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Mercy Dogs
How can a shattered ex-cop follow the rules when he’s no longer sure of them?
For sixteen years, Ben Shepard loyally served the Long Beach Police Department. Then he took a bullet to the head, and his life was shattered. No one expects much of anything from him anymore—except his father, an old man receding into a fog of his own. And except maybe his tenant, Grace, who’s been a warm and friendly constant in his and his father’s bleak lives.
Until the day she vanishes.
After an official investigation stalls, Ben moves forward on his own. But stepping into Grace’s past—and all she was hiding—is a dangerous move for a man who can’t trust his memories from one day to the next. The deeper he gets, the more he has to question whether he’s being driven by the gut instincts of a suspicious former cop or by paranoia.
Recognizing what’s real can save Grace’s life. If only he can trust himself to do it…
For sixteen years, Ben Shepard loyally served the Long Beach Police Department. Then he took a bullet to the head, and his life was shattered. No one expects much of anything from him anymore—except his father, an old man receding into a fog of his own. And except maybe his tenant, Grace, who’s been a warm and friendly constant in his and his father’s bleak lives.
Until the day she vanishes.
After an official investigation stalls, Ben moves forward on his own. But stepping into Grace’s past—and all she was hiding—is a dangerous move for a man who can’t trust his memories from one day to the next. The deeper he gets, the more he has to question whether he’s being driven by the gut instincts of a suspicious former cop or by paranoia.
Recognizing what’s real can save Grace’s life. If only he can trust himself to do it…
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2018
244 people are currently reading
813 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Dilts
10 books222 followersThe son of a policeman, Tyler Dilts grew up wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. Along the line, his career goals changed, but he never lost his interest in the daily work of homicide detectives. Now an instructor at California State University in Long Beach, his writing has appeared in "The Los Angeles Times," "The Chronicle of Higher Education," "The Best American Mystery Stories," and in numerous other publications. He is the author of the Long Beach Homicide series featuring Detective Danny Beckett, the most recent of which, "A Cold and Broken Hallelujah," is now available.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
November 15, 2019
4,5 stars rounded up
The reason I asked for an ARC was not ONLY because of 5 stars reviews- I'm aware that the book hasn't yet officially released and I normally treat with caution a few existed high-rating-reviews - but because I have a week spot for a shattered cop/ex-cop/pi, and the blurb sounded exactly what I could enjoy.
Mercy Dogs turned out to be not EVEN better than I expected, but in the first place, absolutely NOT WHAT I had expected. I wanted to read a well-done mystery and I wasn't disappointed: A key word dirty cops, the situations when you don't know whom you can trust and whom you can relay, a thrilling challenge for my imagination! I love it!
However, as the story of Ben's life unfolded, through current events, flashbacks and internal thoughts, the mystery itself became somehow a matter of secondary importance.
What mattered was not WHO and WHY did it, but HOW Ben managed to cope with this task.
A great moving novel, with characters that one will not forget too soon.
This book is about a responsibility, love and courage, and how important it is for people to love each other, to care for each other.
Highly recommended!
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
The reason I asked for an ARC was not ONLY because of 5 stars reviews- I'm aware that the book hasn't yet officially released and I normally treat with caution a few existed high-rating-reviews - but because I have a week spot for a shattered cop/ex-cop/pi, and the blurb sounded exactly what I could enjoy.
Mercy Dogs turned out to be not EVEN better than I expected, but in the first place, absolutely NOT WHAT I had expected. I wanted to read a well-done mystery and I wasn't disappointed: A key word dirty cops, the situations when you don't know whom you can trust and whom you can relay, a thrilling challenge for my imagination! I love it!
However, as the story of Ben's life unfolded, through current events, flashbacks and internal thoughts, the mystery itself became somehow a matter of secondary importance.
What mattered was not WHO and WHY did it, but HOW Ben managed to cope with this task.
A great moving novel, with characters that one will not forget too soon.
This book is about a responsibility, love and courage, and how important it is for people to love each other, to care for each other.
Highly recommended!
