What do you think?
Rate this book
Carter Ross Mystery #4
The Good Cop
In The Good Cop, Brad Parks is back with all the humor, charm, and human insight his readers have come to expect, and more. As long as Newark Eagle-Examiner reporter Carter Ross turns in his stories on deadline, no one bats an eye if he doesn't wander into the newsroom until 10 or 11 in the morning. So it's an unpleasant surprise when he's awakened at 8:38 a.m. by a phone call from his boss, telling him a local policeman was killed and to get the story. Shaking himself awake, Carter heads off to interview the cop's widow. And then he gets another the story's off, the cop committed suicide.But Carter can't understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife, and plans to take his adorable children to Disney World would suddenly kill himself. And when Carter's attempts to learn more are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. The question is, who? And what does he have to hide? Carter, with his usual single-minded devotion to a good story—and to the memory of a Newark policeman—will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2013
30 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Brad Parks
24 books776 followersInternational bestseller author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction's most prestigious prizes. His books have been translated into 16 languages and have earned starred reviews from every major pre-publication journal.
A father of two and a husband of one, Brad is a slow runner and an even slower swimmer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.
For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.
To find Brad on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/Brad_Parks.
And for Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks.
A father of two and a husband of one, Brad is a slow runner and an even slower swimmer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.
For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.
To find Brad on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/Brad_Parks.
And for Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
December 11, 2014
Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
The Best Brad Parks Yet! - 5 Stars
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series by Brad Parks. At the time of writing this review, there are 5 books in the series and I have each of them. I think this one takes the cake as my favorite so far. While many of the reliable antics remain from the previous books, the mystery was much better and the intrigue deeper. Of the first 5, this one wins best plot in my opinion.
Plot summary
Carter Ross, the fearless investigative journalist, is awoken early one morning to cover the death of a police officer. In an effort to get ahead of the curve, he attends at the home of the officer's widow to obtain a solid background and understanding of the deceased. Soon after, he learn the papers plans on killing any story on the officer as the initial investigation ruled the death a suicide. Despite a paper-wide moratorium on writing a story related to suicide, Carter continues to follow his nose as elements of the investigation are not adding up. His investigation leads Carter deeper into a web of lies than he could have guessed and he unwittingly finds his own life balances on unraveling the mystery.
The Good
A Plus Plot
The plot took me in a direction I did not expect and for me, I love when a story takes unexpected turns. As the mystery unfolded, I found that I was honestly surprised. In all the books to this point, there are story elements that repeat (Tina and Carter drama, new intern, jokes about Carter's ultra "WASPiness", etc.). This tends to give the novels a slightly formulaic feeling. In this installment, Brad Parks took the story deeper and made the mystery more complex and as a result, the feeling of formula went out the window. In my opinion, this installment demonstrates a noted growth in the authors ability.
Lots of Color
Brad Parks continues to have a good grasp on colorful characters. This installment is no exception. While that characters are not too developed the cast is entertaining and excellent plotting win the day. I am also happy to say that the humour content was up in this book. Brad Parks is back on his game.
Relevant Topics
All of the novels in this series deal with topics relevant topics in the news. This installment dealt, in part, with gun control and the perceived failures of enforcement. It raises some interesting points about states with different forms of gun control and despite one State's strict enforcement (New Jersey in this case) it is easily flouted by a simple trip to the neighboring state. Gun control and domestic gun running are interesting side issues in this novel.
The Bad
Some Repetition
If you were getting tired of some of the antics from the previous novels, you will not feel better about them after this one. Personally, it did not bother me as the plot overshadowed any of these side issues. I will say that things get better on this front in the fifth novel, so do not despair if you were getting tired of reoccurring drama.
Why Change a Good Thing!
I was disappointed that the narrator was changed in this installment. The previous narrator nailed the character so perfectly that I cannot imagine why he did not do it again. Not to say that this narrator was bad. The narration was quite excellent but simply not same.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Yes. This story is again self contained. Any backstory is explained and certain concepts are reiterated. You could easily pick this one up without having read the first three.
Final Thoughts
This was a very entertaining story with a great cast of characters. It currently stands as one of the best investigative journalism novels I have read and I highly recommend this installment and the series as a whole.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3
There is a bit more sex talk than in previous installments. Carter has a girlfriend that is quite lacking in the inhibition department. While there is nothing graphic, sex is a topic of conversation more often than in the previous novels.
Language - 1
Occasional use of adult language. It tends to be mild.
Violence - 3
There is more death than in the previous installment. There are several deemed suicides with moderately graphic descriptions and some gun and gang related violence.
The Best Brad Parks Yet! - 5 Stars
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series by Brad Parks. At the time of writing this review, there are 5 books in the series and I have each of them. I think this one takes the cake as my favorite so far. While many of the reliable antics remain from the previous books, the mystery was much better and the intrigue deeper. Of the first 5, this one wins best plot in my opinion.
Plot summary
Carter Ross, the fearless investigative journalist, is awoken early one morning to cover the death of a police officer. In an effort to get ahead of the curve, he attends at the home of the officer's widow to obtain a solid background and understanding of the deceased. Soon after, he learn the papers plans on killing any story on the officer as the initial investigation ruled the death a suicide. Despite a paper-wide moratorium on writing a story related to suicide, Carter continues to follow his nose as elements of the investigation are not adding up. His investigation leads Carter deeper into a web of lies than he could have guessed and he unwittingly finds his own life balances on unraveling the mystery.
The Good
A Plus Plot
The plot took me in a direction I did not expect and for me, I love when a story takes unexpected turns. As the mystery unfolded, I found that I was honestly surprised. In all the books to this point, there are story elements that repeat (Tina and Carter drama, new intern, jokes about Carter's ultra "WASPiness", etc.). This tends to give the novels a slightly formulaic feeling. In this installment, Brad Parks took the story deeper and made the mystery more complex and as a result, the feeling of formula went out the window. In my opinion, this installment demonstrates a noted growth in the authors ability.
Lots of Color
Brad Parks continues to have a good grasp on colorful characters. This installment is no exception. While that characters are not too developed the cast is entertaining and excellent plotting win the day. I am also happy to say that the humour content was up in this book. Brad Parks is back on his game.
Relevant Topics
All of the novels in this series deal with topics relevant topics in the news. This installment dealt, in part, with gun control and the perceived failures of enforcement. It raises some interesting points about states with different forms of gun control and despite one State's strict enforcement (New Jersey in this case) it is easily flouted by a simple trip to the neighboring state. Gun control and domestic gun running are interesting side issues in this novel.
The Bad
Some Repetition
If you were getting tired of some of the antics from the previous novels, you will not feel better about them after this one. Personally, it did not bother me as the plot overshadowed any of these side issues. I will say that things get better on this front in the fifth novel, so do not despair if you were getting tired of reoccurring drama.
Why Change a Good Thing!
I was disappointed that the narrator was changed in this installment. The previous narrator nailed the character so perfectly that I cannot imagine why he did not do it again. Not to say that this narrator was bad. The narration was quite excellent but simply not same.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Yes. This story is again self contained. Any backstory is explained and certain concepts are reiterated. You could easily pick this one up without having read the first three.
Final Thoughts
This was a very entertaining story with a great cast of characters. It currently stands as one of the best investigative journalism novels I have read and I highly recommend this installment and the series as a whole.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3
There is a bit more sex talk than in previous installments. Carter has a girlfriend that is quite lacking in the inhibition department. While there is nothing graphic, sex is a topic of conversation more often than in the previous novels.
Language - 1
Occasional use of adult language. It tends to be mild.
Violence - 3
There is more death than in the previous installment. There are several deemed suicides with moderately graphic descriptions and some gun and gang related violence.
January 13, 2018
Parks has a funny, snarky delivery not unlike Janet Evanovich, and they mine the same territory in New Jersey. The main character in this series is Carter Ross, a youngish newspaper reporter for the Newark Eagle Examiner, which is a bit of a switch from other police procedurals. It gives Ross a reason to be investigating a crime and access to all the moving parts of an investigation.
The set-up on this gun-running operation was slick. Parks kept the larger aspect of this criminal network in our minds by placing some note about the larger conspiracy at the start of every chapter. But the detail of the mystery involves the death of a cop--a suicide according to his precinct--and then the follow-on death of his partner. Also a suicide.
Parks finds an ingenious way to push the reporter to the heart of this investigation through an evening involving a blue-haired police librarian, absinth, and a university student who created his own major in "death studies." This kind of out-of-the-box imagination makes the book an interesting read for awhile, but I figured out the mystery early and the jokes only prolonged the inevitable. Parks wasn't able to hold my interest all the way through.
Parks has an interesting, casual relationship with ethnicity and race--that's a good thing that he is not ignoring it--but a couple of times he characterized those individuals he'd identified as one race or religion by an unflattering stereotype by way of a jokey manner. Unfortunately, the joke fell flat & even I felt a little miffed by the derogatory comment. Am quite sure he did not mean it to be arrogant and dismissive: what author would intentionally limit his audience? But then again, who is his audience? Maybe he should think about that.
The audio was a good choice for this title, ably read by Adam Verner, produced by Dreamscape Media. That being said, the reading would have been faster, especially once one figured out the central mystery.
The set-up on this gun-running operation was slick. Parks kept the larger aspect of this criminal network in our minds by placing some note about the larger conspiracy at the start of every chapter. But the detail of the mystery involves the death of a cop--a suicide according to his precinct--and then the follow-on death of his partner. Also a suicide.
Parks finds an ingenious way to push the reporter to the heart of this investigation through an evening involving a blue-haired police librarian, absinth, and a university student who created his own major in "death studies." This kind of out-of-the-box imagination makes the book an interesting read for awhile, but I figured out the mystery early and the jokes only prolonged the inevitable. Parks wasn't able to hold my interest all the way through.
Parks has an interesting, casual relationship with ethnicity and race--that's a good thing that he is not ignoring it--but a couple of times he characterized those individuals he'd identified as one race or religion by an unflattering stereotype by way of a jokey manner. Unfortunately, the joke fell flat & even I felt a little miffed by the derogatory comment. Am quite sure he did not mean it to be arrogant and dismissive: what author would intentionally limit his audience? But then again, who is his audience? Maybe he should think about that.
The audio was a good choice for this title, ably read by Adam Verner, produced by Dreamscape Media. That being said, the reading would have been faster, especially once one figured out the central mystery.
