Cop Town

Well, this book was definitely a change for Karin Slaughter. However, the excellent writing is still there, as is the fast-paced plot with great character development.

Set in 1974 Atlanta, when racism and sexism were blatant - even throughout the police force - "Cop Town" is a gritty cop drama. The sexist male police officers treat the female officers like dirt, and it's no-holds-barred when it comes to men hitting women. It's really just a brutal novel when it comes to who is violently beating up whom (and pretty much all of the time it's cops beating up other people or cops beating up fellow cops), and I found myself cringing many times. The male cops are disgusting and wholly unlikable; the female cops are crude and violent.

Despite show more the unlikability of pretty much all the characters in the book, the plot is very interesting. It's a whodunit with Slaughter's signature twists, and the pace of the book gets faster as things start to come together.

What fascinated me the most about this book, though, is what it did to me as a reader. Not only did it pull me in, it got me to empathize with the female cops and condone their violence. I found myself doing a fist-pump when one or another female cop finally stood up to a male, even when it was a disturbingly violent empowering moment. And that in itself disturbed me, that I could be influenced like that. But that's the sign of good writing!

So why didn't I give this book 5 stars? Because, as well written as it was, it just wasn't quite the kind of book that I usually like to read. The usual Karin Slaughter books - especially the Will Trent series - are right up my alley. This one, which is a lot grittier and more brutal in general, is not. But snaps to Slaughter for doing such a great job with a style of book that I normally don't enjoy! show less

Dual review with Swedish first and then English!

SWEDISH REVIEW

De fördärvade är en fantastisk bok! Att läsa den här boken fick mig att inse att jag inte läser många kriminalromaner vars handling utspelas på 70-talet och det är synd eftersom det är en fascinerande tidsperiod. Särskilt, som i den här boken, för kvinnor som försöker hitta en plats i en mans värld

Jag verkligen älskade att läsa om Kate Murphy och Maggie Lawson, två mycket olika kvinnor från olika klasser. Kate kommer från en familj av poliser, både hennes farbror och bror arbetar på samma polisstation som hon gör. Men det är inte så att de gillar att hon är polis, särskilt inte hennes farbror. Maggie å andra sidan är änka, hennes man dog i show more Vietnam-kriget. Hon är också den nyaste polisen på polisstation, och hon lär sig snabbt att ingen, inte ens kvinnorna, kommer att hjälpa henne. Om hon vill jobba som polis, måste hon tuffa till sig och acceptera att bli mobbad. Och som kvinnor hålls de också borta från de verkliga fallen som jakten på polisens mördare. Inte för att det kommer att stoppa Maggie och Kate från att försöka ta reda på vem som dödar poliser.

De fördärvade är en träffsäker roman om en tid i förändring där kvinnor försöker bli mer självständiga. En sak som verkligen berörde mig var den skrämmande attityden gentemot kvinnor i den här boken. Även bland andra kvinnor, ja, även i en familj. Och sedan har vi den omaskerade rasismen och homofobin, särskilt bland manliga poliser. Men det är allt detta som gör den här boken så fascinerande att läsa. Karin Slaughter har verkligen fångat tidsandan och jag mentalt hejade jag på Kate och Maggie för att de våga stå upp mot männen och våga försöka hitta mördaren trots motstånd.

Detta är en av de bästa böcker jag har läst av Slaughter och hon har snabbt blivit en favoritförfattare!

Tack HarperCollins Nordic för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

Cop Town is a fabulous book! Reading this book made me realize that I don't read many crime novels set in the 70s and that's a shame since it's a fascinating period of time. Especially for women that are trying to find a place in a man's world, as in this book.

I loved reading about Kate Murphy and Maggie Lawson, two very different women from different classes. Kate comes from a family of cops, with both her uncle and brother working on the same force as she does. Not that they like that she is a cop, especially her uncle. Maggie, on the other hand, is a widow, her husband died in the Vietnam war. She is also the newest cop on the force, and she quickly learns that no one, not even the women will help her out. If she wants to work as a cop, then she has to toughen up and accept being bullied. And, as women are they also being kept away from the real cases like the hunt for the cop killer. Not that that will stop Maggie and Kate from trying to find out who is offing cops.

