Bumper is human, likeable. He walks his well-worn beat, meting out justice not by the book, but by common sense. This book works well at all levels. -- ....
The novel tells the story of Bumper Morgan, a Los Angeles beat cop who is three days from retirement. Bumper is a big, fat, loveable glutton with a bit of a sadistic streak. We follow his last few days on the police force while he begrudgingly drives his patrol car through his long time beat in LA. Bumper explains that he prefers walking the beat, but since he?s too old and fat he is forced to drive ? his legs aren?t what they used to be.
Bumper tells his own story, and everything is told through his eyes. As usual, Wambaugh?s gifted use of sharp, witty dialogue and scathing ?common-man? analysis of the streets brings Bumper?s story to life. Everyone on his beat loves him. Restaurant owners pile heaps of culinary delights in front of him on a daily basis, and it?s obvious Bumper LOVES to eat? many times my mouth started watering while reading the descriptions of a wide variety of foods laid out for this loveable cop.
When he?s not eating (a rare occasion, or so it seems), Bumper meets with other locals: strip club owners, convenience store managers, even homeless bums whom he pays for info on the local crooks. Bumper is proud of himself for paying his informants out of his own pocket rather than paying out of the PDs ?kitty?; he thinks it keeps his sources anonymous and safe.
As warm, loveable and thoughtful our hero is, there is a sadistic side to Bumper Morgan as well. He?s not above turning up the heat on the undesirables, and it seems to me that it?s considered to be part of the job for him; certainly nothing to think twice about. Witness the bookie that nearly gets his arm broken after trying mail his ?book? back to himself. This bookie stands by a mailbox and as soon as he sees the heat coming, drops his stuff in the slot? this time, he didn?t get his arm out of the box fast enough, so Bumper takes the opportunity to crush his arm into the box while pumping for info. You?d think incidents like this would make the reader dislike Bumper; not so. His matter-of-fact tone and the fact that he doesn?t dwell on his use of physical force makes you feel as if brutality is a part of his status quo. It is this attitude that proves to be Bumper?s undoing once you get to the surprise ending. There is another stunningly crafted scene in which Bumper embellishes the truth in court. He?s not above fibbing a little to get these goofs behind bars.
Sharp witted, thoughtful, funny, human, brutal, warm, disturbing, violent, and truthful, ?The Blue Knight? is a bright spot for Wambaugh. His police stories are far beyond your average ?police procedural?; in fact, I haven?t read any novel by Wambaugh which follows a set formula. Those unfamiliar with his writing style may note that Quinton Tarantino follows a similar vein when it comes to script writing. The difference is that while the wit is similar between the two, it is Wambaugh who has a more clear idea of how to make the slick verbiage work to establish realism, rather than Tarantino?s more tongue-in-cheek approach. Bumper Morgan is REAL. Recommended.
