When I start to read a police story, I expect an exciting one with lots of action and great, loveable characters I can identify with. Above all, however, I expect heroism and grandeur.
The best police characters are the ones that risk their lives day after day, not only for each other, but also because they are committed to making the world a better place to live in. For this they are willing to make sacrifices, even if it puts their most important human relationships at risk. Nevertheless, they somehow feel that it is worth it to continue, because they are doing the right thing.

This is how the characters in Frank Zafiro's novel Under A Raging Moon are like, and I came to love them immediately. The author really knows how to make you care for the characters, as his greatest talent is in making them very human. The style is enjoyable, the writing is superb, and the book is full of witty dialogue that make you laugh out loud. Zaphiro's cops use humour a lot to ease the stress of everyday life and to show their feelings for each other. Reading their witty exchanges, the reader feels a sense of warmth, while reading about their losses and disappointments makes one root for them even more.

The novel is set in a fictional city in Northeast Washington State, and is the first book in the River City series. The main characters include male and female officers of the River City police department, Thomas Chisolm, Stefan Kopriva, Katie Macleod and many others. In this particular book they have to catch a very dangerous man, a veteran army officer who has committed a series of armed robberies.

Under A Raging Moon is highly recommended for lovers of police stories, and I wouldn't be surprised if it made it to the big screen. I really hope it will.

Reviewed By Ilona Hegedus
© March 2006