What do you think?
Rate this book
Buck Schatz #3
Running Out of Road
Once, Detective Buck Schatz patrolled the city of Memphis, chasing down robbers and killers with a blackjack truncheon and a .357. But he's been retired for decades. Now he's frail and demented, and Rose, his wife of 72 years, is ill and facing a choice about her health care that Buck is terrified to even consider. The future looks short and bleak, and Buck's only escape is into the past.
But Buck's past is under attack as well. After 35 years on death row, convicted serial killer Chester March finally has an execution date. Chester is the oldest condemned man in the United States, and his case has attracted the attention of NPR producer Carlos Watkins, who believes Chester was convicted on the strength of a coerced confession. Chester's conviction is the capstone on Buck's storied career, and, to save Chester's life, Watkins is prepared to tear down Buck's reputation and legacy.
But Buck's past is under attack as well. After 35 years on death row, convicted serial killer Chester March finally has an execution date. Chester is the oldest condemned man in the United States, and his case has attracted the attention of NPR producer Carlos Watkins, who believes Chester was convicted on the strength of a coerced confession. Chester's conviction is the capstone on Buck's storied career, and, to save Chester's life, Watkins is prepared to tear down Buck's reputation and legacy.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
27 people are currently reading
1883 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 11, 2020
Friedman has given us a terrific take about a cantankerous curmudgeon of a geriatric retired police detective. It’s rare that someone does such a great job of combining humor with serious issues. Buck can’t always remember what the conversation is about and he’s getting worse at faking it. Meanwhile, his past police cases haunt him.
In particular, a death penalty case where decades later the convicted murderer still awaits his penalty as a team of true believers argue his case. Friedman does a great job of portraying all sides of a capital case through the determined journalist who just wants to spin a story and the do-gooders who don’t care what the murderer really did, how his victims suffered, or how the victim’s’ families still pine for resolution. But, Detective Buck isn’t portrayed as a blameless knight in his steed. The corners he cut and the force he used to get a confession is not whitewashed here.
Not to be left out is Buck Schatz’s (was the pun intended?) background as the only Jewish detective in what was not exactly friendly territory of the Memphis Police Dept in the late fifties and early Sixties.
All in all, this is a surprisingly well-written piece of fiction that really attacks the story from a very different angle. Apparently, this is book three in this series.
In particular, a death penalty case where decades later the convicted murderer still awaits his penalty as a team of true believers argue his case. Friedman does a great job of portraying all sides of a capital case through the determined journalist who just wants to spin a story and the do-gooders who don’t care what the murderer really did, how his victims suffered, or how the victim’s’ families still pine for resolution. But, Detective Buck isn’t portrayed as a blameless knight in his steed. The corners he cut and the force he used to get a confession is not whitewashed here.
Not to be left out is Buck Schatz’s (was the pun intended?) background as the only Jewish detective in what was not exactly friendly territory of the Memphis Police Dept in the late fifties and early Sixties.
All in all, this is a surprisingly well-written piece of fiction that really attacks the story from a very different angle. Apparently, this is book three in this series.
May 14, 2020
Thank you St, Martins Press and NetGalley for this free copy in return for my honest review.
This is Book 3 of the Buck Schatz series and I am not sure if there will be a Book 4. I loved this book. Here we have 90-year old Buck being requested to give his side to a murder conviction. Why? Well, the person who was convicted has been on death row for 35 years and his time for execution is near. He reached out to an NPR reporter who has taken up his cause. We go back and forth between Buck in the present, he has early onset Alzheimers, Buck in his police detective career and the NPR reporter and that gentleman's show transcripts as well as interviews. It is a very interesting book on the death penalty, along with the question of death by lethal injection. Interestingly, the convicts appellate attorney no longer is filing appeals on the trial and conviction but rather whether death by injection is cruel and unusual punishment. A very fast read, well written book which got a bit preachy in the last few chapters that lowered it to only a 4****. I understand the author has a point of view but when the book gets to the final chapters I found it veered from what made this book readable. I do believe that this is a great book to use in a book club since all sides of the issue are on the table and that makes it a very good read. Just wish the last couple of chapters had not been as obviously preachy.
This is Book 3 of the Buck Schatz series and I am not sure if there will be a Book 4. I loved this book. Here we have 90-year old Buck being requested to give his side to a murder conviction. Why? Well, the person who was convicted has been on death row for 35 years and his time for execution is near. He reached out to an NPR reporter who has taken up his cause. We go back and forth between Buck in the present, he has early onset Alzheimers, Buck in his police detective career and the NPR reporter and that gentleman's show transcripts as well as interviews. It is a very interesting book on the death penalty, along with the question of death by lethal injection. Interestingly, the convicts appellate attorney no longer is filing appeals on the trial and conviction but rather whether death by injection is cruel and unusual punishment. A very fast read, well written book which got a bit preachy in the last few chapters that lowered it to only a 4****. I understand the author has a point of view but when the book gets to the final chapters I found it veered from what made this book readable. I do believe that this is a great book to use in a book club since all sides of the issue are on the table and that makes it a very good read. Just wish the last couple of chapters had not been as obviously preachy.
November 22, 2019
Great read! Highly recommended for anyone who likes a good, slow burning crime story.
Baruch "Buck" Schatz is almost ninety years old, has dementia, and needs a walker to get around. He's been retired for something like forty years but once upon a time he was a legend in the Memphis police department. In the '50s he was known as a tough Jewish detective who wasn't afraid to "bend the rules" as he saw fit. Or, as others have put it, he was a notoriously brutal cop who had no qualms about beating a confession out of somebody.
In 'Running Out of Road' the year is 2011, Barack Obama is president, and an investigative true crime show called American Justice is taking a look at one of Buck's most famous cases. The case of Chester March, an eighty year old man who has spent the last thirty-five of those years on Death Row. Chester March who maintains that he is an innocent victim of Buck Schatz. That Buck beat a false confession out of him... Chester March who has run out of legal arguments and is scheduled to be executed very soon.
This is a great premise that is, you'll pardon the expression, executed very well. In the here and now Buck's memory is not good. He forgets the names of his healthcare aids, he seems to fade in and out of conversations, he keeps forgetting that his wife is ill... But his memory of the past is spot on perfect.
The story shifts effortlessly back and forth between the modern day version of Buck, to the hard-nosed detective in his prime working a murder case, to eighty year old Chester Marsh trying to make a case for his own innocence. The story gets pretty intense as these storylines begin to converge in "real" time.
Except for the obvious - modern day Buck's own confusion in trying to cope with things that are often just out of his mental reach - the story never gets muddled or hard to follow. An outstanding novel from author Daniel Friedman.
I didn't realize until after I'd finished that this book is part of a series featuring Baruch "Buck" Schatz so I am very confident in saying that it works quite well as a stand alone.
A favorite quote from the book "I like to tell people I've buried all my enemies. I don't like to talk about how I've buried all my friends."
This is very much a hardboiled novel with rough language and some graphic description of violence. Buck Schatz is not politically correct in the least and some more sensitive readers could find parts of this book offensive.
***Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and author Daniel Friedman for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Baruch "Buck" Schatz is almost ninety years old, has dementia, and needs a walker to get around. He's been retired for something like forty years but once upon a time he was a legend in the Memphis police department. In the '50s he was known as a tough Jewish detective who wasn't afraid to "bend the rules" as he saw fit. Or, as others have put it, he was a notoriously brutal cop who had no qualms about beating a confession out of somebody.
