Cop Town: A Novel

 Shirley J.                    Adult Fiction Thriller                 Female Cops harassed by male cops

Cop Town: A Novel by Karin Slaughter      464 pages

Excellent story about female cops in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974.  The harassment they have to endure is merciless, degrading and while 98% of it comes from their fellow male officers, the other female officers give the newbies grief, too.   Then there is an additional factor of racial barriers as well.   Trying to navigate the precinct is tough enough, the streets are no joy ride either.   This is the most realistic story I have read to date regarding the social problems female officers have to deal with regarding the old boys network.  The male cops in this book loathe the female officers and do everything in their power to make the female rookies run scared and leave law enforcement.   Unfortunately I hear that is normal, there is a big abyss between the genders on the force in every locale.   And it wasn't just in the 70s but goes on strong today, too.  It gives the reader empathy for what these female warriors have to go through.  The story is great.  Karin Slaughter is an excellent writer and the grit and feel of the job and crimes is uncannily genuine.   This gal has gotten a real inside view of the lives of which she speaks here.  The reader will learn a lot about the City of Atlanta, information on crimes committed there, local information and you will feel a kinship to the characters protecting the citizens and patrolling the streets.  This is the best police oriented book I have ever read.  Kudos to Karin Slaughter.   A lot of this info is intense so I recommend this book to mature teens on up.