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Apprehension
Kelly was a pro until his niece was murdered right before his eyes. His family says he failed her, but Kelly can’t share his one shocking, secret—and criminal—act of vengeance.
Now, fellow detectives digging in another case can end Kelly’s career and send him to jail. Kelly must ignore this looming doom and focus on protecting a boy from his pedophile father in a slam-dunk trial. Except the hotshot defense attorney is his new girlfriend Rachel Cohen, who shares wonderful news but hides her duty to destroy him on the stand. And she can’t reveal that she’s investigating a twisted team of drug cops. While his friends work in secret to save him, Kelly is forced to the breaking point—and beyond.
Now, fellow detectives digging in another case can end Kelly’s career and send him to jail. Kelly must ignore this looming doom and focus on protecting a boy from his pedophile father in a slam-dunk trial. Except the hotshot defense attorney is his new girlfriend Rachel Cohen, who shares wonderful news but hides her duty to destroy him on the stand. And she can’t reveal that she’s investigating a twisted team of drug cops. While his friends work in secret to save him, Kelly is forced to the breaking point—and beyond.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2019
5 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Mark Bergin
1 book5 followersMark Bergin retired from the Alexandria, Virginia Police Department as a Lieutenant in 2014 after 28 years and, in the end, two heart attacks. He was twice named Police Officer of the year, for drug and robbery investigations. Prior to police service he was a newspaper reporter in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Northern Virginia where he earned the Virginia Press Association Award for General News Reporting. A graduate of Boston University, he splits his time between Alexandria and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with his wife, grown daughter and son and a not-so new dog.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2019
Detective John Kelly is a good man .. an outstanding cop. At least he was a year ago before his young niece was murdered in front of him. His life has spiraled out of control. He drinks too much, his job may be in jeopardy, his wife left him, his new girlfriend is a defense attorney, and she has some important news to tell him. When his niece was killed, his entire family turned against him, blamed him for not bringing the little girl back to them ... alive.
This is a harrowing 4 days in this man's life. It focuses a lot on the aftermath of his tragedy and how it affects almost every moment of his life. There are several interwoven subplots that can take your breath away .... some are real nail biters.
The author's personal background brings total credibility to this debut novel. The characters are stand-out, very human with all their failings and issues. The story premise is a good one .... this reads more like a true crime than a police procedural.
NOTE: Proceeds from the sale of APPREHENSION will go to programs to prevent police suicide.
Many thanks to the author / Inkshares/Quill / Netgalley for the digital copy of this excellent crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 8, 2022
Good read, and good command of police procedure.
August 28, 2019
This is an outstanding debut novel by former Alexandria Police Department Lt. Mark Bergin. As somebody who worked at APD during the time period covered in this novel (late 1980s), I can attest to the reality of the writing - it does not sugar-coat what it was like at all.
If you want to know what police work is really like (unlike all the garbage evidenced in television and movies), and what it was like in the 80's, this is a book well worth reading.
I would recommend this book to every law enforcement officer, rookie or veteran. You'll be able to relate. Also, be sure to read the back pages, beyond the Author page - good message there.
Stay safe out there.
If you want to know what police work is really like (unlike all the garbage evidenced in television and movies), and what it was like in the 80's, this is a book well worth reading.
I would recommend this book to every law enforcement officer, rookie or veteran. You'll be able to relate. Also, be sure to read the back pages, beyond the Author page - good message there.
Stay safe out there.
March 17, 2021
Apprehension
by Mark Bergin
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
328 pages
Description:
Kelly was a pro until his niece was murdered right before his eyes. His family says he failed her, but Kelly can’t share his one shocking, secret—and criminal—act of vengeance.
Now, fellow detectives digging in another case can end Kelly’s career and send him to jail. Kelly must ignore this looming doom and focus on protecting a boy from his pedophile father in a slam-dunk trial. Except the hotshot defense attorney is his new girlfriend Rachel Cohen, who shares wonderful news but hides her duty to destroy him on the stand. And she can’t reveal that she’s investigating a twisted team of drug cops. While his friends work in secret to save him, Kelly is forced to the breaking point—and beyond.