In 'Running Out of Road' the year is 2011, Barack Obama is president, and an investigative true crime show called American Justice is taking a look at one of Buck's most famous cases. The case of Chester March, an eighty year old man who has spent the last thirty-five of those years on Death Row. Chester March who maintains that he is an innocent victim of Buck Schatz. That Buck beat a false confession out of him... Chester March who has run out of legal arguments and is scheduled to be executed very soon.
This is a great premise that is, you'll pardon the expression, executed very well. In the here and now Buck's memory is not good. He forgets the names of his healthcare aids, he seems to fade in and out of conversations, he keeps forgetting that his wife is ill... But his memory of the past is spot on perfect.
The story shifts effortlessly back and forth between the modern day version of Buck, to the hard-nosed detective in his prime working a murder case, to eighty year old Chester Marsh trying to make a case for his own innocence. The story gets pretty intense as these storylines begin to converge in "real" time.
Except for the obvious - modern day Buck's own confusion in trying to cope with things that are often just out of his mental reach - the story never gets muddled or hard to follow. An outstanding novel from author Daniel Friedman.
I didn't realize until after I'd finished that this book is part of a series featuring Baruch "Buck" Schatz so I am very confident in saying that it works quite well as a stand alone.
A favorite quote from the book "I like to tell people I've buried all my enemies. I don't like to talk about how I've buried all my friends."
This is very much a hardboiled novel with rough language and some graphic description of violence. Buck Schatz is not politically correct in the least and some more sensitive readers could find parts of this book offensive.
***Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and author Daniel Friedman for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
Baruch 'Buck' Schatz is almost 90 years old and has been retired from the Memphis police department for decades. He uses a walker and is dealing with serious cognitive decline. Out of the blue, Buck gets a call from Carlos Watkins, an NPR radio commentator, who wants to interview him about Chester March, one of Buck's old cases who is now awaiting execution on death row.
The chapters alternate between Buck's life, past and present, and Carlos's opinion pieces on the death penalty. Carlos manages to interview Chester March, a convicted serial killer, who maintains his innocence. Carlos's opinions challenge Buck's manner of operation in the past, alleging brutality, and questioning the validity of the death sentence altogether.
Buck is also dealing with his wife's recent diagnosis of cancer and he can't seem to face it. Is his cognitive decline Alzheimer's or is it more psychological in nature?
I love the political incorrectness of this book. The reader is privy to Buck's life as the only Jewish detective on the Memphis force, his unique sense of justice, and all that he would put on the line to catch a perpetrator. Sometimes the book had me laughing out loud and at other times I really had to stop and think. My only criticism is that I wish Buck had more center stage and Carlos and Chester had less to say. I heartily recommend this novel.
The chapters alternate between Buck's life, past and present, and Carlos's opinion pieces on the death penalty. Carlos manages to interview Chester March, a convicted serial killer, who maintains his innocence. Carlos's opinions challenge Buck's manner of operation in the past, alleging brutality, and questioning the validity of the death sentence altogether.
Buck is also dealing with his wife's recent diagnosis of cancer and he can't seem to face it. Is his cognitive decline Alzheimer's or is it more psychological in nature?
I love the political incorrectness of this book. The reader is privy to Buck's life as the only Jewish detective on the Memphis force, his unique sense of justice, and all that he would put on the line to catch a perpetrator. Sometimes the book had me laughing out loud and at other times I really had to stop and think. My only criticism is that I wish Buck had more center stage and Carlos and Chester had less to say. I heartily recommend this novel.
Read
April 15, 2020“Running Out of Road” is very different from a typical crime novel in construction, in narrative, and in expected outcome. It was not the story I expected when I started reading the book. It is compelling, thought-provoking, and startling. It deals with a complicated social issue, poses real life questions, and incites thoughtful contemplation of questions with no answers. I could not put it down.
Friedman structured the narrative in a unique manner that sets the tone for the book. It reads almost like a documentary with events described by all sides and comments from outside observers. The narrative is conversation driven, and readers learn how participants remember events from the past, and how they view those events today. The views are very different, and readers are left to evaluate those differences in terms of what they learn about participants.
The characters are complex and diverse. Carlos Watkins is a reporter from NPR doing a series documenting the process by which the state prepares to kill Chester March, convicted of three murders thirty-five years ago. The arresting officer was Baruch “Buck” Schatz, now 89 years old.
This is a dark story, mostly set in a different time, in the middle the Twentieth Century, a time defined by widespread bad behavior. There is an undercurrent of discrimination and racial prejudice on all sides. Details of relevant events emerge slowly, and no one is perfect; no one is blameless; no one is completely innocent or totally guilty.
The title, “Running out of Road” reflects the story; here are two people with very different and very troubled backgrounds. At one time they had had plenty of time, plenty of life ahead, but now, time is short; they are running out of road. The culture is a critical character in this book; it would not be the same story if it were set somewhere else. I was given a review copy of “Running Out of Road” by Daniel Friedman and Minotaur Books. I did not realize until after I finished the book that this is book four in a series. This book certainly stands on its own, and it is a thought-provoking way to advance a series. Now I must find the first three books.
Friedman structured the narrative in a unique manner that sets the tone for the book. It reads almost like a documentary with events described by all sides and comments from outside observers. The narrative is conversation driven, and readers learn how participants remember events from the past, and how they view those events today. The views are very different, and readers are left to evaluate those differences in terms of what they learn about participants.
The characters are complex and diverse. Carlos Watkins is a reporter from NPR doing a series documenting the process by which the state prepares to kill Chester March, convicted of three murders thirty-five years ago. The arresting officer was Baruch “Buck” Schatz, now 89 years old.
This is a dark story, mostly set in a different time, in the middle the Twentieth Century, a time defined by widespread bad behavior. There is an undercurrent of discrimination and racial prejudice on all sides. Details of relevant events emerge slowly, and no one is perfect; no one is blameless; no one is completely innocent or totally guilty.
The title, “Running out of Road” reflects the story; here are two people with very different and very troubled backgrounds. At one time they had had plenty of time, plenty of life ahead, but now, time is short; they are running out of road. The culture is a critical character in this book; it would not be the same story if it were set somewhere else. I was given a review copy of “Running Out of Road” by Daniel Friedman and Minotaur Books. I did not realize until after I finished the book that this is book four in a series. This book certainly stands on its own, and it is a thought-provoking way to advance a series. Now I must find the first three books.
February 13, 2020
Baruch 'Buck' Schatz is almost 90 years old and has been retired from the Memphis police department for decades. He uses a walker and is dealing with serious cognitive decline. Out of the blue, Buck gets a call from Carlos Watkins, an NPR radio commentator, who wants to interview him about Chester March, one of Buck's old cases who is now awaiting execution on death row.
The chapters alternate between Buck's life, past and present, and Carlos's opinion pieces on the death penalty. Carlos manages to interview Chester March, a convicted serial killer, who maintains his innocence. Carlos's opinions challenge Buck's manner of operation in the past, alleging brutality, and questioning the validity of the death sentence altogether.
Buck is also dealing with his wife's recent diagnosis of cancer and he can't seem to face it. Is his cognitive decline Alzheimer's or is it more psychological in nature?
