Since my retirement my wife, Kim, and I have sailed our boat from the coast of Maine to Guadeloupe and driven our RV around the U.S., including Alaska. Currently, we split our time between Connecticut and Jackman, Maine. I have been an aviation enthusiast my whole life. I have earned several pilot ratings and fly as much as my budget allows.
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Front Row Seat is a novel about what it means to be a police officer, and the inevitable ways in which the job changes people who choose to take it on. Donna Harris is an accomplished rookie eager to put her training into action, though she is somewhat naïve about the day-to-day reality of police work and has a lot to learn about the citizens she servers and protects. Gerald Dennen is Donna's field training officer and is trying to impart all the wisdom he has accumulated over the years while struggling against some disillusionment with his career. Their sergeant, Mitch Reilly, is at the end of his career and has seen more than he’d like of the world in this job, but is still dedicated to serving to the best of his ability until he reaches retirement. As Donna slowly works her way toward becoming a “real” police officer, the experiences of all three shine a light on all aspects of police work. Though this is a fictional story, it incorporates real-life training and is based on some events from the author’s own extensive experience as a police officer.
The vice and narcotics cops in the town of North Hayward are having a good time busting drug dealers and prostitutes when three dead bodies are discovered within a few days. As the investigation into the three deaths continues, the undercover officers and their detective and evidentiary partners must follow leads, deal with department politics, work their informants, and cope with the inherent danger of police work as they try to solve the murders.
In his first book, Front Row Seat, the author put the reader right there with the patrol officers working the street. In Froggers he again has you shoulder-to-shoulder with the detectives feeling the adrenaline rush of drug buys, making busts, tailing suspects, and riding the successes and failures of their efforts. Though this is a fictional story, it is based on the author’s real life experiences during his twenty-one-year career as a police officer.
Front Row Seat: is available on the following Websites:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
Stillwater Books
IndieBound
Bookshop
Kindle
Nook
Froggers: is available on the following Websites:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million
Stillwater Books
IndieBound
Bookshop
Kindle
Nook
There was nothing I disliked about the book - it was a great reader in the style of Waumbaugh and Clancy. I usually judge a book by how many times I will put it down - less means I'm caught and the author is reeling me in, more means not so much. Froggers had few times on my table and much in my hands. Having experience from the inside on police work I understood all of the rules and regs involved in police work and dealing with the criminals and the victims. I also knew the town pretty much as it was a mirror image of the town I grew up in. Froggers takes you right into the scenes you may have read about in the headlines but didn't realize all of the twists and turns which go on in the background. I highly recommend it - its accurate and fast paced leaving little to the imagination. It is definitely the book to read to get an understanding of the danger law enforcement and especially undercover work deals with. Read it! You won't be sorry. PS I learned the author had a previous book which I almost immediately ordered and am reading now. Good stuff.
Great book! The author really brought each character alive, providing an honest insight into the mindset of police professionals at different points in their careers. This should be required reading for criminal justice majors. Looking forward to the next book!
Wow, what an outstanding book! “Front Row Seat” is a perfect title…I felt like I was sitting in the cruiser right there between Donna and Gerald. They always say there’s no one better to describe a scenario than someone who’s actually been there…the author did an outstanding job of detailing the various events he took us through…again, I felt like I was in the room observing as each of the stories unfolded. Probably the aspect I enjoyed most was knowing this wasn’t a fiction novel about the next Dick Tracy, but a true-life depiction of what it’s like to be in the field with characters based on real cops, and real events. I hope Donna has a long and successful career, and I hope Sgt Reilly enjoys his retired life. Hurry up with book 2! : )
The tag line “This isn’t a crime novel, it’s a cop story” caught my attention. I’m an avid reader and thought , well that’s interesting... little did I know just how riveting this story would prove to be. This book held my attention from page 1 through the final chapter. I WANT MORE! This new author has nailed the art of story telling, bringing the main character to life in a way some seasoned authors have yet to achieve. If you are a lover of books, of story’s, of “good times” this book belongs in your hands, you won’t be disappointed, on the contrary, you honestly won’t want it to end.
Unique view of police work in a difficult less than supportive environment where the officer needs to shuffle competing priorities -part social work part law enforcement.
Great book. Read the entire book in one evening. I grew up in North Hayward (East Hartford) in the 60s-70s and still have family there today. I enjoyed all the local references. The book was well written. I felt that I was there - in the middle - of every call.
This is a great read, a realistic account of what day to day police work is really like from different perspectives, from an author with real life experience.
Having worked under the author for many years, I can tell you this book was written from reality. A very entertaining read, something I finished in two days. Much better than anticipated!
Author Mark Kelly combined just the right amount humor for someone to stop and re-read the last sentence or two for a good chuckle.
This 37 minute interview was recorded on 8.10.24
Listen as retired East Hartford Police Department Patrol Sergeant Mark Kelly draws upon his experiences as an officer in two books he's recently written.
