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Making the Grade
It's the year 2000 and rookie detective Shannon Lynch is assigned to a major case with two men who resent her having been promoted. Then her past catches up to her in ways she could never have predicted. Is Shannon tough enough to overcome a killer who’s out for revenge as well as colleagues who aren’t sure she can be trusted?
252 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Peter G. Pollak
11 books82 followersI'm passionate about writing stories that readers don't want to put down.
Missing--my 7th novel, a mystery featuring a female private detective is now available on Amazon in print and digital versins.
My prior novels are:
* The Expendable Man (2011)--a thriller
* Making the Grade (2012)--a police procedural
* Last Stop on Desolation Ridge (2013)--a suspense
* In the Game (2013)--another procedural
* House Divided (2015)--a political thriller
* Inauguration Day (2017)--a political thriller
The summer of 2020 I published a memoir entitled "Left to Right." It's the story of my transition from a student leftist in the 1960s to a conservative in the 21st century.
To learn more about my future projects, sign up for my newsletter on my website @ petergpollak.com.
Missing--my 7th novel, a mystery featuring a female private detective is now available on Amazon in print and digital versins.
My prior novels are:
* The Expendable Man (2011)--a thriller
* Making the Grade (2012)--a police procedural
* Last Stop on Desolation Ridge (2013)--a suspense
* In the Game (2013)--another procedural
* House Divided (2015)--a political thriller
* Inauguration Day (2017)--a political thriller
The summer of 2020 I published a memoir entitled "Left to Right." It's the story of my transition from a student leftist in the 1960s to a conservative in the 21st century.
To learn more about my future projects, sign up for my newsletter on my website @ petergpollak.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 10, 2012
Tough Police And Serious Criminals
Ever wondered what it is like to be a rooky police detective? What if you were the first woman detective on staff? What if your first case was a no breaks murder by a bona fide psychopath? Shannon Lynch is on her first day of duty as a detective and she immediately feels that her new workmates don’t really trust her and won't until she proves herself. She knows this is a serious job and she is determined to meet the standards. Her new boss, Lieutenant Keller, says he at first will not appoint Shannon to a partner, but attach her to two other detectives, Al Joiner and Chuck Miles, to basically just observe. Shannon is not impressed and Joiner and Miles’ reception of her leaves her even more peeved. Peter Pollak has written a novel that grips the reader right from the start guiding them through the working of a case that takes the police to standard and not so standard territory.
This is a ‘hard boiled’ police yarn ideal for any reader wanting to be entertained. While Pollak’s approach to police work is standard, giving us some idea of the routine of a police job, the events are hardly standard and are narrated in an exciting style. Pollak surprises us, shocks us and keeps us on tenterhooks. Most of the book is written from Shannon’s point of view, however, at key points we also see into the lives and thoughts of other characters. This gives variety and depth.
From the start we gain a liking for Shannon and in time we come to understand Joiner and Miles. These characters ring true and are well crafted. While the style is ‘hard boiled’ we still feel that Shannon and her partners, and even the perpetrator are real. They are not in any way larger than life. Shannon slowly evolves over time developing into a more complex view of her work and life. Joiner and Miles also change, though to a lesser extent.
Making The Grade is chiefly about success. What is success? How do we get there? What should be our mental attitude to both success and failure? So much of modern society revolves around this issue and the topic arises early, when we are young. We may consider ourselves beyond that but we all have to take tests, keep our jobs, be accountable to our friends and family.
Indeed a second issue is friends in trouble. Some people are pure users and others are not. How do we decide who to help and who not? Pollak does not give us any pat answers, but instead chooses to raise questions in our mind. Life is never easy to navigate.
Closely connected to friendship is the issue of loyalty. Once again it is recognised that life is complex and there are no easy answers.
As I have indicated the book has a lot to do with a woman trying to make it in a man’s world. Feminists will not be offended by the novel, but Pollak is not issuing standard polemics. Pollak recognises that there certainly IS a male power system, but once again life is seen to be complex. This is definitely not a cut out detective story with cut out opinion. Shannon is a feisty capable woman, but she does shed a few tears (though she certainly struggles for control with fortitude). She never was and never will be a stay at home with the kiddies ‘little woman’.
Pollak has got the psychology of his novel right. Most of all this is not your standard out there over the top psycho. The killer could easily pass for any man in the street, except of course when he is in the act of actually killing someone. Martha Stout is a psychologist who is successful both as an academic and in a flourishing clinical practice and her book The Sociopath Next Door makes it clear that these people are very good at appearing normal and even helpful. Indeed a psychopath could be living next door to you and you wouldn’t even know it. Pollak’s killer certainly fits this picture. The details I have mentioned and others make it clear that the author has certainly done his research on this one.
The law is of course an institution of society and Pollak invites some contemplation of the matter. What is the purpose of the law? The philosopher Michel Foucault has challenged the law, saying it is another power system used to manipulate the masses in such a way that ruling elites are reinforced. Would we, however, survive without it? Once we step out of our comfortable lounge room into the hustle of everyday living we may learn that life can be unpleasant, dangerous. Even the ‘safety’ of our homes is not an assured fact.