I love the political incorrectness of this book. The reader is privy to Buck's life as the only Jewish detective on the Memphis force, his unique sense of justice, and all that he would put on the line to catch a perpetrator. Sometimes the book had me laughing out loud and at other times I really had to stop and think. My only criticism is that I wish Buck had more center stage and Carlos and Chester had less to say. I heartily recommend this novel.
The chapters alternate between Buck's life, past and present, and Carlos's opinion pieces on the death penalty. Carlos manages to interview Chester March, a convicted serial killer, who maintains his innocence. Carlos's opinions challenge Buck's manner of operation in the past, alleging brutality, and questioning the validity of the death sentence altogether.
Buck is also dealing with his wife's recent diagnosis of cancer and he can't seem to face it. Is his cognitive decline Alzheimer's or is it more psychological in nature?
I love the political incorrectness of this book. The reader is privy to Buck's life as the only Jewish detective on the Memphis force, his unique sense of justice, and all that he would put on the line to catch a perpetrator. Sometimes the book had me laughing out loud and at other times I really had to stop and think. My only criticism is that I wish Buck had more center stage and Carlos and Chester had less to say. I heartily recommend this novel.
March 23, 2020
This is book #3 in the series. Buck Schatz is a retired police detective in Memphis. He's elderly, crotchety and suffers from memory and other health issues as does as his wife. Now his past is coming back to haunt him. Buck was known for doing things his way. The rules didn't always apply. One of his old cases, Chester March is all out of options sitting on death row. He claims Buck forced him to confess. I liked how it flips back and forth. This was witty and lyrical. I'm a fan of crime fiction. A fast read. I really enjoyed it.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
July 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book, once I got used to Buck and his outlook on life. Which took a bit. He is “a piece of work.” The storyline was interesting and it was a good book for a road trip. Had some interesting conversations with my husband while crossing Utah. I will look up the first 2 Buck Schwatz books after i get over the feeling of wanting a cigarette. Thanks for the recommendation, Andrew.
April 5, 2024
Great book the author did a great job at tackling certain topics that are controversial. The characters in the story were relatable and you couldn’t help but empathize with Buck even though he did not have the best attitude.
July 13, 2020
This looked like an interesting story, and it certainly was... a man in prison with literally a month left until his execution makes one last appeal for mercy on the basis that his murder conviction was coerced and unjust. So we revisit this decades old murder mystery told from the viewpoint of a bitter old codger, Buck Schatz, who is the long retired detective that made the arrest, and his story is woven around the narrative of an NPR reporter's story featuring the convict's appeal. I thought this was a well told tale, which nicely counterbalanced Buck's constant griping with his wife's kindness, understanding, and support and the NPR reporter trying to be objective versus Buck's very real challenges personally and socially throughout his career.
Maybe this book isn't quite a 5, but its close with its creative approach and strong writing.
Maybe this book isn't quite a 5, but its close with its creative approach and strong writing.
May 4, 2020
Buck is such a unique character in crime fiction that you gotta love him. This is the third book in the series so I already do. In this book almost 90 year old Buck is struggling with three big issues; his increasing infirmity and reflecting on life (as in the other books), an old serial killer he put away is facing execution and has drawn the attention of an NPR radio show, and Buck's wife has just been diagnosed with cancer.
The book does a great job of alternating between the anti capitol punishment present and the crimes themselves (in the 50's and 70's) and Buck's experience of being one of the first jewish people on a Memphis police force.
The plot is unfolded so well that whatever your take on capitol punishment you may find yourself being expertly manoevered by the author.
A great, gritty crime read with a huge amount of heart if you can find it under Buck's crabby exterior. Five stars. And Mr. Friedman--since Buck is literally running out of road, please say you will go back and write books about Buck in his 70's or 60's.....this series can't end!
The book does a great job of alternating between the anti capitol punishment present and the crimes themselves (in the 50's and 70's) and Buck's experience of being one of the first jewish people on a Memphis police force.
The plot is unfolded so well that whatever your take on capitol punishment you may find yourself being expertly manoevered by the author.
A great, gritty crime read with a huge amount of heart if you can find it under Buck's crabby exterior. Five stars. And Mr. Friedman--since Buck is literally running out of road, please say you will go back and write books about Buck in his 70's or 60's.....this series can't end!
December 31, 2021
At first I wasn't vibing with this book...in fact it was boring me. Then we starting to get into the dual timeline and saw Buck as a younger healthier version as a young strong willed detective doing what it took to get his man. It was still just an average read for me, but reading about TN process of the death penalty was interesting I do advise reading the author's acknowledgements in the back, which is something I normally do not do. I did read some interesting things there and it was short. I would say give this book a read if you are in to detective/crime books. I have not read the previous two as this was sent to me in a subscription box and was not on my radar.
August 2, 2020
Loved the format of the novel and the well-developed male characters but somehow the female characters, well "character" since the other females were dead, deserved a bigger role. She was a great foil to the crotchety retired cop, Buck Schatz (pronounced "buckshots", really?) and could have provided an additional viewpoint to the issues of police brutality and the death sentence for prisoners. The writing was really good and the humor, especially with many of the character names, was entertaining.
August 31, 2020
Dull. This book doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up. It isn't a mystery, even though it's about whether a convict on death row in Tennessee who's about to be executed by lethal injection a) should be executed because he may not be guilty of multiple murders that put him on death row and b) whether capital punishment by lethal injection is right. So about half of the book is a polemic that argues against capital punishment. The book is written by a lawyer so you can imagine how boring these sections are when we're getting lectured. The sections are actually narrations of radio transcripts of a reporter doing a story on NPR. Yawn.
Capital punishment is wrong and it is cruel. Okay. We've heard the arguments. Personally, I agree but this isn't what I bargained for when I started reading this book.
However, in this book, the guy on death row may actually have committed the crimes.
What's this got to do with Buck Schatz, the 90-year-old former Memphis PD detective who made the case that put the guy on death row? Well, poor Buck spends all his time mewling about being old. Yes, we're sympathetic to his plight, but there is absolutely nothing new here. Yes, Buck is a misanthropic old fart and he's amusing for about 10 pages but there's scene after scene of visiting one doctor after another. Yawn. Oh, by the way, he insists he did nothing wrong regarding the guy on death row and the guy is guilty of murder and should be executed.
The first two books in the series are very good. The author should have quit while he was ahead. I gave up halfway through.
Capital punishment is wrong and it is cruel. Okay. We've heard the arguments. Personally, I agree but this isn't what I bargained for when I started reading this book.
However, in this book, the guy on death row may actually have committed the crimes.
What's this got to do with Buck Schatz, the 90-year-old former Memphis PD detective who made the case that put the guy on death row? Well, poor Buck spends all his time mewling about being old. Yes, we're sympathetic to his plight, but there is absolutely nothing new here. Yes, Buck is a misanthropic old fart and he's amusing for about 10 pages but there's scene after scene of visiting one doctor after another. Yawn. Oh, by the way, he insists he did nothing wrong regarding the guy on death row and the guy is guilty of murder and should be executed.
The first two books in the series are very good. The author should have quit while he was ahead. I gave up halfway through.
January 7, 2021
I've been looking forward to this book for years and had enjoyed the first two in the series so much that I recommended it to my local library. Buck is sadder this time and his crankiness is less amusing. The focus is not on a mystery but on whether or not a repellent killer will be executed. (Nearly half of the story is told through transcripts of a fictional NPR blog created by a ridiculously naive journalist) I am opposed to the death penalty, but by the end of this book I was so sick of Chester March that I wasn't even shocked when Buck's grandson said "let's eat chicken!" after he watched a grisly execution with his grandparents. While I enjoyed learning more about Rose, I think her decision at the end rang false. (Maybe the author wanted to inject a note of uplift into some very grim material? It didn't work for me.) I'll take any Buck Schatz I can get, but I wish this had been more fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2022
First off, I got this book in my first shipment of "My Thrill Club" which is a monthly book box that gives you two "surprise" hardcovers in a certain genre of your choice. I chose horror and this book definitely wasn't horror so I was disappointed the entire time I read it. And with the monologue and different point of views it felt like I was watching a out dated cop show that you wake up to in the middle of the night right before the infomercials start. Again, I'm biased because this kind of book is far from my cup of tea.
May 15, 2020
3.5 stars.
Daniel Friedman is a very good storyteller. I really like how all of Buck's stories have a seamless transition between his present frail self making everyone around him uncomfortable to his younger, uncouth version that goes barreling down suspected criminals doors. Buck Schatz is not your typical protagonist. He is a little racist, a lot cynical and there are moments when you're not even sure if you like him (even remotely). But besides all that, you can see why he is the way he is, how his past has given him an extremely hard, impenetrable exterior. He doesn't do niceties and if people are offended by that, they can just fuck off. It can be distasteful to read but hey, the guy's brutally honest and I can respect that.
This book is no exception when it comes to Friedman's great writing and storytelling skills. I really enjoyed reading the NPR journalist, Carlos Watkins' narration at the end of most chapters and how it combined the past with the present and showcased what happened from March's and Schtaz's POVs. I personally love listening to podcasts so it was easy to imagine myself getting hooked to a story about a 80 yr old death row criminal and his plea deal to get out of capital punishment in real life. Also, it gave me perspective on how journalists actually work on all their stories and it was definitely eye-opening and refreshing. I appreciate the fact that Friedman decided to cover the story from both aspects. We get to see it from Buck and Tequila's end, who believe Chester March deserves what's coming for him and then there's people like Ed and his students and even Watkins, who think Tennessee and other US states should end capital punishment irrespective of anyone's crimes.
I personally don't know where I stand. I admit the scene made me cry. Maybe I'm just weak but for me, is a little hard to digest. I think it speaks volumes that even though it's been 2 days since I finished the book, I can't stop thinking about my own inescapable longevity. About the fact that I will have to eventually witness more death, of family and loved ones. Or about the fact that victims that die a horrible death don't get to see their criminals pay for their crimes. And even if they could, would they want to see them die as horribly? Is forgiveness an elusive concept when it comes to murder? Is a life sentence for a criminal not enough when they have done monstrous things? Where do you draw the line when it comes to cops/detectives using torture to get evidence or statements from alleged criminals? So many questions that are morally ambiguous and so many unsolved cases that make me wonder if the system should be harsher.
Anyway, I did enjoy this book. There were instances when the monologue wasn't as interesting to me but I can look past that because it's another brief peek into Buck Schtaz's life. If you're looking for a quick read with a sassy 90 yr old protagonist, definitely give this a go.
I was offered a physical copy of this book to review from the publisher
Daniel Friedman is a very good storyteller. I really like how all of Buck's stories have a seamless transition between his present frail self making everyone around him uncomfortable to his younger, uncouth version that goes barreling down suspected criminals doors. Buck Schatz is not your typical protagonist. He is a little racist, a lot cynical and there are moments when you're not even sure if you like him (even remotely). But besides all that, you can see why he is the way he is, how his past has given him an extremely hard, impenetrable exterior. He doesn't do niceties and if people are offended by that, they can just fuck off. It can be distasteful to read but hey, the guy's brutally honest and I can respect that.
This book is no exception when it comes to Friedman's great writing and storytelling skills. I really enjoyed reading the NPR journalist, Carlos Watkins' narration at the end of most chapters and how it combined the past with the present and showcased what happened from March's and Schtaz's POVs. I personally love listening to podcasts so it was easy to imagine myself getting hooked to a story about a 80 yr old death row criminal and his plea deal to get out of capital punishment in real life. Also, it gave me perspective on how journalists actually work on all their stories and it was definitely eye-opening and refreshing. I appreciate the fact that Friedman decided to cover the story from both aspects. We get to see it from Buck and Tequila's end, who believe Chester March deserves what's coming for him and then there's people like Ed and his students and even Watkins, who think Tennessee and other US states should end capital punishment irrespective of anyone's crimes.
I personally don't know where I stand. I admit the scene made me cry. Maybe I'm just weak but for me, is a little hard to digest. I think it speaks volumes that even though it's been 2 days since I finished the book, I can't stop thinking about my own inescapable longevity. About the fact that I will have to eventually witness more death, of family and loved ones. Or about the fact that victims that die a horrible death don't get to see their criminals pay for their crimes. And even if they could, would they want to see them die as horribly? Is forgiveness an elusive concept when it comes to murder? Is a life sentence for a criminal not enough when they have done monstrous things? Where do you draw the line when it comes to cops/detectives using torture to get evidence or statements from alleged criminals? So many questions that are morally ambiguous and so many unsolved cases that make me wonder if the system should be harsher.
Anyway, I did enjoy this book. There were instances when the monologue wasn't as interesting to me but I can look past that because it's another brief peek into Buck Schtaz's life. If you're looking for a quick read with a sassy 90 yr old protagonist, definitely give this a go.
I was offered a physical copy of this book to review from the publisher
March 17, 2020
Retired Memphis police detective Buck Schatz has always prided himself on his record for catching criminals. Having come up through the department as a Jew in the 1950's, 60', and 70's, Schatz regularly faced the racism and xenophobia of his white coworkers, regularly had suspects cut loose by a white DA unwilling to prosecute them because Buck's cases rested on the testimony of a black or a prostitute. He took pride in his policework, and his biggest accomplishment was arresting and charging Chester March with the deaths of at least three women. For over thirty years Buck waited to see the smug SOB get the lethal injection.
But when American Justice calls Buck out of the blue and wants to speak to him about Chester March, Buck is immediately on the defensive. Nearing ninety years old, and decades removed from the police force, Buck is not the same man he was when he put Chester away. Dementia has begun to set in, and his wife is dying. Buck's grandson, Tequila, is preparing for the bar exam and advises Buck not speak with the program. Never one to listen to anyone else, Buck agrees with his grandson.
As the weeks go on, and Chester's date with the executioner draws near, American Justice follows Chester's latest lawyer as he tries to get a stay of execution.
Flashing between 2011 (Buck's perspective and the American Justice transcript) and Buck's perspective in the 60's and 70's as he tries to catch Chester, the readers are sucked into a story of horror and anger and police brutality. Is Chester guilty of the murders of three women? Probably. Should his confession be thrown out and he be granted a stay of execution for Buck's behavior as a cop? I guess that's up to you to decide.
While I haven't read Friedman's other Buck Schatz books, I really enjoyed Running Out of Road. Buck is the kind of cop that everyone wants looking out for them, but nobody wants to be in his crosshairs. He's the rough-and-tumble, nitty-gritty detective that got his guy, that closed his cases, and who forgot the names of most of the men he put away. Buck had to fight for his chance, and he had to prove every single day that he deserved to be a detective.
Chester March on the other hand, is written to be easily disliked. Friedman made a point of not so subtly highlighting March's psychopathic behavior in almost every interaction set in the past. He paints a pretty picture of being brutalized and framed by Detective Schatz, and does a good job dehumanizing his victims in the American Justice transcripts. It's easy to see why jurors fall for acts like his when sitting in trials, or why society has developed a fascination with serial killers. They're charming and good at making you feel like they're really the victims.
I look forward to reading more of Friedman's work, and hope to find copies of the other Buck Schatz books.
But when American Justice calls Buck out of the blue and wants to speak to him about Chester March, Buck is immediately on the defensive. Nearing ninety years old, and decades removed from the police force, Buck is not the same man he was when he put Chester away. Dementia has begun to set in, and his wife is dying. Buck's grandson, Tequila, is preparing for the bar exam and advises Buck not speak with the program. Never one to listen to anyone else, Buck agrees with his grandson.
As the weeks go on, and Chester's date with the executioner draws near, American Justice follows Chester's latest lawyer as he tries to get a stay of execution.
Flashing between 2011 (Buck's perspective and the American Justice transcript) and Buck's perspective in the 60's and 70's as he tries to catch Chester, the readers are sucked into a story of horror and anger and police brutality. Is Chester guilty of the murders of three women? Probably. Should his confession be thrown out and he be granted a stay of execution for Buck's behavior as a cop? I guess that's up to you to decide.
While I haven't read Friedman's other Buck Schatz books, I really enjoyed Running Out of Road. Buck is the kind of cop that everyone wants looking out for them, but nobody wants to be in his crosshairs. He's the rough-and-tumble, nitty-gritty detective that got his guy, that closed his cases, and who forgot the names of most of the men he put away. Buck had to fight for his chance, and he had to prove every single day that he deserved to be a detective.
Chester March on the other hand, is written to be easily disliked. Friedman made a point of not so subtly highlighting March's psychopathic behavior in almost every interaction set in the past. He paints a pretty picture of being brutalized and framed by Detective Schatz, and does a good job dehumanizing his victims in the American Justice transcripts. It's easy to see why jurors fall for acts like his when sitting in trials, or why society has developed a fascination with serial killers. They're charming and good at making you feel like they're really the victims.
I look forward to reading more of Friedman's work, and hope to find copies of the other Buck Schatz books.
March 25, 2020
Every story has two sides (at least). Daniel Friedman’s Running Out of Road demonstrates this maxim in a compelling, can’t-stop-reading mystery.
On one side, you have retired police detective Buck Schatz, being eviscerated on a national radio program for the way he conducted murder investigations decades ago. Now 90, suffering dementia, reliant on a walker, and struggling to come to terms with his wife’s cancer diagnosis, Buck was a tough-as-nails, get-your-man detective who—albeit in 1960’s style with interrogation techniques—did get Chester March. And radio producer Carlos Watkins is using this old case to pillory the retired officer for the way Buck conducted the March case. You want to cheer for Buck. He’s a no-nonsense investigator driven by his concern for the victims and his desire to seek justice for their families. Justice—for him—means finding the bad guys and getting their convictions.
On the other side is a broken criminal justice system. This is a system that permitted police to lie to suspects before an attorney is present during interrogation, denies the use of new scientific evidence to exonerate the convicted of old crimes, and encourages each layer of the system to endorse the (poor) decisions of the other layers. Chester March, facing execution, is eloquent, sincere, and likeable. He wants his death sentence set aside because of systemic problems. So at the same time you cheer for Buck, you want to rage against a justice system that seems to miscarry justice.
Each chapter sends you on a pendulum-swing of emotions. Daniel Friedman presents both sides of the story, forcing us to ask ourselves if this justice system can, indeed, deliver justice.
But more than this, Running Out of Road is also the story of an elderly couple, facing their own “death sentence” of dementia and illness, trying to make end-of-life decisions when choices seem so limited. Their senior citizen apartment is as small as a prison cell; their food is as bland as that in a prison cafeteria; their options are heartbreaking.
I know this book is one in a series, but it works well as a standalone novel. With that said, I’m now on the lookout for other Buck Schatz mysteries to add to my library!
I won the ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this amazing story!
On one side, you have retired police detective Buck Schatz, being eviscerated on a national radio program for the way he conducted murder investigations decades ago. Now 90, suffering dementia, reliant on a walker, and struggling to come to terms with his wife’s cancer diagnosis, Buck was a tough-as-nails, get-your-man detective who—albeit in 1960’s style with interrogation techniques—did get Chester March. And radio producer Carlos Watkins is using this old case to pillory the retired officer for the way Buck conducted the March case. You want to cheer for Buck. He’s a no-nonsense investigator driven by his concern for the victims and his desire to seek justice for their families. Justice—for him—means finding the bad guys and getting their convictions.
On the other side is a broken criminal justice system. This is a system that permitted police to lie to suspects before an attorney is present during interrogation, denies the use of new scientific evidence to exonerate the convicted of old crimes, and encourages each layer of the system to endorse the (poor) decisions of the other layers. Chester March, facing execution, is eloquent, sincere, and likeable. He wants his death sentence set aside because of systemic problems. So at the same time you cheer for Buck, you want to rage against a justice system that seems to miscarry justice.
Each chapter sends you on a pendulum-swing of emotions. Daniel Friedman presents both sides of the story, forcing us to ask ourselves if this justice system can, indeed, deliver justice.
But more than this, Running Out of Road is also the story of an elderly couple, facing their own “death sentence” of dementia and illness, trying to make end-of-life decisions when choices seem so limited. Their senior citizen apartment is as small as a prison cell; their food is as bland as that in a prison cafeteria; their options are heartbreaking.
I know this book is one in a series, but it works well as a standalone novel. With that said, I’m now on the lookout for other Buck Schatz mysteries to add to my library!
I won the ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this amazing story!
April 17, 2020
A crime novel about a retired cop from Memphis becomes a novel with multiple major societal issues, hot buttons, and book club fodder.
Protagonist Baruch "Buck" Schatz has been diagnosed with dementia. He's almost 90. He uses a walker to get around and his wife of 72 years, Rose, has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Buck gets a call from Carlos Watkins, a reporter doing an NPR American Justice series regarding a major crime bust 35 years ago. The perp is beyond despicable and now on death row, his letters have finally garnered attention. Carlos wants to hear Buck's side of the story before Chester March is executed now also of advanced years.
It gets complex running a narrative unique in POV from Carlos' NPR transcripts to Buck in the current year of 2011, and reverting to the time when March first comes to Buck's attention--1955. Crime fighting was different then--he busted some heads.
The reader gets multiple sides of the story, notes and news documented and saved. Schatz was a decorated police detective. Tough, Jewish, driven, successful. March from privileged white landowners maintained the confession was beaten out of him by Schatz.
Character driven, each passionate about his side promoting their agenda in an eloquent argument. Issues of ageism, racism, and capital punishment.
The storyline progresses from intense to urgent as the full picture begins to converge. A hardboiled novel, no punches pulled, the one issue of age and declining health. There are graphic descriptions of March's crimes and profane language. My only quibble, the account pocked with repeated soap-box oratory.
I received this digital ebook from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book. It was written exceptionally well--brilliant even. The author's writing style is unique, infectious and it bites early and hard--impossible to put down. Book 3 in the series works fine as a standalone.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
Protagonist Baruch "Buck" Schatz has been diagnosed with dementia. He's almost 90. He uses a walker to get around and his wife of 72 years, Rose, has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Buck gets a call from Carlos Watkins, a reporter doing an NPR American Justice series regarding a major crime bust 35 years ago. The perp is beyond despicable and now on death row, his letters have finally garnered attention. Carlos wants to hear Buck's side of the story before Chester March is executed now also of advanced years.
It gets complex running a narrative unique in POV from Carlos' NPR transcripts to Buck in the current year of 2011, and reverting to the time when March first comes to Buck's attention--1955. Crime fighting was different then--he busted some heads.
The reader gets multiple sides of the story, notes and news documented and saved. Schatz was a decorated police detective. Tough, Jewish, driven, successful. March from privileged white landowners maintained the confession was beaten out of him by Schatz.
Character driven, each passionate about his side promoting their agenda in an eloquent argument. Issues of ageism, racism, and capital punishment.
The storyline progresses from intense to urgent as the full picture begins to converge. A hardboiled novel, no punches pulled, the one issue of age and declining health. There are graphic descriptions of March's crimes and profane language. My only quibble, the account pocked with repeated soap-box oratory.
I received this digital ebook from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book. It was written exceptionally well--brilliant even. The author's writing style is unique, infectious and it bites early and hard--impossible to put down. Book 3 in the series works fine as a standalone.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
April 22, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Running Out of Road is the third Buck Schatz mystery by Daniel Friedman. Released 24th March by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This was the first book in the series for me and I was blown away. Main character Buck is almost 90, irascible, plagued with physical problems and losing his mental acuity after nearly half a century of being a sharp, feared, pragmatic detective in the Memphis Police Dept. The writing is simply top notch; the characterizations are incredibly adept, the dialogue is so well written and rings true. The author is a gifted wordsmith. He manages to keep the technical aspects of the disparate time lines clearly delineated and easy to follow despite there being changes in scene, flashbacks to different occurrences over several decades and all of these are interwoven with a fictive NPR radio broadcast transcript. Technically, the writing is simply flawless. The author has such a sure hand with the narrative. I really felt for the characters (almost in spite of myself).
There is quite a lot of discussion of the ethics of the death penalty in the USA which is relevant to the plotline and which was simultaneously enlightening and sad. There are also some graphic descriptions of the actual execution process and physiological responses which might be distressing or traumatic for some readers.
Despite the heavy plot elements, there are genuinely funny and warmly humorous moments. I will absolutely seek out the other books in the series. The author is a fine writer.
Five stars. It's really that well written.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Running Out of Road is the third Buck Schatz mystery by Daniel Friedman. Released 24th March by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This was the first book in the series for me and I was blown away. Main character Buck is almost 90, irascible, plagued with physical problems and losing his mental acuity after nearly half a century of being a sharp, feared, pragmatic detective in the Memphis Police Dept. The writing is simply top notch; the characterizations are incredibly adept, the dialogue is so well written and rings true. The author is a gifted wordsmith. He manages to keep the technical aspects of the disparate time lines clearly delineated and easy to follow despite there being changes in scene, flashbacks to different occurrences over several decades and all of these are interwoven with a fictive NPR radio broadcast transcript. Technically, the writing is simply flawless. The author has such a sure hand with the narrative. I really felt for the characters (almost in spite of myself).
There is quite a lot of discussion of the ethics of the death penalty in the USA which is relevant to the plotline and which was simultaneously enlightening and sad. There are also some graphic descriptions of the actual execution process and physiological responses which might be distressing or traumatic for some readers.
Despite the heavy plot elements, there are genuinely funny and warmly humorous moments. I will absolutely seek out the other books in the series. The author is a fine writer.
Five stars. It's really that well written.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 26, 2020
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance reader edition of the novel. Although this is the third book in the series, it worked as a standalone story without any backstory gaps that some serial stories have. Running Out of Road focuses on our "hero" Buck Schatz, retired detective and general grumpy old man (except he's been grumpy for most of his life as far as I can tell). Not one to mince words and definitely one to push your buttons if he doesn't like you, Buck shouldn't be a charming character, but something about his in your face, be who I'm going to be personality does make him somewhat endearing. His wife must have put up with a lot over the years and we learn early in the story that his memory loss is causing her great anxiety and sorrow. The other story within this story is the impending execution of a man, Chester March, that Buck put on death row decades ago. March has run out of appeals and is scheduled to die unless NPR producer/journalist Carlos Watkins and the prisoner's attorney Ed Heffernan can appeal to the governor and/or make the argument to end death by lethal injection in order to stay the execution. Heffernan argues for this decision on the grounds that the death penalty is flawed, cruel and wrongly practiced by non-medical professionals.
What makes this story interesting is watching the back and forth between present and past, learning about Buck in these earlier years as a detective, his unending dedication to capture and convict March while the reader is making up their own mind about who is right, who is wrong and what is right with regard to executions in general. The story teaches us about the process without being overtly a lecture and without coming down officially on one side or the other. The subject matter is truly serious, but Buck's irreverence and curmudgeon personality keeps it from being maudlin. I have not read this author before, but intend to read the other stories in the series.
What makes this story interesting is watching the back and forth between present and past, learning about Buck in these earlier years as a detective, his unending dedication to capture and convict March while the reader is making up their own mind about who is right, who is wrong and what is right with regard to executions in general. The story teaches us about the process without being overtly a lecture and without coming down officially on one side or the other. The subject matter is truly serious, but Buck's irreverence and curmudgeon personality keeps it from being maudlin. I have not read this author before, but intend to read the other stories in the series.
March 21, 2020
This is one of the more unique series I read. Long-retired Memphis police detective Baruch "Buck" Schatz is nearing the end. He's 90, has to use a walker to get around, lives in a care facility, and is sliding into dementia. His attitude matches his situation -- not great.
His wife Rose's cancer diagnosis pushes him further into oblivion as he keeps "forgetting" that she has a terminal diagnosis.
Buck is a meaty character. A Jewish WWII veteran, he's as tough as they come. There's little he hasn't seen, and he's a hard man. He was passed over for promotions at the Memphis PD for years due to prejudice but he eventually outlasted his detractors, rose through the ranks and had a reputation for being obsessive about bringing in murderers, no matter what it took. And it often took physical violence on Buck's part, something he feels not one shred of guilt about.
Buck finally, after trying for 20 years, put a man named Chester March on Death Row in the mid 1970's. After decades of appeals and legal maneuvering, March's execution date is nearing. The book is split into chapters of interviews of March by a public radio journalist who reports on miscarriages of justice and Buck's narrative, and also comments from an anti-death-penalty attorney working at the last minute.
So there is a thread of Buck's hard-edged view of life, fairness and justice with a bit of softening by his exchanges with Rose. There are the anti capital punishment advocates and their arguments, intelligently presented. There are the interviews with the alleged murderer -- he is a difficult and unsympathetic character. All these strands are expertly braided together in a very compelling narrative. The ending is a bit jarring for several reasons, but I'm assuming that was the intention of the author. A provocative page turner. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
His wife Rose's cancer diagnosis pushes him further into oblivion as he keeps "forgetting" that she has a terminal diagnosis.
Buck is a meaty character. A Jewish WWII veteran, he's as tough as they come. There's little he hasn't seen, and he's a hard man. He was passed over for promotions at the Memphis PD for years due to prejudice but he eventually outlasted his detractors, rose through the ranks and had a reputation for being obsessive about bringing in murderers, no matter what it took. And it often took physical violence on Buck's part, something he feels not one shred of guilt about.
Buck finally, after trying for 20 years, put a man named Chester March on Death Row in the mid 1970's. After decades of appeals and legal maneuvering, March's execution date is nearing. The book is split into chapters of interviews of March by a public radio journalist who reports on miscarriages of justice and Buck's narrative, and also comments from an anti-death-penalty attorney working at the last minute.
So there is a thread of Buck's hard-edged view of life, fairness and justice with a bit of softening by his exchanges with Rose. There are the anti capital punishment advocates and their arguments, intelligently presented. There are the interviews with the alleged murderer -- he is a difficult and unsympathetic character. All these strands are expertly braided together in a very compelling narrative. The ending is a bit jarring for several reasons, but I'm assuming that was the intention of the author. A provocative page turner. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2022
If you enjoyed the first 2 Buck Schatz novels, you will likely enjoy this one. However, the "action," so to speak, takes place in Buck's past when he'd just become a detective and some years later when he had seniority. This revisit of his past is due to the death row appeal of one of the men he helped put into prison; Buck had had run-in's with him twice. Chester March is quite a creepy, self-important, manipulative, and privileged man, who also likely was a serial killer.
Buck is in his 90's and is having some cognitive decline—along with mobility issues, and his wife Rose is facing a serious health issue also. The novel addresses these issues with this couple in a fairly realistic manner, addressing their frustrations. To add to that is an NPR reporter, with an agenda, is covering the death row appeal of Chester March and is determined to interview Buck to get the "whole" story. Fortunately, Buck's grandson, who is studying for the bar exam, intervenes and tells him not to speak with this reporter. The grandson does at one point and the exchange between them about the death penalty, policing, justice, the law, et al is interesting.
Buck does eventually speak with the reporter, but the outcome is not quite what the reporter wanted. And, in general, Buck manages himself well.
This novel deals with some complex social issues and real life issues. It is thought-provoking and does not offer easy answers. I think I know what Friedman's opinion is, but there is a balanced presentation of the various issues. As another reviewer noted, this would be a good book club choice because of the many opportunities for discussion of serious issues—if the members of the book club can manage their discussion.
I'm not sure there will be another Buck Schatz novel, but I'm in if there is.
Buck is in his 90's and is having some cognitive decline—along with mobility issues, and his wife Rose is facing a serious health issue also. The novel addresses these issues with this couple in a fairly realistic manner, addressing their frustrations. To add to that is an NPR reporter, with an agenda, is covering the death row appeal of Chester March and is determined to interview Buck to get the "whole" story. Fortunately, Buck's grandson, who is studying for the bar exam, intervenes and tells him not to speak with this reporter. The grandson does at one point and the exchange between them about the death penalty, policing, justice, the law, et al is interesting.
Buck does eventually speak with the reporter, but the outcome is not quite what the reporter wanted. And, in general, Buck manages himself well.
This novel deals with some complex social issues and real life issues. It is thought-provoking and does not offer easy answers. I think I know what Friedman's opinion is, but there is a balanced presentation of the various issues. As another reviewer noted, this would be a good book club choice because of the many opportunities for discussion of serious issues—if the members of the book club can manage their discussion.
I'm not sure there will be another Buck Schatz novel, but I'm in if there is.
March 25, 2020
Former police detective Buck Schatz is 89 years old and he lives in a retirement facility with his 72-year-old wife, Rose. Meanwhile, after more than 35 years on death row serial killer Chester March has run out of appeals and his execution date has been set. He is the oldest condemned man in the country and an NPR producer has decided to create a series that focuses on the allegation that March’s confession was coerced by Buck. Now Buck, with the help of his grandson, is determined to protect his legacy and his reputation.
Buck is a grumpy, irreverent, and opinionate character who is easy to love and hate at the same time. Chester March, who attempts to play the victim of police brutality, is a psychopath with no redeeming qualities, although whether or not he is guilty of the crime he is convicted of is a decision left up to the reader. The story moves back and forth from the present story in 2011 to the 60’s and 70’s, when Buck, the only Jewish detective on the Memphis police force, tries to build a case against March.
I have enjoyed all of Daniel Friedman’s previous novels and Running Out of Road is no exception. This novel deals with the complexities of the death penalty, aging, dementia, PTSD, and illness. The author has produced a well-written book with memorable characters. The story is thought-provoking, at times entertaining, heartbreaking, and definitely note-worthy. I highly recommend Running Out of Road as well as Mr Friedman’s previous novels featuring Buck Schatz.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
Buck is a grumpy, irreverent, and opinionate character who is easy to love and hate at the same time. Chester March, who attempts to play the victim of police brutality, is a psychopath with no redeeming qualities, although whether or not he is guilty of the crime he is convicted of is a decision left up to the reader. The story moves back and forth from the present story in 2011 to the 60’s and 70’s, when Buck, the only Jewish detective on the Memphis police force, tries to build a case against March.
I have enjoyed all of Daniel Friedman’s previous novels and Running Out of Road is no exception. This novel deals with the complexities of the death penalty, aging, dementia, PTSD, and illness. The author has produced a well-written book with memorable characters. The story is thought-provoking, at times entertaining, heartbreaking, and definitely note-worthy. I highly recommend Running Out of Road as well as Mr Friedman’s previous novels featuring Buck Schatz.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
Read
September 4, 2020 Running out of Road follows 90 year old retired detective and perpetual curmudgeon Baruch "Buck" Schatz as he is once again faced with a case from his past. A crusading journalist has decided to follow the case of death-row inmate Chester March and his appeals for a stay of execution. Chester maintains his innocence and paints himself the victim; could the real villain be the Memphis detective who put him in prison, Buck Schatz?
Friedman has once again written a compulsively readable crime novel, albeit one more concerned with the moral questions of the death penalty than a straight procedural. Most chapters end with excerpts from journalist Carlos Watkins' NPR broadcast, which occasionally can admittedly get a bit preachy/infodumpy at times. Buck himself doesn't come off well in his own flashbacks, as his tactics are often brutal and unwarranted (throwing an ashtray at a suspect comes to mind.) While Watkins veers towards liberal strawman at times, the conclusion is ultimately left to the reader.
Buck comes off this time as less a lovable curmudgeon than stubborn conservative asshole. The age of Trump has certainly poisoned things, and it seems that Friedman has set the story in 2011 partly to avoid the possibility that someone with Buck's views would end up a toxic member of the Trump cult.
As the issue of police brutality continues to be a major issue in our society, the focus on the death penalty here unfortunately seems a bit less timely than it would have a few years ago. That said, I did enjoy the story, and I look forward to Friedman's next installment.
