"the sons of jude" by brandt dodson

About the book (provided by the publisher): The body of a young woman is found in a dumpster in Chicago, and detectives Andy Polanski and Frank Campello are charged with finding the killer. The two are polar opposites. Polanski is the son of a disgraced Chicago police officer and is fastidious about his reputation. He has also recently been transferred from another district after having blown the whistle on some corrupt cops. Campello, however, takes a live-and-let-live approach to his life and job.

It soon becomes clear, as another young woman—a potential witness—is murdered, that a sex-trafficking operation in Chicago is preying on illegal aliens. As the ill-matched pair dig deeper, an influential alderman and his son are implicated. Then Polanski is framed for a narcotics offense, devastating the cases against the corrupt officers and the alderman. Only when Campello is challenged by a local minister, whom he meets when visiting Polanski, does he find the motivation to seek justice.

My take: At first, I wasn't sure what to make of The Sons of Jude, but as I got into the book, I began to really enjoy it. It's a fast-paced story with twists and connections I wasn't expecting.

As Campello struggled with whom to trust, so did I. I loved the changes in Campello from the beginning of the book to the end, and Polanski has to be one of my favorite characters in recent memory. I also loved the setting—Chicago. I've visited the city several times, and I enjoyed picturing some of the places the officers went.

The ethical issues raised in this book are very interesting. How far is too far to go in the pursuit of justice? Do the ends ever justify the means? Is whistle blowing laudable or contemptible? Dodson answers these questions with the truth of Scripture, yet he never comes across as heavy handed.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book (especially the unexpected twist at the end), and now I'm anxious to read the next installment in the series! 4-1/2 stars.

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About the author: Brandt Dodson comes from a long line of police officers and was employed by the Indianapolis office of the FBI. He has lived in Chicago and travels to the city regularly. He is the creator of the Colton Parker series and author of several stand-alone thrillers. You can find Brandt at www.brandtdodson.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”