F.P. Lione's, The Deuce ~ reviewed

The Deuce
By F.P. Lione
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 0800759605












Reviewed by Dawn Burns



Tony Cavalucci has made it ten years with the NYPD. As a cop working 42nd Street, he’s seen just about everything there is to see. He’s cynical, sarcastic and has little compassion left for the human race. Alcohol has become his best friend and assists him in hiding his pain from the world. Depression and drinking are choking the life out of Tony, but he puts up a great façade in front of his fellow cops. No one notices how desperate he really is for help.

No one, that is, until Joe Fiore is assigned as Tony’s new partner. Joe is everything that Tony is not. He’s a family man, a non-drinker, a Christian, and he has a clean mouth. He still sees the dregs of society as valuable human beings, which is baffling to Tony Cavalucci.

Fortunately for Tony, his partner also sees him as valuable. It’s not long before Joe notices the danger signs all around Tony and reaches out to him in an attempt to save his life.

This is just the beginning of one of the best cop stories I’ve ever read, Christian or secular. I won’t say much more for fear of giving the story away. It’s gritty and raw, showing the reality of daily life with the NYPD, on and off duty. The characters are deep and real and will not be easily forgotten.