Hands Up

by Stephen Clark

Officer Ryan Quinn, a rookie raised in a family of cops, is on the fast track to detective until he shoots an unarmed black male. Now, with his career, reputation and freedom on the line, he embarks on a quest for redemption that forces him to confront his fears and biases and choose between conscience or silence.

Jade Wakefield is an emotionally damaged college student living in one of Philadelphia’s worst neighborhoods. She knows the chances of getting an indictment against the cop who killed her brother are slim. When she learns there’s more to the story than the official police account, Jade is determined, even desperate, to find out what really happened. She plans to get revenge by any means necessary.

Kelly Randolph, who returns to Philadelphia broke and broken after abandoning his family ten years earlier, seeks forgiveness while mourning the death of his son. But after he’s thrust into the spotlight as the face of the protest movement, his disavowed criminal past resurfaces and threatens to derail the family’s pursuit of justice.

Ryan, Jade, and Kelly–three people from different worlds—are on a collision course after the shooting, as their lives interconnect and then spiral into chaos.

Genres: Fiction, Drama

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2019

About the author

Stephen Clark is a former award-winning journalist who served as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and as a politics editor for the Washington, D.C. bureau of FoxNews.com. Stephen grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and now lives in North Jersey with his wife and two kids.

Reviews

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

“He never got a chance to become a man because some officer decided to be judge, jury and executioner.They need to arrest that cop, whoever he is.”

★ I would like to start by thanking the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinions on this one.

★ When I first saw the synopsis for this one, it reminded me of The Hate U Give and after reading it, I can see why I thought that. I am not saying this is a copy of that but this is also a shooting story where the victim is black and the officer who shot him was white. The story is told from 3 characters POV: Ryan which was written in 1st person POV and then we have Jade and Kelly both written in 3rd person POV. I don’t know why the author chose to do this because I did not feel it had a positive impact on the story but to be fair, it did not have a negative impact either.

★ The plot seems more mature and more realistic than the one in THUG and I encourage people who like that book to read this one. THUG definitely had a lot of buzz and it did get that for good reasons. I think this one is not less important and that it should be read by more readers. The thing I like is that the author added both the officer’s and victim’s family’s POV rather than one of them and then it presented facts and you as a reader can choose what to think for yourself. I felt that the author’s job as a journalist helped keeping it bias-free and I love that. I don’t like when books have the good vs bad guys in those kind of stories because we know life is way more complex than that!

★ I am not usually a guy who talks about TW but I think it is worth mentioning there are quite a few things that are dealt with here, including: Racism, shooting, death, drugs, cheating and others. This is definitely not a light read.

★ The characters felt real and I loved to see how they think and what they felt, a thing that the author succeeded in doing. What knocks out a few stars is the romance in this book! I felt whenever romance was involved it was weird, very fast and not very believable for me. Maybe some things were done for the sake of surprise but I would say it had more of a negative rather than a positive impact on the story for me!

“You didn’t accuse me of being a tough cop. You accused me of being a racist cop. But you’re the racist. And I will never ever apologize for being a white man”

★ Summary: A good book with important topics to discuss through multiple fleshed out characters and good pacing. The romance was not my cup of tea but the story was, can recommend for fans of THUG and crime stories!

You can get more books from Book Depository

[Irena BookDustMagic]

Full review to come.

I usually always rate books but this time, even though I think it was a really good book, I don't feel comfortable doing it because of personal reasons.

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 3 out of 5]

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I was so happy when the author, Stephen Clark, approached me and offered to send me a copy of his book, Hands Up, for me to read and provide an honest review. I also felt great responsibility, because this books speaks about some very important, very relevant, and very, unfortunately, sad topics that are currently happening in the world.

Synopsis:

Police officer Ryan Quinn, raised in a family of cops, shoots an unarmed black male. His career and his freedom are now in jeopardy, as he embarks on a journey for redemption.

Jade Wakefield is a student, whose brother just got shot by the police. And she is determined to find the cop who did this and get their revenge.

Kelly Randolph abandoned his family ten years ago. But when his son’s death brings him home, he seeks forgiveness and wants to make amends. But the dark past he thought he left behind for good is still here to haunt him.

My Thoughts:

Hands Up is a very difficult read for me to write a review for. Throughout the book, we follow these three people’s perspectives. Ryan’s point of view is in first person, while Jade and Kelly’s perspectives are in third. This took me a while to get adjusted to, and it doesn’t affect the story much, apart from the fact that it caught my curiosity. I wonder what the author’s intention was behind this choice.

Hands Up is a fast-paced read. As soon as I dived into it, it pulled me into the story, and I finished it in no time. The chapters swapped between the characters quite seamlessly, which was quite enjoyable. And I have to admit, I did enjoy it, and I do recommend it for you to pick it up. It has some major issues that bothered me, which I will speak about further below, but ultimately, I think that the intention of this book was on point, and for that sole purpose it needs to go out in the world and raise awareness.

I felt like the book’s intentions and the idea behind the police brutality and Black Lives Matter movement were great. We need more books that will speak up on these subjects. This year has been extremely important for so many black people. And people are slowly starting to educate themselves, and becoming more aware of the racism and discrimination happening around us every single day. It is far from over, but people are starting to speak up, and things are slowly beginning to shift. However, I think that it was poorly executed. The book is written in such a way that it didn’t provoke feelings in me. Feelings I was hoping it would. It felt as if I was reading a news report, rather than a story that affects people’s lives, feelings and thoughts.

The other issue I had were the characters.

All the characters were stereotypical. And I hoped that at least, maybe they would change throughout the story, throughout their experiences. Work on their issues and prejudices, and overcome it, but they didn’t.

The cop is white and he is the killer. The dad is black and a gang member who left his family. The daughter is a girl with no future, relying on violence. And this made me angry, because I know many black fathers who are amazing and don’t abandon their families. And many bright young black women who are doing extremely well in life and in their studies. Many white people that are not killers, and many white people that are bullies.

Ever since I was little, I was taught to see people for good and bad. That no colour, no race, no religion and no nationality should define people’s characters. And I would have let this pass, if people changed throughout the book. But they didn’t. The white cop tried to find redemption, but ended up failing in the end. The black dad returned to his bad past again. The daughter relied on violence and revenge yet again. The only character that I had respect for was Regina, the victim’s mother. She felt the most realistic of them all, and I could connect with her as a character and feel her pain. I wish we had more scenes with her. I believe that her point of view would have been quite beneficial to the story.

Another issue I had was a certain romantic relationship that developed throughout the book.

SPOILER ALERT IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH:

The victim’s sister fell in love with the cop. And this troubled me, for many reasons. She was actively seeking revenge for her brother’s death. Then she found out who he was. And two nights later, they were in love. I think that such relationship can’t develop so fast in normal circumstances. I won’t even get into how impossible it would be in these circumstances. It was too fast and too unrealistic for me

SPOILER FINISHED.

That is why I am so troubled with my review of Hands Up. For me, it wasn’t the typical book I’d pick up and enjoy. It had many issues. But it was very important. The Black Lives Matter movement is so damn important. Which is why I urge you to pick this book up and give it a chance. The issues that it speaks of are around us, and awareness should be raised.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Stephen Clark for providing me with a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!

Hands Up is Clark's second novel. It is a mix of police procedural, black lives matter activism, political, and social commentary - tackling the highly controversial topics of white on black shootings, police brutality, casual and overt racism, gang violence, complicated family ties, and confronting one's own fears and biases.

*Synopsis omitted for GoodReads*

So the story is told from the three alternating points of view of Ryan, Jade, and Kelly, and the book puts us in Ryan's head as his story is the only one told from the first person POV. Ryan is immediately painted as a bit of a crooked cop, then I found myself with a very neutral to indifferent attitude towards him throughout the rest of the book. The three characters are, as the synopsis says, essentially on a collision course.

The story and plot itself kept me rapidly reading throughout. I didn't so much care for Kelly's point of view except for how he seems to represent the circle of violence coming to an end. Then starting again. Uncovering how the shooting actually occurred and following the family's quest for justice both seemed real enough. I could respect Regina (the victim's mother) for originally not wanting to be in the spotlight, and Gail represented that loud minority of people who blow these things sky high. Regina was probably my favorite character in the whole book as she had some of the most reasonable lines and felt like the most relatable character to me.

The whole book from the family ties to the protests was pretty excellent until the romance aspect - I will not elaborate due to spoilers but even though I could tell and appreciate what the author was trying to do, it didn't work for me. it didn't seem plausible. Ryan doesn't seem like the type who would be on such a moral high ground, then act with frank infidelity no matter how you spin it, then act on impulses like that? It worked for the plot but really threw me from reality to …. "really?"

Also the second huge twist at the ending, would Ryan really trust Jade after that? The ending just seemed so implausible that It dropped me from a five to about a three star. Still though, the book is important and feels very necessary in today's world. It is a brave and diverse topic to handle and I think it was done well, both sides were represented with equal biases, and it was even nice that the pastor in the book mentions that blacks are killing more blacks than white cops. The book recognizes where the real problems in society lie, and acknowledges that a few very loud people can absolutely blow up an issue that is definitely important, but maybe not the biggest overall thing that people are facing at the time.

Even with the ending throwing me off so hard, I think I can tell that Clark was a journalist because my mind is pretty clear on what issues are relevant to him. I feel like this review is a jumble but I fully encourage everyone to read this book. I have daily opportunities at work to examine my thoughts and feelings on various peoples and situations, but this book could be so important for those who don't have that chance. Especially in America where there is so much debate over these issues and a sense of unity is needed more than ever.

Thank you again to the author for providing a copy of the book for review! At least as of 11/21/19 the book is free on Kindle Unlimited so I would really encourage everyone to check it out!

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars*

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Stephen Clark’s Hands Up, presented as a crime thriller I’m not sure that would be the correct description – this is more in the way of crime and character drama, with psychological elements and human tragedy laid bare.

This is multi arc, told in both first and third person, a clever way of linking the reader to different characters in different ways. Themes of racial profiling, tension and assumptions, runs through the narrative as we see the affects of a police shooting on three people central to it.

Jade’s fight for justice and revenge whilst fighting her own inner demons is very compelling, then we have Kelly, finding himself thrust into the limelight as the voice of protest and Ryan, the shooter, desperately trying to understand how it came to this.

These three are all engaging and the author explores motives and prejudices well, asking the difficult questions and making you, the reader, consider what the answers may be. I was fully immersed and the writing is very good.

I think more show less tell could have honed things more, Hands Up showcases an author who is one to watch, certainly the storytelling and grasp of emotion is excellent- pare down, focus in and lose some of the white noise and you’d have a near perfect read. Having said that Hands Up is a very good and thought provoking story, I’ll look forward to seeing what Stephen Clark does next.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hands Up by Stephen Clark is a fictional crime novel.

First, let me thank the author for reaching out and providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Ryan Quinn is rookie police officer in Philadelphia.  His mentor, Sgt. Greg Byrnes is an older officer, and a family friend.  When they pull over a young black man, Ryan's world is changed forever.  Young Tyrell Wakefield is shot dead.

Jade is Tyrell's older sister, who is determined to find out what really happened to her brother.  She will do whatever she has to.

Kelly,  father to Jade, Tyrell, and Donte, returns to Philadelphia after a ten year absence to try to re-unite his family, and get justice for Tyrell.   Unfortunately, his past actions makes the reunion doubtful.


My Opinions:   

This was a very uncomfortable read for me.  First, I do not enjoy books about politics, racial discrimination, or lawsuits (or romance).  When the author approached me, I must have had my head in the clouds.  I try to read a fair number of debut novels, and quite a few mostly-unknown authors.  So I often accept books I shouldn't.  This is one book I should have refused.  However, since I accepted it, I felt I owed Stephen Clark an honest review.  I have tried hard to put my personal feelings aside....and I know I have not succeeded.

Basically, the book is about racism, police brutality and corruption, gangs, media sensationalism.  It is also about how the families on both sides of the law deal with the aftermath of a young black man being shot by a white policeman.

First off, I didn't like any of the characters.  None.  To say they were flawed is an understatement.  Some were just ignorant, some naive, some greedy, some spiteful, some plainly racist, and some just confused.  Everyone had their own agenda, and I often felt that the victim got lost in the shuffle.

Of course, my main problem was the topic of the book.  It is not something I wanted to read about -- especially in a fictional story.  I can turn on the news and see the real repercussions of a black youth being shot by police -- if I want to....or I can read an autobiographical book about the topic -- if I want to.  I don't need a fiction novel to know there is still racism out there.  When I read, I sometimes just want to bury my head in the sand and enjoy the story.  I am entitled to do that.  What I watch on the news is my decision....so is what I read.  Again, I shouldn't have read this one.  It just angers me, and I feel it exploits an already volatile situation.  This was probably the worst time to read a fictional novel that seems to echo real-life events (although the author apparently thinks this is a great time to read it -- he told me so).

All that being said, the book is actually a very fast and easy read.  The writing was good. Chapters alternated between characters, and that worked very well to tell this story.  The characters had depth.  It's not a really deep read, but you can tell the author was a journalist in another life.  He definitely made sure he told all sides to this story.   About half way through, I thought, okay, it's getting better.  Then....the romance angle was beyond being believable.

So, although this book was not for me,  I am sure there are others will love it.



For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

www.bookread2day.wordpress.com

I’m confirming to all you suspense crime readers, Stephen Clark is your man as a new crime writer I’m introducing to you, Hands Up that is a crime story based around two policemen.

One policeman Ryan Quinn says I’m not a murderder. When policemen Ryan and his partner Sgt Greg Byrnes, stop a black man for driving with no lights on, they order nineteen year old Tyrell out of his car. When Ryan shoots dead Tyrell, it could lead Ryan and Greg in trouble. They both must take action between them and sum up what they both going to say when questioned, knowing full well that there will be a huge dispute or just a simple investigation about this incident.

Ryan’s confession is that Tyrell refused to show Greg his identification and he punched officer Greg knocking his gun loose, so the officer Ryan shot the suspect as the suspect reached for the gun.
From ambitious policemen, to the other side of this fatal shooting. Tyrell’s family are grieving over their lost of him. The family are in full support of Tyrell, they know full well that Tyrell isn’t the type of young man to want to grab a gun and believe that being black the cops shot him.

What is the truth here? And what will the outcome be?

