The Other Side Of Good


Fiction - Crime
356 Pages
Reviewed on 02/23/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

E. A. Coe … is F. Coe Sherrard, a former United States Naval aviator and career businessman, who is retired and lives in Edinburg, Virginia. A graduate of Western Maryland College (now called McDaniel College), Coe flew carrier-based logistical support aircraft during the latter years of the Vietnam Conflict, and Airborne Early Warning aircraft as a Naval Reservist until he retired as a Commander in 1991. He was a senior executive in two entertainment companies, including Spirit Cruises and Herschend Family Entertainment (manager of the Dollywood Theme Park). Married to Jean since 1971, Coe has three children and six grandchildren.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

The Other Side of Good by E. A. Coe is a thrilling, suspenseful novel set in Cincinnati. Alleged drug dealer Theo Jackson offers to donate $5M for a new youth center and Officer Denton Jones, commander of the Cincinnati Central Business District police patrol, is assigned by Colonel Jack Fitzpatrick, chief of police, to negotiate the terms. Denton’s assignment leads him to believe that Jackson is protected by a dishonest bureaucrat. Theo uncovers evidence of an international criminal organization facilitating human trafficking in the city involving Chinese criminal Sun Yi who works for an organization called Santu. Together a pastor and city officials, Officer Denton and Theo hatch a plan to shut down Santu. In the process, the team is faced with the decision to do what is right or do what is easy, but will they make the right choices between good and bad when they are faced with the gray area in between?

Author E. A. Coe has certainly created a masterpiece. The Other Side of Good is filled with action, drama, and excitement. The story gives the reader a new perspective on what is right or wrong, good or bad. Coe’s writing style is fast-paced and smooth flowing from beginning to end. Theo and Denton’s relationship is intriguing and unusual, but it works for both the men and the story surrounding them. The numerous characters are all well-defined including law enforcement officials, criminals, and their associates. I mostly enjoyed the twists, turns, and surprises that Coe includes in this web of criminal activities and law enforcement. The Other Side of Good is highly recommended to all adults and is deserving of a place on any bookshelf.

K.C. Finn

The Other Side of Good is a work of fiction in the crime and thriller subgenres. It is aimed at mature readers and was penned by author E. A. Coe. Telling the tale of a criminal wanting to fund the building of a youth center and the police officer he grew up with who is assigned to investigate the sudden interest in philanthropy, the investigation becomes complicated quickly by corrupt officials and the discovery of a human trafficking ring. As an alliance of people on both sides of the law come together to put a stop to the danger, the world of both criminal and officer become a full spectrum of moral grey.

It's a difficult balance to tell stories set on both sides of the law without casting judgment on the actions of either, especially in the modern-day in which trust in the police has never been lower. E. A. Coe finds a challenging storyline and stakes their flag firmly into it, painting a picture of law and order that is a million miles away from the clear-cut morality that readers are used to. Theo Jackson is more than his criminal reputation suggests, and the author has created a nuanced character perfectly suited to highlighting the non-binary nature of ethics. Overall, The Other Side of Good is an exciting crime thriller with a mature understanding of politics, morality, and civics that will challenge readers to look beyond the tropes and stereotypes that other works tend to rely on. This is a book that will truly engage and challenge its readers.

Jennifer Ibiam

Theo Jackson and Denton Jones were childhood friends who grew up in the ghetto and did stupid things. Something happened, and the duo took different paths where Theo grew into a drug lord and Denton, a police chief in the Cincinnati Police Department. After three decades, they met again when Theo offered to donate a substantial amount of money to the Victory Park Youth Center. Denton was the liaison officer, and things got interesting from there. Their alliance grew until Theo unearthed information that made them targets of a powerful crime organization and brutal henchmen. A common enemy brought all the birds under one roof, from clerics to gangsters, corrupt officials, and law enforcement, while subjecting Denton to a moral dilemma in The Other Side of Good by E. A. Coe.

The Other Side of Good by E. A. Coe was a captivating and thought-provoking novel that caused a conflict in my conscience. It got me thinking about situations and their consequences. Could one do bad things yet point fingers at another for doing worse? Was there a good side to evil? Theo and Sun Yi’s situation was ironic, where both people negatively impacted the youths, but method became the problem. I felt nothing was in black and white. There are different shades of gray when we consider motives and perspectives. Coe wrote a book with depth, insight, and purpose. I loved this story because it was realistic and relatable. The writing style, flawless editing, and excellent character development also added to the appeal of this fast-paced novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great job!

Pikasho Deka

The Other Side Of Good is a crime drama thriller written by E.A. Coe. When Denton Jones, a law enforcement veteran, is sent to have a sit-down with one of the biggest drug lords in the country, Theodore Jackson, about his potential donation to a city youth center, he is taken aback by Theo's request to identify an orphan born two-and-a-half-decade ago. Meanwhile, Theo finds himself unwittingly entangled with an international human trafficking organization named Santu, which has a firm grip on Cincinnati's crime syndicate. As Denton and Theo work toward bringing down the awful organization, they're joined by other law enforcement officers, federal agents, and members of the clergy. However, a corrupt public servant within their ranks makes things complicated.

The Other Side Of Good is a wild rollercoaster of a ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Author E.A. Coe seamlessly maneuvers an intricate plot with numerous twists and turns to hook you in and keep your eyes glued to the pages. The narrative is well-paced, with multiple POVs to grant you access to the various factions involved in the story. Despite the large cast of characters, Coe does a stellar job of fleshing them out and giving each character distinct traits and personalities. Theo and Denton seem like the two primary protagonists, and their contrasting backgrounds and opposing personas make for a fascinating dynamic. If you're a fan of crime drama thrillers, I recommend The Other Side Of Good.

Keith Mbuya

Theo Jackson, Cincinnati’s most successful and feared drug lord, had offered to donate a hefty amount of money to a youth center in the city and wanted the center to be named after Commander Denton Jones, who did not know whether to feel embarrassed or flattered by the offer. Having shared part of their childhood together, it awed Denton how they had both ended up on very different paths. He was even more awed by Theo’s clean criminal record. Apart from his terrible reputation, there was nothing to prove all the allegations about Theo. Was it that Theo was too smart or was there more to it? When Theo alerts Denton about a suspicious business owned by a Chinese guy, he is left confused about his perspective on Theo. Could the city’s opinion about Theo Jackson be wrong? Find out more in E. A. Coe’s The Other Side of Good.

With an engrossing introduction, E. A. Coe got me aboard his craft of magnificent imagination and whisked me away from reality. Enthusiasts of action stories with a touch of crime and investigation will love The Other side of Good. Coe’s style of writing exhibits his professional and masterly hand. He couples his short and twisted sentences with sophisticated vocabulary. He gives his characters and scenes vivid depictions. I loved how this added color to the story. He switches between the present and the past (through flashbacks) with ease. He includes suspense, tension, and thrills in his narration. The plot of the story is intriguing and perceivable, featuring exciting characters. He impressively developed his characters; they had amazing traits. I loved how he displays their internal conflicts through introspection. Denton was the upright one, the one who believed in right and shunned wrong. Theo’s way of thinking challenged Denton's perspective about right, wrong, and everything he believed in. Coe's choice of words was convincing, especially the details on bureaucracy and law. The conversations in the story were insightful and witty. There is action, money, drugs, dirty secrets, blackmail, espionage, risks, and so much more. I loved everything about the book and I'm looking forward to reading more from E. A. Coe.