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River City Crime #5
The Menace of the Years
It is December 1999, and the spectre of Y2K hangs over the police department.More menacing yet, officers respond to a hate-fueled home invasion robbery. As the entirety of the River City Police Department prepare for possible chaos when the calendar turns over to the year 2000, they also must stop a gang of white supremacists who plan to use that same chaos to mask their biggest crime yet.Meanwhile, Officer Katie MacLeod falls under the suspicion of Internal Affairs. Officer Thomas Chisolm tries to keep the remnants of his platoon intact. Officer Connor O'Sullivan mourns the loss of his partner while he tries to care for the fallen officer's family. In spite of these significant, real life struggles on and off the job, the men and women of RCPD strive to stop the brutal robberies, to do what is right, and to survive.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2018
38 people are currently reading
17 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 30, 2018
As The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel begins it is December 27, 1999. The coming millennium means the threat of the Y2K phenomenon. For the men and women who serve and protect the citizens of River City, they are expected to do more with less. The budgetary climate is not only affecting morale, it is a having a negative impact on their police work.
It all begins with Officer Katie MacLeod on patrol at 3:26 in the morning. While her new in car computer system is proving to be far more difficult than it is worth, the radios still work very well. She and several other units are dispatched on a home invasion burglary call. Katie MacLeod arrives first on the scene and due to violent circumstances underway on her arrival, she is forced to confront the suspects on her own.
In the wake of the aftermath, she is able to detain and arrest one suspect though three others get away. Part of the reason they escaped was the weather which slowed down some of the responding units as well as the ongoing manpower issues on the graveyard shift. If their immediate escape into the night is not bad enough, the fleeing suspects get an additional head start thanks to budgetary procedures that mandate detectives are not immediately called to the scene so as to avoid overtime pay. While the street patrol units will make every effort to start the case against the other suspects, much of that work will have to wait till normal business hours and the detectives that come on duty then.
That case and the resulting investigation as well as several other issues and cases are story plot points and the backdrop for The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel. Fifth in the series that began with the very good, Under A Raging Moon, the latest read continues to chronicle the lives on and off duty of the men and women of the River City Police Department. Unlike some of the other books in the series, the focus here is more aimed towards their on duty situations with minimal detail given to their private lives. As also goes on with the other books, some things are cast through the lens of suspects as well as family members involved in various cases. Readers see what the characters see and experience as the read shifts across the last few days of 1999 into those first few hours of 2000.
Reminiscent of the “Old Hill Street Blues” television series, these books, as well as the numerous short story collections, showcase the job and the lives of all those involved. The author has a decade of experience as a police officer and uses that knowledge to illustrate the issues that police officers face on daily basis. Though the book is set in 1999, the same issues of budgetary problems, racism, and the appropriate use of force, among others, are just as relevant to the world of today. While The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel is the fifth in the series and does include some brief mentions of earlier events in the series, this book could easily be read by those who have not experienced the previous very good reads.
The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel is strongly recommended as are the other books in this series. Those books are Heroes Often Fail, Beneath A Weeping Sky, and leading to the one right before this one, And Every Man Has To Die.
The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel
Frank Zafiro
September 2018
ASIN: B07GF9BBYL
eBook only
573 Pages
$4.99
Digital ARC supplied by the author with no expectation of review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
It all begins with Officer Katie MacLeod on patrol at 3:26 in the morning. While her new in car computer system is proving to be far more difficult than it is worth, the radios still work very well. She and several other units are dispatched on a home invasion burglary call. Katie MacLeod arrives first on the scene and due to violent circumstances underway on her arrival, she is forced to confront the suspects on her own.
In the wake of the aftermath, she is able to detain and arrest one suspect though three others get away. Part of the reason they escaped was the weather which slowed down some of the responding units as well as the ongoing manpower issues on the graveyard shift. If their immediate escape into the night is not bad enough, the fleeing suspects get an additional head start thanks to budgetary procedures that mandate detectives are not immediately called to the scene so as to avoid overtime pay. While the street patrol units will make every effort to start the case against the other suspects, much of that work will have to wait till normal business hours and the detectives that come on duty then.
That case and the resulting investigation as well as several other issues and cases are story plot points and the backdrop for The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel. Fifth in the series that began with the very good, Under A Raging Moon, the latest read continues to chronicle the lives on and off duty of the men and women of the River City Police Department. Unlike some of the other books in the series, the focus here is more aimed towards their on duty situations with minimal detail given to their private lives. As also goes on with the other books, some things are cast through the lens of suspects as well as family members involved in various cases. Readers see what the characters see and experience as the read shifts across the last few days of 1999 into those first few hours of 2000.
