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Hands Up

Stephen Clark (Goodreads Author)

3.81 · Rating details · 57 ratings · 50 reviews

Officer Ryan Quinn, a rookie raised in a family of cops, is on the fast track to detective until he shoots an unarmed black male. Now, with his career, reputation and freedom on the line, he embarks on a quest for redemption that forces him to confront his fears and biases and choose between conscience or silence.

Jade Wakefield is an emotionally damaged college student liv ...more

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Paperback, 272 pages

Published September 28th 2019 by WiDo Publishing

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Dec 18, 2019 Hamad rated it really liked it

Shelves: paperbacks, adult-books, from-the-publisher, 2019-reads

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

“He never got a chance to become a man because some officer decided to be judge, jury and executioner.They need to arrest that cop, whoever he is.”

★ I would like to start by thanking the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinions on this one.

★ When I first saw the synopsis for this one, it reminded me of The Hate U Give and after reading it, I can see why I ...more

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Jan 08, 2020 Irena BookDustMagic added it

Full review to come.

I usually always rate books but this time, even though I think it was a really good book, I don't feel comfortable doing it because of personal reasons. ...more

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Sep 26, 2020 Ivana - Diary of Difference rated it liked it

Shelves: stars-3, format-print, genre-crime-mystery-thriller, read-in-2020

I was so happy when the author, Stephen Clark, approached me and offered to send me a copy of his book, Hands Up, for me to read and provide an honest review. I also felt great responsibility, because this books speaks about some very important, very relevant, and very, unfortunately, sad topics that are currently happening in the world.

Synopsis:

Police officer Ryan Quinn, raised in a family of cops, shoots an unarmed black male. His car ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 Noriko rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

First and foremost, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
Hands Up, the sophomore novel from Stephen Clark was much more illuminating, gripping and thought-provoking than I initially anticipated. While my reading progress was miserably slow due to other commitments, but I can say this book is such an entertaining page-turner and pretty unputdownable once you pick it up.

The writing is consistently strong and solid, most importantly, it reads quite authentic and convincing.
This book deals with ...more

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Nov 22, 2019 Athena (OneReadingNurse) rated it liked it

Thank you so much to Stephen Clark for providing me with a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!

Hands Up is Clark's second novel. It is a mix of police procedural, black lives matter activism, political, and social commentary - tackling the highly controversial topics of white on black shootings, police brutality, casual and overt racism, gang violence, complicated family ties, and confronting one's own fears and biases.

*Synopsis omitted for GoodReads*

So the story is told fro Thank you so much to Stephen Clark for providing me with a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!

Hands Up is Clark's second novel. It is a mix of police procedural, black lives matter activism, political, and social commentary - tackling the highly controversial topics of white on black shootings, police brutality, casual and overt racism, gang violence, complicated family ties, and confronting one's own fears and biases.

*Synopsis omitted for GoodReads*

So the story is told from the three alternating points of view of Ryan, Jade, and Kelly, and the book puts us in Ryan's head as his story is the only one told from the first person POV. Ryan is immediately painted as a bit of a crooked cop, then I found myself with a very neutral to indifferent attitude towards him throughout the rest of the book. The three characters are, as the synopsis says, essentially on a collision course.

The story and plot itself kept me rapidly reading throughout. I didn't so much care for Kelly's point of view except for how he seems to represent the circle of violence coming to an end. Then starting again. Uncovering how the shooting actually occurred and following the family's quest for justice both seemed real enough. I could respect Regina (the victim's mother) for originally not wanting to be in the spotlight, and Gail represented that loud minority of people who blow these things sky high. Regina was probably my favorite character in the whole book as she had some of the most reasonable lines and felt like the most relatable character to me.

