BEAR'S PROMISE

A courageous lawyer seeks justice for his sister and her family in this novel.

Melanie Simpson is at her wits’ end when her husband, Jared, off his antipsychotic meds because of a recent job loss, runs out into a thunderstorm. She calls 911, a move that will change her loved ones’ lives. That’s because Lt. Vincenzo Sparafucile of the Hopperville police department in Indiana shocks Jared multiple times with the Taser-like “Electric Gun,” resulting in cardiac arrest and the black man’s eventual death. Jared’s initial vegetative state leads his son, Ryan, to take his father’s rifle to Sparafucile’s house, but the cop shoots him dead. Rocked by what has happened to her husband and son, Melanie commits suicide, leaving a note to her brother, Jason “Bear” Judge, to get justice for her family. Bear, a former FBI agent-turned-big-city attorney, had come west from New York City to support Melanie following Jared’s hospitalization. After her family is wiped out, Bear sues the makers of the Electric Gun for false safety claims and the Hopperville police for excessive force. His firm forces him out and he starts up a new practice in Indiana, aided by a talented young Kenyan associate. The two have to overcome several threats, both legal and illegal, in their effort to get justice for Melanie. What elevates this novel by Zipes is his weaving in such timely topics as police brutality toward minorities and individuals who are unable to afford essential drugs. The author, a Harvard Medical School graduate, is a professor at the Indiana University Medical Center. His career lends authenticity to the medical details that are at the heart of this story. In addition, he has created a well-rounded protagonist in Bear, a skillful interrogator who is determined to do the right thing despite an earlier mistake that continues to haunt him. Other enjoyable characters include Bear’s flawed but loving wife, Kat, and his brilliant associate, Deroshay “Shay” Odinga. The acts of intimidation against Bear’s team by the defendants seem heavy-handed but Zipes makes sure readers know who the villains are. The smooth narrative just flies along, both in and out of court. What results is a heady blend of legal thriller and social justice drama.

An energizing legal tale that shows the value of asking the right questions.