Karin Slaughter's new book COP TOWN takes place in Atlanta in 1974. It's important to understand that so you are ready for an assault on your senses. Slaughter reminds us of a time when abuse of authority regularly takes place in many cities. Scary when you think of the disembodied acceptance of this abuse. Be forewarned that Slaughter takes no prisoners in this gritty gutsy crime novel. From the very entre into this Atlanta COP TOWN we are forced to be open- minded so that we can truly enjoy this gotcha police story like none I've ever read or reviewed.

If you look up dysfunctional family in the dictionary I have no doubt you will see a picture of the Lawson family. Here is a group of people as uncomfortable in their own skins as any I've ever read about or known. Everyone looks to go home for rest and respite. Home is a safe place. But not for the Lawson clan. Home is a place of stress and angst. As a cop Maggie Lawson knows stress -- a patrol cop is thrust smack in the middle of the muck and mire of a city. Her brother Jimmy is a detective.

This story revolves around the shooting and murder of Jimmy's partner -- right in front of his eyes. For the most part the police department whose sargeant is none other than the Lawson's uncle Terry are quick to point the finger at the Atlanta Shooter whose elusiveness is the bane of the local authorities. The fact that the shooter targets cops pretty much assures that their energy will be focused on once again looking for him or her.

Maggie seems to be the sole member of her family with the drive to look further into the incident where Jimmy's partner is gun downed. Parts of the story bother her but being a woman cop carries its own angst. The good old boy club has no use for women cops. But you see Atlanta is changing. The good old boys are just not embracing that change.

Sargeant Terry Lawson runs an outfit that is basically sexist and racist. There is no room in their department for justice of any kind. Heaven help you if you are a member of a minority.

COP TOWN is too great a book to give away any more of its storyline much less outline the graphic slurs and gritty characters. With COP TOWN Karin Slaughter hits one out of the park. Slaughter created an atmosphere of violence, bigotry and indifference on a level of its own. COP TOWN is an intriguing page turner that will in turn bother, excite, disgust and delight the reader. Pretty tall order -- but COP TOWN will definitely meet even the most discriminating crime novel fan's expectations.