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River City Crime #2
Heroes Often Fail
Six-year-old Amy Dugger is snatched in broad daylight. River City's finest begin the desperate and arduous search for her kidnapper. Detective John Tower, Detective Ray Browning, Officer Stefan Kopriva, Officer Katie MacLeod--each holds a piece of the puzzle. Whoever can fit it all together will be Amy's--and all of River City's--hero. They must find Amy's kidnapper. Before it's too late.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
305 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Frank Zafiro
143 books96 followersA former police officer, Frank writes gritty crime fiction from both sides of the badge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 6, 2008
HEROES OFTEN FAIL (Police Procedural-Fic. City-Cont) – VG
Zafiro, Frank – 2nd in series
Aisling Press, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1934677167
First Sentence: It was a secret place.
The members of the River City Police Department desperately search for a six-year-old girl who has been kidnapped in broad daylight.
Zafiro has been compared, including by me, to McBain in his writing about an ensemble group of police. However, his books are darker and more realistic than McBain, but with somewhat less individual character development. Because of that, I should recommend reading “Under a Raging Moon” first. Even so, I did get to care about the characters; becoming angry for those whom I felt were treated unfairly by their fellow officers. The story is very well written and very painful to read as it deals with child kidnapping and molestation, yet it makes its point. There is a wonderful interview of the author at the end of the book that is well worth reading.
Zafiro, Frank – 2nd in series
Aisling Press, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1934677167
First Sentence: It was a secret place.
The members of the River City Police Department desperately search for a six-year-old girl who has been kidnapped in broad daylight.
Zafiro has been compared, including by me, to McBain in his writing about an ensemble group of police. However, his books are darker and more realistic than McBain, but with somewhat less individual character development. Because of that, I should recommend reading “Under a Raging Moon” first. Even so, I did get to care about the characters; becoming angry for those whom I felt were treated unfairly by their fellow officers. The story is very well written and very painful to read as it deals with child kidnapping and molestation, yet it makes its point. There is a wonderful interview of the author at the end of the book that is well worth reading.
March 4, 2025
5 Stars. One of the most real Cop books I’ve ever read. Two brutal crimes that are all too believable. The toll on the police horrific though worse for the victims families.The police work was written very well. The characters very well developed and written. Zafiro is excellent. Waumbaugh excellent.
April 2, 2023
Not my cup of tea
If you like little girls being raped and murdered and babies being killed you can say this was a good book. It was written pretty well, but went off on unnecessary tangents occasionally. The editing was better than most books but still had errors.. The dates go from 1995 to 2005 when it should have still been 1995.
If you like little girls being raped and murdered and babies being killed you can say this was a good book. It was written pretty well, but went off on unnecessary tangents occasionally. The editing was better than most books but still had errors.. The dates go from 1995 to 2005 when it should have still been 1995.
October 15, 2021
I learned from this book that I expect something positive to come out of books that I read. Not here; things go from bad to worse and isn't that swell. The writing is fine except using proper tense, plural vs. singular, articles are at times as if written in someone's second language. If you enjoy endings like mistakes were made so everyone dies, then this book might be for you. Oh, and not necessarily mistakes by those who got the blame. You know, kind of like real life on bad days. Not my cup of earl grey.
September 20, 2023
Very dark, very sad - but I think that is what police work often is? A kidnapped child is always a hard topic, and in this case, with the way it went, I could not help but feel sorry for the young officer in the end.
Very well written, this story grabs the reader (well it did with me at least) and drags them right into the story, with the addition of knowing how the characters felt all the time.
I think I will need to get the other books in this series!
Very well written, this story grabs the reader (well it did with me at least) and drags them right into the story, with the addition of knowing how the characters felt all the time.
I think I will need to get the other books in this series!
March 24, 2021
Good Read
I must say this was a good read.
However, where was the proofreading done and at what time of day/night ??? Way TOO MANY errors not caught.
Toward the end of book there was some unnecessary conversation.just totally random...
Basically this was written like a true police story and though I saw where it would lead was nonetheless hard.
Keep writing!!!
