Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Delacorte Press (2014), 466 pages
Description
"Atlanta, 1974. It's Kate Murphy's first day on the job and the Atlanta Police Department is seething after the murder of an officer. Before the day has barely begun, she already suspects she's not cut out for the job as a cop. Her male uniform is too big, she can't handle a gun, and she's rapidly learning that the APD is hardly a place that welcomes women. Worse still, in the ensuing manhunt, he'll be partnered with Maggie Lawson, a cop with her own ax to grind (and a brother and uncle already on the force)--a strategy meant to isolate Kate and Maggie from the action. But the move will backfire, putting them right at the heart of it"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member Menagerie
This book is a gritty portrayal of Atlanta in the 1970s. Told from the perspective of two rookie, women cops, this is not an easy read. But, none of Slaughter's book are, and I suspect that is one of the reasons her loyal readers keep coming back.
I found this portrayal of the blatant savagery,
The crimes and the mystery of the book are solid, if gory as is Slaughter's want, and they provide a great backstory for the Will Trent series. However, it is the women, and the stunning portrayal of a big city police department in the 1970s that can not be missed.
A must read.
I found this portrayal of the blatant savagery,
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sexism, sexual assault, and marginalizing within the law enforcement community to be appalling. And I have no doubt that Slaughter researched the topic well and has represented it honestly. These women re-define the word, "tough" and most likely would take the word, "bitch" as a well-earned compliment. There was no place for softness in either of these female cops although both did show some, and to their credit for having that strength.The crimes and the mystery of the book are solid, if gory as is Slaughter's want, and they provide a great backstory for the Will Trent series. However, it is the women, and the stunning portrayal of a big city police department in the 1970s that can not be missed.
A must read.
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LibraryThing member brendajanefrank
I have read and enjoyed all of Karin Slaughter’s work, and “Cop Town” is right there with her best novels. It takes place in Atlanta, Slaughter’s hometown, in 1974. This isn’t a simple murder mystery, but concerns bigotry, abuse of power, corruption and the toxic atmosphere of the police
As a rookie cop from wealthy background with a good education who’s also a Jew, Maggie doesn’t stand a chance of fitting in with the seasoned cops in the Atlanta PD. She’s way too different and represents everything most cops aren’t. Much of what she encounters at the station and on the job in the city is dirty, nasty, and ugly to the point of evil. Maggie also has the baggage of compassion, largely absent in her fellow officers. Of course, Maggie’s also tough and resourceful, otherwise, where’s the story?
When Maggie comes on the force, a series of execution-style murders of Atlanta cops is terrorizing the Department. She is drawn into the hunt for the copkiller, even though she is green.
“Cop Town” is a gripping story with unexpected twists and turns. It’s not pretty, but a well executed and engaging reading.
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force at that time. The station has institutionalized blatant and aggressive bigotry: racism, misogyny, homophobia, religious discrimination general hate and prejudice. “Cop Town” depicts the despicable conditions and treatment that female officers have to deal with and overcome simply to do the job, survive, and take home a paycheck. As a rookie cop from wealthy background with a good education who’s also a Jew, Maggie doesn’t stand a chance of fitting in with the seasoned cops in the Atlanta PD. She’s way too different and represents everything most cops aren’t. Much of what she encounters at the station and on the job in the city is dirty, nasty, and ugly to the point of evil. Maggie also has the baggage of compassion, largely absent in her fellow officers. Of course, Maggie’s also tough and resourceful, otherwise, where’s the story?
When Maggie comes on the force, a series of execution-style murders of Atlanta cops is terrorizing the Department. She is drawn into the hunt for the copkiller, even though she is green.
“Cop Town” is a gripping story with unexpected twists and turns. It’s not pretty, but a well executed and engaging reading.
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LibraryThing member gaby317
I've followed Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series and was excited to read her latest detective thriller. This standalone novel is set in Atlanta in the mid-1970s, just as women officers are new to the Atlanta PD.
It's a particularly bad summer for cops - five officers have been murdered and there
Kate does have her own reasons for having signed up and it's fortunate that her wealthy parents support her decision. Living as they do in one of the most exclusive and expensive suburbs, their world is limited to their privileged worlds - her mother owns one of the best art galleries in Atlanta and her father has a solid private practice as a psychiatrist. But their wealth hasn't always sheltered them from the world and it's this empathy that makes them sympathetic to Kate and her goals.
Kate finds herself partnered with Maggie Lawson, a young officer from a family of police officers. While the brass want to keep Kate and Maggie away from the investigation, the women are determined to find their own leads and follow them no matter the danger. Their intelligence and perseverance bring the young officers to some of the most dangerous areas in Atlanta and against an unexpected enemy.
In Cop Town, Karin Slaughter introduces us to a very different world. The prejudices and hate can be difficult to get through but it is all part of the larger story. If you overcome the initial dislike of the characters' tough talk, then like Kate Murphy, you'll find yourself warming to them and caring. Karin Slaughter has the unique gift of giving us both an exciting complicated detective story and complex and vulnerable characters. I very much enjoyed Cop Town.
ISBN-10: 0345547497 - Hardcover $27
Publisher: Delacorte Press (June 24, 2014), 416 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
It's a particularly bad summer for cops - five officers have been murdered and there
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is no clear suspect for the killings. So, Kate Murphy's first day at the Atlanta PD is particularly bad as it comes hours after another cop is killed. She's made to feel unwelcome by everyone that she meets - the men on the force who don't think that women should be on the force, by the women who don't expect her to last the week, by the African American cops who have it tough themselves. Kate does have her own reasons for having signed up and it's fortunate that her wealthy parents support her decision. Living as they do in one of the most exclusive and expensive suburbs, their world is limited to their privileged worlds - her mother owns one of the best art galleries in Atlanta and her father has a solid private practice as a psychiatrist. But their wealth hasn't always sheltered them from the world and it's this empathy that makes them sympathetic to Kate and her goals.
Kate finds herself partnered with Maggie Lawson, a young officer from a family of police officers. While the brass want to keep Kate and Maggie away from the investigation, the women are determined to find their own leads and follow them no matter the danger. Their intelligence and perseverance bring the young officers to some of the most dangerous areas in Atlanta and against an unexpected enemy.
In Cop Town, Karin Slaughter introduces us to a very different world. The prejudices and hate can be difficult to get through but it is all part of the larger story. If you overcome the initial dislike of the characters' tough talk, then like Kate Murphy, you'll find yourself warming to them and caring. Karin Slaughter has the unique gift of giving us both an exciting complicated detective story and complex and vulnerable characters. I very much enjoyed Cop Town.
ISBN-10: 0345547497 - Hardcover $27
Publisher: Delacorte Press (June 24, 2014), 416 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member NicolefromCarmel
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter exciting and relentless, kept my heart racing every single page. Set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975, the story follows Police Officers Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy and a man who calls himself Fox. On Kate’s first day as a rookie in the Atlanta Police department, a serial
The multiple points of view were used well. Told from Maggie’s, Kate’s and Fox’s point of view, the story had incredible momentum, avoiding many places where the dialog could have become stagnant. Both Maggie and Kate showed incredible strength as women in a male dominated world and never fell into the victim role that so easily could have happened. Overall an excellent book that I would highly recommend to readers who like police procedural book with a thriller twist. I give it an A+.
This review will be published on June 10th (unless otherwise instructed by the publisher)on my review site carmelbythecornfields.me, at Goodreads and LibraryThing.
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter, set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975, follows Police Officers Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy. On Kate’s first day as a rookie in the Atlanta Police department, a serial killer targeting cops strikes again. Kate and Maggie race to find the killer before he finds another victim, going up against family and the good old boys that fill the Atlanta PD.
The multiple points of view were used well. Told from Maggie’s, Kate’s and Fox’s point of view, the story had incredible momentum, avoiding many places where the dialog could have become stagnant. Both Maggie and Kate showed incredible strength as women in a male dominated world and never fell into the victim role that so easily could have happened. Overall an excellent book that I would highly recommend to readers who like police procedural book with a thriller twist. I give it an A+.
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killer targeting cops strikes again. Kate and Maggie race to find the killer before he finds another victim, going up against family and the good old boys that fill the Atlanta PD.The multiple points of view were used well. Told from Maggie’s, Kate’s and Fox’s point of view, the story had incredible momentum, avoiding many places where the dialog could have become stagnant. Both Maggie and Kate showed incredible strength as women in a male dominated world and never fell into the victim role that so easily could have happened. Overall an excellent book that I would highly recommend to readers who like police procedural book with a thriller twist. I give it an A+.
This review will be published on June 10th (unless otherwise instructed by the publisher)on my review site carmelbythecornfields.me, at Goodreads and LibraryThing.
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter, set in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975, follows Police Officers Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy. On Kate’s first day as a rookie in the Atlanta Police department, a serial killer targeting cops strikes again. Kate and Maggie race to find the killer before he finds another victim, going up against family and the good old boys that fill the Atlanta PD.
The multiple points of view were used well. Told from Maggie’s, Kate’s and Fox’s point of view, the story had incredible momentum, avoiding many places where the dialog could have become stagnant. Both Maggie and Kate showed incredible strength as women in a male dominated world and never fell into the victim role that so easily could have happened. Overall an excellent book that I would highly recommend to readers who like police procedural book with a thriller twist. I give it an A+.
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LibraryThing member mikedraper
Kate Murphy joins the Atlanta Police Department in 1974. It is a time of unrest and racial tension. The mayor appoints a new police commissioner, a black man. This commissioner wants to do everything he can to break the white power structure in the department.
Kate experiences the harassment and
Kate is teamed with Maggie Lawson. She is Jimmy Lawson's younger sister but Jimmy doesn't do anything to protect his sister from the sexual harassment she receives. Instead, he joins his beer drinking fellow cops in their behavior toward women.
Maggie and Kate team together and get caught up in their search for the killer. Something happens to Jimmy and we see the killer stalking Kate as a future victim.
The dialogue is intense and the pace burns off the page. Maggie tries to take command but her uncle, a police sergeant is one of the leaders of the cops who want to take the law into their own hands.
Karin Slaughter is at the top of her form in this excellent thriller. The reader feels sympathy for Kate and Maggie while dreading that they might become victims of the killer or of the maniacal philosophy in the police department.
Kate experiences the harassment and
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sexual taunting from her first day. The department is in a state of heated intensity when a serial killer kills his fifth cop. Since a prior murderer was set free due to tainted evidence, this time, there is feeling that when the police find the killer he won't make it to trial.Kate is teamed with Maggie Lawson. She is Jimmy Lawson's younger sister but Jimmy doesn't do anything to protect his sister from the sexual harassment she receives. Instead, he joins his beer drinking fellow cops in their behavior toward women.
Maggie and Kate team together and get caught up in their search for the killer. Something happens to Jimmy and we see the killer stalking Kate as a future victim.
The dialogue is intense and the pace burns off the page. Maggie tries to take command but her uncle, a police sergeant is one of the leaders of the cops who want to take the law into their own hands.
Karin Slaughter is at the top of her form in this excellent thriller. The reader feels sympathy for Kate and Maggie while dreading that they might become victims of the killer or of the maniacal philosophy in the police department.
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LibraryThing member dearheart
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
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These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
Atlanta in 1974 was going through a lot of changes. Blacks are still somewhat segregated, although the city elected their first black mayor, who brought in the first black police commissioner. Gays aren't tolerated and women belong at home or in typing pools; certainly not in the police force. These plus practically every ethnicity you've heard of is put down or made more difficult by the white man's club in the Atlanta PD.
The story follows Maggie Lawson, a four-year police veteran who still can't get any respect as a cop from her brother and uncle, who are also cops. It also follows Kate Murphy, beginning with her first day on the job; she's got a lot to learn. Maggie's brother Jimmy, survives an encounter with a cop killer, although his partner didn't make it. Maggie realizes Jimmy's version of events doesn't seem to match up with a number of facts. When Kate and Maggie partner up, even though they aren't detectives, they decide to tackle the case on their own.
Crude, harsh, sexist, you name it. This is an uncomfortable read beginning with the first chapter, and the atrocities and attitudes are probably true to the time and place. Definitely jolting.
The storyline is split between three points of view; Kate's, Maggie's and the killer's. A good job is done in keeping us guessing who the killer is, although we're definitely provided with his motivation. But the mystery angle is only a portion of the story. Getting to know Kate and seeing her struggle--many females quit the force within the first week--and the difficulties Maggie's family puts her through is probably the biggest chunk of the story. While we get to know Kate, we really don't learn a whole lot about what makes Maggie tick.
Action, some humor, lust, philosophy and learning what a cop needs to do in order to stay alive. One really good aspect of the story is seeing Kate develop a backbone and see just what she's capable of.
But I found it to be too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story and just couldn't wait to finish it.
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LibraryThing member Mary.Endersbe
Set in 1974 Atlanta, Karin Slaughter's Cop Town transports you back to the time where segregation was still an everyday occurrence, women were just starting to be allowed to perform the same job duties as men, and people were so homophobic that no one ever divulged the fact that they were anything
When Maggie's brother's partner is killed, the whole town is on the hunt for The Shooter. Maggie ends up partnered with Kate and as different as the two of them are, they make a strong team as they both seem to have better detective skills than the men on the police force. Maggie immediately sees holes in the story Jimmy tells of the night his partner is shot. The two women end up chasing down leads all over Atlanta and getting answers to the puzzle they don't necessarily want to hear. And all the while The Shooter is keeping an eye on everyone, especially Kate.
Slaughter builds a wonderful picture of the lives of these people. Maggie is from a dysfunctional family with an abusive uncle. Kate is the opposite- she is a wealthy young Jewish woman looking for something to fill her life after losing her husband in the war. We get snippets of their lives, good and bad, as the story progresses until their full personalities are revealed.
It was amazing to me the racism, the sexism, and pure hatred that is described in this book, yet in 1974 Atlanta, I am sure this was the case. Some of the scenes left me speechless while others had me laughing out loud. Overall, I gave the book the whole 5 stars mainly for the originality of the book and the way Slaughter told the story.
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but heterosexual. The book is told from the viewpoints of three characters: Kate Murphy, ,a brand new police officer, trying to make it through her first week on the force; Maggie Lawson, a young woman from a family of police officers- yet they don't support her in her career choice; and The Shooter, the killer who is trying to rid the city of what he thinks are people who are not worthy.When Maggie's brother's partner is killed, the whole town is on the hunt for The Shooter. Maggie ends up partnered with Kate and as different as the two of them are, they make a strong team as they both seem to have better detective skills than the men on the police force. Maggie immediately sees holes in the story Jimmy tells of the night his partner is shot. The two women end up chasing down leads all over Atlanta and getting answers to the puzzle they don't necessarily want to hear. And all the while The Shooter is keeping an eye on everyone, especially Kate.
Slaughter builds a wonderful picture of the lives of these people. Maggie is from a dysfunctional family with an abusive uncle. Kate is the opposite- she is a wealthy young Jewish woman looking for something to fill her life after losing her husband in the war. We get snippets of their lives, good and bad, as the story progresses until their full personalities are revealed.