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
February 6, 2018
The author drew my attention to the ever-present fragility of life. Implied how it could change in the blink of an eye. The meaning was clear: we live our lives perched on a precipice - one day at a time. Felt a bit unsettling as I swept from page to page to bear witness to the demoralizing decline of mental health. How it strained relationships. Painful to behold. Engulfed me with quiet empathy as the scenes cascaded into a downward spiral. Yet at the same time, I was moved by the undying eternal bond of a father and son that permeated the novel. A soothing warmth washed over me. The main characters were well-drawn. The steady well-paced narrative culminated with a superb ending.
Long Beach PD Detective Ben Shepherd took a bullet in the head. Not the way the 16-year veteran planned retirement. His former confidence and personality he'd come to enjoy around people had also taken a bullet. The physical and mental after effects he suffered were devastating. No longer the man he used to be. Now when he looks back on himself, it's like looking at another person. Though someone vaguely familiar.
Ben moved into his ailing father's house to provide the necessary care for the onset of dementia. Something none of us want to think about. Heartbreaking. In Ben's present diminished mental state, it was all he could do just to keep it all together. Like watching the blind leading the blind. As the scenes unfolded, I found it difficult to escape the emotional fallout.
To further complicate matters, Ben found himself immersed in a missing persons case. Not just anyone, a beloved friend. I thought that added a nice twist to the storyline. He could not wait for the police to take action so he decided to take matters into his own hands. Though many of the former skills he once embraced had left him high and dry. Questioned himself if he'd be able to pull this off just one more time. No matter what it cost he had to try.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Long Beach PD Detective Ben Shepherd took a bullet in the head. Not the way the 16-year veteran planned retirement. His former confidence and personality he'd come to enjoy around people had also taken a bullet. The physical and mental after effects he suffered were devastating. No longer the man he used to be. Now when he looks back on himself, it's like looking at another person. Though someone vaguely familiar.
Ben moved into his ailing father's house to provide the necessary care for the onset of dementia. Something none of us want to think about. Heartbreaking. In Ben's present diminished mental state, it was all he could do just to keep it all together. Like watching the blind leading the blind. As the scenes unfolded, I found it difficult to escape the emotional fallout.
To further complicate matters, Ben found himself immersed in a missing persons case. Not just anyone, a beloved friend. I thought that added a nice twist to the storyline. He could not wait for the police to take action so he decided to take matters into his own hands. Though many of the former skills he once embraced had left him high and dry. Questioned himself if he'd be able to pull this off just one more time. No matter what it cost he had to try.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 4, 2018
Author Tyler Dilts crafts a story of compassion and humanity around a retired cop, forced to retire with a traumatic brain injury after being shot in the head, and his aging father, who suffers from early stage dementia. Their daily struggles to get through the day, with meals, medicines, doctor's appointments are disrupted when their tenant and friend Grace disappears, and we slowly learn how she came to live with them and why. She fits in with them, and her sudden absence is palpable. We see retired cop Ben begin to heal by working on the missing persons case, despite his formidable mental obstacles. The story is well done, and even minor characters, like the dog-walking neighbor, are meaningful and developed.
March 2, 2020
'Mercy Dogs' by Tyler Dilts is a very good book as well as a very different kind of mystery! Literary quality. However, the plot moves along slowly. The author uses most of the book establishing the daily routines and deep affection of the two main characters without directly addressing the mystery of a missing person for many chapters. Nonetheless, I was interested from the first chapter, and I did not ever become bored.
Benjamin Shepard and his father, Peter, are going through a difficult time in their lives. Ben had been shot in the head five years ago while on the job as a Long Beach, California, police detective in Violent Crimes. After several years of therapy, Ben can walk and talk again, but he now has memory problems and trouble controlling his anxieties. Peter's dementia has become worse after three intestinal-obstruction surgeries. They both suffer paranoia and hallucinations, but both are on medications and have regular doctor appointments to control their conditions.
Ben lives with his father, and they take care of each other. With deep love and affection. Ben is more capable than his father, able to drive, but he carries around a notebook in which he carefully writes down when they have taken their medications and have done other necessary daily tasks. Otherwise, both of them forget.
Five months ago they rented out the garage's attached storage room, which had been rebuilt as a studio, to Grace, a waitperson. Rob Kessler, Ben's old partner, had asked them to take Grace in. They had been surprised by Rob's request, but even more surprised when Grace became a good friend to both of them. She had sensitivity and appeared to understand their disabilities, helping out a great deal, especially with Peter.
