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The Night Police: Beyond The Line Of Duty
This first book in THE NIGHT POLICE series is a no-holds-barred, unflinching fictionalized version of real events the authors experienced firsthand during their time in law enforcement. A gritty, true-crime-inspired collection of thematically linked short stories where you'll meet the dangerous men that are The Night Police. Listen in as real-life urban policing is exposed amongst a union of hardened lawmen. Written by two who have been there, The Night Police will uncover the true lives that few could imagine, let alone choose to live. Meet the rebel trooper Max Golden, the common thread in a dark journey from which not one of these men will escape unscathed. Max isn't content to spend his career as a humble, rule-following civil servant. Refusing to seek danger isn't his style. And in the squalid, crime-ridden streets of Bristol City, he finds danger in spades. Dope deals gone bad, street brawls, murder and more keep him and the other members of The Night Police bonded tightly together in their self-made fraternity. Escape, when it's needed, is found in the dark and nondescript Solly's Tavern, where on one particularly damp, cold evening in 1991, this down-at-the-heels saloon hosts four of the Night Police for a cathartic night of drinking. The plan is to let loose and forget for a few hours, but the swapping of increasingly graphic tales leads to the unfolding of a stunning revelation. Will it change the course of their lives and careers? This is a chronicle of the camaraderie that helped shield them from the intense pressures of urban policing. It tells the real stories, with the authentic voice of those who lived to reveal the truth. In true ripped-from-the-headlines fashion, the stories related in this book may seem improbable but are all based on true events. The Night Police provides truth and insight into the demons behind the badge. And for those of you in law enforcement, The Night Police will have special meaning for anyone who has ever worked the streets, dealt with informants and lived the life on that razor's edge.
- GenresNonfiction
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2020
65 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
Chris Berg
1 book9 followersIn 1977 Chris became the third generation of his family to sign on as a lawman. Serving as a patrol officer, evidence technician (long before CSI was a thing), and vice/intelligence detective it was his posting as an undercover narcotics agent that fit him best. He relished the life of hand to hand undercover drug “buys”, clandestine lab investigations and the requisite counterfeit persona. Chris still revels in the adventures and friendships that come with being part of the police fraternity.
After retiring due to injury, Chris had a successful second career in corporate America and… it bored him to death. The high point of that life was traveling the world; Malaysia, Dubai, Beijing, Moscow, Rio, Hong Kong and much more. Still, that world was never a fit, not for an ex-Night Policeman.
Chris and his wife Janet now call southwest Florida and Boston home. Their daughter Kelsey, currently in grad school, is likely the fourth generation of law enforcement in the family. Chris keeps up with his passions: baseball, fishing, and all things cooking and BBQ, not necessarily in that order.
After retiring due to injury, Chris had a successful second career in corporate America and… it bored him to death. The high point of that life was traveling the world; Malaysia, Dubai, Beijing, Moscow, Rio, Hong Kong and much more. Still, that world was never a fit, not for an ex-Night Policeman.
Chris and his wife Janet now call southwest Florida and Boston home. Their daughter Kelsey, currently in grad school, is likely the fourth generation of law enforcement in the family. Chris keeps up with his passions: baseball, fishing, and all things cooking and BBQ, not necessarily in that order.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 1, 2021
This is a thrilling story. It made me realize what a hard and dangerous job is to be a police officer, especially the night police and the undercover narcotic officers. They take their jobs seriously. It is hard for these heroes to erase the horrible things that happen almost everyday and night from their memory. They have babies die in their arms while trying to save them, they enter crack houses not knowing what waits behind the door, they chase robbers who have robbed and murdered. Police have to deal with losing their brothers in blue and second guess themselves. It is very hard on their lives and heir families. This story will make you want to hug a police officer and tell them thanks . A must read.
March 1, 2020
Reading about the authors’ backgrounds teased me into reading this book, but their experiences weren’t enough to create a compelling novel. I felt that, although the material was there, the plot development just didn’t work for me. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2020
The Night Police RULE.
Authors Berg and Smith call upon their vast police experiences and many of the characters that they met along the way to make The Night Police: Beyond the Line of Duty a read so realistic and intense that you’ll be chomping at the bit for the release of book two and three in this anthology.
Authors Berg and Smith call upon their vast police experiences and many of the characters that they met along the way to make The Night Police: Beyond the Line of Duty a read so realistic and intense that you’ll be chomping at the bit for the release of book two and three in this anthology.
Want to read
March 23, 2020I enjoyed everything about the book there was nothing I didn't like about the book. I like the setting, the writing style, the plot, the plot twist and the characters in the book were amazing.I would gladly reread it again.
April 5, 2020
The Night Police: Beyond the Line of Duty offers a peek inside what it’s really like to be a cop — as told in a fictionalized version of their former lives — by a pair of authors that were in law enforcement once upon a time. The world of policing is fascinating enough, but add in a little rebellion (and even a little hazing) to go along with the danger and graphic depictions, and it’s one page-turner of a police novel.
The book is actually a series of connected short stories based on true events that combine to introduce a brotherhood of street cops who work the narcotics, border patrol, and homicide beats. Readers will be gripped by a range of tales, from basic criminal stupidity to poignant stories of child endangerment, undercover drug deals, murders, and more.
The Night Police is definitely not ‘politically correct’ and not for the non-police force friendly audience, but it IS a great read for anyone who likes to watch Cops or follow true crime stories. Readers will just have to appreciate the dark, gritty, and somber authenticity of the way The Night Police presents its narrative.
Entertaining and exciting, reading The Night Police will undoubtedly make readers grateful for those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe… though those men and women may have to be a little insane themselves to handle the job.
The book is actually a series of connected short stories based on true events that combine to introduce a brotherhood of street cops who work the narcotics, border patrol, and homicide beats. Readers will be gripped by a range of tales, from basic criminal stupidity to poignant stories of child endangerment, undercover drug deals, murders, and more.
The Night Police is definitely not ‘politically correct’ and not for the non-police force friendly audience, but it IS a great read for anyone who likes to watch Cops or follow true crime stories. Readers will just have to appreciate the dark, gritty, and somber authenticity of the way The Night Police presents its narrative.
Entertaining and exciting, reading The Night Police will undoubtedly make readers grateful for those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe… though those men and women may have to be a little insane themselves to handle the job.
April 13, 2020
Wow. This was an excellent book that I really enjoyed reading. I thought that it would be interesting given the background of the two authors but it was even better than I expected. I found it to be somewhat reminiscent of Joseph Wambaughs books on the exploits of the Las Angeles PD e.g The Choirboys.
The characters were well developed and the stories that were told were gripping. There were times when I couldn't put the book down as it was fast paced . Funny in parts, sad and reflective in others this book had me riveted from start to finish. I certainly look forward to the next release by these gentlemen.
The characters were well developed and the stories that were told were gripping. There were times when I couldn't put the book down as it was fast paced . Funny in parts, sad and reflective in others this book had me riveted from start to finish. I certainly look forward to the next release by these gentlemen.
May 24, 2020
Congratulations on your 1st publication - I know it’s been a long time in the making! I found it positively unusual, captivating, extremely well-written, interesting, poignant and down right funny in equal measure. Your highly amusing “turn of phrase,” as only you can deliver Chris, is evident throughout and I must admit to tears of laughter on several choice sentences. Thanks for a great read my friend!
July 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. In some areas, I thought the book did not flow, like it jumped around. But, at the end, it all came together. Very good insight on what law enforcement has to deal with. This book made me want to continue reading it. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
April 26, 2020
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The “Night Police” is based on true crime events, and real police officers. Dark, and at times quite disturbing. Written in a way that you can imagine the gore quite well. The story will definitely appeal to law enforcement officers, those that shared this life.
The story goes back and forth between events in the officers lives, to a night they meet up in their favorite bar. Bristol City is the setting for the crime ridden tale. A run down area full of drugs and decay. Also full of the "Night Police," cops that just want to make a real difference no matter what it takes to make it happen. Cops who have each others backs no matter what.
As these five meet for a night of drinking and reliving old stories, much about them is revealed. A shocking ending. While I found the stories very interesting, I think the people it will most appeal to is other police. I think they’ll understand the ins and out, and it will speak to them. A decent read though.
