Review – The Brotherhood

Boone Drake’s passionate good-bye kiss, returned with equal fervor by his wife Nikki, carried the promise of an exciting evening. He turned from Nikki and chuckled at his son Josh in the highchair, toddler arms waving frantically, spoon in hand, demanding equal attention. Boone felt happier than he’d ever been, amazed that his love for Nikki and Josh never diminished, just increased.

Within hours the normalcy of Boone’s morning would stand in stark contrast to later bone-chilling events that would jeopardize his career and destroy his personal life.

Thus begins Jerry B. Jenkins new series set in Chicago titled, The Brotherhood, written in “homage to all the cops in my immediate and extended family—and to the city of Chicago,” reports Novel Journey’s  interview with Jenkins.  http://tinyurl.com/67whzyn

It’s the story of a promising rookie cop, considered a probationary officer until he completes eighteen months training with seasoned police officer Jack Keller. Through their close association and Boone’s consistent recognition for sound police work, Keller recognized Boone’s potential. If his application for deputy chief of the Organized Crime Division is approved, he plans to fast-track his young recruit and friend to that division.

Until…the call from the precinct came over Keller’s telephone instead of the car radio. Instead of answering Boone’s “what,” Keller “flipped on the blue lights and siren,” and sped toward St. Luke’s hospital, telling his partner to remain calm, his wife and son were in the emergency room. Where, on his arrival, Boone learned Nikki was in surgery.

Jenkins’ noted co-author of the Left Behind series, new series revolves around a “life-altering tragedy” that brings volatile anger, devastating questions and tough choices to a young Chicago policeman when tragedy strikes.

Characters are well-developed, particularly his spiritual mentor Pastor Sosa. Readers empathize with Boone’s conflict of faith, the result of shifting emotions of loss, bitterness, guilt and grief as Boone struggles to find a “new normal” in a life spun out of control. Where Boone realizes… “God is a God of second chances and can change the hardest heart…forgive the worst of crimes”

Although the story is about police, gangs and subtle romance, it’s not the typical thriller or suspense readers might expect. Instead, the story concerns the bond of brotherhood that fellow officers and believers hold with Christian beliefs well integrated into the story.  My only criticism is with the book’s overly long lead-in to an otherwise excellent developing story.