I must say this was a good read.
However, where was the proofreading done and at what time of day/night ??? Way TOO MANY errors not caught.
Toward the end of book there was some unnecessary conversation.just totally random...
Basically this was written like a true police story and though I saw where it would lead was nonetheless hard.
Keep writing!!!
January 18, 2022
Sicko
There are sickos in this cruel world but there are lots of good guys too. All humans make mistakes, but everyone wants to blame them like they should have been perfect. Even heroes aren't perfect.
There are sickos in this cruel world but there are lots of good guys too. All humans make mistakes, but everyone wants to blame them like they should have been perfect. Even heroes aren't perfect.
June 23, 2023
When a six-year-old girl is kidnapped off a residential street in broad daylight, every cop in River City must rise to heroic levels. Detectives scramble to solve the kidnapping. Patrol officers comb the streets looking for the missing girl. Racing against time, every cop on the job focuses on finding her. Before it is too late. Before they fail her.
This could have been so much more but unfortunately I found it lacking. It seems to be more about how people all make mistakes and how we fail rather than really getting into the characters and the actual story. It was also very obvious, from very early on, who the kidnappers were. I don't recommend this book, there is much better out there.
This could have been so much more but unfortunately I found it lacking. It seems to be more about how people all make mistakes and how we fail rather than really getting into the characters and the actual story. It was also very obvious, from very early on, who the kidnappers were. I don't recommend this book, there is much better out there.
April 12, 2023
Good book but a lot of profanity.
Liked the book. Very sad. Did not care for the profanity throughout the book. I didn’t feel that it added anything to the story. Probably won’t be reading more from this author because of the language. I don’t feel a need to use that language and didn’t appreciate reading it. Just my opinion.
Liked the book. Very sad. Did not care for the profanity throughout the book. I didn’t feel that it added anything to the story. Probably won’t be reading more from this author because of the language. I don’t feel a need to use that language and didn’t appreciate reading it. Just my opinion.
May 1, 2023
The title says it all
As my tears are flowing, I still can't bear to think about the horrors that can happen in this world we live in. I truly could not put this book down until I read it completely. The Author is very talented with his writing and yes I'll be reading the rest of his series.
As my tears are flowing, I still can't bear to think about the horrors that can happen in this world we live in. I truly could not put this book down until I read it completely. The Author is very talented with his writing and yes I'll be reading the rest of his series.
June 5, 2023
Dark days and nights
This is the most depressing novel ( of about 40) I've read so far this year. There were places I didn't get the police jargon but it was the constant abuse, creepy characters and sad developments throughout that turned me off. I kept waiting for some redeeming turn of events but it didn't happen.
This is the most depressing novel ( of about 40) I've read so far this year. There were places I didn't get the police jargon but it was the constant abuse, creepy characters and sad developments throughout that turned me off. I kept waiting for some redeeming turn of events but it didn't happen.
June 26, 2023
Police do not always get it right
This is a very heartbreaking story. What it boils down to is that we are all human. We make mistakes. With law enforcements mistakes could lead to a death and the guilt overwhelms them. Can they move on when they realize it is their fault the child has died?
This is a very heartbreaking story. What it boils down to is that we are all human. We make mistakes. With law enforcements mistakes could lead to a death and the guilt overwhelms them. Can they move on when they realize it is their fault the child has died?
May 28, 2021
An interesting story a with sad ending
The story takes you from the initial capture of Amy through her dying to the final capture of the two criminals and all the suffering of the various police officers.
The story takes you from the initial capture of Amy through her dying to the final capture of the two criminals and all the suffering of the various police officers.
June 3, 2021
Excellent Read!
I was captured from the first chapter. The dialogue was good, the characters were as if I could see them. I highly recommend this! CAUTION: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. This is a real portrayal of what happens to children who are abused.
I was captured from the first chapter. The dialogue was good, the characters were as if I could see them. I highly recommend this! CAUTION: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. This is a real portrayal of what happens to children who are abused.
December 8, 2021
Totally Spellbinding reading!
