Ole Man on the Porch: The Trooper

by Bryan Gregory, Levi Powell (Illustrator)

Typical cop stories or blood and guts? … No way! Bryan Gregory takes the reader much further than that in Ole Man on the The Trooper. Feelings are seldom expressed or addressed publicly by the law enforcement community, but with a refreshing and easy-to-read prose, he takes his audience on an emotional roller coaster of his career encounters that is seldom seen. Although he includes a gracious plenty of comical episodes enhanced by cartoonist Levi Powell (also a retired North Carolina State Highway Patrol member), Gregory pulls no punches with himself or with others. Without hesitation, he admits his weaknesses. Without malice, he shows us ours too. He speaks to issues that we’ve become complacent with and largely ignored. From experience and the refuge of retirement he can do that. He can be straight forward. He can be daring. He does, and in Ole Man on the Porch … He is.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, True Crime, Autobiography

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2006

Reviews

[douglas payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Cop Story

As former law enforcement myself I enjoyed this book immensely. It is possible to bring the excitement, humor and humanity of a career as a cop to print without profanity and still be hold a readers attention page after page. Makes you thankful that people of this caliber choose law enforcement and understand why you were given that ticket.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, cartoons funny too

Interesting read. Since I grew up in Charlotte, this was extremely funny. The last, about the young woman, is sad.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories are interesting. I had to rate this book so low because it needs a lot of editing.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and not so light look at the life and times of a North Carolina State Trooper. Some incidents are more on the dark side.

I liked that Trooper Gregory often let people off the hook; it would be great if more people didn't see everything as all black and white and understood human frailties.

Some of the pranks Bryan played on his fellow troopers were quite funny. Others however, I thought were a little mean. Such as the rookie trooper who got turned around and approached Trooper Gregory (Bryan) for help. Gregory sent him the wrong way. The young trooper had already been a nervous wreck.

The ending was a bit of a soapbox.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have lived in North Carolina and met a few State Troopers, the impression left me with the pride they felt in their state and the organization that they represented was incredible. I have also lived in other states and met other officers and did not get that same impression. I really enjoyed the humor in this book and was reminded of one officer that I knew that loved to keep things hopping. By the way I still love that guy. This book shows us that even through they wear a uniform and represent the law, they are still human. Like to laugh, to love, and have a heart but still implement the strong arm of the law. Enjoyable reading.

[Robin Halvorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly very entertaining but it is easy to tell that this is a self published book which could of benefited from an editor. It was funny and I read it all but some of the stories didn't fit, some didn't go anywhere and some you just have to wonder what the author was thinking. For all its lack of polish and minor faults it was a good read.

[sarah parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially liked this book because of my short background in law enforcement and being from the same area. It was like being in the car with this officer. His sense of humor is refreshing and his sense of integrity is rare. I have a high respect of NC Troopers after working in the same circle with them. This book offers a peek behind the scenes of that life.

[Deborah (LoveToReadRomance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when it first came out, I got so engrossed in it that I read the whole thing in one sitting. Then of course there were parts of it I had to go back and re-read, it had me laughing it had me crying. You will love this one!

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not well written

The book had the potential of being a good read, but it's obvious the writer is an amateur. Everything that was spoken was in italics. Way too many separated paragraphs. Wrong words capitalized. It wasn't proofed before publication.

[Barbara Henriksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so hard to keep my attention. After I got past his reason for being a Trooper I was hopeful it would get better. The words in the book as I read them were really slow maybe it was me the reader. I really wanted this book to be more than just happy book.

[Pooky · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so terrible that I could not finish it. Without a doubt the most boring thing I have ever read.

[Ruth Casey May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

Great Read!

I really enjoyed reading this author, his stories were interesting and very well written. I hope he writes some more!