October 22, 2014
More of a 3.5, but it was the first book I've read by Parks & it was quite good. I want to read more. The hero is a newspaper reporter who explains quite a bit about the way the industry works now. There's a lot of information, but it's interesting & told with a wry humor & the story contains quite a bit of that. He certainly no super hero nor particularly bright & winds up in a bad spot while trying to unravel a mystery.
I think I appreciated the ending the most. The book ends at the perfect point, doesn't drag it all out, yet wraps up nicely & in a fantastic way.
I think I appreciated the ending the most. The book ends at the perfect point, doesn't drag it all out, yet wraps up nicely & in a fantastic way.
December 5, 2018
I am a fan of Brad Parks writing
He is so funny
Last night reading, I had cramp in my cheeks and tears running down my checks. Loved this book. Plausible plots, another time with the Carter Ross character, great dialogue and a very good ending.
He is so funny
Last night reading, I had cramp in my cheeks and tears running down my checks. Loved this book. Plausible plots, another time with the Carter Ross character, great dialogue and a very good ending.
December 9, 2016
The Good Cop by Brad Parks
4★'s
From The Book:
As long as Newark Eagle-Examiner reporter Carter Ross turns in his stories on deadline, no one bats an eye if he doesn't wander into the newsroom until 10 or 11 in the morning. So it's an unpleasant surprise when he's awakened at 8:38 a.m. by a phone call from his boss, telling him a local policeman was killed and to get the story. Shaking himself awake, Carter heads off to interview the cop's widow. And then he gets another call: the story's off, the cop committed suicide.
But Carter can't understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife, and plans to take his adorable children to Disney World would suddenly kill himself. And when Carter's attempts to learn more are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. The question is, who? And what does he have to hide? Carter, with his usual single-minded devotion to a good story―and to the memory of a Newark policeman―will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.
My Thoughts:
A good story with a believable plot and characters that even though they are not especially over-the -top exciting...they are people you can like and feel some empathy for. Carter Ross has a real sense of humor which is evident through out the story. The widow is a strong willed woman...maybe a bit too strong for having just lost her husband and finding herself alone with a 7 year old and a 5 month old...but never the less she adds a lot to the story. Her pastor however is straight out of the "make me rich at any cost" camp. I don't see how people fall for this dribble. The widow is absolutely certain that her cop husband was murdered and not a suicide as almost the entire police department wants her to believe. Carter Ross is also convinced that there is much more going on than is being said. Who will profit the most from this is just one of the questions he finds himself facing to try and find justice for this "Good Cop".
4★'s
From The Book:
As long as Newark Eagle-Examiner reporter Carter Ross turns in his stories on deadline, no one bats an eye if he doesn't wander into the newsroom until 10 or 11 in the morning. So it's an unpleasant surprise when he's awakened at 8:38 a.m. by a phone call from his boss, telling him a local policeman was killed and to get the story. Shaking himself awake, Carter heads off to interview the cop's widow. And then he gets another call: the story's off, the cop committed suicide.
But Carter can't understand why a man with a job he loved, a beautiful wife, and plans to take his adorable children to Disney World would suddenly kill himself. And when Carter's attempts to learn more are repeatedly blocked, it's clear someone knows more than he's saying about the cop's death. The question is, who? And what does he have to hide? Carter, with his usual single-minded devotion to a good story―and to the memory of a Newark policeman―will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.
My Thoughts:
A good story with a believable plot and characters that even though they are not especially over-the -top exciting...they are people you can like and feel some empathy for. Carter Ross has a real sense of humor which is evident through out the story. The widow is a strong willed woman...maybe a bit too strong for having just lost her husband and finding herself alone with a 7 year old and a 5 month old...but never the less she adds a lot to the story. Her pastor however is straight out of the "make me rich at any cost" camp. I don't see how people fall for this dribble. The widow is absolutely certain that her cop husband was murdered and not a suicide as almost the entire police department wants her to believe. Carter Ross is also convinced that there is much more going on than is being said. Who will profit the most from this is just one of the questions he finds himself facing to try and find justice for this "Good Cop".
October 18, 2014
I found Brad Parks' books last year when I was looking for a new mystery series to read. Duly noted, Carter Ross might not be the most convincing investigative reporter EVER and the stereotypes were horrible, but the entertainment factor made me enjoy the books nonetheless.
This time, a local cop was killed -- but later the department issued a preliminary finding that the cop committed suicide. Carter thought it didn't match up with the description that he got from interviewing the widow and the partner, so he set off to continue finding answers, without his editor's knowledge.
Case wise, this was my favorite to date... I thought Carter was better in dealing with the investigation -- even if some things still fall on his lap in rather coincidence kind of way (like ). The whole was quite appealing read.
The stereotyping might still be there but it felt tone down a little bit. Although I was still not happy with how Parks portrayed Tina -- in fact, I wish Parks just dropped the whole romance thing altogether. It wasn't amusing after four books. I did like the other recurring characters though, Tommy or Tee.
The ending could stretched out a bit ... I guess I wanted to see how the whole thing went down in more fireworks. Having said that, I did see this as improvement of my not liking the previous book, which was the reason for my 4-stars. Safely to say, I'm gonna look for the 5th book now.
