Tim McLoughlin

Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Stories and Essays by Tim McLoughlin This small package holds a beast of a narrative voice.
The book is divided into two sections, stories and essays about the life of cops and detectives in a world that is both just and corrupt. Like the world, the protagonists in Mr. McLoughlin’s stories and essays reflect the same hard-ass, yet frequently empathetic, ways toward crime and criminals, often trampling the gray line between what is acceptable and what is purely criminal.
The characters that fill the pages are losers. Not “lovable losers,” just losers. They’re down on their luck, or they see an easy way to steal a dollar. While this is the truest element in the book, it may also turn off some readers. However, if you need a source book for big city crime, this book is for you.
The downside for me? Some of the stories ended too quickly. After pages of set up, the author draws a rapid conclusion. In the author’s future works—which I would buy and read—I would hope he spends more time with the endings. After all, a good ending sells the next book.
Did I like the book? Yes. And I found it disturbing. The strongest element in this book is the author and his voice. A reader may find a story morally questionable, but there is no doubt that the author’s/narrator’s voice is pervasive. McLoughlin fills in the gaps between right and wrong with “right for me” or “wrong for me.”
This is a voice you don’t usually hear, but one you should not miss.
4 stars.
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