DAVID PUTNAM - THE DISPOSABLES

Synopsis/blurb.......

Bruno Johnson, a tough street cop, member of the elite violent crime task force, feared by the bad guys, admired by the good, finds his life derailed when a personal tragedy forces him to break the law. 

Now he's an ex-con and his life on parole is not going well. He is hassled by the police at every opportunity, and, to make matters even more difficult, his former partner, Robby Wicks, now a high-ranking detective, bullies him into helping solve a high profile crime--unofficially, of course. 

Meanwhile, Bruno's girlfriend, Marie, brings out the good, the real Bruno, and even though they veer totally outside the law, he and Marie dedicate themselves to saving abused children, creating a type of underground railroad for neglected kids at risk: disposable kids. What they must do is perilous as they take matters into their own hands, battling a warped justice system and Bruno's former partner, who has his own evil agenda.

"I really loved The Disposables. It's raw, powerful and eloquent. It's a gritty street poem recited by a voice unalterably committed to redemption and doing the right thing in a wrong world. I'll be first in line for the next one from David Putnam."
Michael Connelly, New York Times best-selling author of The Gods of Guilt

"What do you get when you give a veteran sheriff's deputy a talent for storytelling and a computer?  In this case you get David Putnam's 'The Disposables,' a dark and disturbing insider's novel that may not make you feel safer on the mean streets of L.A. Dark, disturbing and all too believable, this is the tale of one man's quest for atonement in a world where innocence is a liability."
T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times best-selling author of "The Famous & the Dead," and "The Jaguar"

Another day, another Net Galley book and another new author to check out; this latest being David Putnam’s debut novel.

Well, I perhaps wasn’t as taken with this quite as much as the two crime fiction heavyweight authors above, but it was fast and relentless, with a well-described main character in Bruno Johnson. Johnson a big, black and angry ex-cop/ex-con has with his girlfriend decided to dedicate themselves to rescuing abused children. Marie, with her job in the ER department at the “Killer King” Hospital sees the repeat child victims of parental abuse and neglect. Bruno having suffered a loss the consequences of which saw him imprisoned is a willing accomplice. If he has to commit a few crimes to finance an escape to an alternative lifestyle and provide for the children’s future far away from LA’s dark streets, he’s willing to take that risk.

Bruno and Marie’s mistake is to save a child that is the son of a wealthy foreign businessman, the product of a liaison with a prostitute. The business man wants to care for his child, which brings them to the attention of the FBI, who becomes involved after pressure is applied on high. The FBI liaise with Bruno’s old boss, Robby Wicks, which in turn leads to Bruno’s activities coming under closer scrutiny.

We have a fair few twists and turns along the way.....Bruno’s job, some unrelated crimes that bring Bruno back into an uneasy and unwilling partnership with his former colleague and friend and his double life, the criminal aspect which he keeps hidden from his girlfriend, necessary in his eyes to bankroll the dream of escape and sanctuary for Marie and the rescued children.  

Fast, brutal, relentless.........if not a little bit too busy in the final quarter, as the net closed on Bruno and he tried to formulate an escape route for them all.

The Disposables was an interesting book, which highlighted an important issue of child welfare and the inadequacies of a broken system where those most vulnerable can often fall through the cracks, especially when they are the product of damaged individuals with severe addictions and problems.  

I’d be interested in reading a second book from the author, perhaps at a slightly slower pace, maybe 80 mph as opposed to the full pedal to metal experience here. Putnam is worth keeping an eye out for though.

Overall a 4 from 5

Acquired again from Net Galley. (I’ll read one of my own books soon!)