This time, a local cop was killed -- but later the department issued a preliminary finding that the cop committed suicide. Carter thought it didn't match up with the description that he got from interviewing the widow and the partner, so he set off to continue finding answers, without his editor's knowledge.
Case wise, this was my favorite to date... I thought Carter was better in dealing with the investigation -- even if some things still fall on his lap in rather coincidence kind of way (like ). The whole was quite appealing read.
The stereotyping might still be there but it felt tone down a little bit. Although I was still not happy with how Parks portrayed Tina -- in fact, I wish Parks just dropped the whole romance thing altogether. It wasn't amusing after four books. I did like the other recurring characters though, Tommy or Tee.
The ending could stretched out a bit ... I guess I wanted to see how the whole thing went down in more fireworks. Having said that, I did see this as improvement of my not liking the previous book, which was the reason for my 4-stars. Safely to say, I'm gonna look for the 5th book now.
September 14, 2016
There must be something in the water in New Jersey because a lot of good writers come from there. It's my personal opinion that Brad Parks is at the top of the New Jersey list. Does that mean he drinks more of the water? I don't know. I do know however that I want him to keep writing. Every time I pick up a Carter Ross novel, I know I'm going to learn more about working in a newsroom, I'm going to be presented with a mystery that's tough to figure out, I'm going to want to hug the stuffing out of Carter Ross, I'm going to laugh, and I'm going to cry.
One of the many things that's so great about Parks' Carter Ross books is his characterization. His characters are so finely drawn that you find yourself talking to them. Carter's immediate boss, Tina? I sincerely hope that woman's biological clock implodes. She has some serious emotional issues. Then there's the other boss who only speaks in consonants. I'm scared because I can actually understand him without an interpreter. Then there are the interns. Tommy's got experience and Carter knows he can rely on Tommy for help with research... and putdowns about Carter's sense of style. In The Good Cop Carter has his hands full with another couple of interns, especially Ruthie. I like to see how he uses these bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young ones to work the system while giving them badly needed training and (when warranted) encouragement.
Random chapters told from the point of view of the Bad Guy keeps readers wondering how two different story lines are going to converge while Carter's list of underworld contacts just keeps growing (and making readers laugh while it does). Don't be fooled into thinking that Brad Parks plays everything for laughs. He does not. He can write action scenes that will have you mentally ducking and covering, other revelatory scenes that will have you quivering with rage over injustice, and then there are those scenes that will have tears running down your face. Sometimes those tears will be ones of sorrow; other times they will be tears of laughter. Carter Ross has more heart than just about any other character I know. These books are so good that I'm savoring them like fine wine. Yes, I could gulp them down one right after the other, but... I don't want them to end so I'm taking my time.
If you haven't made the acquaintance of Carter Ross, I highly recommend that you do so. He is one fabulous guy.
One of the many things that's so great about Parks' Carter Ross books is his characterization. His characters are so finely drawn that you find yourself talking to them. Carter's immediate boss, Tina? I sincerely hope that woman's biological clock implodes. She has some serious emotional issues. Then there's the other boss who only speaks in consonants. I'm scared because I can actually understand him without an interpreter. Then there are the interns. Tommy's got experience and Carter knows he can rely on Tommy for help with research... and putdowns about Carter's sense of style. In The Good Cop Carter has his hands full with another couple of interns, especially Ruthie. I like to see how he uses these bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young ones to work the system while giving them badly needed training and (when warranted) encouragement.
Random chapters told from the point of view of the Bad Guy keeps readers wondering how two different story lines are going to converge while Carter's list of underworld contacts just keeps growing (and making readers laugh while it does). Don't be fooled into thinking that Brad Parks plays everything for laughs. He does not. He can write action scenes that will have you mentally ducking and covering, other revelatory scenes that will have you quivering with rage over injustice, and then there are those scenes that will have tears running down your face. Sometimes those tears will be ones of sorrow; other times they will be tears of laughter. Carter Ross has more heart than just about any other character I know. These books are so good that I'm savoring them like fine wine. Yes, I could gulp them down one right after the other, but... I don't want them to end so I'm taking my time.
If you haven't made the acquaintance of Carter Ross, I highly recommend that you do so. He is one fabulous guy.
May 20, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Carter Ross, investigative reporter
SETTING: Newark, NJ
SERIES: #4 of 4
RATING: 4.25
Being an investigative journalist is a highly competitive job. Getting a scoop ahead of all the other media outlets is a reporter’s dream. Carter Ross of the Newark Eagle-Examiner finds that dream coming true when he’s asked to cover the story of a local policeman who was killed. He gets to the cop’s home early; and much to his surprise, he is the only reporter there. It isn’t until later that he finds that the police have released a statement attributing the death of Darius Kipps to suicide. Ross is immediately skeptical; he has interviewed the family and finds that Kipps was the personification of a good cop. It just doesn’t make sense that he would kill himself when he had so much going for him, both personally and professionally. Did Kipps find out about an affair between his wife and his partner, Mike Fusco? When Fusco also commits suicide, Carter feels certain that there is more going on than meets the eye.
The Newark police aren’t cooperating with Ross at all. Unfortunately, his paper has a policy of not reporting on suicides. He surreptitiously begins to investigate the deaths with the assistance of one of the paper’s interns, Geoff “Ruthie” Ginsburg. The trail leads to a gun running operation. The real shock comes when they uncover the people behind that operation.
