My Review (4 stars out of 5)
Former senior police officer Ryan MacDonald has worked in frontline operations, covert surveillance, intelligence, counterterrorism and as a crime scene manager. In this book he reveals the details of his work both in the police service and in the military, and how the job took a toll on his life and his mental health.
I bought the paperback copy of this book at the Heart of Stone Crimewriting Festival in Stonehaven, after hearing Ryan MacDonald read from the book and talk about his life in the police force. It’s not an easy book to read, as it delves into Ryan’s struggle with ADHD and PTSD, which arose as a result of some of the traumatic events he experienced during his working life. It is mostly a story about survival and dealing with the effects of mental health issues. It is also a story about hope and the ability to move on and come to terms with the lack of support offered by the police service.
A fascinating and thought-provoking read.
Colin Garrow 