patrickkanouse's review
4.0
I started KOP because I was led to it by an article about science fiction noir that I have, alas, forgotten. KOP is thoroughly noir, thoroughly science fiction. I was hooked immediately. Juno Mozambe is a dirty cop working for the Koba Office of Police (KOP), which he and his friend and chief, Paul, took over years ago. Koba is the primary city of the sweaty, dirty world of Lagarto.
When an army officer on leave winds up dead in an alley, Juno--a vice cop who has given up his enforcer ways--is called by Paul to investigate. We witness a grim jungle world where crime is rampant. The novel has many stock noir scenes and characters, but within this richly imagined world, they feel fresh. Besides, I was rooting for Juno and Paul so quickly, it didn't matter.
Warren Hammond has crafted a fast-paced, finely written novel. His characters are crisp and engaging, and the story takes unexpected but logical twists. A few of the science fiction bits bothered me, but they are quibbles. Hammond gets far more right than wrong.
I am very much looking forward to reading the second novel, Ex-KOP.
meghanc303's review
2.0
I read this book as a spec for a film script, and I definitely see the cinematic appeal here, especially for people interested in sci-fi or cop procedural television. I wish there had been more character development though. There's potential for such a raw and interesting relationship between the leads, but instead most of the novel is devoted to iguanas with laser claws and metal teeth and the crime side of the city of Koba. I needed something to balance out the action.
bb70's review
3.0
It's a noir mystery in a science fiction setting. But it could easily have been set in another place and another time, without losing anything of essence from the story. So I don't really want to classify this as science fiction.
The story illustrates the eternal struggle between the haves and the have-nots, and a cop who started out as an idealist wanting to make a difference but became bent by a difficult reality.
Juno is a cop at the end of his career, tasked with solving a politically sensitive murder, and partnered with a rich girl rookie. During the course of the investigation we learn more about his past, which makes the reader feel sympathy and understanding for what is by all accounts a crooked dirty bastard.
The story telling is good, with nice twists and a good pace. It is most definitely a noir mystery. I just wish the author had done more with the science fiction setting. Overall I found it enjoyable, but falling just short of deserving four stars.
I hear the second book in the series is better, so I am looking forward to reading that.
The story illustrates the eternal struggle between the haves and the have-nots, and a cop who started out as an idealist wanting to make a difference but became bent by a difficult reality.
Juno is a cop at the end of his career, tasked with solving a politically sensitive murder, and partnered with a rich girl rookie. During the course of the investigation we learn more about his past, which makes the reader feel sympathy and understanding for what is by all accounts a crooked dirty bastard.
The story telling is good, with nice twists and a good pace. It is most definitely a noir mystery. I just wish the author had done more with the science fiction setting. Overall I found it enjoyable, but falling just short of deserving four stars.
I hear the second book in the series is better, so I am looking forward to reading that.
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