Official Review: Damage by Bryan Koepke

[Tanaya]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Damage" by Bryan Koepke.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Damage is a short story by Bryan Koepke. It is a part of the Reece Culver thriller series.

The story follows Al Culver, who used to be a police detective. His career ended four years ago when three men beat him with steel pipes. Now he suffers from nerve damage and has to use a cane. His mind often wanders to his days of being a cop and the events surrounding his life-altering injury. He also thinks about when his sons were younger and the early years of his marriage. Currently, he works as a private detective. His assignment is to catch a man in the act of having an affair to make his wife’s case stronger in the divorce trial.

The author does a splendid job of blending the present with the past, as different things in Al’s environment trigger specific memories. The story moves at a slow pace, going step by step through Al’s day. The reader is closely aligned with Al’s movements and thoughts. To this end, the writing is very descriptive. New details are revealed throughout the story about his past. There is a nice, gradual buildup to the point that Al’s past and present collide. Ultimately, it ends on a cliffhanger. The story succeeds in its short length. Even though it is a part of a series, it works well as a standalone story. I was satisfied with what was contained in just these pages.

Al’s character is well developed. At the beginning of the story, he doesn’t recognize himself in the mirror. He sees a much older man with a hump on his back. His memories are described as “some kind of medication” to him. He still has cop-like tendencies but has to deal with the limitations of being a civilian again. He’s clearly in a great deal of pain physically, which is paralleled by his emotional turmoil that unravels as the story progresses. It becomes apparent that he is an adrenaline junkie who desperately misses having a sense of purpose.

There were a few minor errors, like using the word “decent” when it should have been “descent.” Occasionally, there were commas missing in the middle of sentences that are needed to create pauses. In such instances, I had to reread the sentence. Besides that, the story is well written. I enjoyed the gradual plot and character development. The polished manner in which the story jumps around in time was also quite impressive.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was a quick, captivating read with many commendable strengths. If you don’t like police thrillers, then this isn’t the book for you. I’d recommend this book to those who appreciate the craftsmanship of a good short story.

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Damage
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[gali]

Sounds good, though short stories aren't usually my cup of tea. Great review!

[Tanaya]

Thanks. I can understand why. I usually feel iffy about shorter works, but luckily this one didn't disappoint.

[bluemel4]

Another fantastic review. This seems like an interesting introduction to the main character of a longer series.

[Tanaya]

Thanks once again. It was a good sneak peek into the series at large, which includes full-length novels. It's an interesting approach.

[peprica21]

Good review. I am a big fan of thriller mysteries and after reading this, I will have to add to my list. Thanks!

[Tanaya]

Yay! I hope you enjoy it.

[chytach18-]

I like short stories, especially good stories. This one sounds just like that. Great review, Tanaya.

[Tanaya]

Thanks! This was definitely a short story that succeeds in form.

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

Great review, Tanaya! I knew this was going to be an amazing review even before I read it. Am I psychic? No. Your reviews just never disappoint. The story sounds interesting. Do you think it can be read in an hour?

[Tanaya]

Thanks so much, Leon. What a beautiful compliment to wake up to! I would say more like half an hour, depending on one's reading speed.

[bookowlie]

Great review! The short book sounds like a great way for the author to whet a reader's appetite for his full-length books.

[Tanaya]

Thanks. And yep, that's for sure. This strategy was a good idea on the author's part.

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

@Tanaya

I'm not a fast reader, so maybe I'll be able to finish the book just under an hour.

[zeldas_lullaby]

Great review! All of that in a short story? The author sounds really talented!!