🚨MY REVIEW🚨
This is my first time reading a book by Mark Bergin. Apprehension is
a compelling story and such a great read . It totally got my interest from the minute i started it. All of the characters are so realistic .The author writes in such a way that you love the characters flaws and all and can not get enough of their story. Honesty that is what makes them so great and so easy to love. They seem so real you will swear you know them. Loved the main character and you could really feel what he was going through. Once you open the first page it feels like you are right there beside them. The characters are well defined with some you will love and others hate. Every worthwhile story needs both types of characters. This author really knows how to bring his characters to life & draw his readers completely into the story with his
masterful writing, intriguing situations and captivating characters. This is one action-filled story that will keep you glued to the pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much ! I look forward to the next thrilling book that this talented author writes.
As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for for the chance to read and review this amazing read. I was not paid for this honest review !
by Mark Bergin
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
328 pages
Description:
Kelly was a pro until his niece was murdered right before his eyes. His family says he failed her, but Kelly can’t share his one shocking, secret—and criminal—act of vengeance.
Now, fellow detectives digging in another case can end Kelly’s career and send him to jail. Kelly must ignore this looming doom and focus on protecting a boy from his pedophile father in a slam-dunk trial. Except the hotshot defense attorney is his new girlfriend Rachel Cohen, who shares wonderful news but hides her duty to destroy him on the stand. And she can’t reveal that she’s investigating a twisted team of drug cops. While his friends work in secret to save him, Kelly is forced to the breaking point—and beyond.
🚨MY REVIEW🚨
This is my first time reading a book by Mark Bergin. Apprehension is
a compelling story and such a great read . It totally got my interest from the minute i started it. All of the characters are so realistic .The author writes in such a way that you love the characters flaws and all and can not get enough of their story. Honesty that is what makes them so great and so easy to love. They seem so real you will swear you know them. Loved the main character and you could really feel what he was going through. Once you open the first page it feels like you are right there beside them. The characters are well defined with some you will love and others hate. Every worthwhile story needs both types of characters. This author really knows how to bring his characters to life & draw his readers completely into the story with his
masterful writing, intriguing situations and captivating characters. This is one action-filled story that will keep you glued to the pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much ! I look forward to the next thrilling book that this talented author writes.
As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for for the chance to read and review this amazing read. I was not paid for this honest review !
July 27, 2021
This book started out a big confusing at first, as it didn't seem to have a clear place it wanted to go. Again, much less criticism for a first-book from a fellow author in the law enforcement field. Still, the story ended up being cohesive and entertaining, with enough real-world cop-talk and action to sustain it. One thing to note that I'll hope the author's subsequent books avoided: there were a few places where the characters engaged in a bit of info-dumping, to the point it seemed a way for the author to get facts and information across that would have been better utilized another way. Some cop jargon is necessary for those unfamiliar with it, but too much can be distracting at times. Some of the ethnic dialogue came across as cliché; I'd definitely cut that stuff, as it's stereotypical and in print makes it seem like the author is trying too hard to be authentic, when simply describing a character and just letting them speak normally usually is the best bet.
Overall, a good read about a cop and his exploits during his career in the 80s. I liked some of those old school references (pagers, and such), which reminded me that I myself am firmly in that older mindset. Also appreciated the no-nonsense writing style, and the glimpse into the criminal justice system that the author himself once was a part of.
Overall, a good read about a cop and his exploits during his career in the 80s. I liked some of those old school references (pagers, and such), which reminded me that I myself am firmly in that older mindset. Also appreciated the no-nonsense writing style, and the glimpse into the criminal justice system that the author himself once was a part of.
April 27, 2020
Apprehension is a gritty, spot-on police procedural--written by a former cop with obvious experience. This is probably the most realistic novel I've read in this genre. But, beyond the technical aspects of the book, Bergin has created fully authentic characters to carry the plot. The lead character, John Kelly, is a flawed cop with a heart, and instantly believable. The other characters are just as real, and you're pulled into the story from the start as their relationships are developed. If you're looking for a police procedural that truly delves into the lives of police, Bergin's debut novel is a fine place to start.
October 12, 2023
Excellent story! Great characters and character development. Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
November 8, 2019
As a former law enforcement officer and current volunteer law enforcement chaplain, I truly loved this book. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in fiction related to criminal justice or mysteries, or those who love the men and women who serve our communities through law enforcement. This book could also serve to help orient new chaplains and peer counselors to common stressors and challenges found in the police culture both at home and at work. I believe the book could open up conversations about important topics which officer’s often try to ignore; particularly post-traumatic stress and police suicide.
The storytelling is gripping, truly authentic, and even educational without being overtly didactic. Set in the 1980s, the author captures the true essence of historical police work while opening eyes to post traumatic stress among law enforcement today. (Half of all profits will go to charities seeking to address law enforcement suicide.) The author lifts the curtain often obscuring police culture from the average citizen’s eyes.
In reading this book, I was quickly drawn in by the very exciting, well-crafted opening, but the author weaved a tale that isn’t just based on action. What could settle for a common detective story goes much deeper. This is a sign of an expert storyteller in my mind. At some level, it proves a nuanced psychological or social exposé. Your left wondering what will happen next, and this makes it a book hard to put down.
As other reviewers note, this book follows a difficult story line. There's no denying it, but sadly, this is a world many cops know but won't usually talk about. Still, I found the unfolding story in no way maudlin, depressing, or gratuitous. Instead, I found it – while fiction – very true to life with both its joys and sorrows. As can happen facing serious stressors, the main character indeed becomes troubled. In some ways, he serves as an antihero. I found myself rooting for him to get well and do better. The author provides details of the character's life in police work and personal life that help explain how he got that way. The main character’s response to struggle is consistent with available research on post-traumatic stress without being campy or clinical.
“Apprehension” proves a gritty read, but I suggest it is well worth your time. The book speaks true to life and doesn’t provide simplistic solutions. Even amidst sorrows, the reader will see signs of renewal and reasons for hope as the book ends. I enjoyed every page.
The storytelling is gripping, truly authentic, and even educational without being overtly didactic. Set in the 1980s, the author captures the true essence of historical police work while opening eyes to post traumatic stress among law enforcement today. (Half of all profits will go to charities seeking to address law enforcement suicide.) The author lifts the curtain often obscuring police culture from the average citizen’s eyes.
In reading this book, I was quickly drawn in by the very exciting, well-crafted opening, but the author weaved a tale that isn’t just based on action. What could settle for a common detective story goes much deeper. This is a sign of an expert storyteller in my mind. At some level, it proves a nuanced psychological or social exposé. Your left wondering what will happen next, and this makes it a book hard to put down.
As other reviewers note, this book follows a difficult story line. There's no denying it, but sadly, this is a world many cops know but won't usually talk about. Still, I found the unfolding story in no way maudlin, depressing, or gratuitous. Instead, I found it – while fiction – very true to life with both its joys and sorrows. As can happen facing serious stressors, the main character indeed becomes troubled. In some ways, he serves as an antihero. I found myself rooting for him to get well and do better. The author provides details of the character's life in police work and personal life that help explain how he got that way. The main character’s response to struggle is consistent with available research on post-traumatic stress without being campy or clinical.
“Apprehension” proves a gritty read, but I suggest it is well worth your time. The book speaks true to life and doesn’t provide simplistic solutions. Even amidst sorrows, the reader will see signs of renewal and reasons for hope as the book ends. I enjoyed every page.
September 3, 2019
Apprehension by Mark Bergin
This was a tough book to like. The main character, John Kelly, suffers some life changing trauma early in the book. Kelly, a police officer, is struggling to recover from the trauma. The book details the life of a cop and the issues they face.
The courtroom and its vagrancies are also in this book. Public defenders are shown defending people who they don’t like and, in some cases, know that the miscreants should be incarcerated. The difficulty in having personal relationships as a cop and as an attorney are shown.
Bergin pulls no punches and brings a gritty realism to his work. Kelly is a man out of control. Someone needs to step in but his family is no help.
