.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 1, 2019
This book gives the reader an up close look at Detroit policing at its finest and the day to day encounters and situations faced by DPD officers. The characters are actual Detroit officers from the DPD Gang Intelligence Unit and the author follows them to actual crime scenes in the dangerous, gang-ridden streets of Detroit's inner city neighborhoods. The book is raw and intense. I felt like I was right there with the author experiencing all of the adrenaline and emotions. The book is funny, sad, tragic, and uplifting all at the same time. The book also provides insight into gang culture and how kids get wrapped up in that lifestyle through no fault of their own. Many end up dead or in prison, but some are able to turn their lives around, particularly with the help of these officers. The book highlights the many different roles that police officers must fulfill daily, doing work that goes far beyond pulling people over and making arrests. Despite all of the horrifying crime scenes and devastation that they witness day in and day out, the officers have a sense of humor and a bond like no other. I can't recommend this book enough!
February 2, 2021
This book is a well written page turner, which is both fascinating and thought provoking. The only 'issue' with it is a seemingly random formatting problem where new paragraphs are started in the middle of sentences.
July 3, 2019
American Ruin is, with no doubt, the absolute best and most insightful look into policing in Detroit that the public will ever get.
People think they know what goes on in the daily life of a police officer. They don't.
People from other parts of the world think they know Detroit. They don't.
This author-- Michael Matthews-- he accurately nails both.
I grew up in the city of Detroit, spent my whole life there. To explain the sentiment of the bond to this city to an outsider is similar to that of how you might feel about your familial bond. You may be a slightly dysfunctional family, you may tease your siblings relentlessly, you may know exactly what your downfalls are as a group. However, should someone outside of your clique try to point out the exact same flaw... they will be met with uproar and defense from the group. Detroit may have its' flaws and ugliness, but we love this city and are extremely defensive of it just the same. Michael Matthews became an honorary Detroiter, despite being from England, and it clearly shows in this book.
Some readers may find the content a bit difficult to read. There is no limit of death, decay, and dirtiness. This is real life, not only in Detroit but in your hometown too, despite not always being discussed openly. In my opinion, it is an eye-opening lesson that everyone should learn, no matter how hard.
One note, not of subject matter, but of English, figural and literal: The author is from England. Keep that in mind when words like "junction" come up- the intended meaning is "intersection", and "kerb" is the British-English spelling of "curb".
People think they know what goes on in the daily life of a police officer. They don't.
People from other parts of the world think they know Detroit. They don't.
This author-- Michael Matthews-- he accurately nails both.
I grew up in the city of Detroit, spent my whole life there. To explain the sentiment of the bond to this city to an outsider is similar to that of how you might feel about your familial bond. You may be a slightly dysfunctional family, you may tease your siblings relentlessly, you may know exactly what your downfalls are as a group. However, should someone outside of your clique try to point out the exact same flaw... they will be met with uproar and defense from the group. Detroit may have its' flaws and ugliness, but we love this city and are extremely defensive of it just the same. Michael Matthews became an honorary Detroiter, despite being from England, and it clearly shows in this book.
Some readers may find the content a bit difficult to read. There is no limit of death, decay, and dirtiness. This is real life, not only in Detroit but in your hometown too, despite not always being discussed openly. In my opinion, it is an eye-opening lesson that everyone should learn, no matter how hard.
One note, not of subject matter, but of English, figural and literal: The author is from England. Keep that in mind when words like "junction" come up- the intended meaning is "intersection", and "kerb" is the British-English spelling of "curb".
July 5, 2019
An absolute must read. A true story written by a UK officer as he ride and witnessed the day to day life of a Detroit Police Officer. There are so many memorable people and events in the book. As someone from the suburbs of Detroit, I had no idea how devistatint the poverty and mentality of Detroit was. An inside look of life outside downtown Detroit.
January 29, 2020
Michael Matthews has written a good book about policing the mean streets of Detroit. He was embedded with the Gang Intelligence Unit of the Detroit Police Department and rode along as its members investigated gang crime in the city.
He was given a lot of insider access to the GCU and his writing describes the work life of the detectives in the GCU, the dangers they face, as well as the violence and hopelessness of life in the gangs of Detroit. And there are many gangs in the city. Author Matthews took risks to gather the material for his book. The work of the GCU investigators is very hazardous and he was right there with them as they pursued some very dangerous criminals.
His writing is very descriptive of the people he was riding with, the criminal gang members, and the environment the police detectives worked in. He visited Detroit in all seasons and I was particularly struck by his vivid descriptions of the severe winter weather the detectives had to work in as they followed gang members through icy streets in freezing temperatures.
If you want to read about the gritty, crime-ridden, streets of Detroit this is a book for you. It’s a true crime book though so not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for reading about some quite gruesome scenes.
He was given a lot of insider access to the GCU and his writing describes the work life of the detectives in the GCU, the dangers they face, as well as the violence and hopelessness of life in the gangs of Detroit. And there are many gangs in the city. Author Matthews took risks to gather the material for his book. The work of the GCU investigators is very hazardous and he was right there with them as they pursued some very dangerous criminals.
His writing is very descriptive of the people he was riding with, the criminal gang members, and the environment the police detectives worked in. He visited Detroit in all seasons and I was particularly struck by his vivid descriptions of the severe winter weather the detectives had to work in as they followed gang members through icy streets in freezing temperatures.
If you want to read about the gritty, crime-ridden, streets of Detroit this is a book for you. It’s a true crime book though so not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for reading about some quite gruesome scenes.
January 24, 2020
Inside view of gang policing and social decay
An interesting account of what policing in inner cities is about. Law and order tempered with care of self and other people is seen in an environment of social decay. Mentors for youth are the gang members and their codes. Police are fraught with war zone conditions and a huge need to provide social stability to these communities. When reformed gang members step forward to shore up the youths it does help. Rebuilding downtowns into tourist mecca may attract tax dollars for the city but doesn't do anything for the community and its cancer within.
An interesting account of what policing in inner cities is about. Law and order tempered with care of self and other people is seen in an environment of social decay. Mentors for youth are the gang members and their codes. Police are fraught with war zone conditions and a huge need to provide social stability to these communities. When reformed gang members step forward to shore up the youths it does help. Rebuilding downtowns into tourist mecca may attract tax dollars for the city but doesn't do anything for the community and its cancer within.
December 28, 2020
Book from my uncle Bob. British apologist for Detroit Police officers. The book documents his ride with the cops for a week in January 2016. Although it was nostalgic to read about locations in Detroit that I remember fondly, I was not impressed with his portrait of the cops. The lead guy in particular came off as being a really unpleasant person, and not the hero that the author tried to push. Also the writing left much to be desired. I really don't need word-for-word transcriptions of conversations, including the questions from the interviewer. Not recommended.
June 16, 2021
Absolutely love this book, a bit of history of the struggles Detroit and it's citizens are going through, very heartbreaking. I have read a couple of books by the author but this was by far my favorite. The author tells a bit of the people he interviewed afterwards, allowing a bit of a catch up. This isn't a easy read these are real people and their lives. I had to stop a few times and just put the book down for a few hours. I became emotionally invested, the sign of a great author and book. I worked in Detroit for a bit, perhaps that might be part of the problem. It's a great read!
July 12, 2021
Powerful insight into the challenges for the city of Detroit. As a Michigan resident I believe we can do better and we must.
September 23, 2023
Super interesting and eye opening about the gangs in detroit.
November 5, 2019
Read for a special book club with a fabulous hostess! We got to meet Sergeant Brannock and skype with the author Mick Matthews. I am grateful to these two men for making themselves available and the hostess for planning an incredible evening. Both men freely and generously shared their stories and opinions. That said, I did not agree with everything said and at times it was pointedly uncomfortable.
I loved the first 230ish pages of this book. It follows Detroit officers from the DPD Gang Intelligence Unit to actual crime scenes in the dangerous, gang-ridden streets of Detroit's inner city neighborhoods. It showed the baseness of humanity with compassion and a surprising amount of hope. It was weird and cool to see Detroit presented almost like in a movie, yet still be able to connect with places and stories.
Many of the police stories I had heard before, but seeing them combined in such a way created an impression (unfairly?) of Detroit being a wild west with frequent shoot outs in the neighborhoods. Detroit in a large city and the stories spanned many years, so of course, there would be plenty to cherry pick. However, the author did seem to have a deep love of Detroit and its people, so this wasn't a hatchet piece. This book could be quite eye-opening to people who hadn't been exposed to these types of stories before. It touches on the depth of humanity and suffering.
One thing I realized reading this book was how unusual Detroit (and growing up here) actually is. I grew up assuming all big cities were like Detroit; that poverty and crime were just a normal part of life in the city. Seeing it through an outsider's eyes gave me some comparative perspective.
The author was clearly intelligent, well spoken and could take a joke at his expense (and dish it back out). He recalled situations with great accuracy and wasn't hesitant to correct others who misquoted things. There were repeating formatting errors in my copy of the book, which brought down the tone of the writing (editing needed). But the author displayed definite writing skills, which was refreshing after some of the up&coming authors I've read! But he also isn't one of us. In all honesty, during our skype session, it did feel grating to hear a visitor with an English accent expressing outrage and spouting off about what Detroit needs to do. Plus, his British upbringing in a quasi-socialist/anti-gun culture effects his worldview of the problems in Detroit.
The last 100 pages let down the book; hence the lost star. Previously, the author was fairly good about not over-sensationalizing events or inserting personal opinions and comments. But that shifted towards the end of the book. For example, in describing a neighborhood ice cream truck, he writes: It was like no ice-cream truck I had ever seen before in my life. The vehicle was tatty and severely run-down, with faded, poorly painted cartoon characters dotted around its rusting body... It was like an ice cream truck from a nightmare. The sort of thing Banksy might come up with. pg 283
The author also asks a black police officer: Do you think Detroit has been neglected? You know, in the way New Orleans was, after Katrina? People said that was about race - it was a black city, so no one cared. Note the pointed question. The author then quotes the officer's response, which is a half page rant with explicit language about "rich white folk" who are afraid of blacks becoming educated and rising up like Obama. The black police officer goes on to blame "government and whites" for bringing drugs and guns into Detroit. pg 239-240. :-0
Overall, I would recommend the first 230ish pages to my Detroit friends. Skip the last 100pgs with their sensationalism and race-baiting IMO. Recognize the uniqueness and humanity of the place were you live!
