Review: Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter, author of the New York Times bestselling Will Trent novels, is widely acclaimed as “one of the best crime novelists in America” (The Washington Post). Now she delivers her first stand-alone novel: an epic story of a city in the midst of seismic upheaval, a serial killer targeting cops, and a divided police force tasked with bringing a madman to justice.

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. 

Relentlessly paced, acutely observed, wickedly funny, and often heartbreaking, Cop Town is Karin Slaughter’s most powerful novel yet—a tour de force of storytelling from our foremost master of character, atmosphere, and suspense.

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

This was a very powerful story that you can get a feel as to what people were like back in the 1970's. Especially how women were treated when they could become cops. There is still of course racism, people against homosexuality, women that are wanting to get out more and not just stay at home. 

Enter into the story with Maggie, Kat, and Gail who doesn't play a huge role within the story just enough that you will remember for sure who Gail is. 

Maggie has become a police officer but her uncle Terry who runs the department doesn't really like it. He likes to put his hands on her which bothered me a bit being as she is a grown woman and allows that to happen. Bet your bottom dollar I have a night stick I'ma use it. Kat is the rookie who learns all to well how the guys are in the precinct. And we get to watch her grow and gather herself a backbone. There is a man that the Atlanta Police Department is dubbing The Shooter as he likes to shoot cops. But there is a reason why he is doing it. And Kat and Maggie figure it all out. But will it be too late? I have to say that this is one book that I would probably read again even though I know what is going to happen. My favorite quote within this book was made from Gail. "Nah, I already got one skinny cook got lost up my cooch. Hurts like hell when I sneeze." 

While watching Kat grow from being a rookie to helping catch the The Shooter. We also watch Maggie grow into her role of a police officer. Maggie doesn't have her life in order fully and I thought that was good in a way. Because you don't want to hear about a character that has everything and they help catch a killer and life is all good. You want to watch their struggles and see them build up. 

Karin Slaughter is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of fourteen thrillers, including UNSEEN, CRIMINAL, FALLEN, BROKEN, UNDONE, FRACTURED, BEYOND REACH, TRIPTYCH, FAITHLESS, and the e-original short stories “Snatched” and “Busted.”

Slaughter was born in a small southern Georgia community, and now resides in Atlanta. She is widely credited with first coining the term "investigoogling" in 2006.
Karin's first standalone novel, COP TOWN, arrives 6/24/14.

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Website: http://www.karinslaughter.com/