What I most particularly liked about this police drama is that we don’t only get to see what the police incident, but we go through inside to the lives of the family that are not only grieving for Tyrell, but the fight they have, arguing that the cops must have been wrong shooting Tyrell to death.

I would like to thank the author Stephen Clark for sending me this paperback to read and review. I'm so grateful as I loved every single word, every sentence, every single chapter and every page. Most of all every character was most enjoyable to read about. Never a dull moment. Very honestly I highly recommend reading Hands Up. I'd love to read more books by author Stephen Clark.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read that took a couple twist I didn't see coming. Can't stand Jades ass. Wish it would have ended different.

[Debra K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, this was a great read! I had not really expected this to go as deep into moral and social issues, than it did, which took me my surprise.

We follow Officer Ryan Quinn who unfortunately gets into an 'incident' when pulling down someone driving with his partner. One thing leads to another and he ends up shooting an unarmed black male. The story he is telling to everyone may not be the story of what actually happened. We follow Ryan as he learns to live with what he has done and comes to terms with what really happened and whether he should come clean with the true story of what happened that time.

For me, the best part was the characters and how they interacted with each other - some good and some bad. You have the officers involved, including Officer Ryan Quinn, you have the family of the unfortunate person who was shot and then you have the family and friends around Officer Ryan Quinn.

This kept me at the edge of my seat not only for what was going to happen next but to see how each of the characters would react to what was put in front of them.

The author's writing style was also easy to read and set the right pace for how the story should flow as you read it. I would not hesitate in recommending this book to everyone!


For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe

Debs :-)

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/26/2020)! 🎁

[Meg Orton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Stephen Clark the author kindly sent me a copy of his novel in exchange for an honest review.

“Hands up, don’t shoot!” “Black men are an endangered species” “Black Lives Matter”

I will not pretend to know all about American politics and the racial struggles faced in the US by thousands of people every day. Having watched the news and being someone who considers themselves fairly well-read I am aware of the heinous crimes committed by white American policeman towards African American citizens. I do however come from a country (South Africa) that has infamously displayed gross levels of racial injustice, and I am therefore not unaware of the violence and cruelties people of color face daily. That being said it is not enough to simply say that you are aware of racism and protests and the Black Lives Matter movement and the constant reference to a world where the phrase ‘white privilege’ is a real thing. The struggle between races will always be just that, a struggle, because we refuse to put ourselves in a position that allows us to see the whole picture. Not just a fraction of the truth, but the whole truth. In so many ways writing these stories is what gets that all important conversation going. As heart-breaking as the stories are they are not even close to what the reality feels like to the victims and those left behind.

Stephen Clark’s novel begins with the killing of a young African American man whose name, Tyrell Wakefield, will become a name everyone will remember. Fatally shot by two white policemen after a so-called routine patrol, the incident will become national news within minutes after the shooting. The two policemen involved, Ryan Quinn and Greg Byrnes will have their names kept secret from the public and the victim’s family.

Ryan Quinn, the rookie cop who was responsible for shooting Tyrell struggles with the guilt of what happened, whilst his partner Byrnes is suspiciously nonchalant despite having a clear history of being racist and violent in the past. Both are put on suspension, and both deal with the repercussions of that night in very different ways.

At the other end of the tragedy is Tyrell’s family. His sister Jade who was incredibly close to Tyrell was waiting for her brother to pick her up from work the night he was shot. Jade’s determination to discover the truth, as well as her endearing toughness make her the most likeable protagonist in a novel that showcases a number of anti-heroes. Besides Tyrell’s mother Regina and younger brother Donte who are of course gutted by the untimely death of Tyrell, Kelly Randolph, the Wakefield kid’s father returns to North Philadelphia after a ten year absence to seek revenge for his son’s death. Kelly, a former gangster, left Regina and the children many years ago and tries his best to fall back into his family’s good graces. Jade refuses to accept that her father has changed and goes off in search of the truth on her own, leaving her absent father to make amends with Regina and Donte.

Back at the precinct Ryan’s disillusionment with his partner and the fatal night leave questions open for the reader constantly as it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Clark has a clear knack for creating empathy for his characters, and it is hard not to feel torn apart by their individual suffering.

This novel, written by Clark whose impeccable language though faultless, is not without a few clichéd and convoluted plot points. However this in no way deters from the overall sense of hopelessness and disillusionment the characters experience which could very likely be Clark’s intention as racial profiling is in itself an act of generalization. As a society we have become desensitized to brutal acts of violence and the constant examples of hypocrisy displayed by people in authority. Throughout the novel Clark addresses other issues such as alcoholism, self-harming, homelessness, religious redemption, police brutality and morality as an open-ended concept. Clark’s portrayal of Philadelphia is also noteworthy for its role in aiding the racial divide. I have always marveled at an author’s ability to transform a character’s location into a character of its own, and Clark succeeds at this perfectly.

With impeccable grace, a host of well-rounded characters and a surprising ending, Stephen Clark gives voice to a story told often but not nearly enough.

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read all my review on Blog - Books Teacup and Reviews

4.5 Stars

Hands Up was thought provoking adult fiction that revolved around three characters tied by tragedy. It was about Police brutality, injustice, racism, loss and grief, depression, betrayal and guilt.

Writing was smooth, gripping and realistic. The setting of Philadelphia and characters were well described. Story was first person narrative from Jade, Ryan and Kelly’s POV. It showed their life and view point perfectly, how death of teenage black boy, Tyrell, affected them and changed their life. We see the story from perpetrator, estranged father who saw it chance to return back with his family, and family’s emotions and hardship. I don’t have anything different from synopsis to say. That synopsis perfectly described how the book started. How three different characters were tied by the death of Tyrell.

From the very beginning it was clear Ryan shot Tyrell; Tyrell looked innocent; Ryan’s partner, Greg, fiftyish senior patrol officer and father figure to him was racist, dishonest man and was more to blame; and what they said to authorities was a manipulated lie. The question was what exactly happened that night and why they shot Tyrell and if Tyrell’s family will get justice?

This was character driven story packed with emotions and many serious, thought-provoking, and controversial topics- Corruption, police brutality that destroyed life and victim’s family; horrors of street- drug addicts, drug dealers, gang feud that robbed people of family and freedom; how loss and grief affects everyone differently; protest and violence, prejudice and racial belief and how some blame whole community for act of one person, suicidal attempts and self-injury, sexual and racial harassment.

Ryan is dealing with unresolved anger and mindset against black people after his father’s death. He felt guilty and ashamed for killing Tyrell. He couldn’t feel good even when he found he and Greg could get away with what they did. The more time passed, he felt dirtier and guiltier. He was having panic attacks and nightmares. Seeking redemption, fighting his fear and biases was only way he could see to have peace. He was not perfect cop with morally right person but his conscience was right. He knew he did wrong but it took time to realize he was keeping bad company. I didn’t like how his mother and girlfriend were being racially biased and didn’t care for the Wakefield family. I loved his development and all he did for redemption and the way he faced his fear was admirable.

