What do you think?
Rate this book
The Other Side of Good
Denton Jones fights against human trafficking in Ohio.
356 pages, ebook
Published January 18, 2022
5 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
E.A. Coe
9 books16 followersAward-winning author, E. A. Coe … is F. Coe Sherrard, a former United States Naval aviator and career businessman, who is retired and lives in Edinburg, Virginia. A graduate of Western Maryland College (now called McDaniel College), he was a senior executive in two entertainment companies, including Spirit Cruises and Herschend Family Entertainment (manager of the Dollywood Theme Park). Married to Jean since 1971, Coe has three children and seven grandchildren.
Coe won a gold medal in the 2023 International Readers Favorite Book competition in the Crime Fiction genre for Pedaling West.
Coe won a gold medal in the 2023 International Readers Favorite Book competition in the Crime Fiction genre for Pedaling West.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 10, 2021
If I remember correctly, The Other Side of Good was promoted as being about human trafficking. It began with this theme and really didn’t return to it until perhaps halfway through. I decided to read it because of my interest in this subject. But, I was very happy with the book nonetheless.
The only real “fault” with the novel is that things were too well wrapped up at the end. In real life, that is very improbable.
But, I loved the novel. The characters were interesting, and even many of the “bad guys” had good, human aspects to them. Moral ambiguity tends to make novels much more interesting to me. The actions of the main characters were very plausible and understandable. I ended up caring about multiple characters. None of the action scenes seemed overblown. And, I’m really happy to say that I found no editing errors.
So, don’t read it for the human trafficking aspect. Rather, read it for the well-developed plot and characters. It is a fun, thought-provoking novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The only real “fault” with the novel is that things were too well wrapped up at the end. In real life, that is very improbable.
But, I loved the novel. The characters were interesting, and even many of the “bad guys” had good, human aspects to them. Moral ambiguity tends to make novels much more interesting to me. The actions of the main characters were very plausible and understandable. I ended up caring about multiple characters. None of the action scenes seemed overblown. And, I’m really happy to say that I found no editing errors.
So, don’t read it for the human trafficking aspect. Rather, read it for the well-developed plot and characters. It is a fun, thought-provoking novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 24, 2022
The Other Side of Good by E.A. Coe raises a profound and existential question we’ve all pondered at some point: is it possible to be both ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ or is it one or the other? This captivating police thriller explores the idea that the kind of person one is may not be so black and white and takes readers on an exciting and thought-provoking journey of the gray area in between right and wrong.
Author Coe introduces an exciting combination of characters based in Cincinnati intertwined in each other’s lives with intriguing complexity. First, we meet police Commander Denton Jones, who reconnected with childhood friend turned high-powered drug cartel leader, Theo Jackson.
Both men experienced childhood trauma together, leading them to turn to different sides of the law. However, they now find themselves fighting for the same cause-to take down an alarmingly powerful human trafficking ring. We follow the men through a fast-paced mission, full of unexpected twists and turns and unusual alliances. Add in police and government corruption, shocking acts from a Pastor, and international gang activity, and Coe gives us a page-turning tale we find ourselves entranced in.
This riveting crime novel gives readers a look into the horrible realities of human trafficking. It plays with the notion of a gray area between good and evil. Coe encourages readers to open their minds and explore if our intrinsic beliefs about those we see as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are really as cut and dry as we have thought. This suspenseful novel has a large cast of characters that the reader will need to pay attention to learn who is part of what faction. Once readers understand who the key players are, readers won’t be able to help but root for the ‘bad guys’ and the ‘good.’
The Other Side of Good is a gripping and intensive police crime mystery novel. The action and suspense will keep readers on edge till the last page.
Author Coe introduces an exciting combination of characters based in Cincinnati intertwined in each other’s lives with intriguing complexity. First, we meet police Commander Denton Jones, who reconnected with childhood friend turned high-powered drug cartel leader, Theo Jackson.
Both men experienced childhood trauma together, leading them to turn to different sides of the law. However, they now find themselves fighting for the same cause-to take down an alarmingly powerful human trafficking ring. We follow the men through a fast-paced mission, full of unexpected twists and turns and unusual alliances. Add in police and government corruption, shocking acts from a Pastor, and international gang activity, and Coe gives us a page-turning tale we find ourselves entranced in.
This riveting crime novel gives readers a look into the horrible realities of human trafficking. It plays with the notion of a gray area between good and evil. Coe encourages readers to open their minds and explore if our intrinsic beliefs about those we see as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are really as cut and dry as we have thought. This suspenseful novel has a large cast of characters that the reader will need to pay attention to learn who is part of what faction. Once readers understand who the key players are, readers won’t be able to help but root for the ‘bad guys’ and the ‘good.’
The Other Side of Good is a gripping and intensive police crime mystery novel. The action and suspense will keep readers on edge till the last page.
January 23, 2022
The fast-paced action of this crime novel was captivating from page one. Although a work of fiction, The Other Side of Good resonates with issues all too often in today’s news. Worldwide trafficking, enslavement of women and children, corruption, dirty cops and politicians – Commander Denton Jones’s city has them all. The story unfolds in Cincinnati, where crime has prospered since the 18th century. The author’s characters swarm through issues black, white and technicolor as the intrigue builds. Conversations bristle with emotional conflicts over loyalty, faith and racial justice. Mild corruption morphs to dangerous greed as the tale evolves. Denton finds himself caught up with the leader of a powerful drug cartel who is also a philanthropist and childhood friend. The reader is channeled to a love/hate relationship with the key characters, Truth looks like a hologram with a different version on each side. As the story concludes, the reader is challenged. Evaluate outcomes according to your own personal, long-held standards? Admit that it’s a new world with new rules? Get ready to be immersed and engaged. A great read.The Other Side of Good
January 25, 2022
E. A. Coe’s new book, The Other Side Of Good, is a police thriller narrated in a straightforward style reminiscent of Dragnet, but replete with characters far more complex than Sergeant Joe Friday. Commander Denton Jones is an introspective detective. He assumes nothing but is open to everything.
The unfolding mystery keeps you reading as the intrigue builds. How does an honest cop cope with an uneasy friendship with his childhood best friend, who is the kingpin in the most powerful drug cartel in Cincinnati? What is more, the complexities of the kingpin are head-spinning, as he is an honest and loyal person, even as he runs a vile organization. Perhaps the author’s greatest talent is in revealing the background of his characters and how their historic identities shape their current temperaments and values. This is not a book for someone looking for the good guy wearing a white hat and the bad guy a black one. This is closer to reality, and it’s left to the reader to discern, based upon his or her own perceptions, what is right and what constitutes wrong. Thumbs up for E. A. Coe, a novelist who takes us out of the chute with a jolt and gives us a spectacular ride around the arena of noir fiction.
The unfolding mystery keeps you reading as the intrigue builds. How does an honest cop cope with an uneasy friendship with his childhood best friend, who is the kingpin in the most powerful drug cartel in Cincinnati? What is more, the complexities of the kingpin are head-spinning, as he is an honest and loyal person, even as he runs a vile organization. Perhaps the author’s greatest talent is in revealing the background of his characters and how their historic identities shape their current temperaments and values. This is not a book for someone looking for the good guy wearing a white hat and the bad guy a black one. This is closer to reality, and it’s left to the reader to discern, based upon his or her own perceptions, what is right and what constitutes wrong. Thumbs up for E. A. Coe, a novelist who takes us out of the chute with a jolt and gives us a spectacular ride around the arena of noir fiction.
February 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book as evidenced by how fast I read it.
Two childhood friends living in an impoverished neighborhood grow up in different directions. One becomes a police officer rising through the ranks of the police department. The other becomes a criminal who, while never being arrested or even charged with a crime, rises to become the head of narcotics dealing in Cincinnati. He also does many good deeds helping the community and his one-time friend. A fight against human trafficking unites the two for the battle, if not more than that.
Both main characters are interesting and worthy of your compassion. But how can the conflict in their positions be resolved? Luckily, the policeman is not as blindly fixated on the law as Javert in Les Miserables. Perhaps, both will survive the fight against the evil trafficking network. You will need to read the book to find out.
Many other characters are interesting and well written. A bonus is the absence of typos that too many books contain.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Two childhood friends living in an impoverished neighborhood grow up in different directions. One becomes a police officer rising through the ranks of the police department. The other becomes a criminal who, while never being arrested or even charged with a crime, rises to become the head of narcotics dealing in Cincinnati. He also does many good deeds helping the community and his one-time friend. A fight against human trafficking unites the two for the battle, if not more than that.
Both main characters are interesting and worthy of your compassion. But how can the conflict in their positions be resolved? Luckily, the policeman is not as blindly fixated on the law as Javert in Les Miserables. Perhaps, both will survive the fight against the evil trafficking network. You will need to read the book to find out.
Many other characters are interesting and well written. A bonus is the absence of typos that too many books contain.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2025
The Other Side of Good by E.A. Coe is a gripping and thought provoking thriller that dives into the gray areas of morality and justice. Set in Cincinnati, it primarily follows a lawman and a criminal with an unexpected conscience. After growing up together yet choosing different paths, their adult lives collide as they confront a human trafficking ring. Coe blends suspense with emotional depth, creating characters who are flawed yet sympathetic, forcing readers to question what it truly means to be “good.” Throughout the book the reader is reminded how in life there’s good in the bad and bad in the good. Lines between right and wrong are blurred more often than we think.
The pacing is sharp, the stakes feel real, and the story’s exploration of redemption and moral conflict lingers after the final page. This novel is a standout in modern crime fiction.
As someone who is sensitive to harsh topics such as sex trafficking, Coe did a great job of balancing this tragic reality in a true and respectful sense, and not in an overwhelming or triggering manner.
Also, you see a familiar face in this book if you have read others by the author. I love the call backs!
The pacing is sharp, the stakes feel real, and the story’s exploration of redemption and moral conflict lingers after the final page. This novel is a standout in modern crime fiction.
As someone who is sensitive to harsh topics such as sex trafficking, Coe did a great job of balancing this tragic reality in a true and respectful sense, and not in an overwhelming or triggering manner.
Also, you see a familiar face in this book if you have read others by the author. I love the call backs!
December 22, 2021
The Other Side of Good pulled me in from the very first page with full, well-rounded, and realistic characters. As the story progresses, the line between good and bad begins to blur with good people doing bad things, and bad people doing good things, until there's a large, murky grey area. By crafting a story that leaves the reader feeling sympathy for characters you'd expect to loathe, the author demonstrates the complexities of human nature and how very little in real life is black and white. In the process, E. A. Coe has also masterfully shed light on the very real and disturbing issue of human trafficking, highlighting the deception and brutality of the involved organizations, as well as the difficulty they pose for law enforcement. Ultimately, many characters will have to adjust their definitions of good and bad in order to effectively make a difference in the world, a concept that translates well to real life. Intriguing, realistic, and ultimately beautiful, this is a book that will stick with you for the long haul.
January 18, 2022
Here is a real page-turner of a book with compelling characters that delves into the complexities of good and evil, of black and white and of those gray areas that have confounded humanity since the beginning. Two neighborhood kids "from the hood" take different pathways in life that eventually intersect where they find common ground in fighting an evil human trafficking ring operating in their beloved Cincinnati. Along the way, there is evil lurking in the form of corrupt city government officials and goodness evidenced in a long-sought after drug lord who has never been caught. This well-written book will take you on a riveting adventure that at once challenges your assessment of what constitutes "good" among those who are perceived as "bad," as well as how you assess bad acts done by those who are considered "the good guys." This is author E. A. Coe's third novel, and like the other two, is well-crafted and a must-read for the avid reader.
