Will Leitch, author of acclaimed novels How Lucky and The Time Has Come, returns with his most tonally ambitious and emotionally resonant work to date—Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride. This novel offers a striking meditation on mortality, fatherhood, and legacy, veiled in a disarming, darkly comedic narrative that glides through danger and sentiment with impressive dexterity.
The story follows Lloyd McNeil, a 49-year-old Atlanta police officer who discovers he has only a few months to live due to an inoperable brain tumor. Rather than wither away in obscurity or burden his teenage son with end-of-life expenses, Lloyd hatches a desperate plan: to die in the line of duty so his death benefit will take care of his boy. But fate—and Will Leitch’s deeply human storytelling—has other plans.
Plot Overview: A Death Wish That Keeps Failing
The premise is as ironic as it is tragic: Lloyd, faced with his own looming death, actively pursues it by inserting himself into dangerous police situations. What follows is a comedic series of non-deaths where he keeps failing to get killed. Instead, he inadvertently becomes a civic hero and a minor media sensation.
But the book doesn’t stop there. As Lloyd faces his slow decline, a vengeful figure from his past reemerges, forcing him to confront not only death but also guilt, regret, and unresolved trauma. Along the way, he bonds with his son more profoundly than he has in years, teaches him lessons about kindness and courage, and writes a heartfelt goodbye letter that becomes the emotional axis of the novel.
Authorial Voice: Blending Tragedy and Humor with Literary Precision
Leitch’s voice in Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride is intimate, direct, and gently self-deprecating—often evoking a narrative style akin to Fredrik Backman (A Man Called Ove) or Matthew Quick (The Silver Linings Playbook). He doesn’t shy away from Lloyd’s pain but filters it through a lens of sardonic humor, making the narrative feel strangely buoyant despite its grim core.
The humor, however, is never flippant. It serves as a coping mechanism, a character trait, and a literary device that tempers emotional intensity. For example, Lloyd’s numerous failed attempts to die in heroic fashion include such absurdities as tackling a carjacker who turns out to be an undercover cop and interrupting a hostage situation only to be thanked for his bravery.
This technique keeps the reader emotionally engaged without descending into melodrama.
Thematic Deep Dive: Death, Duty, and the Meaning of a “Good Exit”
At its heart, Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride is about how we say goodbye—especially when we feel we haven’t done enough. The novel explores:
- Mortality and Control: Lloyd’s death wish is really a desire to control his narrative. He doesn’t want to fade; he wants to fall, valiantly, with meaning.
- Fatherhood: His relationship with his son becomes the true story. It’s not about Lloyd dying a hero, but about living as a decent man for the time he has left.
- Masculinity and Vulnerability: The novel smartly dissects traditional male stoicism. Lloyd is a man learning, far too late, how to open up.
- Redemption and Regret: The reemergence of a dark figure from Lloyd’s past unearths long-buried guilt and makes the theme of redemption explicit.
These themes are presented not with grand speeches, but with subtle scenes, everyday rituals, and candid moments that feel real and lived-in.
Character Analysis
Lloyd McNeil: A Sympathetic Anti-Hero
Lloyd is not perfect. He’s made mistakes. He’s emotionally repressed, prone to sarcasm, and occasionally self-centered. But it’s exactly this realism that makes him compelling. We root for him not because he’s heroic in the conventional sense, but because he’s trying—sometimes clumsily, sometimes beautifully—to do right by his son.
The Son: Voice of the Next Generation
The teenage son (whose name is deliberately underplayed to shift focus toward Lloyd) is an anchor of calm and emotional clarity. His journey mirrors Lloyd’s, not in terms of mortality, but in coming to grips with imperfection—in his father and in the world.
The Antagonist: Echoes of the Past
The antagonist isn’t a traditional villain. Rather, he represents the consequences of old decisions, of turning away when someone needed help. This adds complexity to the story without reducing it to good versus evil.
Strengths of the Novel
- Narrative Voice: Witty, warm, and heartbreakingly honest.
- Pacing: Despite a slow-burn plot, the stakes remain high due to Lloyd’s ticking clock.
- Humor: Genuine laugh-out-loud moments lighten heavy themes.
- Character Depth: Everyone feels lived-in, even minor characters like Lloyd’s precinct partner or the retirement home administrator.
- Moral Complexity: The book doesn’t preach, but it provokes introspection.
Critiques: Where the Ride Gets Bumpy
While the novel shines in many ways, there are a few areas where it stumbles:
- Repetitive Beats: Some of Lloyd’s failed suicide-by-heroism attempts feel redundant by the midway point.
- Thin Subplots: A few side characters—such as Lloyd’s ex-wife—could have been more fleshed out to add depth and conflict.
- Predictability: Readers might foresee the novel’s resolution, which slightly blunts its emotional impact.
Still, these flaws do little to overshadow the novel’s strengths, and in some ways, they underline its central message: life is imperfect, and so are we.
Writing Style: Intimate, Cinematic, and Accessible
Leitch writes like someone speaking to a close friend. The first-person perspective allows for internal monologues, confessions, and ironic asides that build intimacy between Lloyd and the reader. The prose is uncluttered but evocative. The writing never tries to impress with flourishes. It aims to connect. And in doing so, it succeeds masterfully.
Comparative Titles
Readers who enjoyed:
- How Lucky and The Time Has Come by Will Leitch
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
…will likely find Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride to be a rewarding and poignant experience.
Final Verdict – A Touching, Thoughtful, Darkly Funny Farewell
Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride is a novel that will leave readers reflecting on their own lives—on what it means to be remembered, what it means to do right, and what it means to say goodbye. It is not a book of grand gestures, but of small, stubborn kindnesses. Of trying your best when time is almost gone.
In its flaws, it reflects life. In its humor, it reflects hope. And in its honesty, it reflects a writer—Will Leitch—at the top of his game.
Recommended For:
- Readers of heartfelt literary fiction
- Fans of stories that blend humor with emotional stakes
- Anyone exploring narratives about fathers, sons, and redemption
Will Leitch’s Lloyd McNeil doesn’t ride off into the sunset. He stumbles, he jokes, he cries—but in the end, he shows us how to live.