Although the plotting is solid, the real attraction of the book lies in the characterization. Ross has a rather sardonic view of the world, and his humor is a welcome addition to the narrative without detracting from the seriousness of the situation. There are several scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny, but the book never resorts to silliness. In a change from the previous books, Carter is involved with a young woman from the newsroom named Kira. That relationship just didn’t feel real to me, even though he seems to find it promising.
THE GOOD COP is the fourth in the Carter Ross series. I’ve enjoyed each of the books and find that Carter is a character that I like to spend time with.
SETTING: Newark, NJ
SERIES: #4 of 4
RATING: 4.25
Being an investigative journalist is a highly competitive job. Getting a scoop ahead of all the other media outlets is a reporter’s dream. Carter Ross of the Newark Eagle-Examiner finds that dream coming true when he’s asked to cover the story of a local policeman who was killed. He gets to the cop’s home early; and much to his surprise, he is the only reporter there. It isn’t until later that he finds that the police have released a statement attributing the death of Darius Kipps to suicide. Ross is immediately skeptical; he has interviewed the family and finds that Kipps was the personification of a good cop. It just doesn’t make sense that he would kill himself when he had so much going for him, both personally and professionally. Did Kipps find out about an affair between his wife and his partner, Mike Fusco? When Fusco also commits suicide, Carter feels certain that there is more going on than meets the eye.
The Newark police aren’t cooperating with Ross at all. Unfortunately, his paper has a policy of not reporting on suicides. He surreptitiously begins to investigate the deaths with the assistance of one of the paper’s interns, Geoff “Ruthie” Ginsburg. The trail leads to a gun running operation. The real shock comes when they uncover the people behind that operation.
Although the plotting is solid, the real attraction of the book lies in the characterization. Ross has a rather sardonic view of the world, and his humor is a welcome addition to the narrative without detracting from the seriousness of the situation. There are several scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny, but the book never resorts to silliness. In a change from the previous books, Carter is involved with a young woman from the newsroom named Kira. That relationship just didn’t feel real to me, even though he seems to find it promising.
THE GOOD COP is the fourth in the Carter Ross series. I’ve enjoyed each of the books and find that Carter is a character that I like to spend time with.
March 12, 2013
The dedication to the book gives the reader a glimpse of what to expect when reading it. It reads:
“To my wonderful parents, who deprived me of the tormented childhood every novelist supposedly needs, instead showering me with endless love, affection, and encouragement that continues to nourish me to this day.
If my books aren’t dark and twisted enough, it’s totally their fault.”
I guess we have his parents to thank for the most humorous and at the same time serious mystery I have ever read.
“How can that be?” you ask.
The plot of the story is quite serious and dark. The story opens with the death of a policeman which appears to be a suicide. The protagonist, a serious investigative reporter, searches for truth which takes him to some of Newark’s seedy neighborhoods.
See the rest of the review at: http://www.examiner.com/article/read-...
“To my wonderful parents, who deprived me of the tormented childhood every novelist supposedly needs, instead showering me with endless love, affection, and encouragement that continues to nourish me to this day.
If my books aren’t dark and twisted enough, it’s totally their fault.”
I guess we have his parents to thank for the most humorous and at the same time serious mystery I have ever read.
“How can that be?” you ask.
The plot of the story is quite serious and dark. The story opens with the death of a policeman which appears to be a suicide. The protagonist, a serious investigative reporter, searches for truth which takes him to some of Newark’s seedy neighborhoods.
See the rest of the review at: http://www.examiner.com/article/read-...
March 14, 2018
This was the 4th book in the Carter Ross series that I read, and by far the best. I did not read the first one nor The Fraud, but may wait a while for those -- I'm kind of Brad Parksed out for the moment. This one was great -- I love how he gets a bit of humor in when there are dire situations. Also, his friends in low places are great -- remember how I always complain that most books are 100 pages too long?? Not this one -- it was actually just right. And it's nice that the author gets the fact in that newspapers are a dying breed. I so hope that's not true -- I read 9 every week and would be bereft if they went the way of the dinosaur. Carter Ross manages to get into so much stuff that's none of his business, but would make great headlines. And keeping his women happy -- and apart -- is also confusing the issue. I love that he is so attached to his Malibu -- and to Dateline. He's an altogether interesting character.
July 14, 2022
3.5/5 stars. I enjoyed the humour, but I was frequently surprised at how slow on the uptake Carter Ross was, especially since he’s supposed to be one of the newspaper’s best journalists.
March 6, 2013
Today I received my ADVANCE READING COPY of "THE GOOD COP" by Brad Parks, which I won through the Goodreads giveaway of new books which need reviews.
I am so excited to be a winner of a book which is on its way to be published and have the wonderful opportunity to review the book for other readers
Look in Goodreads in the near future for my review! And check out Goodreads for your chance to win book to review!
My Review:
I am thrilled to have won "The Good Cop: A Mystery" by Brad Parks. I don't usually read mysteries. instead I usually lean more towards historical Ficton, Memoirs/Biographies and Novels.