The whole book from the family ties to the protests was pretty excellent until the romance aspect - I will not elaborate due to spoilers but even though I could tell and appreciate what the author was trying to do, it didn't work for me. it didn't seem plausible. Ryan doesn't seem like the type who would be on such a moral high ground, then act with frank infidelity no matter how you spin it, then act on impulses like that? It worked for the plot but really threw me from reality to …. "really?"

Also the second huge twist at the ending, would Ryan really trust Jade after that? The ending just seemed so implausible that It dropped me from a five to about a three star. Still though, the book is important and feels very necessary in today's world. It is a brave and diverse topic to handle and I think it was done well, both sides were represented with equal biases, and it was even nice that the pastor in the book mentions that blacks are killing more blacks than white cops. The book recognizes where the real problems in society lie, and acknowledges that a few very loud people can absolutely blow up an issue that is definitely important, but maybe not the biggest overall thing that people are facing at the time.

Even with the ending throwing me off so hard, I think I can tell that Clark was a journalist because my mind is pretty clear on what issues are relevant to him. I feel like this review is a jumble but I fully encourage everyone to read this book. I have daily opportunities at work to examine my thoughts and feelings on various peoples and situations, but this book could be so important for those who don't have that chance. Especially in America where there is so much debate over these issues and a sense of unity is needed more than ever.

Thank you again to the author for providing a copy of the book for review! At least as of 11/21/19 the book is free on Kindle Unlimited so I would really encourage everyone to check it out! ...more

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Jan 22, 2020 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it

*3.5 Stars*

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Stephen Clark’s Hands Up, presented as a crime thriller I’m not sure that would be the correct description – this is more in the way of crime and character drama, with psychological elements and human tragedy laid bare.

This is multi arc, told in both first and third person, a clever way of linking the reader to different characters in different ways. Themes of racial profiling, tension and assumptions, runs through the narrative as we see the affects ...more

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Jul 20, 2020 Kat Dietrich rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2020, netg-edel-author-publisher

Hands Up by Stephen Clark is a fictional crime novel.

First, let me thank the author for reaching out and providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Ryan Quinn is rookie police officer in Philadelphia. His mentor, Sgt. Greg Byrnes is an older officer, and a family friend. When they pull over a young black man, Ryan's world is changed forever. Young Tyrell Wakefield is sh ...more

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Nov 18, 2019 Bookread2day rated it it was amazing

www.bookread2day.wordpress.com

I’m confirming to all you suspense crime readers, Stephen Clark is your man as a new crime writer I’m introducing to you, Hands Up that is a crime story based around two policemen.

One policeman Ryan Quinn says I’m not a murderder. When policemen Ryan and his partner Sgt Greg Byrnes, stop a black man for driving with no lights on, they order nineteen year old Tyrell out of his car. When Ryan shoots dead Tyrell, it could lead Ryan and Greg in trouble. They both must ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Nicole rated it really liked it

Good read that took a couple twist I didn't see coming. Can't stand Jades ass. Wish it would have ended different. ...more

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Jan 21, 2020 Debra rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads, review-copy-read

Now, this was a great read! I had not really expected this to go as deep into moral and social issues, than it did, which took me my surprise.

We follow Officer Ryan Quinn who unfortunately gets into an 'incident' when pulling down someone driving with his partner. One thing leads to another and he ends up shooting an unarmed black male. The story he is telling to everyone may not be the story of what actually happened. We follow Ryan as he learns to live with what he has done and comes to terms ...more

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Aug 26, 2020 Coco.V marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: freebie

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/26/2020)! 🎁

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Jan 09, 2020 Meg Orton rated it really liked it

Disclaimer: Stephen Clark the author kindly sent me a copy of his novel in exchange for an honest review.

“Hands up, don’t shoot!” “Black men are an endangered species” “Black Lives Matter”

I will not pretend to know all about American politics and the racial struggles faced in the US by thousands of people every day. Having watched the news and being someone who considers themselves fairly well-read I am aware of the heinous crimes committed by white American policeman towards African American ci Disclaimer: Stephen Clark the author kindly sent me a copy of his novel in exchange for an honest review.

“Hands up, don’t shoot!” “Black men are an endangered species” “Black Lives Matter”

I will not pretend to know all about American politics and the racial struggles faced in the US by thousands of people every day. Having watched the news and being someone who considers themselves fairly well-read I am aware of the heinous crimes committed by white American policeman towards African American citizens. I do however come from a country (South Africa) that has infamously displayed gross levels of racial injustice, and I am therefore not unaware of the violence and cruelties people of color face daily. That being said it is not enough to simply say that you are aware of racism and protests and the Black Lives Matter movement and the constant reference to a world where the phrase ‘white privilege’ is a real thing. The struggle between races will always be just that, a struggle, because we refuse to put ourselves in a position that allows us to see the whole picture. Not just a fraction of the truth, but the whole truth. In so many ways writing these stories is what gets that all important conversation going. As heart-breaking as the stories are they are not even close to what the reality feels like to the victims and those left behind.

Stephen Clark’s novel begins with the killing of a young African American man whose name, Tyrell Wakefield, will become a name everyone will remember. Fatally shot by two white policemen after a so-called routine patrol, the incident will become national news within minutes after the shooting. The two policemen involved, Ryan Quinn and Greg Byrnes will have their names kept secret from the public and the victim’s family.

Ryan Quinn, the rookie cop who was responsible for shooting Tyrell struggles with the guilt of what happened, whilst his partner Byrnes is suspiciously nonchalant despite having a clear history of being racist and violent in the past. Both are put on suspension, and both deal with the repercussions of that night in very different ways.

At the other end of the tragedy is Tyrell’s family. His sister Jade who was incredibly close to Tyrell was waiting for her brother to pick her up from work the night he was shot. Jade’s determination to discover the truth, as well as her endearing toughness make her the most likeable protagonist in a novel that showcases a number of anti-heroes. Besides Tyrell’s mother Regina and younger brother Donte who are of course gutted by the untimely death of Tyrell, Kelly Randolph, the Wakefield kid’s father returns to North Philadelphia after a ten year absence to seek revenge for his son’s death. Kelly, a former gangster, left Regina and the children many years ago and tries his best to fall back into his family’s good graces. Jade refuses to accept that her father has changed and goes off in search of the truth on her own, leaving her absent father to make amends with Regina and Donte.

Back at the precinct Ryan’s disillusionment with his partner and the fatal night leave questions open for the reader constantly as it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Clark has a clear knack for creating empathy for his characters, and it is hard not to feel torn apart by their individual suffering.

This novel, written by Clark whose impeccable language though faultless, is not without a few clichéd and convoluted plot points. However this in no way deters from the overall sense of hopelessness and disillusionment the characters experience which could very likely be Clark’s intention as racial profiling is in itself an act of generalization. As a society we have become desensitized to brutal acts of violence and the constant examples of hypocrisy displayed by people in authority. Throughout the novel Clark addresses other issues such as alcoholism, self-harming, homelessness, religious redemption, police brutality and morality as an open-ended concept. Clark’s portrayal of Philadelphia is also noteworthy for its role in aiding the racial divide. I have always marveled at an author’s ability to transform a character’s location into a character of its own, and Clark succeeds at this perfectly.

With impeccable grace, a host of well-rounded characters and a surprising ending, Stephen Clark gives voice to a story told often but not nearly enough. ...more

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Dec 19, 2019 Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews

4.5 Stars

Hands Up was thought provoking adult fiction that revolved around three characters tied by tragedy. It was about Police brutality, injustice, racism, loss and grief, depression, betrayal and guilt.

Writing was smooth, gripping and realistic. The setting of Philadelphia and characters were well described. Story was first person narrative from Jade, Ryan and Kelly’s POV. It showed their life and view point perfectly, how death o ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Al rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, read-2020

In many ways this book was not at all what I expected. Obviously, the shooting of Tyrel (the “unarmed black male”) and its aftermath are the majority of the story. I expected to have my thoughts get provoked, seeing possibilities in this kind of situation that I had never thought of previously. I wasn’t sure whether I’d think Ryan (the policeman who shot Tyrel) was getting a raw deal or be pulling for him to get locked up, but I was convinced it would be one of those. Given those choices my thou ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Stacy rated it really liked it

The story is told from three different perspectives and I think this worked extremely well. The sister, who was close to her brother, lashes out in anger. The absent father comes home to redeem himself. The police officer, whose complicated experience with racial issues leaves him drowning in guilt and alcohol. I found sympathy, lost sympathy and fought incredulity at different parts in the book.

More of my thoughts are here...https://stacybuckeye.com/2020/01/13/h... ...more

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Nov 27, 2019 Terry Tyler rated it really liked it

I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.

An interesting crime novel that's more psychological drama than thriller. It centres around Ryan Quinn, a police officer who shoots and kills Tyrell Wakefield, a young black man pulled over in a routine traffic enquiry—or is it? As the story progresses, we become more aware of racial profiling within the police, and especially that of Quinn's partner, Gre I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.

An interesting crime novel that's more psychological drama than thriller. It centres around Ryan Quinn, a police officer who shoots and kills Tyrell Wakefield, a young black man pulled over in a routine traffic enquiry—or is it? As the story progresses, we become more aware of racial profiling within the police, and especially that of Quinn's partner, Greg. More sinisterly, this same bigotry is present within the 'civilian' white families we meet in this book.

Also centre stage are Jade, Tyrell's sister, and Kelly, his estranged father. The story is written from these three points of view; Quinn is written in the first person, which totally worked for me, with Jade and Kelly in the third. This also worked, I think, better than if Kelly and Jade had been in the first person as well. They were all three-dimensional; Kelly, in particular, alternated in my head between being a basically decent guy who wanted to make up for some wrong choices in life, and an opportunistic creep.

I very much liked how the truth about what happened that night, from Quinn's point of view, came out only gradually, and that we saw the emotional effects of the case from all three sides.

When I began to read the book the first thing that struck me was that the author can certainly write; I was drawn in, immediately, though the first ten per cent includes a fair bit of telling-not-showing (when the writer tells the reader how someone is feeling/what their personality is like, rather than showing it in dialogue and actions), and, throughout, there is too much mundane detail—we don't always need, for instance, to know what people were wearing, unless relevant, what they ate in restaurants (ditto), or how someone got from A to B. I read in the notes at the back that the author is a (most successful) journalist, and this is evident; now and again, I felt as though he needed to be reminded that a novel's flow can be improved by the omission of detail, rather than the inclusion of every fact.

Mostly, the plot kept me interested throughout, though I didn't think the romantic involvement between Quinn and another character towards the end of the book was necessary; a friendship/sympathetic connection would have been enough, and more realistic; that it happened made both characters less credible, to me. I also felt that Quinn's previous romantic entanglement was too quickly and neatly disposed of.

On the whole, though, I liked this novel, and it has a lot going for it. The issues of racial prejudice and police corruption were dealt with well, and though none of the characters were likeable, they were all fairly compelling. I think that if Mr Clark were to learn the art of ruthless pruning during redrafts and observe how other writers create tension, he could produce something most memorable.

...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Amie's Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: multicultural, diversity, indie, drama, crime-fiction, adults-only-18, education-related-books, mystery, fiction-mental-health, fiction-suicidal-issues

HANDS UP is a timely novel because of the very real increase in the number of police shootings of unarmed, young black men in the United States.

HANDS UP begins with Tyrell Wakefield being shot by rookie police officer Ryan Quinn. According to the police, the young man had punched Ryan's older partner and was attempting to grab his gun.

However, Tyrell's sister, Jade, finds that story very unlikely, as does her mother. So, Jade is determined to find out what really happened.

When Jade's materna ...more

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Sep 29, 2019 Lel Budge rated it really liked it

I’m not sure what category this fits into, it’s a social commentary, a police procedural, and a domestic drama. But it doesn’t matter really, what does matter is that it’s rather brilliant.

Ryan is a cop, he’s only been in the job a year and he’s partnered with Greg a long standing, experience cop. Oh and he’s abhorrently racist.

One day, Greg decides to pull over a young black guy, just because he wants to. Tyrell is unarmed, but Greg causes an altercation and as a result, Ryan shoots and kills T ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Vigilant Reader rated it it was amazing

Title – Hands Up
Author – Stephen Clark
Genre – Crime Thriller
Word Count 92,000
Rating 5 stars out of 5
No.33 - 2019
Posted 10/12/2019

My Impressions: Excellent portrayal of racial emotions

Main Characters:
Tyrell Wakefield – Young black man shot during a bogus traffic stop.
Ryan Quinn – The young cop who shot Tyrell.
Jade Wakefield – Tyrell’s younger emotionally damaged sister.
Regina – Tyrell’s mother.
Kelly – Tyrell’s father

Ryan’s police partner is a white racist who enjoys stopping young black motori ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Erin Cataldi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019

Wow! This is the first adult novel I've read that addresses police brutality, racial profiling, and the Black Lives Matter movement. I've read The Hate U Give and Dear Martin, but those are both young adult titles and each only have one narrator. Hands Up is an adult title and features three distinct narrators; Ryan Quinn - a white cop who fatally shot an unarmed black boy, Jade - the brother of the murdered kid; and Kelly - the deadbeat father of the murdered kid who has moved back to Philly af ...more

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Nov 11, 2019 Hobart rated it really liked it

Shelves: letsreadindie-2019, 2019-cloak-dagger-challenge, 2019-reads

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---

“If you want to survive as a cop on these streets, then you need to check your conscience at the door. Sometimes there’s casualties. But if we don’t do whatever it takes to get the bad guy, then we could end up like your dad"

About a month ago, I posted about N. Lombardi, Jr.'s Justice Gone, and as I started to write this post, I noticed I was about to write something very similar here. But why re-invent the wheel? I'm just going to repeat ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Emma rated it really liked it

Told by three characters from different worlds, the reader watches their paths collide and spiral into chaos. From the moment you begin reading you are standing at the scene of the crime. Heart pounding and hands shaking you are in a state of shock but are desperate to learn how you ended up in this situation. Clark piques the reader’s curiosity and as the sirens grow louder you feel a sense of fear for what they will bring.

Ryan is constantly plagued with guilt from shooting Tyrell. He desperat Told by three characters from different worlds, the reader watches their paths collide and spiral into chaos. From the moment you begin reading you are standing at the scene of the crime. Heart pounding and hands shaking you are in a state of shock but are desperate to learn how you ended up in this situation. Clark piques the reader’s curiosity and as the sirens grow louder you feel a sense of fear for what they will bring.

Ryan is constantly plagued with guilt from shooting Tyrell. He desperately wants to do the right thing but is torn between being loyal to his partner Greg and being sentenced for his crime. He spends his time throughout the book searching and looking for redemption for his wrongdoings. He forces himself to confront his fears and stand on his own two feet. He is a determined character but struggles with the clash of the two different worlds he becomes involved in. As he stumbles down a dark path of drinking and resenting his partner, he finds himself at the hands of the only person who can save him. Tyrell’s sister Jade. Can you forgive the killer of your brother in the name of love? Clark directs this question to the reader and we follow a tumultuous romance built upon grief and loneliness.. But can love really conquer all?