I can’t say I found the style of writing captivating but the message and story are compelling.
I have friends and relatives who are cops who struggle with the negativity that has most recently surrounded their work. I have a friend who has defended people he really abhorred but he believes they have a right to a defense. Bergin brought home many feelings in this book.
It is a sad and some times hard to read book that I recommend.
This was a tough book to like. The main character, John Kelly, suffers some life changing trauma early in the book. Kelly, a police officer, is struggling to recover from the trauma. The book details the life of a cop and the issues they face.
The courtroom and its vagrancies are also in this book. Public defenders are shown defending people who they don’t like and, in some cases, know that the miscreants should be incarcerated. The difficulty in having personal relationships as a cop and as an attorney are shown.
Bergin pulls no punches and brings a gritty realism to his work. Kelly is a man out of control. Someone needs to step in but his family is no help.
I can’t say I found the style of writing captivating but the message and story are compelling.
I have friends and relatives who are cops who struggle with the negativity that has most recently surrounded their work. I have a friend who has defended people he really abhorred but he believes they have a right to a defense. Bergin brought home many feelings in this book.
It is a sad and some times hard to read book that I recommend.
November 5, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Mark Bergin’s APPREHENSION.
As a former police officer, I can attest that this book rang true in ways that so many others do not or cannot. Not only did the experiences feel real and still timely (the story occurs in 1988), but the job’s emotional impact was heartbreakingly authentic.
This isn’t a book filled with do-gooders behind the badge. They are complex individuals, struggling with human frailties. Some of the characters I rooted for. Some of them I questioned what in the hell they were thinking. But in the end, it made for a fantastic read.
I didn’t want to walk away from the book and ended up finishing it in two days. Isn’t that the mark of a good book?
If you like police novels that deal with morality than give this book a try.
As a former police officer, I can attest that this book rang true in ways that so many others do not or cannot. Not only did the experiences feel real and still timely (the story occurs in 1988), but the job’s emotional impact was heartbreakingly authentic.
This isn’t a book filled with do-gooders behind the badge. They are complex individuals, struggling with human frailties. Some of the characters I rooted for. Some of them I questioned what in the hell they were thinking. But in the end, it made for a fantastic read.
I didn’t want to walk away from the book and ended up finishing it in two days. Isn’t that the mark of a good book?
If you like police novels that deal with morality than give this book a try.
September 28, 2023
A Gut Punch to the Solar Plexus for those of us who have lived the cop life
In the interest of full disclosure I knew Mark Bergin when he wrote for a local Alexandria newspaper and mentioned his desire to do police work. I left the Alexandria PD around the time he joined.
Many memories came rushing back; fond ones because those years were such an important part of my life. Mark captures the life so well. And the harrowing breakdown and the redemption and hope that follow are moving.
In the interest of full disclosure I knew Mark Bergin when he wrote for a local Alexandria newspaper and mentioned his desire to do police work. I left the Alexandria PD around the time he joined.
Many memories came rushing back; fond ones because those years were such an important part of my life. Mark captures the life so well. And the harrowing breakdown and the redemption and hope that follow are moving.
July 30, 2019
This book was a bit of a put down
Kelly’s was a fighter and his niece had been murdered
Kelly could not share his criminal act
He must protect a young boy who father is a pedophile
I got an ARC for this
Kelly’s was a fighter and his niece had been murdered
Kelly could not share his criminal act
He must protect a young boy who father is a pedophile
I got an ARC for this
October 10, 2019
Couldn't put it down...read this book in two days. Reaches out and grabs you from the first chapter and doesn't let up through the last page. Excellent police procedural by a man who can walk the walk and talk the talk. Looking forward to his next book!
November 19, 2024
Powerful read
Mr. Bergin captures the essence of police work and the stresses on how it effects not just the police, but their families and loved ones. Thank you for highlighting the importance of care we need to give to our law enforcement officers.
Mr. Bergin captures the essence of police work and the stresses on how it effects not just the police, but their families and loved ones. Thank you for highlighting the importance of care we need to give to our law enforcement officers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews