Cops like to tell about the interesting, exciting, and unusual experiences they have on the job. They especially like to relate, both to other cops and to the public, stories that reflect well on them, showing how clever and brave they are. These are called 'war stories.' They may or may not be true, and the copper telling them may or may not have actually been involved, but is merely taking credit, or as coppers say, 'jumping on the pinch.'Amongst themselves, cops talk about things that don't reflect so well on them. These are not usually shared with the public.They gossip. They share info about the best places and techniques for sleeping on midnights, who is stealing what, where the best police discounts and free meals are, who is hosing who, and lots of darker stuff.The author of 'Walking Small' is a veteran of 27 years with the Chicago Police Department. He has created a cast of characters inspired by his co-workers, and written a fast paced, funny, quirky, scary, and sometimes shocking novel by weaving together some of his vast store of 'police gossip.'The author has confined himself to tales he has personal knowledge of, and to tales he finds plausible. Is everything in Walking Small, the first 'police gossip" novel true? Even the author does not know. Gossip can be tricky.