Close to the discussion of the law and society is that of bureaucracy. Organizations certainly can put ridiculous restraints on people, but then again some order is needed to make systems work.
At 255 pages this book is excellent for a weekend read on the patio. It is interesting and entertaining, with some excitement and characters that are believable. Making The Grade can be read purely as light entertainment, but also has some depth if you care to look for it. Don’t get me wrong: it is not a boring philosophic tome. All in all the book is a great read, especially for those interested in police yarns.
Ever wondered what it is like to be a rooky police detective? What if you were the first woman detective on staff? What if your first case was a no breaks murder by a bona fide psychopath? Shannon Lynch is on her first day of duty as a detective and she immediately feels that her new workmates don’t really trust her and won't until she proves herself. She knows this is a serious job and she is determined to meet the standards. Her new boss, Lieutenant Keller, says he at first will not appoint Shannon to a partner, but attach her to two other detectives, Al Joiner and Chuck Miles, to basically just observe. Shannon is not impressed and Joiner and Miles’ reception of her leaves her even more peeved. Peter Pollak has written a novel that grips the reader right from the start guiding them through the working of a case that takes the police to standard and not so standard territory.
This is a ‘hard boiled’ police yarn ideal for any reader wanting to be entertained. While Pollak’s approach to police work is standard, giving us some idea of the routine of a police job, the events are hardly standard and are narrated in an exciting style. Pollak surprises us, shocks us and keeps us on tenterhooks. Most of the book is written from Shannon’s point of view, however, at key points we also see into the lives and thoughts of other characters. This gives variety and depth.
From the start we gain a liking for Shannon and in time we come to understand Joiner and Miles. These characters ring true and are well crafted. While the style is ‘hard boiled’ we still feel that Shannon and her partners, and even the perpetrator are real. They are not in any way larger than life. Shannon slowly evolves over time developing into a more complex view of her work and life. Joiner and Miles also change, though to a lesser extent.
Making The Grade is chiefly about success. What is success? How do we get there? What should be our mental attitude to both success and failure? So much of modern society revolves around this issue and the topic arises early, when we are young. We may consider ourselves beyond that but we all have to take tests, keep our jobs, be accountable to our friends and family.
Indeed a second issue is friends in trouble. Some people are pure users and others are not. How do we decide who to help and who not? Pollak does not give us any pat answers, but instead chooses to raise questions in our mind. Life is never easy to navigate.
Closely connected to friendship is the issue of loyalty. Once again it is recognised that life is complex and there are no easy answers.
As I have indicated the book has a lot to do with a woman trying to make it in a man’s world. Feminists will not be offended by the novel, but Pollak is not issuing standard polemics. Pollak recognises that there certainly IS a male power system, but once again life is seen to be complex. This is definitely not a cut out detective story with cut out opinion. Shannon is a feisty capable woman, but she does shed a few tears (though she certainly struggles for control with fortitude). She never was and never will be a stay at home with the kiddies ‘little woman’.
Pollak has got the psychology of his novel right. Most of all this is not your standard out there over the top psycho. The killer could easily pass for any man in the street, except of course when he is in the act of actually killing someone. Martha Stout is a psychologist who is successful both as an academic and in a flourishing clinical practice and her book The Sociopath Next Door makes it clear that these people are very good at appearing normal and even helpful. Indeed a psychopath could be living next door to you and you wouldn’t even know it. Pollak’s killer certainly fits this picture. The details I have mentioned and others make it clear that the author has certainly done his research on this one.
The law is of course an institution of society and Pollak invites some contemplation of the matter. What is the purpose of the law? The philosopher Michel Foucault has challenged the law, saying it is another power system used to manipulate the masses in such a way that ruling elites are reinforced. Would we, however, survive without it? Once we step out of our comfortable lounge room into the hustle of everyday living we may learn that life can be unpleasant, dangerous. Even the ‘safety’ of our homes is not an assured fact.
Close to the discussion of the law and society is that of bureaucracy. Organizations certainly can put ridiculous restraints on people, but then again some order is needed to make systems work.
At 255 pages this book is excellent for a weekend read on the patio. It is interesting and entertaining, with some excitement and characters that are believable. Making The Grade can be read purely as light entertainment, but also has some depth if you care to look for it. Don’t get me wrong: it is not a boring philosophic tome. All in all the book is a great read, especially for those interested in police yarns.
July 13, 2013
Another great offering by Peter Pollak. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I just read his first book
and loved it and now have read this one as fast as I could because I couldn't make myself put it down.
Albany, NY police detective Shannon Lynch has just become the first female detective in Albany. The unwelcome mat is put out for her by the other cops and even the secretary in the detective bureau. She is also put on a murder investigation after a high-powered owner of an ad agency is murdered and raped in her own home.