I loved the first 230ish pages of this book. It follows Detroit officers from the DPD Gang Intelligence Unit to actual crime scenes in the dangerous, gang-ridden streets of Detroit's inner city neighborhoods. It showed the baseness of humanity with compassion and a surprising amount of hope. It was weird and cool to see Detroit presented almost like in a movie, yet still be able to connect with places and stories.
Many of the police stories I had heard before, but seeing them combined in such a way created an impression (unfairly?) of Detroit being a wild west with frequent shoot outs in the neighborhoods. Detroit in a large city and the stories spanned many years, so of course, there would be plenty to cherry pick. However, the author did seem to have a deep love of Detroit and its people, so this wasn't a hatchet piece. This book could be quite eye-opening to people who hadn't been exposed to these types of stories before. It touches on the depth of humanity and suffering.
One thing I realized reading this book was how unusual Detroit (and growing up here) actually is. I grew up assuming all big cities were like Detroit; that poverty and crime were just a normal part of life in the city. Seeing it through an outsider's eyes gave me some comparative perspective.
The author was clearly intelligent, well spoken and could take a joke at his expense (and dish it back out). He recalled situations with great accuracy and wasn't hesitant to correct others who misquoted things. There were repeating formatting errors in my copy of the book, which brought down the tone of the writing (editing needed). But the author displayed definite writing skills, which was refreshing after some of the up&coming authors I've read! But he also isn't one of us. In all honesty, during our skype session, it did feel grating to hear a visitor with an English accent expressing outrage and spouting off about what Detroit needs to do. Plus, his British upbringing in a quasi-socialist/anti-gun culture effects his worldview of the problems in Detroit.
The last 100 pages let down the book; hence the lost star. Previously, the author was fairly good about not over-sensationalizing events or inserting personal opinions and comments. But that shifted towards the end of the book. For example, in describing a neighborhood ice cream truck, he writes: It was like no ice-cream truck I had ever seen before in my life. The vehicle was tatty and severely run-down, with faded, poorly painted cartoon characters dotted around its rusting body... It was like an ice cream truck from a nightmare. The sort of thing Banksy might come up with. pg 283
The author also asks a black police officer: Do you think Detroit has been neglected? You know, in the way New Orleans was, after Katrina? People said that was about race - it was a black city, so no one cared. Note the pointed question. The author then quotes the officer's response, which is a half page rant with explicit language about "rich white folk" who are afraid of blacks becoming educated and rising up like Obama. The black police officer goes on to blame "government and whites" for bringing drugs and guns into Detroit. pg 239-240. :-0
Overall, I would recommend the first 230ish pages to my Detroit friends. Skip the last 100pgs with their sensationalism and race-baiting IMO. Recognize the uniqueness and humanity of the place were you live!
November 5, 2019
This was a very interesting read, well written. We read it for book club and were able to meet with Sgt Brannock and Michael Matthews and discuss their experiences with them, which was so fascinating! Highly recommend.
August 26, 2019
I have to say that although I am very glad that I read this book, it wasn't 'enjoyable'. It was a tough read, uncomfortable and at times scary. I still live here and it made me look differently at the town I live in. I drive downtown every day, drive past those burned out buildings, and many of those down and out persons with no where to go. I believe that Matthews gives an honest review of the city and those brave cops who go in to try to make it better. Saddened by the corruption which undoubtedly is still going on.
I do want to make a better Detroit and I also believe it is possible. After reading this I will be more focused on ways to try to help the kids get out of downtown, offer opportunities for them to get better education. A sad book but a needed wake up!
I do want to make a better Detroit and I also believe it is possible. After reading this I will be more focused on ways to try to help the kids get out of downtown, offer opportunities for them to get better education. A sad book but a needed wake up!
August 31, 2025
I LOVED this book!! Being from the metro Detroit area and growing up going downtown my whole life and now working on the east side(just northeast of downtown) and working closely with the Detroit police and specifically the 1st, 5th, and seventh precincts this was a very cool history and more so visual tale for me of the streets of Detroit. It was very cool for me to read about the city not only where I have been but where I came to call my second home or “comfort” zone when I am in the city is and was actually some of the most dangerous parts of Detroit! Either way I still LOVE my city and this book!!
July 6, 2019
This is a very informative book. Mike Matthews does an excellent and unbiased review of Detroit. It has certainly open my eyes to neighborhoods not more than a mile from where I grew up. Terriffic!!!
November 1, 2019
Not a literary masterpiece, but a very interesting sociological look into Detroit since the flight to suburbia beginning with the Mayor Coleman Young administration. A good read.
July 16, 2019
I loved it! So interesting and clearly written.
July 26, 2019
One of the best books I've read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews