Official Review: Damage by Bryan Koepke
Posted: 26 Sep 2015, 11:53
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Damage" by Bryan Koepke.]
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
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.
******
Damage
View: on Bookshelves
Like Tanaya's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
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.
******
Damage
View: on Bookshelves
Like Tanaya's review? Post a comment saying so!
