A pair of highly regarded New York City police officers – one male, one female, both white – accidentally kill an innocent Black teen in a poverty-stricken, minority neighborhood and face the consequences of an enraged community, a racially divided city, and their own emotional unraveling.
This powerful and timely novel, based on a composite of real-life events, explores the sensitive and divisive issue of race relations in America within the context of a tragic police shooting that becomes a lightning rod for racial tension and the focus of a landmark civil rights case, while profoundly reshaping the lives of those most closely impacted by the incident.
As the riveting drama unfolds amidst controversy, false charges, racial bias, and political maneuverings that threaten to overwhelm the facts of the case, both the officers and the family of the slain teen become immersed in intense inner crises as they struggle to come to terms with the tragedy. In the process, they come to experience the stereotypes, antipathy, and misunderstanding that often divide our communities – as well as the wisdom and emotions that can ultimately bind them and help them heal.
Praise for OFFICERS DOWN
“Even in the glow of morning there was darkness.” These are words that open Officers Down, a tantalizing thriller with strong and resonant themes, a deft exploration of racism in a poor community. The opening is a dark premonition of the strong premise that opens the narrative — the fatal shooting of an innocent Black teen. Responding to a 911 Call, New York City police officers Matt Holland and Rachel Cook accidentally kill an innocent Black teen in a poor neighborhood in a city that is already reeling from the tension resulting from racism. The consequences are devastating for the officers as the angry throng of onlookers quickly transforms into an enraged community. The officers and those affected by the tragedy, including Charles and Eunice Johnson, the parents of the murdered teenager, and enmeshed in a case that is tainted by racial biases, hatred, and political intrigue. Can justice be served for C. J.’s murder?
This is an intelligently plotted thriller with characters that are not just deeply flawed, but believable and memorable. The journey that the characters make and how the lives of the main characters unfold throughout the story will inspire readers to always look beyond appearances. Matt and his wife Katie, Charles and Eunice Johnson, and Rachel are elaborately written and nuanced characters. This book is a brilliant exploration of how an accidental shooting can unravel the tension that has built up within a community like a volcano, simmering in silence in the depths of the Earth and waiting for a moment to explode. I was particularly thrilled by the maturity demonstrated by Clifford Johnson’s parents and how this opened a path toward healing.
Eliot Sefrin writes in dazzling prose and creates dialogues that are sparkling. The drama beefs up the pace and the beautiful prose augments the delightful reading experience. This is a novel that entertains hugely, but it is a story that should be discussed for the lessons it offers. This novel has no equal in its pitch-perfect portrayal of the racial tensions that have been characteristic of Black communities in the last decade. It is nuanced, deft, and balanced.
Officers Down is emotionally rich tale that will have readers thinking about the misunderstandings and wrong interpretations that have often fueled racism in contemporary America. It’s a masterpiece with compelling social commentaries.”
— ROMUALD DZEMO, THE BOOK COMMENTARY
Eliot Sefrin did an amazing job crafting a novel that reads as true crime story. Sefrin allows each character to go through their own arc and readers are able to see all sides of each character and how they deal with tragedy and forgiveness.
Even though it takes place in 1976, Officers Down could sadly still be true for today’s America. Hard subjects like racism and gender discrimination are handled in such a good way that it is hard to describe. Readers will feel for each side of the tragic moment.
— JEN OLIVER-RIGSBY, READER VIEWS
For anyone interested in a police story that will place you at the edge of your seat and leave you there until the very last page, Officers Down is the book for you. Highly recommended!
— STEVEN MANCHESTER, BESTSELLING AUTHOR