Every now and then, I read a historical novel in which the writer diligently researched the times and career of their protagonist, but didn’t really understand him or what he did, and let that slip out. They transfer their own values to someone in a world and a job where things had to be done differently, and it shows, and spoils the whole effort. People who’ve never ridden a horse or fired a Colt Single Action probably shouldn’t try to create words or thoughts for real cowboys, and maybe it takes a real physician to write a historical novel about a great doctor.
I offer you a real cop who has brilliantly executed a first novel about a real – and great – Twentieth Century lawman. I know Mike Conti, who retired a while back after a distinguished career with the Massachusetts State Police. He’s still a master firearms instructor, and if the name seems familiar, you may have read his well-written training manual or met him at a conference of IALEFI, the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
One of Conti’s passions is studying the great police gunfighters, which leads us to his new historical novel, “Jelly Bryce: the Legend Begins.” Delf Bryce began as an Oklahoma country boy with a phenomenal talent for shooting, a talent which got him recruited onto the Oklahoma City Police Department’s pistol team. Once he was patrolling that city’s mean streets, he had to use his gun more than once “on the two-way range.” Promoted to detective more for his skill in relating to people than for his wizardry with his favorite Smith & Wesson revolver, he found himself in still more shootouts. A natty dresser, he got his nickname from a would-be cop-killer whom Bryce trumped at his own game. As the downed gunman lay dying from the wounds Bryce had inflicted on him with his trademark S&W .44 Special, he gurgled to the stylishly-attired detective, “I can’t believe I was killed by a jellybean like you!” Those famous last words became a nickname, and he would ever after be known as “Jelly” Bryce.
Conti’s book mixes meticulous research into Bryce’s life with the insight of a real policeman. At one point, Bryce sadly tells an older and wiser cop that he considers himself a monster, because he feels good after gun battles in which he has killed his opponents. The old head explains to him, without using the modern term, that what he’s feeling is survival euphoria: the exhilaration comes, not from having caused death, but from having escaped it. Your ordinary wordsmith would have missed that, but Conti absolutely nails it – and that kind of insight, again and again, brings the book to life.
Beginning at Bryce’s birth and going up to the turbulent “Dillinger Days” when J. Edgar Hoover decided to reinforce the ranks of the fledgling FBI with street-proven police gunfighters, “Jelly Bryce: the Legend Begins” is a riveting read. Mike tells me it’s the first of a trilogy, and I for one am eager to read the next volume. I found “Jelly Bryce: the Legend Begins” a wonderful read. You can order the book from www.sabergroup.com, which also offers Mike’s work on police pistolcraft for modern times.
I’m looking forward to reading these books. Back in the mid70’s I attended a fast draw exhibition put on by a retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lieutenant (I believe his name was McComb) who cited “Jelly” as his inspiration to hone his skills as a fast draw artist using standard police issue Sam Browne belt and holster. He related a shoot out attributed to “Jelly” when the bad guy had the drop on him, and was pointing his gun at his head, with “Jelly’s” gun still in its holster, “Jelly” reportedly told the bad guy “if you blink your eyes you will die in total darkness”, then proceeded to draw and fire before the bad guy could pull the trigger.
Thanks for the tip as your historical takes in columns and books on various gunfighters and the choices they faced are some of my favorite readings of yours. From my career as a teacher, I have always found that people often learn best from a narrative format instead of endless lists, outlines, etc. as these things exist in isolation.
IIRC, Bryce was one of two old gunfighters mentioned by G.Gordon Liddy in his autobiography, Will. Hired by Hoover to enhance firearms training in the FBI, the duo supposedly gave Liddy the nickname of “Sudden”, for his draw.speed……
Mas, Thanks for the recommendation. For anyone who uses e-readers rather than paper, the book is available in Kindle format. Sounds like a good read for later this summer after my “Honey Do” list is a little more complete.
I downloaded ‘Jelly’ and, as sometimes happens with good books, finished it in two days. I am looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy and hope Mr. Conti has it well under way. I read more non-fiction than fiction, but this was close enough and a good reminder that before the ‘war on drugs’ there was the ‘war on booze’.
Downloaded the Kindle version, and four chapters in, I’m loving it. Thank you! Since fiction comes up so rarely in these pages, may I recommend a personal favorite? Larry Correia is an instructor and former gun store owner who knows his hardware, but more importantly is a splendid writer who creates compelling characters. His “Grim Noir” trilogy is a clever alternate history peopled by historical figures as well as his own creations and an excellent storyline. And what’s not to love about books where John Moses Browning is an action hero?