Jade is an interesting character. She has a dark history and self-harms when she feels like she is losing control. The pain helps, it soothes her. She wants revenge for her bother and looks into any means possible to obtain it. She is angry, hurt but also lonely and lost. Jade struggles with who she is and is scared when she realises that she’s fallen in love with the worst person possible. But as the story progresses she grows stronger and relights her fighting spirt to stand up for what she believes in. She is an inspiring character and speaks her mind which is welcoming to read. It takes a bit of time but she slowly opens up and becomes a little more vularble when she falls for Ryan. Upon realising she shouldn’t love him, she builds up her walls again and seeks justice for her brother. She is a complex character with many layers to her but she is a delight to read as she is quick witted and intelligent.

Kelly returns with a ton of baggage trailing behind him. He got into a dangerous business and did a lot of unforgivable things, including leaving his family behind for another woman. But now he is returning broken and about to bury his son. He wants to do the right thing but old habits die hard and slowly the reader watches him fight with his inner demons. We are desperate for him to succeed in his mission of putting all his wrongs right. No matter how hard he tries, he keeps ending up with blooded fists. He’s angry and distraught from recent events and can’t see any way different from the old life he used to know. It’s a shame to see, as at points he really does try to make his life better. But sometimes people just won’t change no matter how hard they try. It’s human nature to revert back to what we know and is familiar.

Clark’s character development throughout the story deepens with each chapter. We learn of backstories and past relationships that work effectively in the story. I enjoyed reading the characters’ interactions with each other. Some knowing who others are and some completely unaware they are sleeping with the enemy. Clark has given much thought and research into who his characters are and what they each represent. It’s engaging to read as you feel as if you personally know them and sympathise with their torment.

The sensitive and taboo subjects that arise in the story bring attention to how blind society still seems to be. We are often of the mind that if we stick our head in the sand and simply ignore what’s actually happening around us, then it will go away. But it won’t. It won’t ever disappear until we deal with it and put a stop to the madness. Clark is vocal about these issues, grief, racism and self-harm just to name a few. He approaches them directly but also with brutal honesty. It’s an eye opener to any reader that this is still happening all around and it needs to stop. Now.

The suspense and tension that Clark creates is gripping. He takes the reader on a joyride of emotions from the grief of losing a family member to the desire and lust of finding love in the most unlikely place. There are so many twists and turns you don’t see coming that shock and absorb the reader into the streets of Philadelphia where the police are as corrupt as they come. No one is safe, not even in the hands of the law. It sends a bold message of who you can and can’t trust.

I give Hands Up By Stephen Clark a Four out of Five paw rating.

Fast paced and gripping to the end. Clark has a gifted talent within the crime/thriller genre. He is not afraid to write about important issues surrounding the world like racism and self-harm. His writing is passionate and speaks the brutal truth that needs to be heard, shouted from the rooftops. Well done, Sir. Well done indeed. ...more

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Feb 16, 2020 Emma-louise Hamilton rated it really liked it

'Hands Up' opens with rookie Officer Ryan Quinn trying to look at himself in a mirror. Literally.

He's not a murderer. Not really. It was a justified shooting, even if the victim was a teenage boy with no weapon who committed no offence. Everyone says so: his superiors, his partner, his mother and his snooty fiancée. If only Ryan could believe them all, but he knows the truth, and it isn't quite what he told Internal Affairs...

—- What's it about? —-

The repercussions of an all too frequent event: ...more

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Jul 08, 2020 Jacqueline sharp rated it really liked it

I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for a few months now, finally got round to reading it over the last couple of days. It’s a very well written novel, set in Philladelphia, the shooting of a young black male Tyrell Wakefield, by a rookie police officer Ryan Quinn after being pulled in by his partner Greg for a supposed traffic violation, things escalate and Ryan shoots Tyrell.

The story is told from the points of view of Ryan as he deals with what he has done, and we learn more of what happened. ...more

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Feb 02, 2020 Joy Corkery rated it really liked it

Originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2020/02/0...

As you can probably tell from the blurb, Hands Up draws from the very important Black Lives Matter movement. This makes for a necessary and timely book topic, but also one that is extremely sensitive. For that reason, I don’t want to go too much into that aspect of Hands Up; I don’t feel like I’m the right person to comment on it. What I would like to make clear, however, is that because the author is a journalist, you can expect Originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2020/02/0...

As you can probably tell from the blurb, Hands Up draws from the very important Black Lives Matter movement. This makes for a necessary and timely book topic, but also one that is extremely sensitive. For that reason, I don’t want to go too much into that aspect of Hands Up; I don’t feel like I’m the right person to comment on it. What I would like to make clear, however, is that because the author is a journalist, you can expect a non-biased story, told from the viewpoint of the victim’s family and the police officer who shot him.

Hands Up goes far beyond the topics already mentioned. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that so delicately deals with grief, abandonment, self-harm, panic attacks and homelessness. And what was even more amazing was that it was done using characters that are not completely likeable or have the ability to draw sympathy from the reader.

Ryan is probably the character most in the “grey zone”. I won’t say too much in fear of spoilers but it is difficult to decide whether the shooting was racially driven or not on his side, at least in the first half of the book. Then we have Jade. Jade is the girl who loves her family and is trying her best to get out of the ghetto. In other books, she would have been the hero, the character we all loved. I didn’t like her. But I did enjoy the complexity that the author provided her with. This made for a much more interesting read.

What I really liked about Hands Up was that it went beyond the crime itself and into the aftermath of everything that happened for all the characters. Part 2 drives the story in a way you would never have guessed. It had great twists but overall I felt it could have done with more development. And the ending. I was going to write that I disliked the ending but that’s not true. I’m just disappointed it didn’t end the way I wanted to, and am shocked at how it did end. Honestly, it was an epic ending and I can’t fault the author there.

To wrap things up, you have to read this book. And then come find me so we can have a big long chat about it!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jan 25, 2020 Claire Davis rated it really liked it

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have given Hands Up by Stephen Clark four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Trigger Warnings: self harm and strong language Right from the first passage I was completely hooked! I mean, how can you not be intrigued after the introduction to this book is: "I'm not a murderer. I'm not a murderer. I'm. Not. A. Murderer. Oh, who was I kidding? No matter how many tines or ways I said that to myself in the bathroom mirror, it didn't change the fact tha ...more

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Jan 28, 2020 Alfred Nobile rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-books

This was a hard book to put into anyone category. Was it a crime thriller, police procedural or a political commentary? Could have been any of them or a mashup of all three. But I think you are better just saying it is a bloody great read!
Told in the first person from three different perspectives.
Ryan a rookie cop who finds himself caught in the fallout from a fatal shooting.
Jade a college student struggling to finish her degree and living in in one of Philadelphia’s worst neighbour hoods.
Kelly ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 Emily Quinn rated it it was amazing

With Black Lives Matter protests and the killing of George Floyd still fresh in everyone’s minds, the reading of this book was perfectly timed. With a similar story line so in depth and captivating right until the end, I would urge everyone, fan of crime fiction or not, to read this and educate themselves further! This was such an eye-opening reading experience for me, and Hands Up is one of those books that everyone needs to read in their lifetime! Filled with important life lessons about racis ...more

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Dec 23, 2019 Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog Cannon rated it it was amazing

I was excited to be contact via my blog by Stephen Clark to review his book. He kindly sent me a physical copy from the USA (I am based in the UK) and told me a little about his book. This piqued my interest because it is about issues that are still being talked about and happening now. With him being a journalist (and award-winning), I figured he would really know what he was talking about. I am honoured that after coming across my blog that he has chosen me to review for him. This has not in a I was excited to be contact via my blog by Stephen Clark to review his book. He kindly sent me a physical copy from the USA (I am based in the UK) and told me a little about his book. This piqued my interest because it is about issues that are still being talked about and happening now. With him being a journalist (and award-winning), I figured he would really know what he was talking about. I am honoured that after coming across my blog that he has chosen me to review for him. This has not in any way swayed my opinion of his book. My review is not biased.

From the first few lines of readers know what has happened. This book focuses on the aftermath of a shooting. I like that. It really works for this book as instantly Officer Ryan Quinn is met and clearly not only trying to convince himself he is not a murderer, but also the tone and the doubting himself is so convincing and brings a bit of humanity to him and instant intrigue as to what really went on, on the fatal day he shot an unarmed black man, but felt his life was in enough jeopardy at the time. I like that it isn’t quite a simple as that. There are complexities to this story that has a black man shot in traffic. It gives a realism to the story.

The book alternates its chapters to bring each character into the story. This really works. The first is Ryan, who then gets interviewed about the incident. The second introduces Jade who has just broken up with her boyfriend and works in Mac’s Tavern and comes across the police and shot man. There is Kelly, who readers meet a little later, who hopes to reunite with his family. It’s well laid out and instantly readers can get a feel for the main characters and the story. It soon becomes clear how all their own lives are interconnected.

Officer Ryan’s world is turned upside down. He was supposed to be planning his wedding to Kaylee, his career was being fast-tracked and now things were not looking so rosy for his present or future.

The contrast between Ryan Quinn, Jade and Kelly is brilliantly done as there is the story from the officer’s point of view, but also his life out of work and then there is the story from Jade’s point of view – the one that even in the UK, we are becoming accustomed to seeing on the news with what happens in the US with the press being around wanting to know what happened and people wanting justice for the person who was shot. Then there’s Kelly’s who shows the scene, again one that we all see on our tv screens of what has now become sadly becoming known as “the usual reaction” and similar, with the prayer vigils, teddy’s, flowers, candles.

The book continues with a shooting of the cop’s house and depicts, what sadly seems to be the cycle of revenge by violence, that is just as sad as the death of Tyrell.

The chapters with Officer Ryan in therapy are also very poignant and adds depth to his character.

Part Two of the book takes the story to the aftermath of the trial of Ryan Quinn. The format is the same as part 1 and there is still the emotion, but the story takes the characters even further and there are some unexpected turns of events and I was still hooked, as I am sure others will be too. This second and final part is as well written and as well-paced as the first part. The twists and turns keeps it all going very well and it has a good, well-written ending.

The book gives a great insight into the aftermath of American life when a shooting happens and the lives of people. There is a depth throughout this book, with issues people face, lives being complicated. There is emotion and characters to care about. This story is one that I feel anyone reading it will want to read to the end to see how it all concludes. I certainly did. It is an absorbing book and one that I didn’t want to put down.

Whether readers are American or not, this is an important and thought-provoking story that Stephen Clark is telling. I really get the sense that he is telling it like it is. News like this is sometimes international, so no matter where you live in the world, there will be recognisable parts. There will be some parts of the story that are just part and parcel of the character’s day-to-day lives may also be relatable to people, wherever they live. The book, although fiction, fits in well with current affairs from all the different angles.

The book would be great for everyone to read and would be one that would be very good for a book group too as it would really spark conversation about the subject matter raised within this book (so long as it didn’t get too heated of course as civil conversations are always best). ...more

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Jun 14, 2020 Candice rated it really liked it

Published in September of 2019, this book couldn’t be more relevant than it is today. After a young black man is killed by a white cop, the world tries to take matters into their own hands through protests and in some cases, violence. With alternating points of view between the white cop, the victim’s sister and his estranged ex- gang member father, this story visits the crime scene from all angles. The story is heartbreaking and the emotions are strongly felt.

See my full review on my blog.

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About Stephen Clark

Stephen Clark

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Stephen Clark is a former award-winning journalist who served as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and as a politics editor for the Washington, D.C. bureau of FoxNews.com. Stephen grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and now lives in North Jersey with his wife and two kids.