I knew from the first couple of pages that I loved his writing style and flow was smooth and sometimes when he was muttering to himself I even giggled. The book left me wanting to find out how Carter Ross, newspaper writer was managing to prove that a police officer did not commit suicide, but was murdered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, intend to read other books by Mr. Parks, and Thank Goodreads for the opportunity to be a First Reads winner.
I am so excited to be a winner of a book which is on its way to be published and have the wonderful opportunity to review the book for other readers
Look in Goodreads in the near future for my review! And check out Goodreads for your chance to win book to review!
My Review:
I am thrilled to have won "The Good Cop: A Mystery" by Brad Parks. I don't usually read mysteries. instead I usually lean more towards historical Ficton, Memoirs/Biographies and Novels.
I knew from the first couple of pages that I loved his writing style and flow was smooth and sometimes when he was muttering to himself I even giggled. The book left me wanting to find out how Carter Ross, newspaper writer was managing to prove that a police officer did not commit suicide, but was murdered.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, intend to read other books by Mr. Parks, and Thank Goodreads for the opportunity to be a First Reads winner.
May 27, 2014
Fun from the first page. If Brad Parks wanted to write "A week in the life of Carter Ross when nothing particularly exciting happens," I would read it.
August 17, 2019
I read a previous book by this writer which I thought was pretty good so I decided to try his series.
Also, I haven’t read many series in which the “amateur detective” is a reporter. That’s an interesting change. Brad Parks is also from the DMV area so I like to support when I can.
What I liked is that since I’ve started on #4, the writer summed up any background info I needed to know so I wasn’t lost.
Good story, good character. The mystery is slowly interesting as the narrative develops.
It dealt with the topic of gun control which has become very relevant lately.
Also, it mentioned local landmarks that I was familiar with which was cool.
Some humor with Carter’s sarcastic, witty comments.
Sample quotes:
“After a number of years of singletom, one accumulates a certain number of former relationships, some might call it baggage.... It's not like I've got some big, heavy nine piece luggage set. Mine is just your basic middle of the line Samsonite...It's so unremarkable, i always have to check the tags when it comes to the airport to check it's mine.”
“This ought to be a switch for you” she said. “Everything we’re about to eat is non-processed and a hundred percent organic.”
“Yeah, but I’d like to remind you caveman ate unprocessed, organic food too and they’re dead.”
Also, I haven’t read many series in which the “amateur detective” is a reporter. That’s an interesting change. Brad Parks is also from the DMV area so I like to support when I can.
What I liked is that since I’ve started on #4, the writer summed up any background info I needed to know so I wasn’t lost.
Good story, good character. The mystery is slowly interesting as the narrative develops.
It dealt with the topic of gun control which has become very relevant lately.
Also, it mentioned local landmarks that I was familiar with which was cool.
Some humor with Carter’s sarcastic, witty comments.
Sample quotes:
“After a number of years of singletom, one accumulates a certain number of former relationships, some might call it baggage.... It's not like I've got some big, heavy nine piece luggage set. Mine is just your basic middle of the line Samsonite...It's so unremarkable, i always have to check the tags when it comes to the airport to check it's mine.”
“This ought to be a switch for you” she said. “Everything we’re about to eat is non-processed and a hundred percent organic.”
“Yeah, but I’d like to remind you caveman ate unprocessed, organic food too and they’re dead.”
October 13, 2020
I really enjoy this voice. Carter Ross is a good guy and he has a hard job, although he feels it is easy. His natural curiosity helps. He likes being on his own without a great deal of supervision.
His natural instincts come into play when he hears about a cop who dies during the night. He rushes to the widow and collects background information. Since his paper does not spotlight suicide, which this death is quickly categorized, he is told to focus on public housing and let the widow alone. He can't. All he learned was how happy and optimistic this cop was. He does not believe the suicide theory. Thus he continues to investigate despite being told to shut it down.
He uncovers evidence that when brought to light convinces the paper to cover the story once more. He also uncovers who is importing guns to the area, and that is when there is suddenly bullets fired at him and he winds up in deep trouble.
This story is peopled with not your average middle class working stiffs. I particularly loved Uncle Bernie.
Also interesting is the behind the scenes snapshots of a working newspaper, and online news dispensary. Long may newspapers live. Always entertaining with exciting action scenes. Well written.
I borrowed a copy from the public library. (long may they live as well!)
His natural instincts come into play when he hears about a cop who dies during the night. He rushes to the widow and collects background information. Since his paper does not spotlight suicide, which this death is quickly categorized, he is told to focus on public housing and let the widow alone. He can't. All he learned was how happy and optimistic this cop was. He does not believe the suicide theory. Thus he continues to investigate despite being told to shut it down.
He uncovers evidence that when brought to light convinces the paper to cover the story once more. He also uncovers who is importing guns to the area, and that is when there is suddenly bullets fired at him and he winds up in deep trouble.
This story is peopled with not your average middle class working stiffs. I particularly loved Uncle Bernie.
Also interesting is the behind the scenes snapshots of a working newspaper, and online news dispensary. Long may newspapers live. Always entertaining with exciting action scenes. Well written.
I borrowed a copy from the public library. (long may they live as well!)
