A review by nglofile
Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
2.0
The good: realistic detail and an incredible sense of both time and place. The heroines are given complexity, and the ugly reality of the trials suffered by women in the police force in 1970s Atlanta have real impact. It's never pleasant to be immersed in rampant abuse and power play of gender, racial, and social politics (both domestic and professional), but there's a tragic undercurrent of authenticity that's inescapable.
The bad: boy, is this book agenda-driven, especially in regards to sexual identity, and the heavy-handedness is off-putting. The crudity of the repeated epithets was also hard to bear, though to be fair that will be exacerbated in audio experiences. Kate's uncle was cartoonish in his villainy, and it was difficult to believe that there wouldn't be even one individual with sparks of decency anywhere in the character roster. It's a hard book to enjoy, especially when the mystery/thriller elements are uneven.
audiobook note: Kathleen Early gives weight and empathy to a gritty, grimy story that is difficult to hear. Very strong reading.
The bad: boy, is this book agenda-driven, especially in regards to sexual identity, and the heavy-handedness is off-putting. The crudity of the repeated epithets was also hard to bear, though to be fair that will be exacerbated in audio experiences. Kate's uncle was cartoonish in his villainy, and it was difficult to believe that there wouldn't be even one individual with sparks of decency anywhere in the character roster. It's a hard book to enjoy, especially when the mystery/thriller elements are uneven.
audiobook note: Kathleen Early gives weight and empathy to a gritty, grimy story that is difficult to hear. Very strong reading.