BOOK REVIEW + GIVEAWAY: Trigger by David Swinson (Suspense)

This was an edgy and intense police thriller that follows Frank Marr, newly retired from the Washington D.C. police department, who now works as an investigator for a defense attorney’s office. His former partner, Al, is involved in the shooting of a black teenager and Frank begins investigating the surrounding circumstances. The story is told from Frank’s perspective in his voice as he works through the process of determining whether Al killed a seemingly unarmed teen, making this incredibly gripping and gritty. Frank doesn’t shy away from graphic content, which creates such a realistic story with authentic content, especially given the author’s own police background. Short chapters driven by quick, focused, and earnest dialogue kept the pacing swift, the tension high, and the pages turning, while also expressing the almost exact frenetic energy Frank seemed to embody as he tried to figure out what happened with his friend. 

We aren’t privy to the information that the police are gathering to determine what charges Al may or may not face other than what Frank can gather, which ultimately made me feel as though I was missing the complete procedural element of the investigation. But personal preference aside, Frank is an incredibly driven and dedicated investigator whose skills by far make up for the lack of details from any coinciding investigation occurring off page. 

Although this was the third book in the series, I never felt that I was missing anything; however, considering the inner demons Frank battles at all moments of the day just to do his job, I do look forward to finding out more about his backstory from the prior books. His past drug use and resulting attempts to remain clean set him up as an unreliable narrator to blur the truth, yet surprisingly, he’s the one that garners the most trust and respect. Additionally, a burgeoning and quite unexpected connection with a previous character provides him with the opportunity to become a mentor/father figure that I am highly intrigued to read more of. 

Overall, this well written plot was fascinating to read and really set some high expectations for the series as I read from the beginning and wait for future releases.