How can a shattered ex-cop follow the rules when he’s no longer sure of them?For sixteen years, Ben Shepard loyally served the Long Beach Police Department. Then he took a bullet to the head, and his life was shattered. No one expects much of anything from him anymore—except his father, an old man receding into a fog of his own. And except maybe his tenant, Grace, who’s been a warm and friendly … warm and friendly constant in his and his father’s bleak lives.
Until the day she vanishes.
After an official investigation stalls, Ben moves forward on his own. But stepping into Grace’s past—and all she was hiding—is a dangerous move for a man who can’t trust his memories from one day to the next. The deeper he gets, the more he has to question whether he’s being driven by the gut instincts of a suspicious former cop or by paranoia.
Recognizing what’s real can save Grace’s life. If only he can trust himself to do it…
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I have rea several books by this author and enjoyed them. Before they were all police procedurals this one is about a policemen but one who has had to retire because he was shot in the head and all the problems associated with a head injury plague him. He is caring for his father who has dementia and the young woman who lived in their studio apartment has gone missing. Both father and son are missing her and the son has a former policeman can’t help but investigate
Tyler Dilts books are hard to put down once you start reading them! This one was really good.
Anyone Can Be the Hero
For Mature Readers
No sex
No gory graphic violence
Strong language
This is a nearly perfect detective story. Ben, who can no longer work as a detective due to a brain injury, is the caretaker of his father who suffers from dementia. The two have taken in a young tenant, Grace. When she disappears it’s not long before they realize she’s not just away for a few days.
Ben determines to find her in spite of his disability and with little help from the police since, at first, her disappearance could be explained away.
I was especially touched by the loving and realistic relationship between father and son. Each truly needs the other.
My one criticism is the overuse of F-bombs. Why are authors so in love with that word? It adds nothing to the story.
That said, I highly recommend the book and will continue to read Tyler Dilts’ novels.
Mercy Dogs is a totally different type of mystery….the mystery is great, solid and realistic…..but the characters are what make this book so special. This is a piece of great fiction….how people deal with what life hands them, how they get up every morning, and still smile, argue and live
Ben was a cop, a good cop, but a bullet to the brain changed everything. He lives with his Dad, Pete, and is trying his best to get better. Learning to walk, talk, take his meds, deal with memory loss and confusion are all shown. You see Ben deal not only with his body failures but Pete is suffering from old age, illness, and macular degeneration. They try and take care of each other. Then there is Grace. Grace is quiet, sweet, and slowly fitting in with the guys as she lives in a small rental in the their back yard.
Grace goes missing and Pete misses her and Ben worries. Ben remembers the ways of being a cop and begins investigating carefully with his pad of paper for notes as he can’t trust his memory. He’ll call on Jennifer, a cop he trained, for help and Rob, a cop, that sent Grace to rent his place. Rob doesn’t answer Ben’s calls for info so Ben goes on his own and you see Ben remember to wear gloves, to search carefully, to pay attention to details…but this is extremely wearing on Ben and it affects Pete. Pete is on a strict schedule for his meds and doc appointments and Ben is forgetting them.
There are derailed police procedures that Ben remembers and even some shocking fight scenes….so out of character for Ben now with his current limitations. You meet Bernie and his dog and his kindness. You enjoy the ritual of waving at planes going overhead and remember to leave a little bit of a Hershey bar out for Pete as a snack…he needs to gain weight. It feels a bit like window peeping on a family.
Who to trust, cops, old friends, yourself??
There really is a crime and Ben comes out swift and smart and surprises me. Solid procedural. Solid look at medical conditions and how family is changed. I’d like to meet Ben and Pete and I sure hope they get a puppy…..it’d be good for both of them and Grace would agree.