September 5, 2023
Wow! What an action packed, exciting, thought provoking, nuanced, gem of a book! E.A. Coe has done it again (this is the third book of his that I have read) with strong, complex, and lovable characters! His character development is amazing and I found myself drawn to both the 'good' guys and the 'bad' guys because as Coe so expertly conveys throughout this novel it is very possible to be both. I appreciated the thoughtfulness he put into such harsh and awful and unfortunately very real topics like human trafficking and drugs. The characters take us on a journey of bad and good - of black and white - but more importantly our eyes and minds are open to the largest part of that spectrum - the gray. And doesn't most of life happen in the gray area?! The Other Side of Good was a joy to read!
January 2, 2022
This book is excellent for my tastes. I was engrossed from the beginning and did not let up until the end. The story itself was easy to predict, but was told is such a way that it did not bother me in the least.
It centers around two guys that grew up in a neighborhood. One event changed their lives, one turning the one side of the law the the other chose the opposite. They both were successful in their lives and had no contact for 30 years. Then they started collaborating on a case that was reprehensible to them both.
I recommend this to anyone that likes police stories and follow the actions that they need to take to build a case.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It centers around two guys that grew up in a neighborhood. One event changed their lives, one turning the one side of the law the the other chose the opposite. They both were successful in their lives and had no contact for 30 years. Then they started collaborating on a case that was reprehensible to them both.
I recommend this to anyone that likes police stories and follow the actions that they need to take to build a case.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2022
They were childhood friends. Now they work on opposite sides of the law, yet they find a common enemy to bring them together once again. Black and white lose their significance in the face of true evil.
With The Other Side of Good, E.A. Coe has written a gripping police procedural which is as much a reckoning as a novel. A storyteller first, Coe’s chronicling of modern day sexual slavery and the concerted efforts to bring its perpetrators to justice never becomes didactic. Neither does it become just a backdrop.
Coe has created a character, Commander Denton Jones, we want to see again. So, the question is: Will Denton Jones become the next Harry Bosch? We can only hope!
With The Other Side of Good, E.A. Coe has written a gripping police procedural which is as much a reckoning as a novel. A storyteller first, Coe’s chronicling of modern day sexual slavery and the concerted efforts to bring its perpetrators to justice never becomes didactic. Neither does it become just a backdrop.
Coe has created a character, Commander Denton Jones, we want to see again. So, the question is: Will Denton Jones become the next Harry Bosch? We can only hope!
December 27, 2021
I did enjoy this book quite a bit. It pulled strong emotions for the situations it revolves around but was well written and had a good ending (in my opinion). I felt like it started pretty well and hooked me in but the middle fell a little flat but hooked me right back in towards the end! I feel like the story could have been shorter, more direct and earned 5 stars from me as well as a different twist to the end. Overall, it was a good book and I do recommend it! I received this as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 11, 2022
I recently read The Other Side of Good by E A Coe. This was an intriguing story about the balance between good and evil. When organized crime invades your town, does the means justify the ends? Is everything always black and white or are shades of grey allowed in your moral code? These are the choices facing Officer Denton Jones. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2022
A book you could almost finish in one sitting, but also, kind of want to save some for tomorrow. Ample character development and interesting plot with turns and dialogue to keep it moving. Nice for the avid readers that need a respite stack of good-story books. Or a great pickup for the occasional reader to be entertained. Like the use of humor and intrigue to lean into themes of morality, stigma, and stereotypes ...not too heavy-handed.
April 21, 2022
Mom and Dad told me “Not everything is black or white, right or wrong, Good or Evil.”The Other Side of Good confirms these old sayings.
But…we live with the imperfect and hopefully ultimately do what is the right thing. E.A. Coe’s latest leads us through a tense series of events that leads to a finish that is both expected and unexpected….If you enjoy mysteries, police novels and love stories…this is for you!
But…we live with the imperfect and hopefully ultimately do what is the right thing. E.A. Coe’s latest leads us through a tense series of events that leads to a finish that is both expected and unexpected….If you enjoy mysteries, police novels and love stories…this is for you!
May 1, 2022
Two thumbs up for The Other Side Of Good. E. A. Coe takes us through a well written account involving the tragic issue of human trafficking. In this fiction the author points up a serious issue in today’s world while skillfully writing characters into his story that are good, bad and perhaps not so bad. A great read …. highly recommended.
February 20, 2023
As a former prosecutor who is familiar with human trafficking, I must commend the author on his thorough research. The characters were well developed and the uneasy partnership between Denton and Theo made for compelling reading. I particularly enjoyed the unexpected plot twists and turns, as well as the overarching moral dilemmas presented. Recommended!
January 23, 2022
I highly recommend this book. It is well written; characters are well developed, and the book held my interest from beginning to end. There is much food for thought as the author reveals the complexities of good and evil!
September 16, 2022
I understand why E.A. Coe has won awards. The storyteller is superb in The Other Side of Good. I enjoyed the characters but most of all, the thought-provoking, underlying message. I recommend this one!
October 1, 2024
A fantastic read that vividly illustrates the blurring lines between good and evil. I found myself, at times, rooting for the "bad" guy and feeling real empathy for him. Coe is skilled at character development and a plotmaster.
August 11, 2025
I has been a sweet treat to follow the trail of the characters in the novels by E.A.Coe and to see the development of both the characters and the story lines. The Other Side of Good is another thrilling adventure in Coe's epic journey. Keep it going!
March 30, 2022
Good Story
This was an interesting read with likable characters and clear bad and good guys. I will definitely tell my friends about it.
This was an interesting read with likable characters and clear bad and good guys. I will definitely tell my friends about it.
June 29, 2023
Read this for book club and April. Very well Witten and suspenseful. Highly recommend.
Want to read
August 10, 2025My book is an audio from Chirp with a different cover.
Narrator: E.A. Coe
11 hrs 17 mins
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Narrator: E.A. Coe
11 hrs 17 mins
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
August 23, 2025
Good plot, the narrator could have been better.
November 26, 2025
I listened to the audiobook, read by the author. The story is pretty dang good but Coe is not the best narrator. I wish he had sprung for a professional.
December 7, 2025
A deftly plotted, well-researched noir caper. I just wish the writing, particularly the dialogue, didn’t feel so textbook.
January 22, 2022
Coe writes page-turners, and his latest is perhaps his best so far. Well-plotted based on research into a real world problem, his story’s characters are people the reader cannot help caring about - either for or against. The Other Side of Good is like a great meal in that it provides both pleasure and nourishment. Great read and food for thought.
March 14, 2022
Bravo to E.A. Coe for managing such a fast-paced, complicated plot with lots of characters and still making me care about every one of them! I loved the way he handled Theo's character to keep me guessing about whether he was a “good guy” or a “bad guy.” It’s a tribute to the author’s deft handling of human complexity that this character is quite a bit of both.
I came away from this book feeling not only entertained by an exciting, nail-biting story but also better informed about the terrible problem of human trafficking. Since reading it, I’ve done a little research, and it’s a far bigger problem everywhere than I had realized.
If the author has a sequel or series in mind, I’ll be first in line, because I really want to see what might happen next.
I came away from this book feeling not only entertained by an exciting, nail-biting story but also better informed about the terrible problem of human trafficking. Since reading it, I’ve done a little research, and it’s a far bigger problem everywhere than I had realized.
If the author has a sequel or series in mind, I’ll be first in line, because I really want to see what might happen next.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews