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C. S. Boyack
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Grinders Kindle Edition

by C. S. Boyack (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
Jimi Cabot made one mistake as a starving college student. When she went to work for the San Francisco Police Department, it nearly cost her the job. The union stepped in and they had to reinstate her. They did so by assigning her to the duty nobody wants, Grinder Squad.

Grinders are people who use back room surgeries to enhance their bodies with computer chips, and various kinds of hardware. Jimi is sure that if she can just bust one grind shop, it will be her ticket back.

Paired with veteran cop, she soon learns that Grinder Squad is a cash-cow for the department. They are nothing more than glorified patrol cops, and generally get the worst assignments.

Matchless is the most wanted grinder of all time. He disappeared years ago, leaving only the evidence of those he enhanced during his career. With these pieces, Jimi picks up the cold trail to try working her way back to more respectable duty.

Grinders is a cyberpunk story set in a world where global warming has eroded coastlines, and society has solved many of our current problems by replacing them with new ones. There are cyber shut-ins, cyber-currency skimming schemes, and more in this futuristic tale.

This book also takes the opportunity to poke a stick at current issues that seem to have lasted into the future. Entitled people, helicopter moms, overzealous homeowner associations, and lack of decent jobs are all present. Never preachy, these issues make up the day to day work of a patrol officer.

I hope you enjoy Grinders as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.
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  1. Print length
    291 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 18, 2020
  5. File size
    1.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084Z4F896
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Digital Services
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 18, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 291 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

About the author

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C. S. Boyack

C. S. Boyack

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I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I'm not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Craig

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
19 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's wildly creative world-building and fast-paced narrative, with one review noting it's a quick and engaging read. Moreover, the book features futuristic elements and a diverse pool of characters, with one customer highlighting its well-developed antihero protagonist. Additionally, customers appreciate its vividly colorful visuals and humor, with one review noting its playful commentary on society.

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CreativityStory paceFuturistic contentCharacter developmentVisual qualityHumor
9 customers mention "Creativity"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, praising its wildly creative world-building and endless imagination.

"...GRINDERS is classic Boyack—wildly imaginative and fast-paced. If you’re looking for a quick and engaging read, you can’t go wrong with this one...." Read more

"...The relationship of Lou and Jimi is well done...." Read more

"...The creativity of this world is off the charts. Every page brings some new wonder or futuristic element that is vividly portrayed...." Read more

"...Grinders is full of wildly creative world-building and yet, some of the creations aren't so far-fetched and are entirely plausible in the not-too-..." Read more

7 customers mention "Story pace"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story pace of the book, describing it as fast-paced and engaging, with one customer noting it's a quick and entertaining read.

"...GRINDERS is classic Boyack—wildly imaginative and fast-paced. If you’re looking for a quick and engaging read, you can’t go wrong with this one...." Read more

"...colorful world and in the plot, and I’d recommend Grinders as an engaging read." Read more

"...There is strong parallel storyline involving the grinder they’re after, enabling the reader to see both sides of the situation...." Read more

"...Take some cool characters, an interesting antagonist, and a few fun critters being taught wild and crazy skills, stir well, and what do you get?..." Read more

6 customers mention "Futuristic content"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the futuristic elements in the book, describing it as original cyberpunk with new toys and gadgets, and one customer notes it's plausible in the not-too-distant future.

"...Every page brings some new wonder or futuristic element that is vividly portrayed. Between the story and inventions, I was mesmerized...." Read more

"...Grinders is vividly colorful and full of futuristic elements and technology sure to thrill sci-fi/cyberpunk fans...." Read more

"...throughout, Boyack creates a glimpse into the future with this cyberpunk masterpiece...." Read more

"...But there are also opportunities, new toys and gadgets, and some pretty intriguing bioengineering...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting its diverse pool of characters, with one review highlighting the sympathetic heroes and another mentioning the driven villain.

"...Throw in an exceptional cast (both real and virtual), and you’ve got a full and diverse pool of characters. The villain is driven and a tad demented...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the cast of diverse characters, but my favorite had to be Lou, Jimi's gruff veteran partner...." Read more

"...It works to perfection as well. Take some cool characters, an interesting antagonist, and a few fun critters being taught wild and crazy skills,..." Read more

"...But it all adds up to a great story, complete with an excellent antihero and a wonderfully sympathetic set of heroes...." Read more

4 customers mention "Visual quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, describing it as vividly colorful, with one customer noting how it makes the world easy to picture.

"...As for world-building: this future is full of ads and imagery in public spaces. Holiday-themed holograms are on buildings...." Read more

"...Every page brings some new wonder or futuristic element that is vividly portrayed. Between the story and inventions, I was mesmerized...." Read more

"...Grinders is vividly colorful and full of futuristic elements and technology sure to thrill sci-fi/cyberpunk fans...." Read more

"...There was a lot of detail that made this world easy to picture...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, with one noting its playful commentary on society.

"...Wrong. This is so much more. There’s humor, there’s poignancy...." Read more

"...are scattered throughout, but the author includes a playful commentary on society as the bots enjoy their purchases of new skin and clothing...." Read more

"...Holy Moly! This vision of an all-too-possible future is engrossing, funny, frightening, and compelling, all at the same time...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • writester
    5.0 out of 5 stars Futuristic, Fun, and Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Boyack’s done it again. I have no clue where he gets his ideas, but his well certainly hasn’t run dry.

    GRINDERS introduces us to people who illegally modify their bodies with technological upgrades and the police squad tasked with stopping them. Sort of. Really, the grinder squad is a punishment for cops and no one really seems to care that people are paying for enhancements. Lou is a vet, marking time until his retirement. He’s partnered with Jimi, a young cop with a mistake in her past and a desire to make her way out of the grinder squad—by making a huge grinder bust.

    The interplay between Jimi and Lou is stellar. She makes the grizzled cop care a little more, and he teaches her patience and wisdom. Typical mentor/mentee relationship, right? Wrong. This is so much more. There’s humor, there’s poignancy. There’s a real emotional connection, both between the two of them and between them and the readers. Throw in an exceptional cast (both real and virtual), and you’ve got a full and diverse pool of characters. The villain is driven and a tad demented. I loved viewing the world from his perspective. And the POV at the end (which I won’t spoil) was a HUGE payoff for me. It really brought everything together in a clever and satisfying way.

    In addition to phenomenal character development, Boyack created a futuristic (yet not unbelievable) world where people have made many costly mistakes and paid dearly for them. They also have made many useful advancements. This was a fun and fascinating world, exciting to visit and entirely enthralling. This was clever and creative and really stuck with me. It foreshadows social and environment issues without being preachy. I both laughed at the situations and feared the repercussions.

    GRINDERS is classic Boyack—wildly imaginative and fast-paced. If you’re looking for a quick and engaging read, you can’t go wrong with this one. Highly recommended.
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  • Dave Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging story in a vibrant future San Francisco
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    First, what’s a grinder? It’s a person who modifies someone with technology to “upgrade” them. It’s an illegal practice, so police departments in this book have grinder squads to track down these criminals. 

    However, we learn from veteran officer Lou Brophy that the grinder squad pretty much has its name and mission statement to get government grants. Mostly, cops on the grinder squad respond to calls that regular patrol cops would. At least that’s the case in the San Francisco PD.

    Lou Brophy used to patrol on horseback, but that unit was phased out, and now he’s floating on the current of routine calls until he retires.

    Enter younger cop Jimi Cabot, who is placed in the grinder squad because the bosses discovered a mistake that she made years earlier, when she was in college.

    But Jimi doesn’t want to copy Lou’s goal of merely getting by in the job. She wants to fulfill the grinder squad’s mission by catching grinders, which she hopes will get her transferred to a more exciting department.

    The relationship of Lou and Jimi is well done. Lou passes down wisdom, and Jimi ups the energy — to actually care about investigating grinders.

    The chapters flip from Lou and Jimi’s activities to Nootropic, a scientist who’s trying to save his comatose wife. I'll leave out the details of his plan, but I will say it's quite clever.

    As for world-building: this future is full of ads and imagery in public spaces. Holiday-themed holograms are on buildings. Lou and Jimi’s cop car has ads on the side of it. “Holobarkers” are drones that fly to pedestrians and jabber ads at them. Craig has crafted a vibrant San Francisco of the future. Besides the many ads, a traffic grid controls the flow of vehicles.

    I became immersed in this colorful world and in the plot, and I’d recommend Grinders as an engaging read.
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  • Mae Clair
    5.0 out of 5 stars A highly original, colorful world!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Jimi Cabot, and her partner Lou, are two cops assigned to the “Grinder Squad” in a futuristic San Francisco. Grinders are people who have their bodies altered through illegal surgeries which use computer chips to provide enhanced senses. Despite their department assignment, Jimi and Lou usually find their days eaten up by the drudgery of routine patrol and domestic disturbance calls—until they happen upon a trail that may lead to the most wanted grinder in police databanks.

    There is strong parallel storyline involving the grinder they’re after, enabling the reader to see both sides of the situation. Beyond that, however, there is so much more that goes on in this book. I loved the friendship that developed between Jimi and Brandi (a grinder), and I loved Lou’s tie to Sailor, the horse he rode when he was on mounted patrol before the division was disbanded.

    Most intriguing of all is the world Boyack has created. One that includes a “grid” for travelling, bots in all shapes and sizes, and a constant bombardment of advertising. “Holobarkers”¬—floating globes broadcasting advertisements—roam the streets, swarming around people with their messages. Cars and buses flash moving advertisements and 3D holographic images are found everywhere. There is an “electric forest” (one of my favorite elements), in the process of being torn down because it is already considered old technology. Holographic spiders and jack-o-lanterns bob around on Halloween, and a 3D King Kong climbs a building to promote a movie. The creativity of this world is off the charts. Every page brings some new wonder or futuristic element that is vividly portrayed. Between the story and inventions, I was mesmerized. A highly original work!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Matt Dell
    3.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading
    Reviewed in Australia on October 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book was enjoyable and I liked aspects and details of the future world described. Character development and plot could use some work but as a quick read it was ok
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  • Harmony Kent
    4.0 out of 5 stars A futuristic novel full of humour and real-world issues
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    'Jimi Cabot rolled over in bed, but the black cat pawed her face once more.'

    From this opening line, the author takes his readers into a futuristic world of robotic and/or holographic house companions, constant advertising, body alterations via various weird and wonderful implants/modifications, a grid that manages traffic, and a police Grinder squad, which is viewed as the police dumping place for officers they don't want or who are past their prime. Jimi has other ideas after getting dumped into the Grinder squad, and when she pairs with veteran cop, Lou, things get interesting fast. Here are some lines which stood out for me:

    (Lou talking to his 'companion') 'You're still cheaper than both my ex-wives, and you take no for an answer.' This had me chuckling away ... oh, the benefits of a non-human live-in!

    and

    'Parenting advice from a hologram?' I loved the indignation and humour in this whole exchange.

    There's a lot of information to take in, and lots of conversation in this novel, but it works. I enjoyed this read and soon got through the book. The writer brings us a satisfying ending with all the threads nicely tied up. Grinders gets a solid 4 stars from me.

    ***

    NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

    5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
    4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
    3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
    2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
    1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
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  • Sarah Jensen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Future and Great Action!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    GRINDERS is a fantastic genre mashup between detective fiction or police procedural and cyber punk. Boyack has created a believable future San Francisco and pokes some fun at our reliance on technocolgy and social media. But most importantly he has told a captivating story about the people who live in this world.

    Wonderfully developed characters and a plot that moves along as if propelled by the solar grid itself make this a book you won’t want to put down!

    I highly recommend it!
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