Cop Town is a gritty crime novel about a time in changing, with women more and more trying to be independent. One thing that really struck me was the appalling attitude towards women in this book. Even among other women, hell, even in a family. And, then we have the undisguised racism and homophobia, especially among the male cops. But, it's just all of this that makes this book so fascinating to read. Karin Slaughter has really captured the spirit of the time and I found myself mentally cheering Kate and Maggie for daring to stand up to the men in this book and daring to try to find a killer.

This is one of the best books I have read by Slaughter and she is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.

Thanks HarperCollins Nordic for the review copy! show less

This crime/police procedural is all the grittier for being set in 1974 Atlanta, Georgia, a time and place inhospitable to women, gays, blacks, Jews, Hispanics, and anyone else considered a threat by the white Christian males used to being in control.

As fans of Slaughter may recall, she focused on a similar time and place for her previous book in the Will Trent series, Criminal.

This book is meant as the beginning of a new series, and introduces two young patrol officers, Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy, who are trying to keep their sanity in the sexist, racist atmosphere of the police force in 1974 Atlanta.

Maggie, 23, comes from a family of policemen, and as the book begins, her brother Jimmy is carrying his injured partner to the show more hospital. A cop killer dubbed “The Shooter” has been killing police two at a time, but in Jimmy’s case, the shooter’s gun jammed, so only his partner got killed. The detectives on the force believe the shooter is black, even without any evidence, and will not entertain any other theories. These embittered white cops are looking for an excuse to start a race war.

Maggie desperately wants to help find this shooter, but the men won’t let her on the case. Instead, she reluctantly enlists the help of a new rookie, Kate, and her old mentor, Gail. Gail tries to advise Kate on how to survive on the force:

"Kate . . . obviously didn’t get it. The hardest battles didn’t take place on the streets. They happened inside the squad room. Every time a female officer took a step forward, a male officer felt like he was being pushed back. The guys pounced the minute you showed weakness.”

Kate comes from a privileged background, and is astounded not only by what she sees on the streets, but by the way fellow officers treat her. She explains to her father and grandmother that some of the policemen are repulsive racists and misogynists, and yet, she feels confident they would risk their own lives to help a fellow officer, even a female officer. It doesn’t make sense to her. Her father can only opine: “People stink. But then sometimes they don’t.”

In spite of the “soul-killing and humiliating and terrifying” experience she has had on the force though, she also finds it challenging, exciting, and even sometimes, fun. She wonders if she is becoming someone different.

In the end, Maggie and Kate make some surprising discoveries about The Shooter, and get insight both into the fear that makes some of the men act so hateful, and into the occasional and inexplicable moments of love and grace.

Evaluation: Usually I avoid violent, gritty stories with profane, nasty, scummy characters, but Karin Slaughter is an inordinately talented writer and her female protagonists are exceptional. The author knows how to bathe her grimy settings in empathetic compassion and insight. A terrific book; I cried at the end. show less

