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COPS WRITING CRIME - A new British cousin for The Squad.

22/8/2018

And my research project continues!!!
I've found a new member for The Squad. This now takes us to 128 in number, with a new British cousin joining The Squad!
That's 128 cops and ex-cops who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

So, we have joining us today:
1. Alan Craig - Craig served with the Scottish Police, I believe in the Fife area. He's just published his debut crime novel.

Our Squad now consists of:

59 American
36 British
9 Australian
6 Canadian
4 New Zealanders
3 Finnish
2 Dutch
2 Swedish
1 French
1 Bahamian
1 Norwegian
1 Italian
1 Czech
1 Russian
1 Hungarian

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

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"I-5" - A compelling and insightful crime story of sexual slavery.

13/8/2018

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This was my first encounter with the work of Summer Brenner. I took an interest when I happened upon this title as it involved crime and sex, two of my favourite story themes. It also involves sex trafficking, an area I did some work in in my final months in the police back in the day, so I always like to read about vice matters.
The level of insight which Brenner achieves in her work here must surely have come from some direct interviewing of girls caught up in the revolting and cruel world of sexual slavery. The characterization of the lead girl, Anya, is as absolutely compelling as it is tragic. And the insight into other personalities in the cast is equally perceptive, not that you're likely to have much empathy for most of the others.
My only reservation reading this was the present tense narrative, a writing style that I always find somewhat annoying, but that's just my personal taste. Here, it certainly didn't detract a jot from what was a riveting read with twists and turns aplenty. As always, no spoilers in my reviews, but you won't see the ending before it hits you.
But aside from the solid, tight plot, which keeps you entertained, for me it was the poignancy of the characters, especially Anya, and the clear understanding of the psychologies in the sexual slavery world, that made this a truly memorable read.
Cheers,
ABP

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COPS WRITING CRIME - another Canadian cousin joins The Squad!

11/8/2018

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Many thanks to Phil from Canada who looked at this project and then very kindly emailed me with a new member to add - fantastic! And if you go through our Squad of Cops Writing Crime (crime fiction only) and can think of any others, please let me know.
So Phil's nomination now takes us to 127 in number, with a new Canadian cousin joining The Squad!
That's 127 cops and ex-cops who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

So, we have joining us today:
1. Sean Slater - (a pseudonym) - Slater is still a serving officer with the Vancouver Police and he has already written a range of crime novels.

Our Squad now consists of:

59 American
35 British
9 Australian
6 Canadian
4 New Zealanders
3 Finnish
2 Dutch
2 Swedish
1 French
1 Bahamian
1 Norwegian
1 Italian
1 Czech
1 Russian
1 Hungarian

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

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"Sunk Costs" - another excellent noir tale from Preston Lang.

10/8/2018

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I've become a huge fan of Preston Lang's work - he consistently delivers superb hard-boiled and noir crime fiction. And this latest release is no exception.
Sunk Costs sees Dan, a wandering con man, getting picked up hitchhiking by a female driver. To quote: "...all Dan's instincts told him she was dangerous". Yeah, always good to listen to those gut feelings, but then we wouldn't have had the great story that follows. No spoilers here, but hapless Dan, on the quest for cash like all con men, ends up messing with not one, but two, decidedly treacherous femmes fatales! Yes, Lang is a master at depicting the base instincts of people scrabbling around the lower end of the social heap, and his characterization here is wonderful as always. You're never quite sure where to land your sympathies with Lang's motley crews, and that's part of the fun of reading him. And it's noir at its best - the ugliest parts of society, but they are all out there, they really are.
If you love your hard-boiled and noir crime, then Sunk Costs is a definite candidate for your reading list!
Great work again, Mr Lang.
Cheers,
ABP

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COPS WRITING CRIME - A new British cousin for The Squad.

"I-5" - A compelling and insightful crime story of sexual slavery.

COPS WRITING CRIME - another Canadian cousin joins The Squad!

"Sunk Costs" - another excellent noir tale from Preston Lang.

A.B.Patterson

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