Although Wambaugh's major theme, the difficult necessity of policework and the toll it takes on police officers, remains the same from work to work, his novels have evolved. In The Blue Knight (1972), the reader accompanies Bumper Morgan on his rounds during what are supposed to be his last three days of duty before retirement. He is an excellent police officer, but the system, and the city, seem intent on breaking him. Like all heroes, he is rough with evildoers and kind to the weak. Unlike the stereotypical hero, he is lonely even though a wonderful woman loves him; he suffers from nightmares and dyspepsia, feels displaced and can only find solace in drink.

The Choirboys (1975) focuses on the work of an assorted group of officers reminiscent of those in The New Centurions. Although this novel stresses the absurd side of police work, the efforts of those...