Then one day she never came back from her job. Later, after making several phone calls to his friends still on the police force, Ben learns enough despite the tight lips of his police friends that Grace might be in big trouble. Ben feels he must do something. Maybe he still retains enough skills to be a detective again, even if somewhat hampered by his disabilities. He could fake it as long as he didn't run into real police officers. Where did he put that old badge of his?
The novel slowly builds to a conclusion, taking off in the last chapters. The focus is on Ben, the relationship between Ben and his father and their disabilities, and on the case of the missing tenant.
By the last page there were tears, gentle reader. I liked this novel very much.
Benjamin Shepard and his father, Peter, are going through a difficult time in their lives. Ben had been shot in the head five years ago while on the job as a Long Beach, California, police detective in Violent Crimes. After several years of therapy, Ben can walk and talk again, but he now has memory problems and trouble controlling his anxieties. Peter's dementia has become worse after three intestinal-obstruction surgeries. They both suffer paranoia and hallucinations, but both are on medications and have regular doctor appointments to control their conditions.
Ben lives with his father, and they take care of each other. With deep love and affection. Ben is more capable than his father, able to drive, but he carries around a notebook in which he carefully writes down when they have taken their medications and have done other necessary daily tasks. Otherwise, both of them forget.
Five months ago they rented out the garage's attached storage room, which had been rebuilt as a studio, to Grace, a waitperson. Rob Kessler, Ben's old partner, had asked them to take Grace in. They had been surprised by Rob's request, but even more surprised when Grace became a good friend to both of them. She had sensitivity and appeared to understand their disabilities, helping out a great deal, especially with Peter.
Then one day she never came back from her job. Later, after making several phone calls to his friends still on the police force, Ben learns enough despite the tight lips of his police friends that Grace might be in big trouble. Ben feels he must do something. Maybe he still retains enough skills to be a detective again, even if somewhat hampered by his disabilities. He could fake it as long as he didn't run into real police officers. Where did he put that old badge of his?
The novel slowly builds to a conclusion, taking off in the last chapters. The focus is on Ben, the relationship between Ben and his father and their disabilities, and on the case of the missing tenant.
By the last page there were tears, gentle reader. I liked this novel very much.
March 21, 2018
An unusual read in the genre which Dilts uses as part of the story. So we see a constant duality in how things where and how things are, what is remembered and what isn't, what one can do and what one can't regardless of wishes. Also there is that subtle comparison to the active, roller-coasters the genre is built on.
What saddens me is the fragility on which our lives are built, our health is the determining factor in how we live, what we do. Yes we do take it for granted. This is a reminder that we really cannot do this.
What saddens me is the fragility on which our lives are built, our health is the determining factor in how we live, what we do. Yes we do take it for granted. This is a reminder that we really cannot do this.
March 9, 2018
Mercy Dogs by Tyler Dilts
Choppy, fractured, broken, disconnected, fragmented…these were words I wrote down as I began reading Ben Shepard’s first person narrative of this story that gives insight into the lives of Ben, his father Peter and their tenant Grace. Ben’s story is revealed through thoughts, interactions, notebook entries and information he shares with Grace and others. This is a story of family, friendship, support, seeking, control, health issues, truth seeking, corrupt cops, murder and survival.
Here I have to say that having worked as an RN with patients in neurosurgical intensive care and later with people who survived with neurological damage and were trying to adjust while working to create a new way to live their lives, well, THIS book hit close to home. Ben’s experiences reminded me of people I knew well and the struggles some of them dealt with. I felt it was real and gritty and difficult as it also made me thankful to I have much easier issues to contend with in life.
Ben was a man that I admired more and more as I read. I realized that he might not be the man he once was but he was a good man more than willing to take on the challenge of caring for a father with dementia while also trying to find out what happened to his missing tenant. I was blown away and wrote W O W and thought it more than once as I continued reading.
This is a book that will linger with me. It reinforced that the moment we are in is the one that is truly important just as who we are right now has more weight than who we once were or who we may become.
