The Detective in the Dooryard: Reflections of a Maine C… (2024)

:: 'Danger Ahead' plays::

The story you are about to hear is true. Names have been omitted to protect the innocent, except for the author's which you'll need to find the book... this reviewer was not paid for her review.

June 2020
4 AM in the city.
The whole world is taking a nap from its fevered madness.
Except for Tim. And Ellie.
They are awake.
This is their story.

Tim Cotton pads through the still-brisk Maine morning air to let Ellie, his giant boxer lab dog out for her morning routine. He waits in the dooryard for his canine companion's permission to return inside where he will toss her a treat and pour himself a stout mug of strong, black coffee.

As the sun rises, Cotton pulls up to his keyboard and sheds light on life as a citizen of Maine and as a Lieutenant with Bangor's Police Department. Ellie keeps his feet warm.

The Detective in the Dooryard: Reflections of a Maine Cop is not a police procedural or crime drama but it is a ride-a-long with one of the best 'good cops' you could ever hope to know.

Timothy A Cotton's storytelling is a blend of classic New England literature, humorous essays of ordinary life and the poetry of appreciating everything.

Here's the recipe for The Detective in the Dooryard, a delicious read:
1 part Columbo
1 part Joe Friday
1 Tablespoon of Walden Pond (Emerson, Thoreau & Longfellow brand)
1 taxidermified duck
1 giant black dog
Numerous pots of strong black coffee
At least 3 FT of snow
85 decibels of Rock N Roll (more if desired)
3 dashes of The Good Ol' Days
5 drops of motor oil from a reliable old car

Mix well with the high winds of a nor'easter.

Pour into your favorite mug, drizzle with real maple syrup and enjoy in your favorite beach chair, diner booth or squad car.

Oh, and one more thing, you can find more of Tim's writing here:
Tim Cotton Writes

and for Bangor Maine Police Department here:
Bangor Maine Police Department

A great read

I have followed the Bangor Maine Police Facebook page for several years and always look forward to new posts by Lt. Cotton. When I read that he had a book coming out, I naturally had to read it. As with his writings on the Department page and his own writing page, I was not disappointed. Except maybe that there's not enough of it. Some of the strike chords in me that haven't been struck in years. Thank you Tim Cotton, for letting me recall some things in my life that I had forgotten. If you do nothing else, or more specifically read nothing else this Summer, read this book.

Loved listening to the audiobook as the author and performer on audible is my uncle and it was so cool to hear his stories from his time as a cop in Maine. Super Maine-y, funny, and sometimes unexpectedly deep 💖

I picked this up expecting to read a lot of humorous “dumb criminal” stories, but that’s not what I found. There was a section like that, called “Got a Warrant”, which I throughly enjoyed and laughed out loud to, but the majority of the book featured human stories. Just simple encounters between a cop and his fellow man. Most stories were touching, all were thought provoking. Tim Cotton waxes poetic, and I mean that in the best possible way. He is a thoroughly good writer.

A Wicked Good Book!
Okay, I have to admit I was already addicted to tales from the Marginally Famous Bangor PD from Tim Cotton's work on the Book of Faces.
So I was expecting to like this--and I really, really did.
You can gulp this down like a quickly melting creemee on a hot July day, or savor it in slow bites, like the last fine lobster roll of your Maine vacation.
You'll laugh--and if you have a heart you'll shed a tear or two--but most of all you'll feel a bit better about the human condition after you've read this book.
(I have never even gotten a selfie with the Duck of Justice to write this review)