3.5 stars

This is a stand alone police procedural set in 1974 Atlanta. To say it was a different time is an understatement. Although well written & suspenseful, it's not an easy read. Racism is rampant, domestic abuse tacitly accepted & women are just beginning to explore career options other than secretary or housewife. 
The APD is a microcosm reflecting the city's mores & attitudes. Change is coming as evidenced by a new mayor & chief of police (both black) but a lot of the old guard is still around & not happy the department is now accepting black and/or female recruits. The racial & sexual abuse they suffer is shocking & Atlanta leads the country in police mortality.
So maybe it's no surprise when someone starts killing cops. In the show more last 3 months, 5 have been shot at close range, all white. As the book opens, 5 year veteran Maggie Lawson & newbie Kate Murphy meet for the first time & begin working together. 
They couldn't be more different. Maggie is from a poor, uber- dysfunctional family & serves along side her brother Jimmy & their uncle Terry. Kate is a beautiful young widow from a wealthy Jewish family. Maggie's home life consists of juggling "women's" chores, her mother's bitter disappointment & frequent beatings at the hand of dear old Uncle Terry. Kate's biggest challenges have been attending the proper social functions, using the right fork & accessorizing. 
There is a large cast that includes their family members & colleagues. Almost every male cop is reprehensible. They are portrayed as flask carrying misogynists who believe beating a suspect & planting evidence are part of the job. When Jimmy's partner becomes the latest victim of the cop killer, they go on a rampage in an effort to deliver their own justice to "the Shooter".
But Maggie senses Jimmy isn't telling the whole story & puts together her own posse. Tired of being ridiculed & patronized, the women set aside their differences & start to dig. No one, male or female, black or white, is prepared for what they find.
This is a difficult review to write. Yes, it's a well written, atmospheric thriller redolent of the 70's. The plot is complex with the identity of the killer being just one of the startling surprises in store. There is an unrelenting tension as Maggie, Kate & Co. get closer to the truth(s). Violence is frequent & graphic. These two characters in particular undergo great change & it's interesting to watch them become more & more like the male counterparts they despise in order to survive.
The problem for me was I kept getting yanked out of the story by the racial slurs, crude dialogue & abundance of violence against women. I realize this was meant to reflect the times but I found it so offensive that it made me pause, interrupting the flow of the narrative. Uncle Terry is the worst of the lot, a truly horrible man. By today's standards, if Maggie pulled her gun & shot him, I'd call it justifiable homicide. But ironically that would put her on his level.
So I guess it comes down to personal preference. I'm a big fan of this author, particularly her "Will Trent" series. This is a bleak, darker novel & most of the characters have few if any redeeming qualities. However they are also byproducts of their time, created by the attitudes & values they were taught.
If you're partial to something warm & fuzzy, this is not for you. But it certainly makes you think. Thank God more than just the clothes & hairstyles have gone out of style. While I would call this a good read, I don't know if I can say it was an enjoyable one. show less

COP TOWN by Karin Slaughter
This book is vile, racist, anti-women, homophobic, violent, contains foul language and characters of corruption and pure evil. It is also a ripping good story. The main characters are police women (and men) in 1974 Atlanta, Georgia. If you remember 1974, you will recognize the casual racism and ethnic slurs that abounded in southern cities of that time. You will also recognize some of the music and businesses from that era.
Kate is a newbie cop. She is also completely out of her comfort zone. She is Jewish, widowed, rich privileged and educated. The women and men she is thrown in with in “cop world” are working class, racist, anti-Jew, hard-bitten, bullying and for the most part trying to do a decent job show more under awful circumstances. The writing is sharp, pointed and unflinching. The plot unfolds fast enough to keep you turning the pages long after you should be safely in bed.
You will find yourself sympathizing with macho cops who operate just below the level of corruption. You will figure out the bad guy and the plot twists long before Kate does, but that won’t diminish your enjoyment of this thrilling thriller.
5 of 5 stars show less

My mother has always enjoyed Karin Slaughter’s books and suggested I read them too. I’ve always resisted for no particular reason besides…well, that’s what kids do, isn’t it? Ignore their mum’s advice. It took an email from Random House to convince me to try Karin Slaughter with her new stand-alone book, Cop Town. Like most kids, I realise now that I should have listened to my mother. This is an awesome book that will have you riveted to your seat for the duration – one of those that will make you consider whether you are ‘ill’ enough to stay at home to finish it. (If you don’t chuck a sickie, you’ll have part of your mind on Cop Town all day, like I did). The book is in parts violent, sexist, and racist but it’s show more ultimately a book celebrating the power of women in a changing landscape.

Cop Town is set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974. I can’t remember reading a book set in Atlanta since Gone with the Wind, and oh boy, things have changed since Scarlett O’Hara’s time. Peachtree Street is now in the central business district and things are a lot meaner. It seems nearly everyone is packing (guns that is) and some areas are no-go zones, full of drugs, pimps and crime. There are many descriptions of condoms and syringes lying in gutters full of rubbish. Atlanta’s police have their work cut out for them, so it’s no wonder that the boys band together on and off duty. It’s the introduction of policewomen that has their heckles raised the most. For the few women in the force, their life is a misery from the sexual slurs and pictures to having their change room located in a broom closet. Southern chivalry this ain’t. For Maggie Lawson, part of a family of cops, she is made to feel like her opinions mean nothing. She’s window dressing, a concession to get the force some money. As for Kate Murphy, coming from a posh part of Atlanta doesn’t help her at all. Nobody wants to help these women – it’s all about being macho and protecting your own in Atlanta’s police force. These women aren’t going to get a break – their uniform is deliberately the wrong size and they’re deliberately made to feel like rubbish from all sides.

The police force is on edge the day Kate Murphy starts working. A policeman has been killed overnight, the latest in a spate of cop killings. The police are out to catch the culprit, once and for all. There are no holds barred. Many guns will be fired and there will be many twists as the killer is hunted down in a bloody fashion. The women are on the fringe once again, but they’re determined to do their bit. Can they outsmart the men? More importantly, will they be recognised for their contribution?

Cop Town is gritty and addictive reading. There’s violence, sometimes over the top, but it seemed to fit in with the image being portrayed of the police. The Caucasian men in particular feel threatened and insecure as their way of life is changing – there’s a new African-American chief and they’re letting women on the beat! The violence is sometimes in desperation, sometimes for a need to feel superior and in control, sometimes excessive and sometimes needed to save lives. Corruption is rife. I felt it all fit with the story and wasn’t gratuitous. It’s not too gory either. Plus, it leads to some scenes at the Grady Hospital which shows you how different the healthcare system is to Australia. Grady is a public hospital, caring for the poor – no money required to be seen. But the dilapidation shows in the number of people waiting, the state of the buildings and how doctors come to get experience in trauma from knives, guns etc. It’s not pretty.

Cop Town also reveals some of the excessive attitudes towards women. Kate and Maggie are treated as they’re little more than objects for the men to humiliate and ogle. Maggie’s mum also thinks she’s a waste of oxygen (details as to why are revealed later in the book), making Maggie think she’s not really worthy of…anything. Kate comes from a different place, more sheltered and loving, and it takes time for her to get used to the brutality on the streets. The other female cops don’t think she has what it takes to make it – but is there more to Kate than what they’ve read in her file?

Racism is also rampant in this story through some of the characters. There seems to be a hierarchy with the white men first at the expense of all other races, with women the lowest of the low. African-American people and those of Jewish descent are particularly deplored by the core of white men who think they run the show. But as they lose their grip, there appears to be an opportunity for everyone else to show their talents…

Cop Town is fast paced and action packed. It’s also loaded with a number of landmarks, streets and places that locals would be familiar with and others (like me) can Google to get more of the sense of history (and to learn what a wye is). This book has one of the best plots I’ve read for a long time. I loved it!

Thank you to Random House Australia for the eARC of this book.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

Having never read anything by Karin Slaughter prior to Cop Town, I have to give her credit for one thing right off the bat: She certainly has the talent for creating despicable characters.

It is 1970s Atlanta and Maggie Lawson is one of a handful of female police officers. None of the male officers want women on the job, including her brother Jimmy and her uncle Terry. There has been a rash of cop shootings recently and Terry and Jimmy don’t have time to watch out for Maggie. Additionally, it is felt that the women can’t add anything valuable to the investigation.

Partnered with, Kate, an FNG, (Fucking New Girl) from a posh neighborhood, no less, Maggie still wants to be part of the investigation but everyone thinks Kate will wash out show more by week’s end. When Jimmy’s partner is shot, with Jimmy close by, the murders are brought even closer to home. Everyone in the Lawson household is telling Maggie to resign. Both Kate and Maggie have something to prove to themselves and everybody else.

As I said, Slaughter has created some despicable characters, especially in the police department. Many of the males are veterans of either WW II or the Vietnam War, depending on their ages. They are anti women, anti Black, anti gay, anti everything that isn’t exactly like they are. They are habitually drunk on the job and prefer their own justice to that of the legal system.

Maggie and Kate are interesting characters, stumbling through their jobs, trying to compete in a man’s world.

Slaughter does a nice job describing the various sections of Atlanta. She also does a great job describing the police department of the times; the segregation within it (the ‘colored girls’ dress after the white girls leave the locker room and have put a curtain across it, claiming their own territory), the sexism within the department (the groping as the women enter the building) and the ‘taking the law into their own hands’ mentality.

All in all, I really liked Cop Town and would certainly read another Karin Slaughter book. show less