I had to return to the beginning of the book to read the words that had such a huge impact…the ones that told the story of Mercy Dogs. Only near the end did I realize they were written by Ben’s father in a book he had researched and written after talking to WWI veterans.
There is no doubt much more I could say about this book but what I will say now is that I highly recommend it. This story hit home and it hit hard. Life is short – we should not waste it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Choppy, fractured, broken, disconnected, fragmented…these were words I wrote down as I began reading Ben Shepard’s first person narrative of this story that gives insight into the lives of Ben, his father Peter and their tenant Grace. Ben’s story is revealed through thoughts, interactions, notebook entries and information he shares with Grace and others. This is a story of family, friendship, support, seeking, control, health issues, truth seeking, corrupt cops, murder and survival.
Here I have to say that having worked as an RN with patients in neurosurgical intensive care and later with people who survived with neurological damage and were trying to adjust while working to create a new way to live their lives, well, THIS book hit close to home. Ben’s experiences reminded me of people I knew well and the struggles some of them dealt with. I felt it was real and gritty and difficult as it also made me thankful to I have much easier issues to contend with in life.
Ben was a man that I admired more and more as I read. I realized that he might not be the man he once was but he was a good man more than willing to take on the challenge of caring for a father with dementia while also trying to find out what happened to his missing tenant. I was blown away and wrote W O W and thought it more than once as I continued reading.
This is a book that will linger with me. It reinforced that the moment we are in is the one that is truly important just as who we are right now has more weight than who we once were or who we may become.
I had to return to the beginning of the book to read the words that had such a huge impact…the ones that told the story of Mercy Dogs. Only near the end did I realize they were written by Ben’s father in a book he had researched and written after talking to WWI veterans.
There is no doubt much more I could say about this book but what I will say now is that I highly recommend it. This story hit home and it hit hard. Life is short – we should not waste it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
April 8, 2018
I pity the characters that find themselves in a Tyler Dilts book, they are always destined to endure suffering of some kind. This one gets deep into the psyche of a character with TBI issues and that of his father, who has dementia and a host of awful medical problems. Well written, but definitely a dark read.
January 9, 2018
Read this book in a matter of hours, absolutely loved it. Tyler Dilts never disappoints me and that is why he is at the top of my list for favorite authors !! His books are always original, not a typical "cop" book. He writes with heart, compassion and wit every single book. Even when the topic is dark you can't help but love the book. These characters have been through so much . Their relationships are heartwarming. You can't help but feel for these people, pull for them and hope they come out on top. Great new characters in this story plus a few old familiar characters from his other books. I hope that you will read this book and if you love it, read his other books as well because they are some of the best books I have ever read. I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Enjoy !
January 14, 2018
I got a free e-copy from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review.
This is not a story about whodunit, when, and why. It's a story about how do we care for each other.
This is my second Tyler Dilts book, and it's even better than the first. Dilts has an ongoing police procedural series, but this one is a standalone with some small crossover from that series.
I loved it. While a PP will focus on the life of the character -- whom he dates and office politics, et al -- this story is an internal monolog by Ben, an Long Beach PD detective, gets shot in the head and retires early. He spent two years of therapy to get to be able to even talk. He needs to write everything down due to memory problems. His dad has dementia. They live together, yet through taking care of his dad, Ben is also taking care of himself. We are in Ben's head for the entire story. Yeah, it's intense at times.
When an old cop friend calls to ask if a friend of his -- Gwen -- can stay in Ben's rental cottage/garage, you know that hi-jinks will ensue. Yep... She disappears.
Then things fall apart.
As Ben looks into the disappearance, through flashbacks we get to see the life that Ben and his dad and Gwen had. These are lovely scenes. You get to understand why Ben decides to find her vs just ignore her. To Dilts's credit, these are never played for cheap -- as in, there's never a Huge Reveal in these flashback scenes. These are scenes of a character remembering things as he can and those memories driving him forward. I also give Dilts credit that, though Ben has gaps in his memory, there's never a Sudden Remembrance That Solves The Crime, as in most amnesia stories -- ie, "I remember now!". Ben has gaps, and they haunt him, he remembers things, but they don't solve the crime for him.
The ending is perfect. They are all Mercy Dogs.
This is not a story about whodunit, when, and why. It's a story about how do we care for each other.
This is my second Tyler Dilts book, and it's even better than the first. Dilts has an ongoing police procedural series, but this one is a standalone with some small crossover from that series.
I loved it. While a PP will focus on the life of the character -- whom he dates and office politics, et al -- this story is an internal monolog by Ben, an Long Beach PD detective, gets shot in the head and retires early. He spent two years of therapy to get to be able to even talk. He needs to write everything down due to memory problems. His dad has dementia. They live together, yet through taking care of his dad, Ben is also taking care of himself. We are in Ben's head for the entire story. Yeah, it's intense at times.
When an old cop friend calls to ask if a friend of his -- Gwen -- can stay in Ben's rental cottage/garage, you know that hi-jinks will ensue. Yep... She disappears.
Then things fall apart.
As Ben looks into the disappearance, through flashbacks we get to see the life that Ben and his dad and Gwen had. These are lovely scenes. You get to understand why Ben decides to find her vs just ignore her. To Dilts's credit, these are never played for cheap -- as in, there's never a Huge Reveal in these flashback scenes. These are scenes of a character remembering things as he can and those memories driving him forward. I also give Dilts credit that, though Ben has gaps in his memory, there's never a Sudden Remembrance That Solves The Crime, as in most amnesia stories -- ie, "I remember now!". Ben has gaps, and they haunt him, he remembers things, but they don't solve the crime for him.
The ending is perfect. They are all Mercy Dogs.
April 22, 2023
"The plane dipped its wing again. Peter kept waving as it flew past them, then turned to Ben, his eyes alight with joyful wonder. "Did they really?" "Yeah, they really did, Dad." Ben felt something catch in his throat. "They waved back. They saw us."
Mercy Dogs, for me, is about being seen. Ben sees his Dad as more than someone with dementia. Peter sees his son as more than someone with a brain injury. Their roles taking care of each other have gradually reversed, so that now Ben is responsible for Peter. The two of them also care deeply for Grace, who has, I think, helped them become father and son again, not just caretakers. Finding Grace isn't just about getting her back, it's about finding themselves as they are now.
This is one of those stories that transcends the mystery and reveals humanity. Dilts gets the details of caregiving down perfectly. My mother is bedridden, but doesn't have dementia. However, I've lived just about everything Dilts writes about, down to the Burt's Bees lip balm, to writing everything down, to the way he makes coffee with Boost, to needing latex gloves for the more personal chores, to the reminders from CVS to pick up a prescription.
Ben doesn't just take care of his father, though, he respects him as a person. That just shines throughout the story. When his father can't remember something, Ben says, "You can tell me later." He means, "What you're saying is so important that I want to make a point of hearing it and I'm patient enough for you to tell me when you can." He doesn't just dismiss him out-of-hand. Peter also helps Ben...I feel like he keeps him grounded and brings him out of his blues.
I loved this story so much and will remember it for a long time. I anticipated its release for weeks, and I was not disappointed. It's a gem.
Mercy Dogs, for me, is about being seen. Ben sees his Dad as more than someone with dementia. Peter sees his son as more than someone with a brain injury. Their roles taking care of each other have gradually reversed, so that now Ben is responsible for Peter. The two of them also care deeply for Grace, who has, I think, helped them become father and son again, not just caretakers. Finding Grace isn't just about getting her back, it's about finding themselves as they are now.
This is one of those stories that transcends the mystery and reveals humanity. Dilts gets the details of caregiving down perfectly. My mother is bedridden, but doesn't have dementia. However, I've lived just about everything Dilts writes about, down to the Burt's Bees lip balm, to writing everything down, to the way he makes coffee with Boost, to needing latex gloves for the more personal chores, to the reminders from CVS to pick up a prescription.
Ben doesn't just take care of his father, though, he respects him as a person. That just shines throughout the story. When his father can't remember something, Ben says, "You can tell me later." He means, "What you're saying is so important that I want to make a point of hearing it and I'm patient enough for you to tell me when you can." He doesn't just dismiss him out-of-hand. Peter also helps Ben...I feel like he keeps him grounded and brings him out of his blues.
I loved this story so much and will remember it for a long time. I anticipated its release for weeks, and I was not disappointed. It's a gem.
April 14, 2018
I received Mercy Dogs by Tyler Dilts in a giveaway sponsored by the publisher. Review is unbiased.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Somehow the mundane daily rituals help the reader understand the intricacies and obstacles of TBI as well as dementia. Although this is a mystery/suspense, seeing the MC deal with the changes in his life is what provides the biggest impact. I will definitely read more by this author. I am grateful to have been introduced to him. 4 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Somehow the mundane daily rituals help the reader understand the intricacies and obstacles of TBI as well as dementia. Although this is a mystery/suspense, seeing the MC deal with the changes in his life is what provides the biggest impact. I will definitely read more by this author. I am grateful to have been introduced to him. 4 stars
April 26, 2018
Sometimes you get very emotionally invested in characters. That's when you know you've stumbled upon an amazing book and story. That's what happened to me in this instance. The story itself is fantastic, but my love and concern for Ben and his father, Peter made this one exceptional thriller. Be st book by Tyler Dilts yet!
April 23, 2022
I reas this but do not know where my revue went from 2 years ago
Arc from NetGalley
It was unmemorable
Arc from NetGalley
It was unmemorable
March 22, 2018
Tyler Dilts's Mercy Dogs shows that the author is a man not unacquainted with persistent, abrading pain -- so much so that I would be curious to know whether he himself experienced it, or his father, who was a policeman.
Mercy Dogs is the story of Ben, who, in an unspecified act of heroism when he was with the Long Beach Police in the Homicide Division, got shot in the head and still gets seizures from time to time and is on a regimen of pills that is daunting -- especially as he continues to have memory problems. At the same time, he is the sole guardian of his father Peter, who has dementia and requires constant care.
Ben and Peter have a guesthouse at the back of their house which they had rented to a pleasant young waitress named Grace, who suddenly disappears. Ben tries to track her down, which would be daunting enough for a person in excellent health. He manages to do so and regain some confidence in his own abilities.
Dilts is a fascinating writer. I have read all his Long Beach Police novels . This is the first volume that does not feature Danny Beckett and Jennifer Tanaka as the main characters, though both figure here in a more minor role.
Mercy Dogs is the story of Ben, who, in an unspecified act of heroism when he was with the Long Beach Police in the Homicide Division, got shot in the head and still gets seizures from time to time and is on a regimen of pills that is daunting -- especially as he continues to have memory problems. At the same time, he is the sole guardian of his father Peter, who has dementia and requires constant care.
Ben and Peter have a guesthouse at the back of their house which they had rented to a pleasant young waitress named Grace, who suddenly disappears. Ben tries to track her down, which would be daunting enough for a person in excellent health. He manages to do so and regain some confidence in his own abilities.
Dilts is a fascinating writer. I have read all his Long Beach Police novels . This is the first volume that does not feature Danny Beckett and Jennifer Tanaka as the main characters, though both figure here in a more minor role.
February 26, 2018
When I first started this book, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading. A fading dad, a seriously, and I mean seriously damaged son hang on to one another as one attempts to recover and the other tries to stave off the inevitable.
Its so awful to have to confront increasing deficits and knowing there is little you can do. From inside and from outside, trying to resurrect the past can seem like a glass hill.
That scared me, the author so authentically conveyed the daily struggles that he must have had to walk this path.
The added layer of the missing tenant changed the narrative in a good and constructive way for both the story and the hero.
I found myself really intrigued and wanting to know what happened next. Often I find myself rushing through the story simply to find out what happens next. WIth this book, I did find myself reading each paragraph. Ben, hsi dad Peter and their struggle together and apart is almost more compelling as figuring out what happened to the mysterious roomate.
Suspicion, abuse of power, betrayal, greed and violence, standard police book stuff, was fine. The aspect of this book I appreciated most was the obvious and clear compassion of the author.
This was an older book that I got from Netgalley, I will go find his other titles.
Its so awful to have to confront increasing deficits and knowing there is little you can do. From inside and from outside, trying to resurrect the past can seem like a glass hill.
That scared me, the author so authentically conveyed the daily struggles that he must have had to walk this path.
The added layer of the missing tenant changed the narrative in a good and constructive way for both the story and the hero.
I found myself really intrigued and wanting to know what happened next. Often I find myself rushing through the story simply to find out what happens next. WIth this book, I did find myself reading each paragraph. Ben, hsi dad Peter and their struggle together and apart is almost more compelling as figuring out what happened to the mysterious roomate.
Suspicion, abuse of power, betrayal, greed and violence, standard police book stuff, was fine. The aspect of this book I appreciated most was the obvious and clear compassion of the author.
This was an older book that I got from Netgalley, I will go find his other titles.
March 9, 2018
Wow. This matches an entirely original premise for a detective with a good mystery. Ben is damaged as a result of a bullet in the head- really damaged-AND he is taking care of his father, who has dementia. That alone could have been a novel but Ben also finds himself searching for Gwen, who has gone missing. The connection between Ben, his dad, and Gwen is critical to this. There are good guys and bad guys but there's also a sense that what you might think is true is not. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was a very good read highly recommended for those looking for something different.
January 25, 2018
Thank you, Net Galley, for this book
I have read all of Tyler Ditts books and this one does not disappoint. This one is a standalone that is set in the same world about police officers in Long Beach. The main character in this book, Ben, was shot in the head and had to retired early. He is living with his father who is has dementia and has health problems. Ben has memory lapses and must write everything down.
An old partner-now in internal affairs- asks Ben to rent their back-yard apartment to Grace.
When she disappears, Ben starts looking for her. Ben is still damaged from the gunshot in the head.
This book is about damaged people and how they care for each other and do the best that they can.
The entire book is seen through Ben’s eyes and his thoughts and feelings. He had memory gaps and has a hard time.
I loved the surreal feel of the writing. All Ditts books have the same feel, they capture people doing the best they can. I did miss some of the characters from his other books, who only have small cameos in his one. Keep writing Mr. Ditts!!
I have read all of Tyler Ditts books and this one does not disappoint. This one is a standalone that is set in the same world about police officers in Long Beach. The main character in this book, Ben, was shot in the head and had to retired early. He is living with his father who is has dementia and has health problems. Ben has memory lapses and must write everything down.
An old partner-now in internal affairs- asks Ben to rent their back-yard apartment to Grace.
When she disappears, Ben starts looking for her. Ben is still damaged from the gunshot in the head.
This book is about damaged people and how they care for each other and do the best that they can.
The entire book is seen through Ben’s eyes and his thoughts and feelings. He had memory gaps and has a hard time.
I loved the surreal feel of the writing. All Ditts books have the same feel, they capture people doing the best they can. I did miss some of the characters from his other books, who only have small cameos in his one. Keep writing Mr. Ditts!!
March 25, 2018
Just when I think I won't be surprised by Dilts's skill, I get blown away all over again. Such is the case with this latest Long Beach Homicide book. I mean, it was just amazing. In the previous book, I was so impressed by how Dilts managed to take a narrator we all knew and make him mildly unreliable. It was amazing. And now this. Now, we have a character who should be unreliable but is the opposite, and there's a whole new perspective coming to us, and it makes perfect sense. Moreover, if Dilts can tell the story that is Mercy Dogs, then there's really no reason for him to ever bore of writing the "series," which is good news for fans like me.
Dilts can tell any damn story he pleases, and I'm gonna read it. Moreover, as an audiobook listener, I hope he reads every damn story he writes.
Dilts can tell any damn story he pleases, and I'm gonna read it. Moreover, as an audiobook listener, I hope he reads every damn story he writes.
March 22, 2018
Every book Tyler Dilts writes is better than the one before, and I've rated the last two as 5 stars. Can I have more stars?
Dilts' attention to detail, the amount of research he must have had to do to write his books, and the humanity with which he invests his characters, the good persons and the bad persons, is what keeps me reading them, even if I find the experience depressing sometimes. I think it's a crying shame he isn't more famous than he is, but I suppose that's a consequence of having Amazon for a publisher. Somehow I don't see Amazon as spending a lot of time pushing their own letterpress. Maybe they ought to promote him a little better. I'm sure he'll catch on with the reading public and Amazon will become rich(er).
