Night (Night Series Book 1)

Let me start by noting that I do a lot of reading and most of it is non-fiction and/or technical reading. After a while, I begin looking for what I refer to as 'brain cleansing reading'. Ususlly it is fiction, but it must be realistic fiction with at least a valid premise. Over the years I have learned to branch out for new authors who can carry their storyline and characters from beginning to end.I first learned of "Night" by Casey Christie on Twitter. What I read piqued my interest, so I did a bit more in depth evaluation of the author and book. It wasn't long before I decided to buy the book on Kindle.The first hook was the unique setting of the book. I'm in my mid-sixties, a longtime veteran cop with a voracious appetite for good books and I'm well traveled. However, in all those years, I have never read a book about South African law enforcement. I've read numerous books about the South Africa's Boer War, diamonds and gold, but no police novels. "Night" turned out to be more than I expected and surpassed what I label "brain cleansing reading".It is a well written novel about a special policing unit in Johannesburg, SA and the unique challenges they face. From the detail in the book, it is undoubtedly based on real life experience and research. The characters are very true to life, believable and easy to accept. The situations they encounter and master are exciting, but not farfetched. Even the ending of the book is well within the realm of law enforcement believability, especially in a culture unlike that which most US & UK citizens might encounter or expect.One reviewer had written that there were instances where Casey Christie had gone into too much detail, such as the police units radio call signs, police procedure and such that made the book a bit difficult to get into at the start.I disagree. There already being a second book in the Michael Night series available ("Night in London"), it was obvious that the author was carefully and methodically crafting Night's and his partners' characters in a way that made me and other want to know them beyond this first book. (My next stop after writing this review is to order "Night in London".)For a well written book with characters of high quality, an accurate and believable story line and realistic view of a dangerous profession in a locale not familiar to many readers, I highly recommend "Night". It will leave you wanting more of three SA cops not-so-affectionately known by those they pursue as "The Black Bastards".I recommend you buy a copy today.

Basically enjoyed the story. I felt that it was too wordy though. By that I mean that there were times that the story dragged. For example the detailed visits to the bar and what each man was drinking. Once maybe. Again the detailed radio communications over and over again was rather tedious after the first time. It’s obvious the author has real life knowledge of what he is writing. He has the skill to spin s good story. I would have liked it told in a faster paced manner.

I am incredibly surprised by the violence described that is part of the life of South African people. I even went on line to find out what the truth might be. So this story revolves around 3 police officers with extreme talent for protection and saving as many people as they can. There is of course a very bad extremist blood thirsty terrorists criminal organization, whose members show no mercy, killing everyone that opposes them. So overall this story will appeal to people who have the ability and desire to right the wrongness in this world.

I can't believe the scenes as written in Johannesburg. TheLawlessness seems to be unbelievable in that city. I will definitely read more from this author.

Really enjoyed this book and then picked up the 2nd book - now waiting for the third. I have been to Africa many times and whenever we flew into J'burg, always stayed at the airport hotel and then got out, as we knew it was dangerous. This book shows what people deal with day in day out and Michael Night and his team are great.

This is a terrible, glory, violent story!!! It really doesn’t even rate a 1 star. It should be a negative 5 star!

A steady stream of action with a bit of love tossed into the mix. Sgt Night's world consists of a girlfriend and his dog on the civilian and personal side of his life; but more important are his "brothers" in the Black Bastards police unit (Spoiler Alert: the "Black Bastards" does not refer to skin pigmentation). I enjoyed meeting the characters of modern South Africa after having visited there many times both before and after the change in government. Especially fascinating was the difference between US police procedure and South Africa's as well as the use and flowing explanation of SA slang included in the writing. I recommend Casey Christie's writing to all. My only questions are: (a) Will the characters continue into the next book?; and (b) Will there be a next book?

I found the book entertaining. The characters made the story; the plot was predictable but I still enjoyed it. The dialogue seemed stilted; but as I imagined the cadence, tone and sound of each character's voice and considered the location of the story, it made sense. Not that I'm some expert on diction, grammar or writing dialogue; far from it, it's just my two-cents. I will be reading the next book in the series. Overall, good work by Mr. Christie.

I gave up. I tried hard but quit at about 60%. Endless explanations of abbreviations and acronyms. Endless radio traffic quotes full of inconsistencies. Endless plot too it seemed. Unlikeable and unempathetic protagonists. More than one inaccuracy; for example don’t write with apparent authority about the onset and passing off of rigor mortis if you haven’t a clue about its duration. The list of woes goes on but as stated earlier, I tried. I always do with an author new to me as I think writing a good book is a really tough job. That’s another reason why a sharp editor is so important in driving the focus of the work. Refreshing setting for the book but not a winner for me. Sorry!

The plot is interesting, and the end is when I realised i was enjoying the story completely. A lot of the book I found written in a dry manner, almost clinical in 'this bit should go there, and then that bit should follow' but not a flow/ pace to it, unlike the last chapter. A clumsy example for me was the 'incidentally ' the character and Mike Night have the same gun - the third person made it seem as if that was a note written on the draft script as a detail to include, but instead of it being written as part of the story, it is added in as a postscript. Other areas felt like a paragraph from a text book was supplemented to be able to explain a cultural detail.Criticisms aside, having any story set in South Africa was refreshing and the hero appeal of the strong brotherhood squad was a winner, and the happy ever after' s were appreciated to balance grim presumably close reality of situation; and I would read the next book.

Incredibly well written with plenty of relevant background to the South African Police Force. Plenty of information about the country and it's traditions. Put this all together and you get one helluva read.The main plot revolves around an extreme criminal and the need to bring him to justice, using the term loosely. The Black Bastards as Sergeant Night's team is called are used to policing the streets of Johannesburg in all it's glory. We get caught up in all the side stories involving different crimes while we are building up to the final act.Casey Christie really does know his stuff when it comes to South Africa and the different police forces that are there.Impossible to put down!! Have now purchased the next in the series to keep with this team.

Heavily weighed down with technical language, cliche macho characters and confusion of tenses, I couldn't get very far at all into this book. I didn't care for the characters, they weren't relatable or realistic, and I got really bored with all the acronyms and radio talk. It didn't hook me at first and it was a chore for me to keep reading so I gave it up because I have a list of books I was more interested in starting. I wouldn't read anything by this writer again.

A truly amazing read - thoroughly enjoyed it once I got into it (which was on page 1) ... the author ramped up the tension chapter by chapter leaving you on the edge of your seat wondering what was coming next ! A riveting insight into the workings of the South African Police Service with just the right amount of description and use of call signs. It's the kind of book I've not read before, but it's not the last of Casey Christie's that I shall be reading!Believable characters, gripping story, extremely well written .... and there's more to come in sequel (s) !! .... 😊👍