Jade was damaged person. Decade ago when her father left them, it changed their life, affected her emotionally and mentally. It caused her depression and she gotinto habit of self-injury. When her brother died, her depression and self-injury got worse, her only hope and salvation was to get justice for her brother. But on return of her father, Kelly, it heightened. She too was racially biased towards white and white cops. She was desperate to get justice and revenge which was realistic but what happened after she got the name of Tyrell’s killer, was bit implausible. I couldn’t understand her anger against Kelly at first. She was not just disappointed and angry for him being unfaithful to her mother or being gangster or missed father as a child, but it looked more than that. She literally hated him. When the truth behind it was revealed I was shocked. Shocked she had to live with it, shocked even after all that happened her mother, Regina, was letting Kelly even near her family. Anyway, I liked her but I didn’t appreciate what she did in the end.

Kelly was boke and broken ex-gangster who abandoned Regina and their children a decade ago for another woman. When he got news of Tyrell’s death, he returned for his funeral, get justice, support Regina, get back in their life as family and to look after his remaining children. Sure Regina didn’t succumb to his nice talk and guilty and sad expression but he surely acted a changed man. Even at some point I thought he made terrible mistake and paid by losing son and their family could forgive him eventually. But as story unfolded, I could see real picture. Now was he really changed or circumstances drove him to other direction can be a good discussion here. But let’s just say he was not easy to figure out. While I liked how he felt sorry for his mistakes and tried to go on better path, at the same time I didn’t like few things. I mean how he could expect everybody would forgive him so easily and then once he gained trust, he started bossing around in Regina’s house. I really don’t like cocky man who have ego screaming ‘I’m man of the house and everybody should do as I say and follow my rules’. At the end I don’t like him, he was no better than Ryan.

There was so much to these characters and I loved to hear their story and form my own opinion towards them. They all were flawed, realistic and were fighting their own demons. Some could concur it while some failed terribly.

There were many turns in the story that kept it interesting, thinking what happens next, and figuring out all the possibilities. Romance was biggest turn in the book. It was totally unexpected but gave the story a dramatic touch.

At climax I thought they could escape but nothing could prepare me for that twist. It was clever and at the same time shocking. While the end seem fair, at the same time I didn’t want it to end like this. It was heartbreaking and so sad because there could be other way like they kept saying in book.

Why 4.5 stars-

I kept thinking, ‘didn’t characters forgive so easily after the biggest betrayal’! I surely wouldn’t have forgiven any of them. And romance, I was like ‘whoa, who does that’! It was good and important turning point, but again, ‘who does that’! Honestly, it was implausible.

Overall, it was powerful, compelling and gripping fiction that dealt with controversial topics commendably. I definitely recommend this book for those who love to read thought provoking book.

*** Note: I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to author. ***

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways this book was not at all what I expected. Obviously, the shooting of Tyrel (the “unarmed black male”) and its aftermath are the majority of the story. I expected to have my thoughts get provoked, seeing possibilities in this kind of situation that I had never thought of previously. I wasn’t sure whether I’d think Ryan (the policeman who shot Tyrel) was getting a raw deal or be pulling for him to get locked up, but I was convinced it would be one of those. Given those choices my thoughts never had a chance to solidify on one or the other. Things were never that clear cut. (Maybe more like real life?) The story kept taking directions I’d have never predicted right up to the couple unexpected twists at the very end.

At points in the story I questioned how realistic certain parts were, but then managed to stifle my disbelief and keep on reading. And yes, it got me thinking around some of the social issues of the day as I expected, but instead of making me think I’d found answers, it helped me realize that this kind of story can be more complicated than it appears. In the end this was an interesting, entertaining, and yes, thought-provoking read.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is told from three different perspectives and I think this worked extremely well. The sister, who was close to her brother, lashes out in anger. The absent father comes home to redeem himself. The police officer, whose complicated experience with racial issues leaves him drowning in guilt and alcohol. I found sympathy, lost sympathy and fought incredulity at different parts in the book.

More of my thoughts are here...https://stacybuckeye.com/2020/01/13/h...

[Terry Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.

An interesting crime novel that's more psychological drama than thriller. It centres around Ryan Quinn, a police officer who shoots and kills Tyrell Wakefield, a young black man pulled over in a routine traffic enquiry—or is it? As the story progresses, we become more aware of racial profiling within the police, and especially that of Quinn's partner, Greg. More sinisterly, this same bigotry is present within the 'civilian' white families we meet in this book.

Also centre stage are Jade, Tyrell's sister, and Kelly, his estranged father. The story is written from these three points of view; Quinn is written in the first person, which totally worked for me, with Jade and Kelly in the third. This also worked, I think, better than if Kelly and Jade had been in the first person as well. They were all three-dimensional; Kelly, in particular, alternated in my head between being a basically decent guy who wanted to make up for some wrong choices in life, and an opportunistic creep.

I very much liked how the truth about what happened that night, from Quinn's point of view, came out only gradually, and that we saw the emotional effects of the case from all three sides.

When I began to read the book the first thing that struck me was that the author can certainly write; I was drawn in, immediately, though the first ten per cent includes a fair bit of telling-not-showing (when the writer tells the reader how someone is feeling/what their personality is like, rather than showing it in dialogue and actions), and, throughout, there is too much mundane detail—we don't always need, for instance, to know what people were wearing, unless relevant, what they ate in restaurants (ditto), or how someone got from A to B. I read in the notes at the back that the author is a (most successful) journalist, and this is evident; now and again, I felt as though he needed to be reminded that a novel's flow can be improved by the omission of detail, rather than the inclusion of every fact.

Mostly, the plot kept me interested throughout, though I didn't think the romantic involvement between Quinn and another character towards the end of the book was necessary; a friendship/sympathetic connection would have been enough, and more realistic; that it happened made both characters less credible, to me. I also felt that Quinn's previous romantic entanglement was too quickly and neatly disposed of.

On the whole, though, I liked this novel, and it has a lot going for it. The issues of racial prejudice and police corruption were dealt with well, and though none of the characters were likeable, they were all fairly compelling. I think that if Mr Clark were to learn the art of ruthless pruning during redrafts and observe how other writers create tension, he could produce something most memorable.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

HANDS UP is a timely novel because of the very real increase in the number of police shootings of unarmed, young black men in the United States. 

HANDS UP begins with Tyrell Wakefield being shot by rookie police officer Ryan Quinn. According to the police, the young man had punched Ryan's older partner and was attempting to grab his gun.

However, Tyrell's sister, Jade, finds that story very unlikely, as does her mother. So, Jade is determined to find out what really happened.

When Jade's maternal Aunt turns Tyrell's death into a #BlackLivesMatter rallying cry, the press get ahold of the story and it becomes bigger than Jade ever expected. It also brings an unexpected person back into the lives of Jade and the rest of her family and he is definitely NOT welcome.

Meanwhile, Ryan Quinn is horrified with what he has done. He never wanted to shoot anyone and he has never thought of himself as the racist monster he is being portrayed as. In fact, his police officer father was killed in the line of duty when Ryan was young, so he is accutely aware of the pain caused by losing a loved one to gun violence. Now, Ryan has a decision to make. Should he be loyal to the police and his partner? Or should he follow his heart and his conscience?

I enjoyed this book even more than I had anticipated. I had some idea of how the tale would unfold, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is not a predictable read and author Stephen Clark has created characters of depth and complexity.

In addition to the obvious issue of police shootings, several other social issues are also part of this story. In my opinion, this makes the story seem even more realistic. Police shootings do not happen in a vacuum and there are almost always several factors that contribute to the tragedy.
In DON'T SHOOT, racism by the police is not the only problem. The area in which the shooting takes place is poverty-stricken due to lack of education and employment opportunities, gang violence, a lack of social programs and much more.

On top of the above problems, this story also talks about homelessness, single parenting, divorce, abandonment, addiction, cutting, and even suicide. The author does a fabulous job of describing these issues and how each of them has affected the lives of the characters, and how a single issue can affect different individuals in different ways.

With non-stop action, current events, exquisitely complicated characters and a twisting plot, HANDS UP is a fantastic and must read, newly released novel.

This IS most definitely a book worthy of being on your "To Read" list. In fact, I will not be surprised when HANDS UP becomes an award-winning novel. 

I rate this book as 4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book.

Check out my full review at
http://bit.ly/HandsUpBook

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure what category this fits into, it’s a social commentary, a police procedural, and a domestic drama. But it doesn’t matter really, what does matter is that it’s rather brilliant.

Ryan is a cop, he’s only been in the job a year and he’s partnered with Greg a long standing, experience cop. Oh and he’s abhorrently racist.

One day, Greg decides to pull over a young black guy, just because he wants to. Tyrell is unarmed, but Greg causes an altercation and as a result, Ryan shoots and kills Tyrell. Together they create a story, that Tyrell assaulted Greg, that Ryan believed he had managed to get Greg’s gun and so was left with no choice but to shoot.

Jade is Tyrell’s sister, and cannot believe he would ever have hit a cop. She has her own issues with self harm.

Kelly, is Jade and Tyrell’s estranged dad, he left when they were young and he’s now back and wants to help.

The story is told from Ryan, Kelly and Jade’s perspectives, it tells of their emotions and thoughts and how they can come to terms with this killing….or not!

Ryan is plagued with guilt, has panic attacks and wants to do the right thing, but he’s scared.

Jade is a mess, she wants the truth.

Kelly, he’s a homeless, ex gang member who’s now straight, but he’s angry.

This is a very topical tale of young black men being shot by police in America arbitrarily. I cannot imagine the intense emotions and fear this must cause. It highlights too, the #BlackLivesMatter movement and how high emotions run as people see the injustices happening in everyday life.

Here in the UK our cops do not routinely carry guns, so while it would be incredibly naive of me to say racism does not exist in the UK police, they do not kill young men on the streets, a daily occurrence in the US it seems. Just today, there has been a police chase, with 4 young people…I can’t say why, but armed police were there, however, not one of these young people were hurt…..It’s hard to imagine a similar situation in the US ending the same way and this is tragic and scary and so, so wrong.

Hands Up is a powerful and gripping tale, full of emotions, great realistic characters and a story with heartbreak, love and a twist or two. I can thoroughly recommend it.

Thank you to Stephen Clark for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Vigilant Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title – Hands Up
Author – Stephen Clark
Genre – Crime Thriller
Word Count 92,000
Rating 5 stars out of 5
No.33 - 2019
Posted 10/12/2019

My Impressions: Excellent portrayal of racial emotions

Main Characters:
Tyrell Wakefield – Young black man shot during a bogus traffic stop.
Ryan Quinn – The young cop who shot Tyrell.
Jade Wakefield – Tyrell’s younger emotionally damaged sister.
Regina – Tyrell’s mother.
Kelly – Tyrell’s father

Ryan’s police partner is a white racist who enjoys stopping young black motorist and harassing them. The night Tyrell is stopped, Ryan confronts his partner about his racist motives. While the white officers argue, Tyrell reaches in his pocket and is shot and killed.
The two officers concoct an alibi that Tyrell attacked them and punched Ryan’s partner.
Ryan and Tyrell’s families are both revealed to be racist with deep seated racial prejudice stemming from past incidents. Both families feel they are justified in their suspicions of the other race.
Along the way there is a crossing of the racial divide and a relationship emerges to anger and disappoint both groups.
The Wakefield kids long absent father reappears to take part in fighting for justice for his murdered son. And for the money gained in a wrongful death lawsuit. But Jade has deep seated resentment for the father who was a gangster and ran off with another woman, leaving his family to fend for themselves. Kelly insist he is back to stay and wants to revive the loving relationships he remembers with his family. But Jade is rightly suspect of Kelly.
The entire cast are flawed characters who each have their personal demons to slay. Jade turns into a manipulating bitch who contrives endings to satisfy her wants and needs at the expense of everyone else.

I enjoyed Hands Up and highly recommend it.

The editing is good with minor errors.
The cast of characters are diverse, and conflict is at every turn.
The writing is fast paced but consist of clipped street slang.

This review was provided in exchange for a free book.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is the first adult novel I've read that addresses police brutality, racial profiling, and the Black Lives Matter movement. I've read The Hate U Give and Dear Martin, but those are both young adult titles and each only have one narrator. Hands Up is an adult title and features three distinct narrators; Ryan Quinn - a white cop who fatally shot an unarmed black boy, Jade - the brother of the murdered kid; and Kelly - the deadbeat father of the murdered kid who has moved back to Philly after he heard news of his son's death. Together those three narrators tell different sides of the same story and help readers realize how messy and complicated being a cop and being black can be in a city ravaged by crime. As the shooting case picks up national attention; their lives will be thrown into the spotlight and connected in ways they never thought possible. Ryan is ravaged by guilt, drinking heavily and wondering if he was right to lie about what really happened. Is it worth it? Jade is furious; she's angry at the police department who is protecting the cop and she is giving her father the cold shoulder. Kelly on the other hand is thrilled to be back in his family's lives; even if it is under horrible circumstances. If only he could get them to trust him again... A gripping police drama fraught with tension, revenge, and hope.

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---

“If you want to survive as a cop on these streets, then you need to check your conscience at the door. Sometimes there’s casualties. But if we don’t do whatever it takes to get the bad guy, then we could end up like your dad"

About a month ago, I posted about N. Lombardi, Jr.'s Justice Gone, and as I started to write this post, I noticed I was about to write something very similar here. But why re-invent the wheel? I'm just going to repeat the first few sentences (don't worry, I get original after that).

I've mentioned before here that after I decide to read a book I forget what its about (if I even know) to keep myself coming from being disappointed by preconceived notions. It worked this time, I really had no idea what it was about when I opened it on my Kindle last week.

Which made the opening pages, featuring the killing of an innocent and unarmed black teen by the police, as shocking as they could've been. But they also led me to believe I was in for a grim, adult version of The Hate U Give.

That I've used that idea twice in a month says a few things to me, including: 1. Angie Thomas has clearly taken up residence in a corner of my mind (welcome, Angie, sorry for the clutter); 2. the fact that I keep running into novels about the police killing innocents says something about our cultural moment (and it's not positive); and 3. thankfully, all three of these authors run with the concept in very different directions.

Lombardi quickly becomes about other killings (prompted by the police's unjust actions and the officers not facing any consequences), Thomas focuses on what happens to the witness of the shooting (but includes what happens to the family of the victim and the city in the aftermath), Clark focuses on the aftermath of the killing on the victim's family and the officer who pulled the trigger ending Tyrell Wakefield's life.