Thank you Chris Berg, James Paul Smith, Netgalley, and Book Baby
#Netgalley #thenightpolice
The “Night Police” is based on true crime events, and real police officers. Dark, and at times quite disturbing. Written in a way that you can imagine the gore quite well. The story will definitely appeal to law enforcement officers, those that shared this life.
The story goes back and forth between events in the officers lives, to a night they meet up in their favorite bar. Bristol City is the setting for the crime ridden tale. A run down area full of drugs and decay. Also full of the "Night Police," cops that just want to make a real difference no matter what it takes to make it happen. Cops who have each others backs no matter what.
As these five meet for a night of drinking and reliving old stories, much about them is revealed. A shocking ending. While I found the stories very interesting, I think the people it will most appeal to is other police. I think they’ll understand the ins and out, and it will speak to them. A decent read though.
Thank you Chris Berg, James Paul Smith, Netgalley, and Book Baby
#Netgalley #thenightpolice
April 27, 2020
I received this book as an ARC from Smith Publicity, Inc., and am providing an honest review.
The best way I can describe The Night Police is that it is fiction written in the linear style of non-fiction, and I often found it difficult to determine which it was. But maybe that was the goal of the authors – to “make it real” for the reader.
The authors are former police officers who tell the stories of their experiences as “night police” through a series of vignettes. The stories involve a cast of characters who meet in their favorite hangout in a private room in a bar to swap tales and relive events of the past. The storytelling is lubricated by alcohol and full of good-natured teasing by the officers and friends. The characters are skillfully drawn as genuine and unique personalities, and each makes an appearance in most of the vignettes.
The book takes us into the seamy, dark world of policing after midnight in a fictional large Midwestern city. The authors pull no punches in graphically relating, and in vivid language, the situations they are called to deal with. Nothing is sanitized for squeamish readers.
This is true crime, fictionalized, at its best. But it’s not a novel. It’s a collection of stories.
Authors Chris Berg and Paul James Smith promise that this is only the first installment of The Night Police. Fans of gritty true crime will enjoy the stories of these men who thrived on finding and dealing with some of the messiest crimes in the city.
The best way I can describe The Night Police is that it is fiction written in the linear style of non-fiction, and I often found it difficult to determine which it was. But maybe that was the goal of the authors – to “make it real” for the reader.
The authors are former police officers who tell the stories of their experiences as “night police” through a series of vignettes. The stories involve a cast of characters who meet in their favorite hangout in a private room in a bar to swap tales and relive events of the past. The storytelling is lubricated by alcohol and full of good-natured teasing by the officers and friends. The characters are skillfully drawn as genuine and unique personalities, and each makes an appearance in most of the vignettes.
The book takes us into the seamy, dark world of policing after midnight in a fictional large Midwestern city. The authors pull no punches in graphically relating, and in vivid language, the situations they are called to deal with. Nothing is sanitized for squeamish readers.
This is true crime, fictionalized, at its best. But it’s not a novel. It’s a collection of stories.
Authors Chris Berg and Paul James Smith promise that this is only the first installment of The Night Police. Fans of gritty true crime will enjoy the stories of these men who thrived on finding and dealing with some of the messiest crimes in the city.
March 24, 2020
I hate giving negative reviews as a reader who loves books as much as I do. I was so excited to read this because the plot sounded interesting but once I started it it just didn't make sense. I know author's put in enormous amount of work into their books so my hope is that if they continue to write they will improve. I feel so bad that I just didn't like it but I hope they don't give up and keep trying. #TheNightPolice #NetGalley
December 4, 2025
In the tradition of Joseph Wambaugh
Night Police: Beyond the Line of Duty brings back memories of the great Joseph Wambaugh cop stories. The characters are flawed, colorful, often abrasive and unapologetically human. Gallows humor and alcohol get them through stressful nights on mean streets. The reader can smell the cigarette smoke, booze, and nervous sweat.
A vivid, compelling read.
Night Police: Beyond the Line of Duty brings back memories of the great Joseph Wambaugh cop stories. The characters are flawed, colorful, often abrasive and unapologetically human. Gallows humor and alcohol get them through stressful nights on mean streets. The reader can smell the cigarette smoke, booze, and nervous sweat.
A vivid, compelling read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews