The Monk by Timony McKeever

As a human being and as his father’s son, Billy has only every wanted to liberate the oppressed. He worked as a cop for ten years only to leave that behind and join priesthood. About half a decade since he left the force and last spoke to his ‘brother’, he is called upon to help with the murder of his goddaughter Julia. He can feel the heavy presence of the devil in Capitol Hill Denver. He is determined to fight with prayer. William Yeats Butler is no weak person. He is a worthy opponent. He is a warrior. Will the killers of Julia be brought to justice? Can Billy and Laskey ever get past the past? How will the new prospective for partner work out for Detective Laskey?

Set in the 1980s this book is the first in a two book series. It is an account of suspenseful mysteries with a bit of a narrative on spirituality weaved in. Written by a cop, you really can feel the intensity of a police investigation. The pain of knowing the victims on a personal level. The valor required just to get out of bed each day and prepare for this job. One can also clearly see the sheer sacrifice that comes with the job. Timony McKeever is a brilliant storyteller. He has really mastered the art of setting the scene. His ability to use simple language but still keep things colorful is uncanny. 

There are so many characters to love. Moving away from the obvious, Billy, one cannot help but fall in love with the double edged sword that is McDuff. MLM can be tough and mean but she can also be sweet and charming. It is so strange yet so compelling to experience. Laskey on the other hand is a faulty human being. He is great at his job and has better fashion sense now but the cracks in his personality make for some comedic relief. The author, it seems, has developed each character for the sole reason of building a rapport with the reader. To invite the reader into Capitol Hill as opposed to just watching events unfold from the sidelines. 

Most of the sentences in this book are short. Very short and very memorable. The dialogue between characters is quite enjoyable too. It is especially fun to see Laskey and Billy fall into their old relations so quick after they are reunited. This just goes to affirm the commendable job Timony has done with this book. 

Be fairly warned, there is quite a bit of profanity. However, that is just the way cops roll. It is yet another thing that paints an accurate picture of interactions between brothers in arms. This is a book worth reading. It is not a short read but not too long either. It is worth the time. You will thoroughly enjoy the investigations and experiences with Billy’s gift. If nothing else you will appreciate what it takes for criminals to be brought to justice.