Let's start with that officer, Ryan Quinn, shall we? We meet him in the opening pages, working to reassure himself that he's not a murderer as he prepares to give a statement about the shooting. He's been a part of the Philadelphia Police Department for 8 months at this time. His partner, Sgt. Greg Byrnes knew Ryan's father when he was an officer, too. And after Ryan's dad was killed on the job, Byrnes has acted as a surrogate father. It's because of Byrnes that Ryan was in a position where he had to make that fatal choice, and it's Byrnes that guides him through the aftermath (for good or ill, I'll let the reader decide).

Clark makes the very uncomfortable choice (for the reader, and I can only imagine for the author) of making Ryan the only first-person narrator of this book. Early on, I resented having to be in his head through all of this—especially as I learned just how sketchy the circumstances around the shooting (and what Byrnes did afterward) were. I didn't want to be that close to this man's thoughts at this time, I didn't want to find him sympathetic, I didn't want to pull for him at all through this process. Which is exactly the reaction I think that Clark wants. It's uncomfortable by design.

The shooting affects Ryan, his family and his fiancé. He starts having panic attacks, getting professional help, and taking steps to become a different person on the one hand, while trying to keep his job, avoid prosecution, and rescue his career on the other hand. Too many authors would make him a complete villain or a misunderstood hero. Clark does neither. Or maybe he does both. Either way, Ryan is depicted in a very believable way.

One complaint with Ryan: throughout the book, Ryan thinks of his mother by her first name. I found that distracting at best. I can't help but wonder if Clark changed him from third-person to first late in the process and forgot to change that to "Mom" (or an equivalent) in the editing process.

As far as Byrnes? Ugh. Clark clearly wants the reader to not trust him, not like him, and wish that Ryan would get away from his influence. He succeeded in all of that with me. He's not a cartoonish racist cop or anything, he's just a horrible person.

Now, on to Tyrell's family. We first meet his sister Jade minutes before she discovers what had happened to him. She then has to break the news to her mother. Their grief and anger feels real, it feels raw, and you can't help but share their desire for justice and their pain.

Jade's our second protagonist and from the moment we meet her up until the very end of the book, she's the one you really identify with, pull for, and agree with almost every step of the way. If Clark had put her in another novel, I'd really enjoy spending time with her as a character instead of watching her in the tumultuous days of anger and grief.

She's a bartender, and one day Ryan comes into her bar for a few drinks. She recognizes him, he has no idea about Tyrell's family. Things get interesting from there.

The third protagonist in the book is Tyrell's estranged father who comes back to Philadelphia after a decade or so away when he gets the news.

Kelly saw his son for the first time in ten years, lying still in a casket, he could feel his heart breaking. He knew he could never get back all the time he lost with him. But if only he could have five minutes. Five minutes to catch up on his life. Five minutes to pass on his wisdom. Five minutes to tell him how much he loved him. Kelly just sat in the pew, staring at his son’s body in silence.

Now, Kelly's a major complication that this family didn't need at this time. Initially, I was very sympathetic toward him and wasn't sure that Jade (and the others, but primarily Jade) were giving him a fair shake. Jade's openly hostile toward her father—even when others warm to him. It didn't take me long, though, to get on Jade's side and start to wonder about Kelly (and Clark did a nice, subtle job with his character).

Each protagonist's storyline takes on turns that you might not expect going into the book—Kelly and Ryan do a lot in a short amount of time and their characters change and develop. Everything that happens—even though much of it has nothing directly to do with the shooting happens in the shadow of Tyrell's killing. It colors every conversation, every event, every reaction. In time Jade, Ryan, Kelly and the others will be able to move past this and do other things with their lives. But none of that happens now.

There's some stuff with Kelly and Jade at the end that made me think about rating this lower, but in the end, Clark pulled it off (and more than once I wondered if he could). Kelly makes some choices that I initially thought unnecessarily complicated a pretty full plot, and I'm still not sure that Jade would have done what she did (and I'm less sure I should accept her explanation of it). But the more space I give those events, and the more I mull about Clark's resolution, the better I feel about them. But I'm primarily giving this rating for what happens in the first 80 or so percent of the book.

Also, some of my reactions (still) to what happened in this book are so visceral that I've got to give Clark the credit for that. This is a much more even work than his first novel (which I liked, but had reservations about), but shares his talent for taking people who should be antagonistic toward each other, untrusting, and disinclined to to build any sort of relationship with each other—and helping them see the common humanity in each other and moving on past their differences. I'm a sucker for that kind of thing, as long as it's not done in a cheesy, "A Very Special Episode of..." kind of way. Which, I want to stress is why I like Clark's approach.

It's not a perfect book, but it's a good one—with some powerful moments that are dealt with skillfully. I encourage you to check out Clark's work and join me in waiting to see what he'll do next.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told by three characters from different worlds, the reader watches their paths collide and spiral into chaos. From the moment you begin reading you are standing at the scene of the crime. Heart pounding and hands shaking you are in a state of shock but are desperate to learn how you ended up in this situation. Clark piques the reader’s curiosity and as the sirens grow louder you feel a sense of fear for what they will bring.

Ryan is constantly plagued with guilt from shooting Tyrell. He desperately wants to do the right thing but is torn between being loyal to his partner Greg and being sentenced for his crime. He spends his time throughout the book searching and looking for redemption for his wrongdoings. He forces himself to confront his fears and stand on his own two feet. He is a determined character but struggles with the clash of the two different worlds he becomes involved in. As he stumbles down a dark path of drinking and resenting his partner, he finds himself at the hands of the only person who can save him. Tyrell’s sister Jade. Can you forgive the killer of your brother in the name of love? Clark directs this question to the reader and we follow a tumultuous romance built upon grief and loneliness.. But can love really conquer all?

Jade is an interesting character. She has a dark history and self-harms when she feels like she is losing control. The pain helps, it soothes her. She wants revenge for her bother and looks into any means possible to obtain it. She is angry, hurt but also lonely and lost. Jade struggles with who she is and is scared when she realises that she’s fallen in love with the worst person possible. But as the story progresses she grows stronger and relights her fighting spirt to stand up for what she believes in. She is an inspiring character and speaks her mind which is welcoming to read. It takes a bit of time but she slowly opens up and becomes a little more vularble when she falls for Ryan. Upon realising she shouldn’t love him, she builds up her walls again and seeks justice for her brother. She is a complex character with many layers to her but she is a delight to read as she is quick witted and intelligent.

Kelly returns with a ton of baggage trailing behind him. He got into a dangerous business and did a lot of unforgivable things, including leaving his family behind for another woman. But now he is returning broken and about to bury his son. He wants to do the right thing but old habits die hard and slowly the reader watches him fight with his inner demons. We are desperate for him to succeed in his mission of putting all his wrongs right. No matter how hard he tries, he keeps ending up with blooded fists. He’s angry and distraught from recent events and can’t see any way different from the old life he used to know. It’s a shame to see, as at points he really does try to make his life better. But sometimes people just won’t change no matter how hard they try. It’s human nature to revert back to what we know and is familiar.

Clark’s character development throughout the story deepens with each chapter. We learn of backstories and past relationships that work effectively in the story. I enjoyed reading the characters’ interactions with each other. Some knowing who others are and some completely unaware they are sleeping with the enemy. Clark has given much thought and research into who his characters are and what they each represent. It’s engaging to read as you feel as if you personally know them and sympathise with their torment.

The sensitive and taboo subjects that arise in the story bring attention to how blind society still seems to be. We are often of the mind that if we stick our head in the sand and simply ignore what’s actually happening around us, then it will go away. But it won’t. It won’t ever disappear until we deal with it and put a stop to the madness. Clark is vocal about these issues, grief, racism and self-harm just to name a few. He approaches them directly but also with brutal honesty. It’s an eye opener to any reader that this is still happening all around and it needs to stop. Now.

The suspense and tension that Clark creates is gripping. He takes the reader on a joyride of emotions from the grief of losing a family member to the desire and lust of finding love in the most unlikely place. There are so many twists and turns you don’t see coming that shock and absorb the reader into the streets of Philadelphia where the police are as corrupt as they come. No one is safe, not even in the hands of the law. It sends a bold message of who you can and can’t trust.

I give Hands Up By Stephen Clark a Four out of Five paw rating.

Fast paced and gripping to the end. Clark has a gifted talent within the crime/thriller genre. He is not afraid to write about important issues surrounding the world like racism and self-harm. His writing is passionate and speaks the brutal truth that needs to be heard, shouted from the rooftops. Well done, Sir. Well done indeed.

[Emma Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Hands Up' opens with rookie Officer Ryan Quinn trying to look at himself in a mirror. Literally.

He's not a murderer. Not really. It was a justified shooting, even if the victim was a teenage boy with no weapon who committed no offence. Everyone says so: his superiors, his partner, his mother and his snooty fiancée. If only Ryan could believe them all, but he knows the truth, and it isn't quite what he told Internal Affairs...

—- What's it about? —-

The repercussions of an all too frequent event: a white police officer shoots a young black man and a community is divided. There are marches, protests, demonstrations and what appears to be an act of vigilante justice seeking. Will Ryan lose his career, his reputation and his freedom? Or will he learn to permanently silence his conscience?

Clark gives the reader three focal points: the officer involved, the victim's sister and the victim's father. All three are complicated, damaged characters whose true natures emerge gradually in a tale that sees their lives further intersect and explode.

Jade is determined to get revenge for her brother's killing, though she knows the odds are against any kind of conviction. How far will she go to get justice for Tyrell?

Their father, Kelly, arriving home after a ten year absence, is equally determined to get justice for his son, but his criminal past may make this complicated.

—- What's it like? —-

Genuinely interesting. Dramatically engaging. A crucial relationship develops that's pretty much impossible to believe in, but I loved the story's ending - it was the perfect conclusion to everything that had gone before.

While Jade and Kelly's chapters are third person narratives, the reader lives Ryan's experience with him as a first person narrator, which is slightly uncomfortable, as he is a killer and (the more fervently he denies it, the more obvious it becomes) a racist cop. (Furthermore, and this is just plain odd, he calls his mother by her first name without any reason. Why?? This is very disconcerting.)

But it transpires that this uncomfortable connection with a killer, much like the impossible relationship, is completely necessary to the evolving narrative. How would we ever comprehend Ryan's very real belief in his own fundamental goodness and non-racist nature without being in his head? Sure, he is amused by his partner's racist jokes and tolerates his partner's illegal and racially motivated stop-and-searches, but he still believes he has no racist leanings until his therapist points out that his only interactions with black people are as potential criminals, and might this have coloured his view? Even then he has to throw a strop first before applying his grey matter to the problem of his attitude to colour.

The solution Ryan comes up with might surprise you. It astonishes his mother and his (frankly hilarious) fiancée, whose first response to the news that her hubby-to-be has killed a man is to ask: 'What about the wedding?'

Can Ryan change his attitudes? People can change. After all, Kelly Randolph has: from gang enforcer to anti gang support worker, Tyrell's dad has rejected a life of crime and just wants to keep his remaining family close. It's unfortunate that this is the opposite of what Jade wants, but Kelly's got an idea about how to make her change her mind...

—- Final thoughts —-

There's a lot to enjoy in 'Hands Up', Clark's second novel. His experience as a journalist helps create a pacey story with plenty of intrigue and action, but it was the developing characters and the tantalising possibility of their redemption that I really enjoyed.

Sadly, the initial storyline will be all too familiar to some, and Clark identifies families seeking justice for loved ones shot by police as a key inspiration behind this book. I can only hope that one day the initial events in this book seem outlandish to readers, but in the meantime it is worth remembering that if our friends or colleagues say things that are persistently racist or sexist or homophobic and we don't challenge them, that we are not just allowing them to perpetuate ignorant attitudes, we are facilitating the survival of these attitudes in our societies and even inadvertently inculcating them ourselves.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for a few months now, finally got round to reading it over the last couple of days. It’s a very well written novel, set in Philladelphia, the shooting of a young black male Tyrell Wakefield, by a rookie police officer Ryan Quinn after being pulled in by his partner Greg for a supposed traffic violation, things escalate and Ryan shoots Tyrell.

The story is told from the points of view of Ryan as he deals with what he has done, and we learn more of what happened. Kelly Wakefield who is Tyrells father, but had walked out on his family 10 years earlier, he had been heavily involved in drugs and killing when he left, but on return he is trying to be there for his ex wife and other two children, and Jade, Tyrells sister and Kelly’s daughter, she has never forgiven her father for leaving them, she has had struggles of her own. Her father reappearing is not what she wants and she can’t understand how her mum could take him back.

Despite the subject matter, the story is handled well, as Tyrells family quite rightly want Justice, and Revenge. To see the officers involved in the shooting to be named and to face a trial, things aren’t quite as clear as they initially seem. Ryan is trying to live with the guilt he feels for taking a young life. Jade is just trying to cope with the loss of her brother, she begins self harming, something she had done when her father had left. Kelly attends protests, and takes on a job working with a pastor to try and get young people to think differently about their choices, trying to stop them joining gangs, dealing drugs, and getting jobs instead, but how long can he stay on this path himself, especially when he learns some things he didn’t know about.

There are several good twists and turns within the story, which is very well written.

I would like to thank the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

[Joy Corkery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2020/02/0...



As you can probably tell from the blurb, Hands Up draws from the very important Black Lives Matter movement. This makes for a necessary and timely book topic, but also one that is extremely sensitive. For that reason, I don’t want to go too much into that aspect of Hands Up; I don’t feel like I’m the right person to comment on it. What I would like to make clear, however, is that because the author is a journalist, you can expect a non-biased story, told from the viewpoint of the victim’s family and the police officer who shot him.

Hands Up goes far beyond the topics already mentioned. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that so delicately deals with grief, abandonment, self-harm, panic attacks and homelessness. And what was even more amazing was that it was done using characters that are not completely likeable or have the ability to draw sympathy from the reader.

Ryan is probably the character most in the “grey zone”. I won’t say too much in fear of spoilers but it is difficult to decide whether the shooting was racially driven or not on his side, at least in the first half of the book. Then we have Jade. Jade is the girl who loves her family and is trying her best to get out of the ghetto. In other books, she would have been the hero, the character we all loved. I didn’t like her. But I did enjoy the complexity that the author provided her with. This made for a much more interesting read.

What I really liked about Hands Up was that it went beyond the crime itself and into the aftermath of everything that happened for all the characters. Part 2 drives the story in a way you would never have guessed. It had great twists but overall I felt it could have done with more development. And the ending. I was going to write that I disliked the ending but that’s not true. I’m just disappointed it didn’t end the way I wanted to, and am shocked at how it did end. Honestly, it was an epic ending and I can’t fault the author there.

To wrap things up, you have to read this book. And then come find me so we can have a big long chat about it!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have given Hands Up by Stephen Clark four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger Warnings: self harm and strong language
Right from the first passage I was completely hooked! I mean, how can you not be intrigued after the introduction to this book is:
"I'm not a murderer. I'm not a murderer. I'm. Not. A. Murderer. Oh, who was I kidding? No matter how many tines or ways I said that to myself in the bathroom mirror, it didn't change the fact that I had just killed someone."
This book covers a very important topic which addresses police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. I thought it was incredibly gripping and heart-wrenching, especially for those who have suffered through the hard times of innocent cases such as the example we are given from this story. The loss and heartache to hear what families go through is absolutely awful and to think that this happens in our world is unbelievable.
Written from three character's points of views: Ryan - the rookie police officer, Jade - the sister of the murdered innocent victim and Kelly - Jade's troubled, ex-criminal father. I love when a book is has multiple POVs as it makes the book so much more interesting to look at different perspectives.
I wasn't a massive fan of the love interest which takes place in this story as I thought it was too much of a coincidence and their storyline felt quite rushed. Apart from this, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a very good paced and well-written novel.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of crime stories but also it would be a great book to discuss between a book club/group as the subject matter is very important and would definitely spark up a conversation.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard book to put into anyone category. Was it a crime thriller, police procedural or a political commentary? Could have been any of them or a mashup of all three. But I think you are better just saying it is a bloody great read!
Told in the first person from three different perspectives.
Ryan a rookie cop who finds himself caught in the fallout from a fatal shooting.
Jade a college student struggling to finish her degree and living in in one of Philadelphia’s worst neighbour hoods.
Kelly an estranged father who reaches out to his family under tragic circumstances.
What follows is an amazing tale full of twist and turns. Full of surprises and red herrings that astound the reader. Also an investigation into institutional racism within Philladelphia's police force and also throws up the question of reverse racism as black militants seek justice for the killing of a young black man.
The characters are all well rounded and vital to the storyline. The quality of the prose and writing is of a high standard without a wasted word. Also the short chapters, whilst maybe not to everyone's taste certainly keep the narrative flowing and the reader turning the pages furiously.
A complicated plot is told in a simple manner that grips the reader and doesn't let go!
I wish to thank Stephen Clark for the ARC in return for an unbiased review. These thoughts and review are all my own.

[Emily Portman · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Black Lives Matter protests and the killing of George Floyd still fresh in everyone’s minds, the reading of this book was perfectly timed. With a similar story line so in depth and captivating right until the end, I would urge everyone, fan of crime fiction or not, to read this and educate themselves further! This was such an eye-opening reading experience for me, and Hands Up is one of those books that everyone needs to read in their lifetime! Filled with important life lessons about racism and the BLM movement, the book is extremely powerful and moving right to its core. The characters are so real and different from one another, which makes their journey a particularly intriguing one. An emotional and captivating read, but definitely one that needs to be told.

See my full review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/07...

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to be contact via my blog by Stephen Clark to review his book. He kindly sent me a physical copy from the USA (I am based in the UK) and told me a little about his book. This piqued my interest because it is about issues that are still being talked about and happening now. With him being a journalist (and award-winning), I figured he would really know what he was talking about. I am honoured that after coming across my blog that he has chosen me to review for him. This has not in any way swayed my opinion of his book. My review is not biased.

From the first few lines of readers know what has happened. This book focuses on the aftermath of a shooting. I like that. It really works for this book as instantly Officer Ryan Quinn is met and clearly not only trying to convince himself he is not a murderer, but also the tone and the doubting himself is so convincing and brings a bit of humanity to him and instant intrigue as to what really went on, on the fatal day he shot an unarmed black man, but felt his life was in enough jeopardy at the time. I like that it isn’t quite a simple as that. There are complexities to this story that has a black man shot in traffic. It gives a realism to the story.

The book alternates its chapters to bring each character into the story. This really works. The first is Ryan, who then gets interviewed about the incident. The second introduces Jade who has just broken up with her boyfriend and works in Mac’s Tavern and comes across the police and shot man. There is Kelly, who readers meet a little later, who hopes to reunite with his family. It’s well laid out and instantly readers can get a feel for the main characters and the story. It soon becomes clear how all their own lives are interconnected.

Officer Ryan’s world is turned upside down. He was supposed to be planning his wedding to Kaylee, his career was being fast-tracked and now things were not looking so rosy for his present or future.

The contrast between Ryan Quinn, Jade and Kelly is brilliantly done as there is the story from the officer’s point of view, but also his life out of work and then there is the story from Jade’s point of view – the one that even in the UK, we are becoming accustomed to seeing on the news with what happens in the US with the press being around wanting to know what happened and people wanting justice for the person who was shot. Then there’s Kelly’s who shows the scene, again one that we all see on our tv screens of what has now become sadly becoming known as “the usual reaction” and similar, with the prayer vigils, teddy’s, flowers, candles.

The book continues with a shooting of the cop’s house and depicts, what sadly seems to be the cycle of revenge by violence, that is just as sad as the death of Tyrell.

The chapters with Officer Ryan in therapy are also very poignant and adds depth to his character.

Part Two of the book takes the story to the aftermath of the trial of Ryan Quinn. The format is the same as part 1 and there is still the emotion, but the story takes the characters even further and there are some unexpected turns of events and I was still hooked, as I am sure others will be too. This second and final part is as well written and as well-paced as the first part. The twists and turns keeps it all going very well and it has a good, well-written ending.

The book gives a great insight into the aftermath of American life when a shooting happens and the lives of people. There is a depth throughout this book, with issues people face, lives being complicated. There is emotion and characters to care about. This story is one that I feel anyone reading it will want to read to the end to see how it all concludes. I certainly did. It is an absorbing book and one that I didn’t want to put down.

Whether readers are American or not, this is an important and thought-provoking story that Stephen Clark is telling. I really get the sense that he is telling it like it is. News like this is sometimes international, so no matter where you live in the world, there will be recognisable parts. There will be some parts of the story that are just part and parcel of the character’s day-to-day lives may also be relatable to people, wherever they live. The book, although fiction, fits in well with current affairs from all the different angles.

The book would be great for everyone to read and would be one that would be very good for a book group too as it would really spark conversation about the subject matter raised within this book (so long as it didn’t get too heated of course as civil conversations are always best).

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in September of 2019, this book couldn’t be more relevant than it is today. After a young black man is killed by a white cop, the world tries to take matters into their own hands through protests and in some cases, violence. With alternating points of view between the white cop, the victim’s sister and his estranged ex- gang member father, this story visits the crime scene from all angles. The story is heartbreaking and the emotions are strongly felt.

See my full review on my blog.

[Joel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly torn about how to rate this. The serious subject (police killing an unarmed Black man) is hampered by the list of improbabilities that require a deeper suspension of disbelief than I'm capable of achieving. Also, the choice to write one POV in first person and the others in third was just weird and it didn't work at all. And, as the young folks would say, the romance was cringe.

If you are interested in reading a good fiction book on the subject, pick up Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give and give this one a hard pass.

1 out of 5 stars.