I totally enjoyed this book. Everything about it was captivating and I found it hard to stop reading. I Liked the character interaction. Sometimes you had the feeling you were right in the story. Fully recommend reading this book.
I totally enjoyed this book. Everything about it was captivating and I found it hard to stop reading. I Liked the character interaction. Sometimes you had the feeling you were right in the story. Fully recommend reading this book.
Read
June 23, 2022Just finished this book...Can't wait to start #3......You can tell the author was a policeman in real life at one time....Procedures, language, thoughts, etc all ring true....An excellent series....Love seeing a lot of the same detectives interspersed throughout each story line.....
April 2, 2023
Well-written, sad story of humans not trusting their instincts, and others following protocol instead of exploring all possibilities. And I really thought we'd see a suicide at the end, but thankfully, no.
April 3, 2023
Police Work is Tough
Realistic novel of police doing their thankless jobs. Shows how police are faced with difficult victims, suspicious, uncooperative public and sensationalizing press, in addition to internal politics. Hard book to put down.
Realistic novel of police doing their thankless jobs. Shows how police are faced with difficult victims, suspicious, uncooperative public and sensationalizing press, in addition to internal politics. Hard book to put down.
April 5, 2023
very hard to read
I was disappointed in this book. It had graphic passages about child abuse that I simple could not read. The author could have gotten that message across without the graphics. I will not be reading any other of this author’s books.
I was disappointed in this book. It had graphic passages about child abuse that I simple could not read. The author could have gotten that message across without the graphics. I will not be reading any other of this author’s books.
April 8, 2023
This story grabs you from the beginning. The cops are vigilant in trying to find out who had kidnapped a 6yr old girl. I found it a little bit hard to keep track of all the characters and that is why I gave it 4 stars. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.
April 11, 2023
Too dark
Too depressing- police all seemed too self serving and not connected with the people they were serving. Except for the little girls there was not one character that was likable. Nothing redeeming in the books. Figured out the ending early on so skimmed nearly 3/4.
Too depressing- police all seemed too self serving and not connected with the people they were serving. Except for the little girls there was not one character that was likable. Nothing redeeming in the books. Figured out the ending early on so skimmed nearly 3/4.
May 14, 2023
Nobody's Perfect
Captivated from the first page. Realistic procedures, believable characters with distinct personalities. Brilliant character interaction. You can tell the book is written from experience and shows the tragedy police have to deal with in their daily lives.
Captivated from the first page. Realistic procedures, believable characters with distinct personalities. Brilliant character interaction. You can tell the book is written from experience and shows the tragedy police have to deal with in their daily lives.
May 31, 2023
Not the ending I thought
Sometimes, a book ends not with the ending you think, or even disappointing, just an end. It's a book like you're watching a TV series... in fact these books would make a good police TV series.
Sometimes, a book ends not with the ending you think, or even disappointing, just an end. It's a book like you're watching a TV series... in fact these books would make a good police TV series.
September 1, 2023
Sadly, bad things happen in life. Unfortunately not every story can have a happy ending. This is one of them.
While I gave it a 5 star rating I did wish for it to have a happier ending...but it was not to be.
While I gave it a 5 star rating I did wish for it to have a happier ending...but it was not to be.
May 29, 2021
Profanity
Not interested in reading a book filled with profanity. And yeah I don’t care if you think it’s how “ real “ cops talk.
Not interested in reading a book filled with profanity. And yeah I don’t care if you think it’s how “ real “ cops talk.
February 19, 2022
I forgot about this book on my kindle. Glad I picked it up again but it is a book written from experience and shows the tragedy police deal with every day.
April 26, 2023
Stark and Poignant
The writer certainly knows how to drag a reader by the labelled into a serious plot. I need to read more Zafiro.
The writer certainly knows how to drag a reader by the labelled into a serious plot. I need to read more Zafiro.
May 29, 2023
This one, while well-written, was a little hard for me to read. Very sobering. I rate it 4.3 stars.
May 31, 2023
Not the ending I thought. These books would make a good police TV series
August 30, 2023
This is a very good read. Chilling story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews