Harper Publishing
303 Pages
There seems to be a trend in some of the books I’ve been reading lately. It’s a trend I’m not sure I like, but again, this book shattered my expectations. I’m not used to reading shorter books. I generally prefer long tomes that are great world builders with terrific character development. Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride by Will Leitch is one of those short books that hits you right in the feels and makes me rethink skipping over shorter books. This one brought everything together that I love in a book. I read this one immediately after The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride by Joe Siple. Both books hit the heartstrings in a fantastic way.
Lloyd McNeil is an Atlanta police officer and a divorced father of one. When he learns that he has a terminal illness, he panics about leaving his son something to remember him by and enough money to get a leg up. He learns that his death benefit from just dying is not enough. However, if he were to die in the line of duty, the payoff would be much, much greater. With this new knowledge, Lloyd sets off on a hilarious romp through the criminal world of Atlanta. He inadvertently becomes a folk hero in his quest to leave something more for his son.
All Lloyd’s friends and coworkers know something is different about the man. Suddenly, he’s taking on assignments he would never have taken and takes risks that make the people who know him wonder what’s going on. A simple car chase turns into something outrageously funny with Lloyd emerging as an even bigger hero than he already was.
This novel uses humor to explore the human spirit. When we love someone, there’s not much that we wouldn’t do to ensure their safety and happiness. The sacrifices we make for our family and friends is immeasurable. Will Leitch explores all this as he sends his characters through the struggles of life, holding in the bad news to keep a smile on the face of his son. Sometimes, you need to let it out, and as the pressure builds, Leitch has Lloyd traverse those obstacles, too.
Lloyd’s character follows the highs and lows of his life after discovering the truth of his diagnosis. He starts with a heavy heart knowing that he will never see certain milestones in his child’s life. But as he finds himself in situation after dangerous situation, the adrenaline lifts him above his impending mortality even as it ebbs his days away each time. The novel follows a series of these waves as he moves closer to leaving his son more than just memories, even though those are far more important than most things that can be left behind. He got to say goodbye. The hardest ones are the ones we can’t say. All this pours forth from this book.
It was an emotional few days reading after finishing Siple’s book about Mr. McBride. This one will get you, too. Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride by Will Leitch has a lot more levity than The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride, but it has enough raw emotion to strike you in the feels by the end of it. It was pure happenstance that I read these books together, but they fit together so well. This book made me think of our good friend, George. I miss him every day, but he left us with something great…memories.
Craig Bacon dedicates this week’s book review to the memory of George. And I just heard his eyes roll for that.