Midnights: A Year With the Wellfleet Police

By Alec Wilkinson

Book Overview

"Midnights is both a comedy of errors and an affectionate portrait of small-town police, those beleaguered souls charged with the task of keeping their neighbors in line....A reminder that those... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394521595
• ISBN13: 9780394521596
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An interesting and literate book

MIDNIGHTS is a well-written and interesting account of the author's year as a small town policeman, a job for which he was not ideally suited. Mr. Wilkinson gives the reader insight into not only his own point of view, but presents the reader with a look at the police skills and personality of each of his co-workers (as noted, it was a small force). The book is, while not laugh-out-loud funny, gently humorous and the author does not take himself overly seriously. This book is insightful and is well worth reading.

An entertaining look at small town police work

I have long enjoyed Alec Wilkinson's work in the New Yorker, so it was a treat to discover "Midnights." It's a marvelous read. Wilkinson's style is spare and elegant, and his candor about his shortcomings as a cop makes for some hilarious moments. I plan to buy a copy for my policeman brother-in-law, but anyone will enjoy this fine book.

Cape Cod Cop: a.k.a. Officer "Crash"

I won't tell you why Alec Wilkinson was given the dubious nickname of "Crash" while he served on the Wellfleet Police force. You'll have to read the book to try and figure that one out! What I can tell you is that Midnights is one of the most amusing true stories I have ever read. It's like a real-life Mayberry.. Barney Fife and all! Originally published in 1982, Wilkinson describes his personal experiences as a small town cop on Cape Cod. Fresh out of college with a music degree, he was looking for work in the summer of '75. Wilkinson gave law enforcement a try. So what if he had no police training! As you will read, it was one bizarre summer and off-season that followed. Memorable too. And Wilkinson candidly recounts his year with the men in blue, often with sidesplitting humor! It's no wonder why this comical gem is back in print.