It's hard for Shannon, who has been a cop for years, to be seen and not heard but gradually we see her stand strong and come into her own so that the other detectives have to grudgingly admit she's a good investigator.
There is another woman murdered and soon Shannon is shocked to find that the killer of both women is actually a man she once humiliated and that he has been seen prowling outside her apartment building.
I like Shannon a lot and hope the author will build a series around her. I would love to see more of her growth as a detective and watch her solve more cases.
and loved it and now have read this one as fast as I could because I couldn't make myself put it down.Albany, NY police detective Shannon Lynch has just become the first female detective in Albany. The unwelcome mat is put out for her by the other cops and even the secretary in the detective bureau. She is also put on a murder investigation after a high-powered owner of an ad agency is murdered and raped in her own home.
It's hard for Shannon, who has been a cop for years, to be seen and not heard but gradually we see her stand strong and come into her own so that the other detectives have to grudgingly admit she's a good investigator.
There is another woman murdered and soon Shannon is shocked to find that the killer of both women is actually a man she once humiliated and that he has been seen prowling outside her apartment building.
I like Shannon a lot and hope the author will build a series around her. I would love to see more of her growth as a detective and watch her solve more cases.
July 9, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. I hope Shannon Lynch will become a series. However, I found that it was unrealistic that the detectives worked regular hours following a murder. My cousin is a detective with the local police force and they work 23/7 following a murder until either the murder is captured or the leads are gone. Other than that plotwise I was kept guessing who the murderer really was until near the end.
July 5, 2012
While I have not read Peter's first book, this book was great!!! I would love to see a follow up book to this one. The Shannon Lynch character was awesome!!! I had a hard time putting the book down. So please go check this book out. A definite must read.
June 13, 2021
Interesting story about a newly minted detective. Strange bit of ending though for the first case she happens to be involved in. You might want to read it just for that bit of strangeness, maybe.
April 22, 2014
It is the first day on the job for rookie detective Shannon Lynch, and her first case is…the murder of a rape victim.
Of course, Shannon is not being taken seriously by the other guys, although she didn’t exactly get treated badly by them either. She didn’t get hassled with male, chauvinistic attitude. I think that would’ve made it more authentic. Still, with everyone treating her like a 12-year old girl, I looked forward to her proving to these guys that she could do it. You root for Shannon even though she was “wet behind the ears.” Girl power, baby!
Shannon was an observant and studious character that still had a LOT to learn. For the case, she focused a lot on the left-handed theory and notes that on every potential suspect (there were a ton of interviews.) I did feel that Shannon could’ve been stronger as a central character. Perhaps there were a few too many minor characters with all the interrogations.
This book was a quick and easy read. Written passively, the story digressed from a slow beginning into a thick and heart-racing plot that suspends the reader as the killer is finally drawn out about half way through the book. Once you get through all the paper work in the beginning, you’ll want to stick around to see what happens next.
Pollak has a knack for story-telling, and, it is no doubt that he has the potential to be an even greater writer.
Of course, Shannon is not being taken seriously by the other guys, although she didn’t exactly get treated badly by them either. She didn’t get hassled with male, chauvinistic attitude. I think that would’ve made it more authentic. Still, with everyone treating her like a 12-year old girl, I looked forward to her proving to these guys that she could do it. You root for Shannon even though she was “wet behind the ears.” Girl power, baby!
Shannon was an observant and studious character that still had a LOT to learn. For the case, she focused a lot on the left-handed theory and notes that on every potential suspect (there were a ton of interviews.) I did feel that Shannon could’ve been stronger as a central character. Perhaps there were a few too many minor characters with all the interrogations.
This book was a quick and easy read. Written passively, the story digressed from a slow beginning into a thick and heart-racing plot that suspends the reader as the killer is finally drawn out about half way through the book. Once you get through all the paper work in the beginning, you’ll want to stick around to see what happens next.
Pollak has a knack for story-telling, and, it is no doubt that he has the potential to be an even greater writer.
Read
May 13, 2012I'm the author. So I'm not rating my own book, but I welcome ratings and reviews by anyone who likes a good read. This is a 50,000 word police procedural that takes place prior to 9/11. Remember the days before IPhones and IPads? Remember when women still had to prove themselves on traditional male jobs? Then you'll probably dig Shannon Lynch's story as she tries to make the grade.
Merged review:
The is the paperback edition of Making the Grade. I don't rate my own books, but encourage readers to do so.
Merged review:
The is the paperback edition of Making the Grade. I don't rate my own books, but encourage readers to do so.
February 5, 2016
Shannon Lynch, newly promoted as Albany’s first female detective, plays a tough game against the hostility of her two male partners as they tackle a major murder case. This was a book hard to put down from page 1. We feel Shannon’s earnest drive to succeed and fear that she’ll fail, then she makes a mistake that costs her the trust of her colleagues. As they track down the suspect, Shannon finds herself the target of his sadistic homicidal intentions. A page turner to the end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews