Book Review: "Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride" by Will Leitch

I’ll tell you, between this book and watching the last two episodes of Adolescence, I was a giant puddle of emotions! Thanks to Will Leitch for the complimentary advance copy of the book!

Lloyd, an Atlanta policeman, and the son of a policeman, gets the news no one wants: he is dying, and only has a few months to live. As he starts tying up loose ends in his life, he learns that even with 20 years in the police department, his benefits won’t be enough to support Bishop, his teenage son. Unless he dies in the line of duty…

With not much to lose but everything to gain for Bishop, Lloyd tries to find a way to get himself killed. But every time he throws himself into a dangerous situation, sure this will be the one to end his life, he fails. (Or does he?) To top it off, he’s getting a reputation for his heroics, through no fault (or effort) of his own.

“I bet old Major McNeil never kicked in a door and dared a guy to shoot him. (Did he?) I bet old Major McNeil never straight-up ramped his car over an embankment, falling seventy-five feet and crashing in the parking lot next to the Falcons bus, all in pursuit of a suspect.”

As Lloyd keeps trying to find ways to provide for his son once he’s gone, he also wants to be sure his son is prepared for adulthood. So Lloyd shares “The Ten Gentle Edicts of Lloyd McNeil,” offering advice, guidance, and love.

I love the way Leitch writes, balancing humor and emotion with rich storytelling. It’s such a wonderful book, about the love of a father for his son and the desire to leave the right legacy. I enjoyed this so much!

The book will publish 5/20/2025.