Reminiscent of the “Old Hill Street Blues” television series, these books, as well as the numerous short story collections, showcase the job and the lives of all those involved. The author has a decade of experience as a police officer and uses that knowledge to illustrate the issues that police officers face on daily basis. Though the book is set in 1999, the same issues of budgetary problems, racism, and the appropriate use of force, among others, are just as relevant to the world of today. While The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel is the fifth in the series and does include some brief mentions of earlier events in the series, this book could easily be read by those who have not experienced the previous very good reads.
The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel is strongly recommended as are the other books in this series. Those books are Heroes Often Fail, Beneath A Weeping Sky, and leading to the one right before this one, And Every Man Has To Die.
The Menace of the Years: A River City Novel
Frank Zafiro
September 2018
ASIN: B07GF9BBYL
eBook only
573 Pages
$4.99
Digital ARC supplied by the author with no expectation of review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
December 28, 2019
As an avid fan of Frank Zafiro’s River City police crime novels, it was torturous to wait years for the latest installment in the series, The Menace of the Years. Torturous, but acceptable. However, my waiting several months for the perfect opportunity to enjoy the book was unforgivable. In the movie, Sideways, a character is waiting for a “special occasion” to open his prized bottle of wine. He is told, “The day you open a '61 Cheval Blanc, that's the special occasion.” The same is true of Zafiro’s latest gift to bibliophiles and crime drama enthusiasts. Do as I say, not as I did. Begin reading this novel immediately. The day you do so, will be a special occasion.
Zafiro’s genius is in his characterization. He obviously eschews cardboard cutouts. We recognize his people as if they were old friends or nemeses. We don’t simply read about them. We somehow inhabit them, experiencing their joys, pains, triumphs, and failures. It is their adrenaline that recharges our imagination and excitement throughout every River City adventure.
As a teacher of American literature, I am constantly on the lookout for books that will turn my students into lifelong readers. Zafiro’s The Menace of the Years delivers a love of reading to both its new and veteran readers.
Bravo, Mr. Zafiro. You’ve done it again.
June 11, 2022
In the past, I’ve called Frank Zafiro’s River City books as a worthy successor to Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. This book continues that standard.
Like McBain, Zafiro peoples his books with a big cast of characters carrying all the traits, weaknesses, and strengths of real people and dealing with the lucky breaks, letdowns, and frustrations of real police work.
It’s a few days before Y2K, and the River City PD is gearing up for the expected chaos. Meanwhile, a lame 4-man group of white supremists are gearing up for a New Year’s Eve hit on a wealthy family, Katie McLeod is facing an IA investigation, and Connor O’Sullivan is dealing with feelings for his dead partner’s wife.
This book had one of the most engaging run-ups to a climax I’ve read in some time. It really had me turning the pages to find out what happened next. But I was a little disappointed in the resolution.
The next book in this series is in my ‘To Read’ pile. I’ll be getting to it soon.
Like McBain, Zafiro peoples his books with a big cast of characters carrying all the traits, weaknesses, and strengths of real people and dealing with the lucky breaks, letdowns, and frustrations of real police work.
It’s a few days before Y2K, and the River City PD is gearing up for the expected chaos. Meanwhile, a lame 4-man group of white supremists are gearing up for a New Year’s Eve hit on a wealthy family, Katie McLeod is facing an IA investigation, and Connor O’Sullivan is dealing with feelings for his dead partner’s wife.
This book had one of the most engaging run-ups to a climax I’ve read in some time. It really had me turning the pages to find out what happened next. But I was a little disappointed in the resolution.
The next book in this series is in my ‘To Read’ pile. I’ll be getting to it soon.
September 23, 2019
Another great read from Frank Zafiro.. The River City series are police procedurals which combine action and interesting characters. Readers get glimpses of what police face in the course of their shifts and in their lives. Beyond that, the books offer insight into the impact of budget cuts, politics, media, and the opinions of those they serve. In one sense the books are fun reads. In another they are reminders of how much good police officers sacrifice for their communities. These are reminders we need.
September 24, 2022
Frank Zafiro
I just finished the fifth book in River City Books if you have not read them you are missing out on a great series. Well written plot, awesome characters and very detailed. Adventure, romance, family and loyalty. Have not stopped reading for days !!! Bravo !!!
I just finished the fifth book in River City Books if you have not read them you are missing out on a great series. Well written plot, awesome characters and very detailed. Adventure, romance, family and loyalty. Have not stopped reading for days !!! Bravo !!!
December 4, 2018
Yes! Another winner!!
I absolutely love Zafaro's books. So glad to read another River City book. Can't wait for the next one. As an LEO, myself, his books are so relatable.
I absolutely love Zafaro's books. So glad to read another River City book. Can't wait for the next one. As an LEO, myself, his books are so relatable.
March 30, 2023
Hit on every shot!
This author covers just about every aspect of being a street cop. Every laugh, every tear. Details matter. Great series.
This author covers just about every aspect of being a street cop. Every laugh, every tear. Details matter. Great series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews