From the start I knew I was taking a huge chance, but I did it anyway. In the opening chapter of Dear Crossing, I buried my protagonist in a hole so deep it took a lot of painstaking work to shovel him out. The risk was whether anyone would venture past the first few pages to follow a lead character with behavior as inexcusable as Ray Schiller’s.

In his debut appearance, Ray, a Minnesota cop, is introduced in a jail cell, following a drunken bar fight. No, he wasn't the arresting officer; he was a participant. And that’s just the start! Not only has Ray belted a bar patron, he doesn’t regret it. In fact, when confronted by Chief Woody Newell, he unleashes a barrage of surly, insolent dialogue that makes even me shudder.

I enjoy a good challenge, but after “burying” Ray so deep, I worried that I’d never be able to haul him out of that hole alive and well—“well” being a relative term of course. Now, with the book receiving widespread, enthusiastic acceptance, I believe that, in addition to the central murder mystery, it’s Ray Schiller’s flaws, in part, that keep folks eagerly turning the pages and cheering him on. He’s just like everyone else—fighting the good fight and often losing. In the long run, it’s his refusal to stop trying that makes him admirable.

Regardless, there was the risk that some readers wouldn’t stick around for Ray Schiller’s positive, personal evolution. As you’ll see below (cut and pasted), the risk of his being written off is all too real.

1.0 out of 5 stars Dropped before reading through the first chapter, April 16, 2014 By  Annie - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Dear Crossing (The Ray Schiller Series) (Kindle Edition) Okay, I hate, and I mean hate, leaving a book unread. I will make an exception...for this one. I disliked the main character, Ray, from the moment he was introduced. He personifies all the stereotypes....rude, rough, self-centered, mean spirited cop. Not my cuppa. Sory.
The review doesn’t upset or surprise me, because the reviewer is absolutely right; Ray comes off as all those things. My regret is that she stopped reading before Ray could redeem himself.
Out of curiosity, that leads me to ask for your personal opinions:
     1) Have you ever been put off by a novel’s protagonist? Who was it? Why?     2) What kept you reading…or did you?     3)  If you quit, at what point did you give it the old heave-ho?     4)   If you kept going, what was it that convinced you to finish?       5)  If you stuck with it, did your feelings about the character change by the end?  
Opinions are for sharing...at least here they are.  Please, leave your comments!  I'm anxious to hear what you think. Thanks!