It was amazing to me the racism, the sexism, and pure hatred that is described in this book, yet in 1974 Atlanta, I am sure this was the case. Some of the scenes left me speechless while others had me laughing out loud. Overall, I gave the book the whole 5 stars mainly for the originality of the book and the way Slaughter told the story.
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LibraryThing member Kikoa
I am a 73 year old woman, and come from the time that women were considered unable to hold their own in any job other than maybe a secretary. Never a Firefighter or a Cop. A time when your were judged by the color of your skin, your sexual preferences, guilty or innocent. Thank you Karin Slaughter
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for giving us a book that sucked us into a plot, and then reminded us not to slip back to those days. We need reminders. We need to stay vigilant least we let those times return. Thank you for a great rollar coaster ride. Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
"There's a sporting goods store on Central Ave. near the university. Wear your uniform and they'll give you the lock for free. Actually, wear your uniform whenever you can. You'll get free coffee, free food, free groceries."
Kate put her purse on top of Maggie's. "Is that legal?"
"Anything's legal
This is the first novel by Karin Slaughter that I have read. I have seen some praise for her and have been wanting to read her Will Trent series and her Grant County series but have never gotten around to it. Now that Cop Town, her first stand-alone novel, was going to be released I felt like it would be good to start with it.
This book follows Maggie and Kate, two women police officers in Atlanta during the 1970's, as they try to do their jobs and deal with the prejudices against them at the same time. Boy did this book have prejudice; sexism, racism, homophobia, you name it. It is understandable that prejudice would be a prevalent part in this book because people weren't extremely open minded in Atlanta in the 1970's.
Maggie and Kate were both interesting characters to follow. Kate is a rookie police officer and she is partnered up with Maggie who has been with the department for a few years. They both have their problems that they have to deal with but they are also stronger than they think that they are. I really enjoyed watching their working relationship get better (as Kate learned more) and watching their friendship grow.
I was completely clueless as to who was killing the police officers. When the person was finally revealed I was surprised. I really liked the action after the reveal and enjoyed how kickass both Maggie and Kate were. I know that this is a stand-alone novel but I would really love for this to turn into the Lawson and Murphy series (with occasional cameos from Gail, because I just loved Gail in this book). I don't want to beg but Karin Slaughter please make this a series!
I look forward to reading Karin Slaughter's previous work and her future work. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to fans of crime novels.
[I received this book from a Librarything Early Reviewers giveaway. The content of my review is not affected by that in any way.]
Kate put her purse on top of Maggie's. "Is that legal?"
"Anything's legal
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if you can get away with it." Maggie slammed the locker closed. "Welcome to the Atlanta Police Department."This is the first novel by Karin Slaughter that I have read. I have seen some praise for her and have been wanting to read her Will Trent series and her Grant County series but have never gotten around to it. Now that Cop Town, her first stand-alone novel, was going to be released I felt like it would be good to start with it.
This book follows Maggie and Kate, two women police officers in Atlanta during the 1970's, as they try to do their jobs and deal with the prejudices against them at the same time. Boy did this book have prejudice; sexism, racism, homophobia, you name it. It is understandable that prejudice would be a prevalent part in this book because people weren't extremely open minded in Atlanta in the 1970's.
Maggie and Kate were both interesting characters to follow. Kate is a rookie police officer and she is partnered up with Maggie who has been with the department for a few years. They both have their problems that they have to deal with but they are also stronger than they think that they are. I really enjoyed watching their working relationship get better (as Kate learned more) and watching their friendship grow.
I was completely clueless as to who was killing the police officers. When the person was finally revealed I was surprised. I really liked the action after the reveal and enjoyed how kickass both Maggie and Kate were. I know that this is a stand-alone novel but I would really love for this to turn into the Lawson and Murphy series (with occasional cameos from Gail, because I just loved Gail in this book). I don't want to beg but Karin Slaughter please make this a series!
I look forward to reading Karin Slaughter's previous work and her future work. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to fans of crime novels.
[I received this book from a Librarything Early Reviewers giveaway. The content of my review is not affected by that in any way.]
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LibraryThing member kgallagher625
Kate Murphy's first day on the Atlanta police force brings her into the middle of a case involving a serial killer who targets cops. As she struggles to learn the ropes and fit in, the case becomes personal, involving her partner's family and herself. The mystery is fairly compelling and Karin
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Slaughter always portrays police procedure accurately. The two main characters are well drawn and compelling. I did not find the plot as suspenseful or thrilling as Slaughter's other books. This was a fairly good mystery novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jim53
Cop Town is billed as Kate Murphy's story, but it seemed to me that it was Maggie Phelps's story as much as Kate's. The two women are police officers in Atlanta in the 1970s; Murphy is a very raw rookie. Slaughter's portrayal of the members of the police squad is vivid: the men are virulent
The plot centers around a serial cop-killer. The men on the force prop themselves up talking about what they'll do to him; Maggie and Kate review the earlier cases to look for patterns. We see glimpses into the mind of the killer. Events move toward a resolution as another cop is gunned down. Will Maggie and Kate overcome the attitudes of the male cops?
The characters are pretty good for this type of mystery, although it's difficult to distinguish among the male officers. Kate and Maggie are the best characters, although we don't really see why Kate is so determined to join the force. Slaughter provides good descriptions of the many cities that make up Atlanta, although she tries too hard on a few occasions, as where the sun "razors" down the street. Overall a well constructed book, which maintains a high level of tension and provides a satisfying conclusion.
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racists, misogynists, and gay-haters, and many are drunks, showing the effects of war experiences. Their conversations are disgusting; it's hard to imagine Maggie being forced to listen to them.The plot centers around a serial cop-killer. The men on the force prop themselves up talking about what they'll do to him; Maggie and Kate review the earlier cases to look for patterns. We see glimpses into the mind of the killer. Events move toward a resolution as another cop is gunned down. Will Maggie and Kate overcome the attitudes of the male cops?
The characters are pretty good for this type of mystery, although it's difficult to distinguish among the male officers. Kate and Maggie are the best characters, although we don't really see why Kate is so determined to join the force. Slaughter provides good descriptions of the many cities that make up Atlanta, although she tries too hard on a few occasions, as where the sun "razors" down the street. Overall a well constructed book, which maintains a high level of tension and provides a satisfying conclusion.
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LibraryThing member murphy430
I love Slaughter's books, I have to say I don't enjoy the 1970s ones. I hope she is done write in that time period. I love the series and
hope to see more of them in the future. This does have a storyline which holds yours interest with a cop killer out there that needs to be found. I did enjoy the
hope to see more of them in the future. This does have a storyline which holds yours interest with a cop killer out there that needs to be found. I did enjoy the
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basic mystery just didn't like the 1970s aspect of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member AnneWK
The mystery here is someone is killing police officers. But the story is much deeper than that.
Atlanta in the early 1970s was a city on the verge of change with the old guard of white men about to lose their privileged positions. The racism (and every other -ism) of the cops on the police force is
The brutality the author describes is horrifying and sometimes almost impossible to stomach. The men in this novel (with very few exceptions, Kate's father being one) are drunken racists, seeming to be full of hate for women as well as Blacks and every ethnic group on the planet. There is a hint that their attitudes are based in the fear of losing their own positions in this world, but mostly they are portrayed as hateful and thoroughly disgusting. I often wished the author had been more subtle in her portrayals, that she had made the men more multi-faceted. The women, the heroes of this novel, are much more complicated, complete characters.
As for the mystery? I don't believe any reader could guess the murderer's identity and it almost doesn't matter. What happens to Maggie and Kate -- that's what's important.
Atlanta in the early 1970s was a city on the verge of change with the old guard of white men about to lose their privileged positions. The racism (and every other -ism) of the cops on the police force is
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more virulent than ever because of the perceived threat. Into this toxic mess step two young women: Maggie is a cop's daughter, sister, and niece, Kate is a Viet Nam war widow. Why Kate joins the police force is vague; upper class and educated, she seems to want to do something meaningful with her new life. She doesn't have a clue what sort of group she's about to find. Maggie has grown up being emotionally (at least) abused by the men in her family and has adopted some of the brutal police mentality, as have the few other female police officers. The brutality the author describes is horrifying and sometimes almost impossible to stomach. The men in this novel (with very few exceptions, Kate's father being one) are drunken racists, seeming to be full of hate for women as well as Blacks and every ethnic group on the planet. There is a hint that their attitudes are based in the fear of losing their own positions in this world, but mostly they are portrayed as hateful and thoroughly disgusting. I often wished the author had been more subtle in her portrayals, that she had made the men more multi-faceted. The women, the heroes of this novel, are much more complicated, complete characters.
As for the mystery? I don't believe any reader could guess the murderer's identity and it almost doesn't matter. What happens to Maggie and Kate -- that's what's important.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Every time I review a book by Karin Slaughter, I start by saying, “She keeps getting better and better.” And yet it’s continually true!
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,
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 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, and he was spared. 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 too:
"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 both by her treatment by the police and what she sees on the street. She explains to her father and grandmother how 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, it is also challenging, exciting, and even sometimes, fun. She wonders if she is becoming someone different.
In the end, Maggie and Kate make some astounding 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: Ordinarily 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.
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,
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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 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, and he was spared. 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 too:
"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 both by her treatment by the police and what she sees on the street. She explains to her father and grandmother how 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, it is also challenging, exciting, and even sometimes, fun. She wonders if she is becoming someone different.
In the end, Maggie and Kate make some astounding 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: Ordinarily 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.
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LibraryThing member DanieXJ
I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this novel. I wanted to read it because of the description of the two main characters in it, Kate and Maggie. They're both cops in the Atlanta Police Force in the 1970s. Kate, a rookie in her first week, and Maggie a 4 year veteran.
The partner of Maggie's
That's what I liked most about the novel. The mystery. It could have been a really engrossing one, but the tone of the novel and very, very unlikable characters put me off. (For the most part I even could stand the two main characters).
I also thought that one of the deeper themes, that good people can act evil and evil people can act good, was interesting. But again it got lost in the rest of the novel.
I think that my enjoyment was also lessened because unfortunately I also guessed the super twist wayy before it got revealed in the novel.
Overall I didn't love the book, although it seemed to have promise. If this does turn into a series (and there were definitely some hooks that Slaughter could turn into a second book) then I might just try that book too, but only to see if it gets better or stays in the same zone as this one.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell.
The partner of Maggie's
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brother, Jimmy, also a cop, gets killed and while all the Cro-Magnon ape men of the force are beating their chests to try to solve who did it, Maggie, Kate, with the help of another police woman named Gail actually try something crazy and use their brains to solve the case.That's what I liked most about the novel. The mystery. It could have been a really engrossing one, but the tone of the novel and very, very unlikable characters put me off. (For the most part I even could stand the two main characters).
I also thought that one of the deeper themes, that good people can act evil and evil people can act good, was interesting. But again it got lost in the rest of the novel.
I think that my enjoyment was also lessened because unfortunately I also guessed the super twist wayy before it got revealed in the novel.
Overall I didn't love the book, although it seemed to have promise. If this does turn into a series (and there were definitely some hooks that Slaughter could turn into a second book) then I might just try that book too, but only to see if it gets better or stays in the same zone as this one.
I got this advanced galley through Netgalley on behalf of Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell.
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LibraryThing member beckyhaase
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
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 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
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
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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 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
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LibraryThing member bohemiangirl35
I didn't realize this was a stand alone novel until I started reading it. People are saying it's a departure from her usual style, but the only thing really missing is the gore. A serial killer is on the loose, and his killing methods are just not as outrageously cringe-worthy as those in the Grant
I liked this one, but I'll be glad for another with Will, Faith, Amanda and Sarah.
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County and Will Trent series. The story made me think Slaughter was exploring themes she brought up in Criminal about the early days of women on the police force without being limited to characters everyone already knows.I liked this one, but I'll be glad for another with Will, Faith, Amanda and Sarah.
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LibraryThing member WKinsey
Thank you Net galley for an early copy of Cop Town.
This is Karin Slaughter at her absolute best. Cop Town is a stand alone Thriller set in Atlanta in 1975.Its a great story about Kate and Maggie. One being rich and Jewish and one being from a cop family and poor.Kate experience the pleasures in
This is Karin Slaughter at her absolute best. Cop Town is a stand alone Thriller set in Atlanta in 1975.Its a great story about Kate and Maggie. One being rich and Jewish and one being from a cop family and poor.Kate experience the pleasures in
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life but Maggie experiences sexism and homophobia with in her own family.Maggie and Kate will experience what its like to be a women in the south in the 70's. Enter a cop killer who try to kill everyone who has turned his world upside down by bucking the system. Cop Town is a great thriller but it also make the readers aware of social injustices of racism, sexism and homophobia as they have played a part in history. Show Less
LibraryThing member bfister
A sniper is targeting cops in Atlanta in the 1970s just as women and African Americans are joining the force and finding the ingrained cop culture bigoted, sexist, and violent. Maggie reluctantly takes a newcomer, Kate, under her wing, resenting her upper class innocence. But as Maggie pursues the
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killer who shot her brother's partner, she finds Kate has hidden strengths. Compelling, loads of character development (particularly with Kate and her initiation into a rough culture where she has to find her courage), and engagement with issues, but all on a full boil. Personally, I would have preferred a slower simmer. The racism, sexism, and violent close-mindedness would have been more affecting if it wasn't constantly in my face - however accurate it might be historically. I think it would have been more effecitve if somehow I'd been made to feel inside the culture rather than having its worst features paraded past me. Giving me the tiniest bit of empathy for the old guard would have made it even more disturbing. Show Less
LibraryThing member DPLyle
Unblinking and in your face
Karin Slaughter writes tough, gritty crime fiction. Unblinking and in your face. Always filled with tough and committed characters who are deeply flawed. Her villains are always well-drawn, evil, and totally believable, with clear agendas that drive their actions. Cop
Set in 1974 among the mean streets of Atlanta and within the corrupt, racist, sexist Atlanta PD, the story revolves around two female officers, one seasoned, one a rookie, who essentially serve as co-protagonists. Each has easily exploited weaknesses, while possessing skills and a toughness that drives the story.
Maggie Lawson comes from a cop family. A family that is dysfunctional on many levels. Maggie tries to live up to the standards demanded by her hard-nosed uncle and brother while trying to retain her own humanity. She is thrust into the chase of a brutal cop killer, whose motives aren’t readily apparent, the only thing known for sure that he will kill again. The clock is ticking and Maggie feels the pressure at every turn.
Entering this pressure cooker is first-day-rookie Kate Murphy. Jewish, strikingly beautiful, privileged from her tony digs in Buckhead Atlanta, and completely over her head. Yet, when she and Maggie team up, they create a powerful symbiosis that proves to be more than capable in the good-old-boy world of Atlanta cops.
The story is fast-paced, with unexpected twists and turns, and a climax that is shocking yet inevitable. A great read.
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Samantha Cody and Dub Walker thriller series
Karin Slaughter writes tough, gritty crime fiction. Unblinking and in your face. Always filled with tough and committed characters who are deeply flawed. Her villains are always well-drawn, evil, and totally believable, with clear agendas that drive their actions. Cop
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Town is such a story and just might be her best yet. Set in 1974 among the mean streets of Atlanta and within the corrupt, racist, sexist Atlanta PD, the story revolves around two female officers, one seasoned, one a rookie, who essentially serve as co-protagonists. Each has easily exploited weaknesses, while possessing skills and a toughness that drives the story.
Maggie Lawson comes from a cop family. A family that is dysfunctional on many levels. Maggie tries to live up to the standards demanded by her hard-nosed uncle and brother while trying to retain her own humanity. She is thrust into the chase of a brutal cop killer, whose motives aren’t readily apparent, the only thing known for sure that he will kill again. The clock is ticking and Maggie feels the pressure at every turn.
Entering this pressure cooker is first-day-rookie Kate Murphy. Jewish, strikingly beautiful, privileged from her tony digs in Buckhead Atlanta, and completely over her head. Yet, when she and Maggie team up, they create a powerful symbiosis that proves to be more than capable in the good-old-boy world of Atlanta cops.
The story is fast-paced, with unexpected twists and turns, and a climax that is shocking yet inevitable. A great read.
DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Samantha Cody and Dub Walker thriller series
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LibraryThing member cmeilink
Made available through Early Reviewers...
Karin Slaughter's latest book, Cop Town, is probably one of her best yet.
Set in the south in the 1970s, amidst the racism, corruption, and homophobic attitude of that decade, women are joining the Atlanta police force.
Faced with hostility, sarcasm, mundane
Kate Murphy is the newcomer, hailing from a rich and privileged background and completely out of her element in this raw, almost feral environment. She is partnered with Maggie, a woman facing her own demons in the form of a cruel and over-domineering uncle and uncommunicative brother--both on the police force.
When a killer begins targeting cops, Maggie and Kate are no longer content to sit on the sidelines and begin their own investigation--landing them straight in the killer's path.
The story flows well, the characters written and developed to be realistic and representative for that period, and it has a good storyline.
Overall, I liked this book and read it very quickly. Recommended.
Karin Slaughter's latest book, Cop Town, is probably one of her best yet.
Set in the south in the 1970s, amidst the racism, corruption, and homophobic attitude of that decade, women are joining the Atlanta police force.
Faced with hostility, sarcasm, mundane
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tasks, and lewd gestures and language from their male counterparts, Maggie Lawson and Kate Murphy accept the challenge.Kate Murphy is the newcomer, hailing from a rich and privileged background and completely out of her element in this raw, almost feral environment. She is partnered with Maggie, a woman facing her own demons in the form of a cruel and over-domineering uncle and uncommunicative brother--both on the police force.
When a killer begins targeting cops, Maggie and Kate are no longer content to sit on the sidelines and begin their own investigation--landing them straight in the killer's path.
The story flows well, the characters written and developed to be realistic and representative for that period, and it has a good storyline.
Overall, I liked this book and read it very quickly. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member CelticLibrarian
3.0 out of 5 stars -- Gritty stand-alone depiction of harassment, racism, homophobia and misogyny in the Atlanta Police Department circa 1974.
New police recruit, the widowed and beautiful upper crust Kate Murphy, is stunned and nearly ready to quit on her first day of the job. After running the
Maggie and Kate start looking into the case of the Shooter and discover secrets, lies, and coverups that ultimately lead them right into danger without support from their male colleagues. Is there a place for women in the Atlanta Police Department?
I have read all of Karin Slaughter's previous books and enjoyed the Will Trent series and most of the Grant County novels. She has fantastic writing skills that usually suck me right into the plot and make me care about the characters. I just wasn't that enamored of this novel -- the setting, time period, and tone of the narrative didn't keep me locked to the pages as usual. This is a stand alone and perhaps the start of something new for the author, but I doubt I'd read another featuring these characters or the Atlanta PD in this era. I'm certain that the legion of this author's fans will disagree, but ever since Slaughter "got me" with a plot kicker in one of her Grant County books (you all know which one I'm talking about), I've been less than faithful and her books are hit and miss with me.
New police recruit, the widowed and beautiful upper crust Kate Murphy, is stunned and nearly ready to quit on her first day of the job. After running the
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gauntlet of groping hands and leering eyes on her way to the women's locker room, she wonders why she ever signed up for this and figures this will be just one more job failure in her life. The station is all abuzz that morning, however, because of the most recent cop shooting in a serial case that's about to get personal as Kate becomes involved with the investigation alongside veteran officer Maggie Lawson. Officer Lawson also has a brother and an uncle on the force, but that doesn't provide her or the other female cops with any respect. The women are all subjected to abuse and derision while the men drink, graft, and beat down suspects in a climate that is rife with tension and where everyone is suspicious of "the others" who are not "like them." Nobody "different" gets a pass from these male cops and the women are usually left out of the big cases.Maggie and Kate start looking into the case of the Shooter and discover secrets, lies, and coverups that ultimately lead them right into danger without support from their male colleagues. Is there a place for women in the Atlanta Police Department?
I have read all of Karin Slaughter's previous books and enjoyed the Will Trent series and most of the Grant County novels. She has fantastic writing skills that usually suck me right into the plot and make me care about the characters. I just wasn't that enamored of this novel -- the setting, time period, and tone of the narrative didn't keep me locked to the pages as usual. This is a stand alone and perhaps the start of something new for the author, but I doubt I'd read another featuring these characters or the Atlanta PD in this era. I'm certain that the legion of this author's fans will disagree, but ever since Slaughter "got me" with a plot kicker in one of her Grant County books (you all know which one I'm talking about), I've been less than faithful and her books are hit and miss with me.
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LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
This is the first book I have read by Karin Slaughter but it will not be my last. Her writing is very descriptive and, in this case, quite raw.
This is a police story set in 1974. At times I had to remind myself of the year as some of the story would not hold true today. The two main characters,
Police are being killed and it becomes very personal for both Maggie and Kate. Karin allows the tension to build and just as you think you know who the Shooter is she drops a clue that proves you wrong. It is gritty, brutal, suspenseful.
There were moments of humor also. Two in particular really stuck with me. Kate is Jewish so she knows what a mezuzah is. But approaching a Jewish person's apartment, one of the other police women says "That's called a Methuselah." Being Jewish myself, that gave me a good laugh. Then there is a statement from one of the male officers -- "Jesus help me, I was saved by Lucy and Ethel." Humor is always good to break the tension and police do it a lot. Loved it!
This is a police story set in 1974. At times I had to remind myself of the year as some of the story would not hold true today. The two main characters,
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Maggie and Kate, are on the Atlanta Police Department. Kate is a rookie from upscale Buckhead while Maggie has a brother and uncle also on the force. It certainly was not easy for any of the women in those days. (I am sure that in many places today it is still not easy being a woman in uniform.)Police are being killed and it becomes very personal for both Maggie and Kate. Karin allows the tension to build and just as you think you know who the Shooter is she drops a clue that proves you wrong. It is gritty, brutal, suspenseful.
There were moments of humor also. Two in particular really stuck with me. Kate is Jewish so she knows what a mezuzah is. But approaching a Jewish person's apartment, one of the other police women says "That's called a Methuselah." Being Jewish myself, that gave me a good laugh. Then there is a statement from one of the male officers -- "Jesus help me, I was saved by Lucy and Ethel." Humor is always good to break the tension and police do it a lot. Loved it!
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LibraryThing member KMT01
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed other novels by this author. However, almost from the start, this one did not grab me. I found an awful lot of negativity and very little positive. The characters, Atlanta police officers, display the very worst traits possible: bigotry, racism, and bullying,
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excessive alcoholism on the job, corruption, and homophobia. The list could go on and on. At the outset, there is a murder of a member of the force, following several others. Maggie Lawson’s brother Jimmy, also a cop, is the dead officer’s partner, and Maggie senses something not quite right... However, she cannot seem to get to the bottom of it all. In addition, she gets a new partner, a rookie cop from a well to do part of town, who is quite beautiful to boot. The new partner, Kate, has several problems of her own she is working through, in addition to adjusting to the dog-eat-dog life of a member of the Atlanta police. How do all these fit together with the intense search for the cop killer who seems to be on the streets of this city? This all seems like a great plot, but, though it is great, it fails succeed or follow through in a good novel. I had difficulty getting into the story, and, even once there, had difficulty staying with it. The negativity overpowered everything. I was disappointed because I enjoy Slaughter’s books so well, and every other one has been so well written and so enjoyable to read. In this one, the tone was negative, the characters flat and not well developed, the descriptions, though obviously accurate and the result of some good research, just did not cut it. I think I got lost in all the negativity (the homophobia, racism, bigotry, corruption, etc.). Perhaps I just have too high an opinion of people, especial police officers. I am not sure the demographic this book would appeal to. It is not like her other books, so Slaughter fans might not like it. I received this from NetGalley to read and review. Show Less
LibraryThing member kykim
I received an ARC of Cop Town: A Novel by Karin Slaughter and am now hooked on an author I had not previously read! An Awesome suspense-filled thrilling book!
Cop Town is set in Atlanta in the 70's and is full of everything that era was racism, homophobia, and sexism. The story is told through the
This was a real page turner, that I got hooked on from the first page. Kept me guessing until the very end on who the shooter was. Although there is some language that some may not like it is a great suspense-filled thrilling mystery that I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book from Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest review rather it be good or bad. Thank you.
Cop Town is set in Atlanta in the 70's and is full of everything that era was racism, homophobia, and sexism. The story is told through the
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eyes of the newest female officer Kate Murphy, her female partner Maggie Lawson, and the shooter. Maggie's uncle - Terry, and brother - Jimmy, are also cops. Terry is abusive of both alcohol and women and is racist as are most of his cop friends.This was a real page turner, that I got hooked on from the first page. Kept me guessing until the very end on who the shooter was. Although there is some language that some may not like it is a great suspense-filled thrilling mystery that I highly recommend.
I received an ARC of this book from Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest review rather it be good or bad. Thank you.
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Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — Novel — 2015)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Winner — 2015)
Bästa översatta kriminalroman (Nominee — 2017)
Language
Original publication date
2014-06-19
ISBN
9780345547514