Just as I have enjoyed following author Tim Cotton on Facebook, both as the Bangor Maine PD public information officer, and on his own writing page, I thoroughly enjoyed his wit, wisdom, and observations of human nature wrapped in a hardcover. The intro and outro were great reads to get an understanding of how TC came to be a successful social media maven, in spite of all the expert advice, how he's helped tell the story of the women and men of his department, and his sense of purpose in telling stories and reflecting on what it takes (hint, not much) to be kind to each other. I read most of this book in solitude, because busting out laughing (or crying - and I did both) tends to disturb my husband when he's trying to nap, or watch tv. Just get a copy (if you can - they're selling out fast!) and enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book. Knowing TC, as our family is friends of his, I can validate that what you read is what you get. Tim is witty and is outstanding detective. He is enjoyable to be around. The Duck of Justice is real and has traveled places when needed with a guard. Let’s take things seriously. Reflections of a cop in Maine is exactly what this is all about. Great reflections. Makes you think. Be kind. There is not enough kindness. We all have had our times when we are not. We are frustrated and our day is not going so well, and we have stop and think, be kind. We get so much more out of it. Being a police officer is not easy. There are so many situations. Let him tell you about a few. Got Warrants is a whole chapter about entertaining crime engagements. Some will make you laugh or cry or shake your head in disbelief. This book is fun read, a serious read, and an insightful read. I didn’t want it to end. I miss it. Thank goodness there is the Bangor Police Department Facebook page where Tim writes about the going-ons in Bangor. I give this book 5 stars for it is written well, keeps your attention, draws you in, entertains you, and makes you think about the world we live in.
As TC says, “Keep your hands to your self, leave other people’s things alone, and be kind to one another.”

2020 might suck eggs but at least we have Tim Cotton!

I’ve enjoyed Tim Cotton’s stories and ramblings on Facebook (or The Book of Faces, as he calls it) for a while now. And having a whole book of his musings is the reading equivalent of binge watching Netflix (something I’ve only recently learned about during the lockdown). Cotton talks about the little things and he tells it like it is. But it would be a mistake to say he has ‘no filter’ – he most definitely has a filter and it’s a filter of kindness and compassion. I liked Chapter 5 ‘The Cop’ best. It’s more fictional than the rest, and I hope it’s a hint of a novel to come?

After having re-read "The New Jim Crow" recently, this book provides a refreshing bit of balance and a much-needed reminder that police work can be (and likely often is) something satisfying and rewarding. Author Timothy Cotton is "a cop who writes stuff," including the Facebook page for the Bangor Maine police department (yes, that of the "Stuffed Duck of Justice" fame). He is a fellow who enjoys words and "takes the long way around the barn" in telling a story after 30 years in police work. It's a book of essays, some funny, some poignant, all infused with a wry fondness for humanity, and you can't help but like the guy. He writes: "All cops carry a bucket filled with sad stories. Some leave it in their locker, or at least they think they do. Some carry it home with them to examine the contents when no one is around," and yet most of his musings are about what is good and important in life, including the importance of "just being there" for each other. I like his oft-repeated advice: "Keep your hands to yourself, leave other people's things alone, and be kind to one another."

I’ve followed the Bangor PD Facebook page for quite some time and always enjoy the sometimes-snort inducing missives of “Got Warrants” by TC (aka Timothy Cotton aka the detective). During the past stress-filled four years, reading TC’s BPD page and then stretching to read his own personal writings has helped me remember that there is still goodness, kindness, and humor all around us. You just have to step back, look carefully, and listen well. I bought two books as gifts for family members and now that I’ve read one (not saying who gets the used copy), I’m ready to gift them on. I look forward to the next book, a novel according to the author, and until then I’m still checking out the BPD Book of Faces and TC’s own page. Because observing and writing about good people with some kind humor is highly underrated and there should be more of it. Write on, TC.

This book is definitely a tonic for what ails us. Tim’s writings are wonderful and they stick with you. They stick with you sort of like that muffin you had for breakfast and find a crumb of it still stuck to your shirt at 3:30. Things to make you go “hmmm”, things that make you say “I remember that”, “I can do that”, “Wow! I never thought of it that way”. There is something of the “Everyman” in Tim’s writings and that is precious and unpretentious. You need to read this book!
BTW, if you hail from southeastern MA, by “tonic” I don’t mean soda! I mean a home grown home remedy.
For the rest of you....good luck, you may have to look up what a tonic is!

I really enjoyed this book with joy being emphasized. Tim Cottons words don't jump off the page but rather sit on your shoulder and whisper in your ear while you nod and smile and sometimes shed a tear. I salute the run on sentences he uses (not overly) with apologies to my 11th grade English teacher Mr. Robie. I probably read as fast as Tim writes so I'll read it again. It's that good. En Joy!
Dave McIntyre
Bridgton, Maine

I do not normally preorder a book, but having read many of Lt. Tim Cotton’s Facebook post, I made an exception for this one. I thought I’d ordered the Kindle version but instead I apparently order the hardcover.I am so glad that I did.As soon as I picked it up, and started perusing those first few pages, I knew there is one problem with this book.While I wanted to take my time savoring each of the stories included here, I found I couldn’t.I’d no sooner complete one and I’d want to run right to the next one.

Most of the stories struck some kind of a cord in me but a few of them really hit home for me.The Librarian reminds me so much of Mrs. Haskell at Union Street Jr. High during the mid 1970s.She was a nice lady willing to help a kid find what she wanted to read, after having read almost everything in the stack.Yes, I was that geeky kid that would read two to three books a week, every week.Mrs. Haskell introduced me to things that I most likely wouldn’t have tried otherwise.

The Chair, I remember those old wooden chairs.They used to be everywhere.Because my Uncle John was a furniture maker I’d sit and wonder what stories those chairs would tell me if they could talk.I’d also find myselfdaydreaming as I sat in those chairs instead of doing the homework that I should have.This of course send me down memory lane about being a quiet non popular kid going through Bangor Schools.It wasn’t all bad, and there are some extremely good memories of my School Days.

The section about the weather is one of my favorites.It took me back to summer days walking down Blue Hill East as the thunderstorms would roll in.The wind that would precede those storms and the scent of the storm.I remember waking back home just before one of those storms wearing a white cotton t-shirt under a purple plaid cotton jacket.The jacket didn’t do more than make the t-shirt appear less like an old t-shirt.The rain started and the dye from the jacket stained the shoulders of my now not so white t-shirt.I did notice he left out the old adage that “If you don’t like the weather give it 5 minutes and it will change.” (I have always been the one that loves it when the weather wasn’t all blue skies and sunshine.I love the personality of a storm and no two are ever exactly alike).

Trudging, The Kid from the Trailer Park, and The Best that He Has, reminds me that I need to stop and try to be a kinder person.Being kind and letting yourself be taken advantage of are two entirely different things.Unfortunately, the latter make doing the former hard to do as you stop and question yourself and the moment slips away.If we give up on being kind, we tend to find ourselves missing the opportunity to help the next person.

Thank you, Mr. Tim Cotton for the lovely trips down memory lane, the reminders that we could all do better at showing a little kindness, and the just good ole plain speaking that comes from the heart.This book will soon have those thumb worn pages as I keep coming back to it discovering new memories and favorite stories.

Lt. Cotton is a thirty year veteran of the Bangor Maine Police Department. He is also the one in charge of their Facebook (or Book of Faces, as he calls it) page. That's where I first found him and his writing. Well, at first it was the PD stuff and the (marginally famous) Duck of Justice, who is the mascot of the department in many ways. And then I found he has his own FB page, as well as a podcast (called appropriately Cotton Blend). Now, he has a collection of his writing in book form. These are short pieces, some only a page or two and most based on his real life both as a cop and as a lifelong Mainer. There is a section of mostly amusing vignettes called Got Warrants? that are things that BPD officers were really called out to deal with. Names and some details are changed or omitted, of course to protect the innocent- and guilty. And there is a section of fiction that is, again, based on real-life happenings.

Cotton writes in a very homey, conversational style. It's easy to read and you imagine hearing a familiar, friendly voice just shooting the breeze out in the dooryard. This isn't literary genius or perfect styled writing. This is a fellow born and raised in the upper regions of the Northeast, with all of the country trappings you expect. But it's not forced nor does it seem as if he's putting on a "face" for the stories. It all sounds genuine and down-to-earth, much like everyone who has met Cotton says he is in person. That real person shines through in every story, whether he's talking about a day on the job or shoveling snow at his cabin in the woods. It's just a joy to read.

As stated above, all of the pieces are short, so it's an easy one to just pick up and read a quick bite or two. But I think you'll find yourself wanting to go on to "just one more." In these times of "new normal" and division and too much anger, a book like this, with its positive, funny, touching, and very human feel, is a delight.

This is a collection of essays by Tim Cotton, a Bangor, Maine, police lieutenant. They cover the people, places, and things of Maine. It contains “sad stories, big events, and even the very mundane,” all told in a conversational style as if you were sitting around catching up with a lifelong friend you hadn’t seen in a while.

I loved everything about this book. The writing, the pacing, the dialogue, the storytelling, the reflections about life and justice, and being human. The stories cover his more than 30-year (so far) career in law enforcement, as well as snippets of day-to-day life and the musings of someone with a wry, sly, kind sense of humor. Cotton has seen it all and still manages to keep a kind heart. I am impressed with his ability to meet people where they live and treat them all with dignity, no matter their life circumstances.

You can read this in chunks, or if you’re like me, it’s more of a “I’ll just check out this first essay and suddenly three hours later I’m at the end of the book and I’m really said it’s over” kind of thing.

This book made me laugh, cry, and want to be a better human. And I really was sad when I finished. I hope he makes a foray into fiction, maybe a little bit of art imitating life about a seasoned Maine cop who solves mysteries. I wish the Lieutenant a long and happy writing career. Whatever he writes, I’ll be first in line to buy.

I loved this book! It is surely a breath a fresh air during a more than turbulent time. Tim Cotton's heartwarming short stories of life as a police officer in Bangor, Maine are priceless. Some of his stories are funny while some are heart wrenching but all are beautifully woven together into this timeless read.

I have dreamed about a cross country retirement trip (hopefully) in the near future and after reading The Detective in the Dooryard there is no doubt that my journey will now include Bangor. I will look forward to the possibility of a quick howdy-do (socially distant of course) to both Tim and the world famous DOJ and will have homemade banana bread to present as an offering.

Brilliant book Det. Cotton, keep 'em coming!

If you are looking for a crime novel full of twists and turns and intrigue, or a Christie-worthy whodunit, this is not that book. If you are looking for insight into the human condition, viewed through the eyes of a trained observer, who often sees us at our worst, told with compassion and humor, with a great accompanying soundtrack, this is the book for you.

TC has great ability to make you see what he sees; I want to stop by the Bangor PD and check out that wooden chair, and I can almost smell the pines, which I imagine have an entirely different scent than the pines here. Right now, with all the turmoil we are in, the one thing we the public forget is that the police are people, too; the things that make us sad, happy, angry, are the same things that make them sad, happy, or angry. They don't like to see the awful things people do to each other, but they get up every day and put on the uniform, and they come when you call them, to help sort out the messes we dumb humans get ourselves into. Anyone who can continue to view the world with humor after that deserves our respect.

A note on the commas; personally, I'm a fan of the semicolon, but a smattering of commas can be good to give pause, to take in the thoughts just read and really give them their due. The art of punctuation is lost in the age of 240 character limits.

“I believe the small stories are the important stories….the big stories happen, but they don’t happen that often, and this book isn’t one of them. There are no Feds, dragons, or explosions. There are only stories that I believe are worth telling”.

I loved this book. Cotton really gets to the heart of being a police officer through his and others stories. It’s not the high-speed tactical training and lifestyle that you have to adhere to. It’s the conversations and interactions with people. The widow, the gas station clerk, the lady crossing the road. “One of the toughest things to learn as a cop is to be what someone needs you to be at that very moment” (263).

Lt. Timothy Cotton has been an officer with the Bangor Police Department for 30 some years. One day, he inherited the department' Face Book page (which Cotton appropriately calls the Book of Faces) and once he got over his thinking his writing wasn't good enough, he became an overnight sensation. Cotton now has his own FB page and a podcast appropriately called Cotton Blend.

I love Maine, it's beauty, majesty and the people. Cotton's stories, ramblings and reminiscing about memories almost forgotten, I found truth, simplicity and hope. He knows human nature inside and out and knows the difference between someone who is wicked all the way through and those who could just do with a little help.

I loved the book, Tim Cotton! If you follow the Marginally Famous Bangor PD FB page, you know what you will get in this book - down-to-Earth, real-people stories. Stories that hit home and share the good in people. Most touching for me were from Section 3. Thoughts From the Dooryard: “The Best That He Has”, and from Section 5. The Cop: “Eggs” and “The Widow.” Buy I loved the whole book and blazed through it in a day. Thank you so much for this gem - I highly recommend it. #TheDetectiveInTheDooryard

Yes, there are lots of commas. Each is a place to rest your mind for a second, your eyes for a moment, and stop devouring the words so you can taste the flavor of each.

Yes, I read it, in one go, the day it finally arrived. Yes, I will read it again, and again, especially the bits where pieces of paper, mostly bits of political reminders to vote, but only the good guys, are tucked, as a reminder, for again.

It was quite refreshing to read a book written by a “common man”. Every day stories and deeds really do spark the interest of people and Timothy Cotton does a great job of captivating an audience on the monotone, heartwarming, or chilling experiences of the Bangor Police Department. So many great lessons to learn from the perspective of a police officer. It bolstered my appreciation for the service of our local heroes.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Tim Cotton has a talent for using words to paint pictures. The way he sets a scene and tells a story actually makes you feel as though you are there, right beside him. This book will make you laugh as well as bring tears to your eyes, sometimes in response to the same "reflection". I usually share my books with family members or donate them to the library. Not this one!! This one I will re-read more than once as I impatiently wait for a sequel.

Reading Tim Cotton's book was like having a pint of my favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the freezer. I started out with just a spoonful or two, planning to savor it, trying to stretch it out over a few days, maybe even a week. I'd put the container away for a few minutes, and then I somehow find myself back in the freezer spoon in hand. Another chapter gone, and another and before I knew what happened, the whole darn container was gone. I had read every single story in one sitting without being able to stop myself. I absolutely enjoyed every delicious moment of it! I plan to read it again soon, and spend more time savoring every bite.
Thanks so much Tim for being one of the highpoints of my summer.

Reading The Detective in the Dooryard brought a certain feeling of comfort. The short stories have an abundance of details making you feel like you are part of the author's life. Most people can relate to at least one of the accounts from Tim Cotton's life experiences or his imaginative musings. He will have you laughing in one story and with a turn of the page Tim will pull at your heartstrings.
This book is just a teaser for what is to come. I'm looking forward to his next entertaining work of the written word

A witty look at everyday moments that can feed your heart.

TC's run on sentences and conversational prose won my praise with his posts on " the book of faces. " His sarcastically witty look at some of the awkward, usually hilarious and sometimes sobering things life can throw our way will take you from laughter to tears, yet the message is always respectful, kind and downright humanizing. My day is always better with a dose of Cotton.

This was a good distraction from everything going on in the world right now. My main takeaway is I really need to visit Maine.

This sharp-witted and warm-hearted book is what we need right now — a reminder about what police are all about. And what we should all be about. You’ll cry and laugh, and once in while, you’ll stop and and think. These are stories about Mainers, of course, but mostly these are stories about all of us.

Third book I’m saying this about, first non-fiction
Six stars wouldn’t be enough