A copy was provided by the publisher
Friedman has once again written a compulsively readable crime novel, albeit one more concerned with the moral questions of the death penalty than a straight procedural. Most chapters end with excerpts from journalist Carlos Watkins' NPR broadcast, which occasionally can admittedly get a bit preachy/infodumpy at times. Buck himself doesn't come off well in his own flashbacks, as his tactics are often brutal and unwarranted (throwing an ashtray at a suspect comes to mind.) While Watkins veers towards liberal strawman at times, the conclusion is ultimately left to the reader.
Buck comes off this time as less a lovable curmudgeon than stubborn conservative asshole. The age of Trump has certainly poisoned things, and it seems that Friedman has set the story in 2011 partly to avoid the possibility that someone with Buck's views would end up a toxic member of the Trump cult.
As the issue of police brutality continues to be a major issue in our society, the focus on the death penalty here unfortunately seems a bit less timely than it would have a few years ago. That said, I did enjoy the story, and I look forward to Friedman's next installment.
A copy was provided by the publisher
December 25, 2022
I listened to this audiobook. This is the third Buck Schatz mystery. I found the first book to be peppered with humor, but as the series progresses it becomes more and more thought provoking and less humorous. Buck is nearly 90 years old and is suffering from dementia. As he deteriorates both mentally and physically his anger increases. He has been married to Rose for nearly 70 years. He is a retired Memphis police detective and he is tough as nails. But what he can’t battle is time and its devastating toll on him and Rose. He is approached by an NPR reporter who is examining the case of a man who has been on death row in Tennessee for 35 years and is finally facing execution. Buck was responsible for catching this serial killer. The focus of the reporting is the death penalty and whether it is cruel and unusual. Buck refuses to participate in the series and Buck’s grandson who is studying to pass the Bar helps him avoid the intrepid reporter. The book tells the story of how Chester March was captured, charged, and convicted of multiple murders by Buck’s dogged deteriorating to bring him to justice. Buck was no stranger to violence and did not hesitate to come down hard on Chester. Did Buck do the right thing? Is the death penalty really cruel? The story is told by interviews with the convicted killer, commentary by the reporter and the law professor trying to get the execution stopped, and by Buck’s recollections. I found the book poignant and disturbing. I wasn’t sure how I felt when I finished reading. Buck’s plight is sad. His past created who he is and he isn’t always sympathetic. It gives me pause.
May 25, 2020
I completely loved the first Buck Schatz mystery and really liked the second. When I was offered a free copy of the new, unexpected third installment right before the holidays, I was thrilled. I thought I had the ideal book for my birthday getaway right after New Year's.
Then I started it and learned that Buck, pushing 90 and still trying his best to swagger with the use of a walker, is living with memory problems now. Honestly, there is no mystery device I dislike more than the detective who can't remember, or is for any reason an unreliable narrator. It's almost never as clever as the author thinks it is. Also, Buck's wife, Rose, has terminal cancer.
I'm not a content warning kind of person, but this was not the book for me at that moment. I gave it a try, but Buck's irascibility just read as unkindness. I put it aside.
I still wanted to read it, though. I gave it another try.
Once I was able to put aside my reservations, I couldn't put it down. It's fast paced and fascinating. Moving, too. Once again, Friedman raises questions about the place of the tough guy in the modern world, this time with an added debate about the ethicality of the death penalty. Whatever position you take, I think there is some real food for thought here.
My concerns about Buck's memory problems were also unfounded. Friedman uses them to give insight into Buck's psyche, not as un unnecessary plot complication. It works.
Once again, highly recommended. If we visit this family again, though - and I hope we do - I hope Tequila is our guide.
Then I started it and learned that Buck, pushing 90 and still trying his best to swagger with the use of a walker, is living with memory problems now. Honestly, there is no mystery device I dislike more than the detective who can't remember, or is for any reason an unreliable narrator. It's almost never as clever as the author thinks it is. Also, Buck's wife, Rose, has terminal cancer.
I'm not a content warning kind of person, but this was not the book for me at that moment. I gave it a try, but Buck's irascibility just read as unkindness. I put it aside.
I still wanted to read it, though. I gave it another try.
Once I was able to put aside my reservations, I couldn't put it down. It's fast paced and fascinating. Moving, too. Once again, Friedman raises questions about the place of the tough guy in the modern world, this time with an added debate about the ethicality of the death penalty. Whatever position you take, I think there is some real food for thought here.
My concerns about Buck's memory problems were also unfounded. Friedman uses them to give insight into Buck's psyche, not as un unnecessary plot complication. It works.
Once again, highly recommended. If we visit this family again, though - and I hope we do - I hope Tequila is our guide.
March 23, 2020
Chester March is finally, after 35 years on death row, about to be executed and Carlos Watkins is making a podcast about him. His effort opens up a can of worms for Buck Schatz, who twice arrested March for murder and who is convinced he committed other crimes for which he has not paid. Schatz is 90, tottering, and trying hard to cope with the news that Rose, his wife, has lymphoma. Does he have dementia or is his issue more psychological? There are some wonderful meditations on being 90 here (will make you look at elders differently). Did Buck coerce confessions and is March about to be unfairly executed? You'll watch the story turn as it goes on but what doesn't change is Watkins' view, as well as that of March's attorney, that capital punishment, no matter for whom, is wrong. Friedman has taken care to lay out a lot of information about the theory and practice of capital punishment; what you read may or may not change your mind (even Carlos, who takes a whoppingly political viewpoint near at the end, admits that). I don't know how I've missed this series and thus very much thank the publisher for the ARC. This blends history, crimes, sociology, and so on into a novel that is not at all what I thought it would be when I started it. It's an excellent read.
April 3, 2020
"But somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, I can sometimes forget enough to still believe I am the man I was. In my mind, in those moments, I'm still Buck Schatz."
Buck Schatz is a former Memphis detective, retired for decades.
Almost ninety, physically frail and suffering the onset of dementia, his wife of seventy two years, Rose, has been diagnosed with cancer.
The once tough Jewish detective is contacted by Carlos Watkins, a producer for National Public Radio, about a past case of his.
After thirty five years being on death row, serial killer Chester March is given an execution date.
Largely convicted due to Buck's perseverance, he now maintains his confession was coerced.
Buck feels his character and standing are being maligned, threatening to tarnish his legacy.
This book brought out so many mixed emotions in me. Parts of it I really loved and others just depressed the hell out of me!
Extremely well written, a grim look at aging, illness and the death penalty.
By turns humorous, cantankerous and politically incorrect, Buck is not an easy character to like.
Though this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Buck Schatz is a former Memphis detective, retired for decades.
Almost ninety, physically frail and suffering the onset of dementia, his wife of seventy two years, Rose, has been diagnosed with cancer.
The once tough Jewish detective is contacted by Carlos Watkins, a producer for National Public Radio, about a past case of his.
After thirty five years being on death row, serial killer Chester March is given an execution date.
Largely convicted due to Buck's perseverance, he now maintains his confession was coerced.
Buck feels his character and standing are being maligned, threatening to tarnish his legacy.
This book brought out so many mixed emotions in me. Parts of it I really loved and others just depressed the hell out of me!
Extremely well written, a grim look at aging, illness and the death penalty.
By turns humorous, cantankerous and politically incorrect, Buck is not an easy character to like.
Though this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews