Reader's Review: "Behind The Badge" by J. D. Cunegan

Synopsis from Amazon:

For Jill Andersen, being part of the Baltimore Police Department has always been both a tremendous honor and a serious responsibility. Her father, before his fall from grace, had instilled in her a great respect for police and the work they do day-to-day. But when a teenage boy winds up dead on the outskirts of downtown Baltimore, Jill finds herself once again faced with those who would abuse their badges to fulfill personal agendas and uphold biases.

Jill still has a job to do, but she soon finds that not everyone is in her corner. For the first time in almost four years working Homicide, Jill finds herself at odds with people who claim to be on her side. From other cops to suits downtown all the way to the Mayor’s office, it becomes increasingly clear that Jill will need to rely on more than just her badge if she’s to solve this case.

But even if she finds justice, what’s the price?

Behind the Badge, the gripping, hard-hitting third novel in the Jill Andersen series (Bounty, Blood Ties), gives readers another taste of author J.D. Cunegan’s comic book-inspired brand of fast-paced prose, with chapters that fly by and plot twists that will leave readers constantly guessing and waiting for more.
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My Review:

Bottom line: I really enjoyed this book. And it has been far too long since I read the previous one--but the mark of an excellent sequel is to be able to pick it up after a long hiatus and bring the reader right back to where they were prior. Cunegan does this very well, and I could picture each of the characters all over again.

A senseless murder amid allegations of police brutality brings the heat to Jill Andersen's precinct, and she's torn. She wants justice, and she stands by the oaths she took to protect and serve... but at what cost? After the near-fatal consequences of the last novel (Blood Ties) Jill is glad to at least have some people, those closest and most trusted among her friends, to entrust with her alter identity as a superpowered vigilante in black leather who goes around catching bad guys--but what happens when the "bad guy" looks the same as any coworker? Can she still stand "behind the badge" if the badge is wrong? How can she continue effectively defending the city according to its laws while most of what the media reports and what the general public knows is the corruption and the scandal that goes on in the name of said laws?

It's a hot-button topic, for sure, and a pet favorite of any contemporary crime novels involving police procedures--and Cunegan is one of the few, in my experience, who actually handled the issues in a fair, balanced, and respectful manner. The scenarios are neither contrived nor exaggerated. In fact, things that I have seen played up in certain other novels, who took a rather "in-your-face" stance which I did not like, end up comparatively understated in Cunegan's novels. He hones in on the characters, their humanity, their morality, and lets their responses and choices be consistent with who they have been all along. Jill is someone willing to jump at every chance for justice, dive in front of every gun, give her last breath in defense of other people, and this time around it should be no different; but such a choice comes at a cost when the ones you stand in front of are the ones who should be at your side.

The whole twisting mess of questions, identities, politics, and peril comes together for one heck of a compelling, irresistible, and brilliant ride laden with the passion for community. It asks real questions, and takes a good, honest look at what it means to be a community, what it costs to protect, and the true meaning of bravery--and it does it in heart-swelling, mind-bending, cheer-inducing style!

BEHIND THE BADGE definitely earns a full *****5 STAR***** rating, for the daring premise as much as the phenomenal execution of the plot that prompts the reader to think about the issues plaguing our communities, instead of reacting along with what's "popular." I can also still maintain that this series is Upstream Writer Certified RECOMMENDED, for those who like crime novels with a little superhero action on the side, a social message that isn't afraid or ashamed of itself, and characters from all walks of life who are worth following to the bitter end! (And hopefully, that end will be a long while yet in coming!) Go TEAM BOUNTY! 

Further Reading: (Also By The Author/Excellent Heroines/Crime/Colorful Characters)
The Jill Andersen Series--J. D. Cunegan
       -Bounty 
       -Blood Ties 
       -Behind the Badge  *(This book)
       -Behind The Mask

-Notna--J. D. Cunegan

-Beasts of Babylon--E. A. Copen 
-Domechild--Shiv Ramdas 
-For None of Woman Born--S. D. Curran
-Division: A Collection of Science-Fiction Fairytales--Lee S. Hawke
-Dissolution--Lee S. Hawke
The Untamed Series--Madeline Dyer
       -Untamed 
       -Fragmented
The Vemreaux Trilogy--Mary E. Twomey 
       -The Way 
       -The Truth 
       -The Lie 
The Red Dog Conspiracy--Patricia Loofbourrow
       -The Alcatraz Coup 
       -Jacq of Spades 
       -Queen of Diamonds 
       -Ace of Clubs 
A Tune of Demons--J. E. Mueller
       -Fire's Song 

The Books of Winter--R. R. Virdi
       -Dangerous Ways
The Goode-Grace Mysteries--Cyn Mackley
       -American Goth 
Lord of the Wyrde Woods--Nils Visser
     -Escape From Neverland 
     -Dance Into The Wyrd

The LouisiAngel Series--C. L. Coffey
        -Angel in Training 
        -Angel Eclipsed 
        -Angel Tormented 

Judah Black Series--E. A. Copen
       -Fortunate Son (prequel novella) 
       -Guilty By Association 
       -Blood Debt