This is my first book review with the copy received gratefully from the publisher and NetGalley. See Yesterday’s post to understand my change in stance on reviewing books.
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
Random House UK, Cornerstone. ISBN 9781448107407
Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.
Kate isn’t the only woman on the force who’s feeling the heat. Maggie Lawson followed her uncle and brother into the ranks to prove her worth in their cynical eyes. When she and Kate, her new partner, are pushed out of the citywide search for a cop killer, their fury, pain, and pride finally reach the boiling point. With a killer poised to strike again, they will pursue their own line of investigation, risking everything as they venture into the city’s darkest heart.
My Thoughts;
I have loved reading Karin Slaughter from her first outing with Blindsighted. Her clean and flawless writing has made her my number one crime author. The one I have to keep up to date with all new books.
Cop Town was different to the previous Slaughter books in as much as they weren’t the regular set of characters. It’s a standalone set in 1974 Atlanta and tells the story from the standpoint of two female cops, Maggie Lawson, born in a cop family and Kate Murphy, the new girl from the nice part of town and who maybe doesn’t quite know what she’s letting herself in for.
I was gripped from the start. The opening scene just drags you in by your throat and holds you tightly in it’s clutches. I was completely hooked. I raced through the book, turning pages quickly, thinking I’d finish it in the day, but then something happened I didn’t see coming.
The darkness of the book was too much and I had to stop reading and take two days to read. It is a grim book and I’m not talking about graphic murder scenes or any of that. That I can take. It was the world in which the book was set. It was seeped in racial hatred, sexism, homophobia and it was coming from the good guys. The cops. And it was towards their fellow cops. Their colleagues. The nastiness of it, the knowledge that it was real to that degree, at that time, just made it hard going. It’s one thing to see this crap in a novel from the bad guys, but the amount of it from the so-called good guys towards their own, was grim.
Saying that, it was a perfectly executed Slaughter novel, her characterisation was flawless. Following Kate through her journey as the new girl on the job in such a hostile environment was wonderful. You could see her take those first baby steps and progress from there, with the shock and horror of everything thrown at her morphing her character as it would do anyone out in the real world. It’s a great book, you just need to be ready to step into that world and if you are, you will love this book.
readingwritingandriesling says
Great review – I loved it too – and Atlanta in that timeframe was a scary place to be- there seems to be so much tension in this one place and there still is. Karin Slaughter is great at bringing these and other womens issues to the fore…(the following is from her web site)
Q:Why is there so much violence in your books?
A: I adore Mary Higgins Clark and have been known to enjoy a Janet Evanovich or two, but in my writing, I want to show violence for what it is. For so long, women weren’t expected to talk about these crimes, even though we were more likely to be the victims. I think it’s time we started talking about rape and violence against women. When I was growing up, these subjects were “boys only” territory in fiction, so I find it refreshing to see authors like Mo Hayder and Denise Mina really opening up the conversation about abuse and sexual assault. This isn’t to say that men are not capable of writing about these topics, only that women authors bring a different perspective.
Rebecca Bradley says
She does do such a great job of bringing to life the time period and how it was to be a female cop at that time in that place and I think that’s why it was uncomfortable. I didn’t have an issue with it being there but I just couldn’t read it in one sitting. For me Slaughter is one of the best authors for doing character driven novels so doing something so difficult is well within her toolbox and she did it really well. It’s a great novel.
readingwritingandriesling says
It was a great read – I hope she does more standalones. What’s next on your reviewing list?
Rebecca Bradley says
I’ve just finished a non-fiction Seth Godin book off my own book shelf and have now started a YA novel from NetGalley called The Rain. I have to read it quickly as I then I have to read our book club book before next Wednesday. But the next crime book I think is going to be Falling by Emma Kavanagh.
readingwritingandriesling says
Have a look at the one I reviewed today – I think this is your sort of read. It is/was available on NG.
cleopatralovesbooks says
So good to read your first ‘review’ Rebecca. I haven’t tried any of this author’s books, I’m not really sure why but maybe this would be a good place to start. I like the idea of historical crimes so as this is set in 1974, especially as it appears to accurately reflect the attitudes of the time (however uncomfortable to read that is)
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you! I hope to do many more. 🙂
If you started with this book you’d definitely get a feel for the author. Her authenticity is spot on and her characterisation is brilliant. I just love her. I was surprised I found a book of hers I couldn’t read straight through.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – I think that’s the thing that would be the darkest for me, too – those awful attitudes coming from people who are supposed to be the ‘good guys.’ I’m glad you were drawn into the novel, and I have to say, historical novels appeal to me. When I’m ready for an uncomfortable read like this, I may tray it.
Rebecca Bradley says
I think you’d enjoy it Margot. But when you’re ready for an uncomfortable but brilliant – because she is – read 🙂
realthog says
A nice review. I may have to give Slaughter another try, although I think not with this particular novel because
That I can take. It was the world in which the book was set. It was seeped in racial hatred, sexism, homophobia
I have this same trouble with novels too. It’s not the fault of the novels — indeed, quite the opposite, I applaud them for being unafraid to take the difficult course — but just something I find difficulty in personally coping with.
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you. And it is personal taste with books. It’s not whether it’s a good or bad book, it’s whether one person enjoyed it or not. She did the time period complete justice and as usual I loved her writing.
Jacqui Murray says
Again, you’ve picked a book I’ve read. We have the same taste.
I had trouble getting into this book. Part of it was the disdain for women (correctly characterized by Slaughter–she did great). I had trouble accepting a world as she described which made me want to stop reading. By about page 100, I was over it and engrossed. By the end, I was ready for the sequel.
Rebecca Bradley says
I do think we have similar tastes 🙂
I love Slaughter’s writing style. Her characters are just brilliant every time. I read that this was a standalone though I did have to look it up as it could easily work as a series now or at least a few more books with those protagonists.
Lupita says
It’s hard to find your blog in google. I found it
on 14 spot, you should build quality backlinks , it
will help you to rank to google top 10. I know how to help you, just search in google – k2 seo
tips and tricks
Keishon says
Hi Rebecca! I started with Blindsighted as well and have enjoyed her work for the most part but I can’t forget what she did with the Grant County series. I loved her Will Trent series, too, before she decided to combine it with the Grant County series. But I am looking forward to reading her first standalone! So I will read your review after I’m done reading it. Karin Slaughter is quite talented so I’d be content if she left her series work for standalone thrillers.
Rebecca Bradley says
I was gutted with that massive twist in the Grant county series. A big gamble but with such a talented writer and taking along one character into the next series it worked well. I do love her work. She’s so character driven.
Keishon says
Yes she is very character driven which is why I loved her work so, so much. I really can’t stand one of her major characters which is saying something right there. I don’t think she’s had a bad book yet (including the one with that major plot twist).
Rebecca Bradley says
Lena? 🙂
Keishon says
Haha no, Dr. Sara Linton is the one I can’t stand. I’ve learned to tolerate Lena. To me Lena was the most interesting character in the series. Flaws and all.
Rebecca Bradley says
Ah! I can see where you’re coming from. I also like to read Lena as well 🙂
crimeworm says
I’m just catching up on old reviews of books I’ve yet to read – I read all of the Grant County books, but I’m not keen on Will Trent. So I’ve kind of drifted away from buying her books automatically. I love Sara, and Lena, and I loved Jeffrey, but I’ve yet to take to Will. However, I liked the sound of this one, and the time it was set in. Just got to find time to read it now!
Flora says
I read a lot of interesting content here. Probably you spend a lot
of time writing, i know how to save you a
lot of time, there is an online tool that creates readable, google friendly articles
in minutes, just search in google – laranitas free content source