The Sideman (John Simon book 2)
by Bryan Thomas Schmidt
I love this series
I requested an ARC of this book because I enjoyed the first book in the series, Simon Says, so much. I was not disappointed. How could I not love the android policeman Lucas George who tries to fit in with humans by wisecracking lines from buddy cop movies and series? And his human police partner John Simon is believable, gritty, and real.
In this book Lucas George has graduated the police academy, and is now working with a training officer. Trainee Officer George gets into some serious hot water when he uses his perfect android targeting skills to make an impossible shot; anyone else — any human — would’ve been putting the public at risk. Officer George is put on leave, until internal affairs decides what’s to do with him. Meanwhile a terrorist attack risk starts to shadow the city and both John Simon and his partner, unofficially of course, become more and more deeply involved in stopping the threat before thousands, if not tens of thousands of people are blown to smithereens.
The author ups the stakes here and the sequel is even better than the first book in the series. Chase scenes, edge of your seat adventure, and a slightly futuristic tone all combined to make this book unforgettable. I can’t wait for book three in the series.