Dilts' attention to detail, the amount of research he must have had to do to write his books, and the humanity with which he invests his characters, the good persons and the bad persons, is what keeps me reading them, even if I find the experience depressing sometimes. I think it's a crying shame he isn't more famous than he is, but I suppose that's a consequence of having Amazon for a publisher. Somehow I don't see Amazon as spending a lot of time pushing their own letterpress. Maybe they ought to promote him a little better. I'm sure he'll catch on with the reading public and Amazon will become rich(er).
April 4, 2018
Strength to Survive
After being shot in the head and surviving 2years of therapies, retired Detective Ben Shepherd is living with his father Peter, who suffers from dementia and chronic health issues. Ben has PTSD, short term memory problems, anxiety and the urge to help his new tenant who is being hunted by bad cops. Reading this book I really empathized with this character and how every big and small decision seemed quiet overwhelming at times. What an unusual detective story. It was fantastic! I hope this will not be a stand alone book.
After being shot in the head and surviving 2years of therapies, retired Detective Ben Shepherd is living with his father Peter, who suffers from dementia and chronic health issues. Ben has PTSD, short term memory problems, anxiety and the urge to help his new tenant who is being hunted by bad cops. Reading this book I really empathized with this character and how every big and small decision seemed quiet overwhelming at times. What an unusual detective story. It was fantastic! I hope this will not be a stand alone book.
January 26, 2018
Thanks to the author and to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this author and the new book, "Mercy Dogs." There is always this pall over Tyler Dilts's books. This feeling of the difficulty and uncertainty of life. A feeling that no guarantee of good times or happy ending was every given and would never come. I find this a nice escape from some books where you know everything will end up in a nice neat package.
Highly recommended.
I love this author and the new book, "Mercy Dogs." There is always this pall over Tyler Dilts's books. This feeling of the difficulty and uncertainty of life. A feeling that no guarantee of good times or happy ending was every given and would never come. I find this a nice escape from some books where you know everything will end up in a nice neat package.
Highly recommended.
March 26, 2018
The author really does paint a beautiful picture of humanity in this book. Long Beach detective, Ben Shepherd, is shot in the head and suffers a traumatic brain injury as a result. The relationship between Ben and his father, who suffers from dementia, is both beautiful and emotionally described. This book is not just a mystery but is also about the fragility of life. Beautifully written, I have no hesitation in recommending it. My thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
June 7, 2018
Perfect Dilts. Same setting, different characters, a mystery that they feel they must solve, bigger life problems probably unsolvable, maybe unsurvivable, and the same feeling, I can't describe it, but it's in all of his novels, you are there with them, you know what the POV persons are going through and you really want them to make it. Read it. It's really good.
April 4, 2018
Detailed character development. However, because of such detail, it also made the story a little slow for me. In addition, I found the flashbacks a little confusing. Otherwise, an endearing story between father & son. Will continue to read Mr. Dilts’ novels.
As a side note, didn’t feel the title fit with the story.
As a side note, didn’t feel the title fit with the story.
March 17, 2018
Dilts delivers again
This is my third book. The integration of new and old characters worked well. Well rounded characters. Great setting in Long Beach, which means even more having visited last year. I look forward to the next book.
This is my third book. The integration of new and old characters worked well. Well rounded characters. Great setting in Long Beach, which means even more having visited last year. I look forward to the next book.
March 15, 2018
At first I was disappointed that the characters weren't the same as previous books but within 5minutes I was Interested in Ben, Peter and Grace! Highly recommend!
March 17, 2018
Brilliant read
I discovered RD just this year and I'm happy I did. I enjoy his novels. Do yourself a favor and enjoy one for yourself NOW
I discovered RD just this year and I'm happy I did. I enjoy his novels. Do yourself a favor and enjoy one for yourself NOW
March 27, 2018
Such an unusual, sympathetic, and completely engrossing protagonist. I loved this beautiful, yet suspenseful novel.
April 10, 2018
Tyler Does It Again
This is not like Tyler’s other books but he continues to develop characters with flaws that make them seem like normal people
I really enjoyed Mercy Dogs.
This is not like Tyler’s other books but he continues to develop characters with flaws that make them seem like normal people
I really enjoyed Mercy Dogs.
July 29, 2018
Another great summer read! It’s a slow start but keep with it because it’s a great story!
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