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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I was lucky enough to win an advance copy of Cop Town from Goodreads. I loved Karin Slaughter's other books, so I was excited to read this stand-alone novel. I was not disappointed! The book had all the elements I enjoy: creepy killers, great dialogue, characters that are flawed but described in such humanizing detail that you can't help but like them.
The novel takes place in the '70's, and reading about the way it probably was for a woman cop back in the day was very interesting. Race issues and issues about the Vietnam War, all of these things made the book so compelling.
There were scenes that I gasped out loud at. An undercover cop got stabbed in the eyeball! Karin Slaughter delivers in this novel. I highly recommend.
The novel takes place in the '70's, and reading about the way it probably was for a woman cop back in the day was very interesting. Race issues and issues about the Vietnam War, all of these things made the book so compelling.
There were scenes that I gasped out loud at. An undercover cop got stabbed in the eyeball! Karin Slaughter delivers in this novel. I highly recommend.
I found Cop Town to be a difficult but rewarding read. Slaughter completely immersed me in the 1970s Atlanta setting, and the violence, racism, sexism, and homophobia in the police force. The two female cop leads were fascinating, multi-layered women and I really enjoyed their character growth, and the look at the police force at the time. Cop Town is fantastic, very dark novel that's not for everyone.
Cop Town is a good ole cop drama set in Atlanta’s police force in the 1970’s. I liked that it was told from the perspective of two women on the force - a rookie and a woman who’s brother and uncle also work on the force. There’s also glimpses from the killer’s perspective. The entire book takes place in 3 days, and it’s a fast read.
Again this is prove of why [a:Karin Slaughter|12504|Karin Slaughter|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1202439539p2/12504.jpg] is one of my favorite authors.
All the dedication in researcher that went into this book is mind baffling.
She capture the struggle and perseverance of these women so well. In 1975 women was meant to be at home raising the kids; and the men would not make you forget your place. Written as brutally honest as only Karin can be.
In [b:Cop Town|18594594|Cop Town|Karin Slaughter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397670311s/18594594.jpg|26341000] Karin just again show how brilliant she is at creating the perfect killer and then let them unravel in the end. Not a lot of writers can keep me in suspense like Karin does.
All the dedication in researcher that went into this book is mind baffling.
She capture the struggle and perseverance of these women so well. In 1975 women was meant to be at home raising the kids; and the men would not make you forget your place. Written as brutally honest as only Karin can be.
In [b:Cop Town|18594594|Cop Town|Karin Slaughter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397670311s/18594594.jpg|26341000] Karin just again show how brilliant she is at creating the perfect killer and then let them unravel in the end. Not a lot of writers can keep me in suspense like Karin does.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Karen Slaughter can write a strong thriller, and Cop Town was no exception. However, I found this novel took an unexpected departure from her other works (especially her earliest novels, which justified brutal actions from her detectives provided they were only hurting the bad guys).
In this case, Cop Town is less about the mystery and more about how easy it can be to justify an abuse of power, especially in a system that encourages you to do so. Her choice to make the two leads in this novel be female cops in the 1970s allows her to explore how someone can both be abused by and abuse a system.
In the end, the novel seems to revolve around a question Kate Murphy, one of the main characters, asks her father (a psychologist) and her grandmother (a Holocaust survivor): "How can horrible people do good things, and how can good people do evil things?"
In many ways the book, like Murphy's grandma, leaves this question unanswered. And maybe that's the point.
Heads up: There are racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic comments, discussions of rape and the Holocaust, and depictions of domestic abuse and police brutality.
In this case, Cop Town is less about the mystery and more about how easy it can be to justify an abuse of power, especially in a system that encourages you to do so. Her choice to make the two leads in this novel be female cops in the 1970s allows her to explore how someone can both be abused by and abuse a system.
In the end, the novel seems to revolve around a question Kate Murphy, one of the main characters, asks her father (a psychologist) and her grandmother (a Holocaust survivor): "How can horrible people do good things, and how can good people do evil things?"
In many ways the book, like Murphy's grandma, leaves this question unanswered. And maybe that's the point.
Heads up: There are racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic comments, discussions of rape and the Holocaust, and depictions of domestic abuse and police brutality.
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reviewed First at Brunner's Bookshelf
I'm a big fan of Karin Slaughter's. I have loved her Sara Linton and Will Trent series. When the two character series became one I was really excited and those books have just gotten better. As always, when I see a new book of hers coming out I get all excited and look forward to it being released. This time around I found this was on Net Galley. I immediately requested it and was fortunate enough to be granted this. Sadly, things in my life got crazy and I didn't have time to read as much so unless it was on an audio book I wasn't going to be able to read it. I finally got a chance to read this and I was a little underwhelmed.
I have read some of Karin Slaughter's short stories that haven't been part of her series and I loved them. She is an amazing writer so I had high hopes for this. In the last Will Trent book, Unseen, we got a glimpse into what it was like to be in the police force back in the 1970's. This book is that story. Karin Slaughter tells a tale of racism, sexism, and violence. The writing in this book was nothing less than amazing which is something I would expect from Karin Slaughter.
My only complaint is that I just care for any of the characters in this book. She has always written characters that I have either connected with on some level or have just really enjoyed and there wasn't one like that in this book for me. It made the story kind of drag on in spots which made me struggle through this book a little. It was kind of eye opening to see what women had to go through in the police force in those days. I'm sure Karin Slaughter did her research because she likes to keep things as accurate in her stories. I may not have cared for the characters, but knowing that this was probably what women in general had to put up with on a daily basis was just sad.
I liked this but I felt it was one of her weaker books. I think I am kind of teetering on the fence as to how to rate this one. I think I will just stay in the mid range and give this 3 out of 5 stars. I still look forward to her next book when ever that comes out. I do hope the next one is back with Will and Sara but either way I will anxiously await the next one.
I'm a big fan of Karin Slaughter's. I have loved her Sara Linton and Will Trent series. When the two character series became one I was really excited and those books have just gotten better. As always, when I see a new book of hers coming out I get all excited and look forward to it being released. This time around I found this was on Net Galley. I immediately requested it and was fortunate enough to be granted this. Sadly, things in my life got crazy and I didn't have time to read as much so unless it was on an audio book I wasn't going to be able to read it. I finally got a chance to read this and I was a little underwhelmed.
I have read some of Karin Slaughter's short stories that haven't been part of her series and I loved them. She is an amazing writer so I had high hopes for this. In the last Will Trent book, Unseen, we got a glimpse into what it was like to be in the police force back in the 1970's. This book is that story. Karin Slaughter tells a tale of racism, sexism, and violence. The writing in this book was nothing less than amazing which is something I would expect from Karin Slaughter.
My only complaint is that I just care for any of the characters in this book. She has always written characters that I have either connected with on some level or have just really enjoyed and there wasn't one like that in this book for me. It made the story kind of drag on in spots which made me struggle through this book a little. It was kind of eye opening to see what women had to go through in the police force in those days. I'm sure Karin Slaughter did her research because she likes to keep things as accurate in her stories. I may not have cared for the characters, but knowing that this was probably what women in general had to put up with on a daily basis was just sad.
I liked this but I felt it was one of her weaker books. I think I am kind of teetering on the fence as to how to rate this one. I think I will just stay in the mid range and give this 3 out of 5 stars. I still look forward to her next book when ever that comes out. I do hope the next one is back with Will and Sara but either way I will anxiously await the next one.