Cop Town: A Novel

Cop Town is the first full-length stand-alone novel by popular American author, Karin Slaughter. Despite some changes in laws, policies and attitudes, the Atlanta Police Force in 1974 was still overwhelmingly rife with racism and sexism. It is against this background that young police patrolwoman Maggie Lawson and new recruit Kate Murphy, excluded by the boys, launch their own investigation into the murder of an Atlanta patrolman, Don Wesley. The fact that he was partnered with her brother Jimmy, at the time, gives Maggie some intriguing clues about the case, but also complicates matters. Remarkably Kate, too, stumbles on a source of information about the shooting. As they try to determine if this incident is part of the recent spate of cop killings by The Shooter, they find themselves venturing into Colored Town and visiting a very different type of club; they encounter hookers and pimps, gays and transvestites. The Shooter calls himself Fox, and it seems Fox is stalking Kate, but just who is Fox? The events of this fast-moving, action-packed novel take place over just a few days. Slaughter’s totally credible plot has quite a few twists and a heart-stopping climax. Her two main characters are multi-dimensional and engaging: Maggie tries to be a tough gal but cannot ignore her feelings for her brother; Kate turns out to be a surprisingly gutsy woman possessing hidden steel within. Slaughter’s extensive research is apparent on every page and the attitudes and values of the times are expertly depicted. As well as exploring racism and sexism, Slaughter touches on the Holocaust, the Vietnam War, the emergence of the gay culture, sexual harassment, rape and the independence of women. As Maggie succinctly sums up: “The entire world gave men the responsibility for everything in it except for their dicks”. Slaughter’s sizeable Dutch fanbase will appreciate the inclusion of some delightful Dutch characters and dialogue. Readers should be prepared for quite a bit of violence, but also lots of snappy dialogue, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and even a bit of hot sex. Fans will, no doubt, be hoping for more of Maggie and Kate (and perhaps Gail and Jimmy and Rick too). Once again, Slaughter does not disappoint: this is a brilliant read.