Small Crimes by Dave Zeltserman

The first chapter can be read here on Serpent's Tail, an independent book publisher in UK.

I am glad I picked up this book because it is one hell of a book.  I rarely come across authors who write real stuff based on the grimness of reality or the complexities of life without having to justify or explain away its validity in any terms.  Zeltserman reminds me of Stephen Jay Schwartz, both of whom write without any pretensions while laying it bare for all to see.  I like that and can identify with that.  At its core, this book is about an ordinary man who is considered by society as a down-and-out and who is seeking redemption for his past mistakes.  

Someone once said that every journey begins with a few small steps.  Well, ironically, one small crime or wrong move can beget larger crimes too huge to comprehend too.  And this is what happened to Joe Denton, a crooked cop.  Nobody wants him around, not his ex-wife and two daughters, his parents or his former colleagues.  Friends?  What friends?  With every obstacle in his way, can he turn his life around and seek goodness out of so much evil?  Equally as important, can the people once close to him forgive him?  What about the big and bad society?  Can society accept an ex-convict who has learned his lessons in their midst?  Do they want to?  Most times, it is easy to preach about forgiveness but in reality, it is a hard act to put into practice.  However, there is always that saving grace - hope.  

This book deserves to be out there and read, in other words, it comes with my highest recommendation.  Totally genius.

Small Crimes is the first in the "man just out of prison" trilogy.

About the author:  Dave Zeltserman left software development to write crime fiction and study Kung Fu.  He lives in the Boston area with his wife.  Small Crimes is his third novel.  You can find out more about the author by checking out his website or he can be found on Facebook.

Rating:  7/5