Pages: 245
Genre: Crime
Publisher: Self Published
Released: January 24th
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Zach!
Rating: Five Stars
Summary: Street Creds is a look inside the world of street gangs and the cops that work them. I worked the street for many years before I entered the Gang Task Force, joining it with the idea that I could rise to the level of violence of any banger I encountered - a really stupid idea. I wanted to “earn back” the respect of the citizens for the police; I grew up in this city, and I worked its streets the best way I knew how, feeling that I had a firsthand understanding of what the citizens were experiencing. The increasing frustration at gang crimes, drive bys, robberies, never feeling safe with your kids in your own neighborhood - I wanted to do what I could to make that fear go away.
Once I was inside the task force, though, the reality was a rude awakening for me. The task force was poorly managed and staffed by detectives mostly out for themselves, and the internal politics made success incredibly difficult and almost impossible - almost, but not quite.
Street Creds is my story. Against the odds, outnumbered by gang members, and with very few allies in the department and only the bare minimum of support. Having witnessed bad cops, brutal crimes, and realizing the department had been compromised, the cost was much higher for me personally than I anticipated; however, while on the task force, I achieved a 100% conviction rate of every case on which I made an arrest. (from goodreads.)
A couple weeks back I was lucky enough to be able to read and review Zach Fortier's first book, Curbchek, which I absolutely loved. I gladly accepted when Zach offered me a review copy of Streetcreds, and I am glad to say I loved it just as much as I loved Curbchek!
While Curbchek mostly followed Fortier as a cop patrolling the city, etc. Streetcreds focused on the Gang Task Force that Fortier was on for a while. While it is a bit different that what happens in Curbchek, I thought it was cool to learn about the different ways Zach interacted with the gangs and how the streets worked when he became more involved with different groups. The action and intensity is still there, and I loved it. Another thing that I don't think there was much of in Curbchek that is seen in Streetcreds is a bit of background on Fortier. There was a bit in the beginning of the novel that was especially touching (not really the right word, but at the same time it is, and also slightly sad) about Zach's childhood. I just felt for Zach and reading the scene was very emotional. I felt it was a great addition to the story that let us see a little in Zach's past and what he had to deal with growing up.
I really liked how the stories were spread out and how certain parts involved people from earlier stories, just like in Curbchek. It is so strange to think that in the gang world, people keep turning back up and just won't go away.I loved how Zach progressed throughout the novel, how being on the Gang Task Force affected him. Especially the last two chapters or so really showed how the Task Force had changed Zach as a person, and it seemed it changed him in a much different way than being a cop in Curbchek did. I thought it was cool how the two different jobs had different effects on Fortier, and it was scary to see what it did to him.
In Curbchek, it took me a while to get used to Zach's writing style, but it had eventually grown on me and I really enjoyed it. Jumping into Streetcreds gave me no problems, as I really do enjoy Fortier's style of writing now. I don't really know how to describe it, it is just really to the point, I guess you could say. It keeps things understandable and puts you right there in the event, and you feel like you are right there with Zach.
Streetcreds had some pretty disturbing parts, just like Curbchek, and it was awesome. It was real, and often kinda scary. Some of the cases Zach had to deal with were beyond weird, and it was really cool to get some insight into just what he had to deal with.
Overall, I really enjoyed Streetcreds, just as much as i enjoyed Curbchek, and i definitely look forward to Zach's next novel, Curbchek Reload. I have a feeling its gonna be awesome. Anyway, if you are looking for a fast paced, real, and highly enjoyable story, i recommend you check out Streetcreds, and also Curbchek. You don't want to miss out!
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