It’s reasonable to expect that the most honest and trustworthy members of the community are the detectives charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order. But what would happen if the local police are actually at the centre of the majority of crimes committed in their jurisdiction? Cop This! presents policing at its most - fabricating evidence, confessions beaten out of suspects and the notorious “verbal” are the tools by which this mob of crooked cops work. Woe betide anyone suspected of a crime when the Fortitude Valley police get their mitts on you. Alibi or not, when they have to get a conviction they’ll get it any way they can.

Chris Nyst writes with a vast background in the Australian legal system behind him. He nails the dialogue and ideology of the career criminal perfectly and even captures the contempt felt by the police for both the defendant and his solicitor with admirable precision. Added to this is a deft touch when exploring the more delicate introspective moments that defines the all important motivating factors required by Michael to make the momentous decision to take on the against-the-odds case before him. Nyst passes the credibility test with flying colours.

I think living in Brisbane and recognising so many of the places described in this novel added my engagement with the characters and the story.

This is Nyst’s first novel – and he has succeeded in writing a convincing thriller that entertains while making a rousing social statement. His later novels show him honing his skills and delivering even more cracking reads. ( )

NIL