May 26, 2023
Book was good not great liked the characters
June 21, 2019
Love the Carter Ross mysteries! The people are real, the NJ references are spot on, the humor leavened with a touch of snark adds some fun (and reality) to both the characters and the story, and I especially enjoy reading what it's like (or was like) being a journalist for a large newspaper. The author clearly speaks from experience and it's very interesting. I thought the culmination of this particular story, despite how scary it was, turned out a little too pat, but the writing is overall so good and the story so captivating as it speeds along that I'm giving that a pass. I agree with the reviewer who said that there are a lot of good NJ authors, and Brad Parks tops the list.
April 7, 2013
The death of a police officer is always a tragedy. The fact that it is being described as a suicide and then wouldn’t be covered in any depth by the Newark Eagle- Examiner is something that reporter Carter Ross does not know when he goes off to interview the widow. Noemi Kipps is a formidable woman who thought that the happy family would soon be going to Disney World. Instead, she has to plan the funeral of her husband and somehow raise their 7 year old daughter and 5 month old son alone.
Police Officer Darius Kipps was an outstanding police officer, a devoted father, and a class act human being. There was absolutely no reason for him the Sargent and Detective to commit suicide. According to his fellow officers that is exactly what he did in the bathroom at a precinct in Newark. It is something both the widow and, as he learns more, reporter Carter Ross can’t believe or accept.
The series that began so strongly with Faces Of The Gone continues here in another complex and interesting read. The Good Cop is the fourth novel in the series by award winning author Brad Parks. Flashes of humor and cynicism do not get in the way of a complex story involving the search for truth and justice amidst the shifting agendas of politicians, religious figures and others. As always in this series, the role of reporters and newspapers play a major role in the book, as do the evolution of relationships between Carter Ross and others in a business where getting the story correct and in detail should matter far more than getting it first.
While The Good Cop could be read as a stand-alone, those who have not read the series and take the time to do so before reading this book will appreciate this book far more than those who just grab this one. Fans of Cater Ross and his creator Brad Parks will find much to enjoy in this latest installment of a very good series.
The Good Cop
Brad Parks
http://www.bradparks.com
Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Publishing Group)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
2013
ISBN# 978-1-250-00552-6
Hardback (also available as an audio book and an e-book)
324 Pages
$24.99
Material Supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
Mind Slices and Carpathian Shadows, Volume II
Book Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
Police Officer Darius Kipps was an outstanding police officer, a devoted father, and a class act human being. There was absolutely no reason for him the Sargent and Detective to commit suicide. According to his fellow officers that is exactly what he did in the bathroom at a precinct in Newark. It is something both the widow and, as he learns more, reporter Carter Ross can’t believe or accept.
The series that began so strongly with Faces Of The Gone continues here in another complex and interesting read. The Good Cop is the fourth novel in the series by award winning author Brad Parks. Flashes of humor and cynicism do not get in the way of a complex story involving the search for truth and justice amidst the shifting agendas of politicians, religious figures and others. As always in this series, the role of reporters and newspapers play a major role in the book, as do the evolution of relationships between Carter Ross and others in a business where getting the story correct and in detail should matter far more than getting it first.
While The Good Cop could be read as a stand-alone, those who have not read the series and take the time to do so before reading this book will appreciate this book far more than those who just grab this one. Fans of Cater Ross and his creator Brad Parks will find much to enjoy in this latest installment of a very good series.
The Good Cop
Brad Parks
http://www.bradparks.com
Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Publishing Group)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
2013
ISBN# 978-1-250-00552-6
Hardback (also available as an audio book and an e-book)
324 Pages
$24.99
Material Supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
Mind Slices and Carpathian Shadows, Volume II
Book Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
March 15, 2013
Thank you for the free book! A very good read, loved the story line and the characters are easy to like, or dislike as the case may be. Consistent with facts, and flow, the story takes the reader to an inside glimpse of the newspaper world, deadlines and writing angst. The story also shows the world of illegal gun buying and selling, and Mr. Parks does a smash up job of teasing the reader with just enough information to leave you wanting more, until the next chapter, where you get the "more", and are left once again, wanting even more. (If that makes any sense!)
A great read, and story. One editing mistake, or printing - page 34 second paragraph, "On the other hand, ..." "...and Mimi Kipps' I loud, insistent voice..." I think the "I" should be removed.
Thanks again for a story that was worth my reading time, I appreciate your work, looking forward to reading more of your books, Brad.
A great read, and story. One editing mistake, or printing - page 34 second paragraph, "On the other hand, ..." "...and Mimi Kipps' I loud, insistent voice..." I think the "I" should be removed.
Thanks again for a story that was worth my reading time, I appreciate your work, looking forward to reading more of your books, Brad.
August 24, 2014
A perfectly serviceable mystery book. Not a great reader -- he sounded a bit callow, although I thought the reporter who is telling the story was a bit more of a tough guy -- but OK. Story was set in Newark, NJ, where Our Hero (whatever his name was -- I think I knew it while I was reading, not a Nameless thing like Pronzini's series) works for the Eagle-Something newspaper.
Not memorable (as you might have gathered), but OK to pass the time.
Ah yes: Carter Ross is the name. (Checked other reviews.) And Carter has a series.
Probably not fair to fuss about the somewhat flimsy writing since I read this while also reading ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE.
Not memorable (as you might have gathered), but OK to pass the time.
Ah yes: Carter Ross is the name. (Checked other reviews.) And Carter has a series.
Probably not fair to fuss about the somewhat flimsy writing since I read this while also reading ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE.
October 16, 2015
Carter Ross is a reporter for a newspaper in Newark, NJ. When a seemingly "good cop" commits suicide Carter begins an investigation into what really happened. As you would expected he stumbles across a huge cover up involving good & bad cops as well as drug dealers.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and will probably be the last. I found the writing to be inconsistent and the story line boring. The characters were not believable at all. The mix of humor in a mystery just did not interest me at all.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and will probably be the last. I found the writing to be inconsistent and the story line boring. The characters were not believable at all. The mix of humor in a mystery just did not interest me at all.
March 7, 2014
I heard about this book from a mystery newsletter that I get, as it is a finalist for a humorous mystery award. I didn't realize it was the 4th in a series, but I had no trouble catching up with the cast of characters. The humorous tone reminded me of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series. I listened to the audio version and thought the narrator was good. I enjoyed this book and will read more in the series.
February 28, 2013
I just got this book through the giveaway yesterday and I read the whole thing in one sitting! I loved the first 3 in this series, and when this one was listed in the giveaway, I hoped I would win to be able to read it! I absolutely loved the plot of this one, and the humor Brad throws into it is awesome :) Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes this genre of books
April 29, 2013
Carter, Tommy and crew are all back. This time Carter is investigating the death of a Newark police officer. This introduce us some new characters are just hilarious. Fans of Stephanie Plum will love this series because there a lot of laugh out loud moments. A fun fast pace book. Highly recommended!
January 14, 2015
This was Parks best work yet. I don't know where to begin with my praise. He kept me guessing till the very end who the "bad guys" were. I never wanted to put the book down. And, while you're reading something suspensful, Parks has this way of throwing in colorful characters and witty dialog. I couldn't resist reading parts aloud to my husband.
May 8, 2016
My favorite reporter is at it again. This time it's all about gun running. Tina is out to nail Carter finally, and my favorite intern Tommy makes an appearance. So sad he had such a small part, the guy is a hoot. But the star of this story is a new character, Uncle Bernie!
November 19, 2020
I have enjoyed all of the previous Carter Ross books and this one was no exception. It is amazing the situations that Carter finds himself in. I enjoy all the interns that turn up to help him. A good read.
April 7, 2018
A Review of the Audiobook
Published in 2013 by Dreamscape Media, LLC.
Read by Adam Verner
Duration: 9 hours, 18 minutes
Unabridged
Carter Ross is an excellent reporter in the newsroom of a slowly dying newspaper in Newark, New Jersey. When he hears of the death of a police officer, he immediately rushes to the family and convinces them to talk to him about the officer and the kind of life he lived. Ross is certain that he has the makings of a top-notch human interest story - the kind of story that he would be proud if the family saved it for the officer's tiny baby son to read someday.
But, when Ross calls in the good news to his editor he is immediately waved off of the story because the Newark police are telling everyone that this officer killed himself after he got drunk on the job. But, that sounds fishy to Ross so he starts his own investigation into the case - and soon he finds that he has more suspects than he can possibly investigate...
Brad Parks has a way of making a serious crime book funny and serious all at the same time. When things go wrong, Carter Ross digs harder, makes even more wisecracks and makes the reader enjoy the book even more.
Adam Verner nails the tone of Carter Ross perfectly. The only down thing about the book is that there are too many "soap opera" touches to the book concerning Carter Ross's romantic entanglements. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable audiobook experience.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2018/...
Published in 2013 by Dreamscape Media, LLC.
Read by Adam Verner
Duration: 9 hours, 18 minutes
Unabridged
Carter Ross is an excellent reporter in the newsroom of a slowly dying newspaper in Newark, New Jersey. When he hears of the death of a police officer, he immediately rushes to the family and convinces them to talk to him about the officer and the kind of life he lived. Ross is certain that he has the makings of a top-notch human interest story - the kind of story that he would be proud if the family saved it for the officer's tiny baby son to read someday.
But, when Ross calls in the good news to his editor he is immediately waved off of the story because the Newark police are telling everyone that this officer killed himself after he got drunk on the job. But, that sounds fishy to Ross so he starts his own investigation into the case - and soon he finds that he has more suspects than he can possibly investigate...
Brad Parks has a way of making a serious crime book funny and serious all at the same time. When things go wrong, Carter Ross digs harder, makes even more wisecracks and makes the reader enjoy the book even more.
Adam Verner nails the tone of Carter Ross perfectly. The only down thing about the book is that there are too many "soap opera" touches to the book concerning Carter Ross's romantic entanglements. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable audiobook experience.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2018/...
August 24, 2017
Carter Ross is a reporter for a newspaper in New Jersey. He gets an early morning call one day that a cop has been killed so he dashes off to interview the widow. Then he finds out that the death was determined to be a suicide so he has to back off. But something doesn't seem right to Carter. Why would a man who had everything going for him kill himself? So Carter continues to investigate.
I liked this book, though I found it ended quickly and neatly. I enjoyed the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective in Carter's voice. There are occasional chapters written in third person perspective with a side story about illegal gun sales. As a head's up, there is swearing.
I liked the characters. Carter is funny yet dorky and the other characters are colourful.
This is the fourth book in the Carter Ross series ... I had read the first three a few years ago and had enjoyed them and the series. For some reason, though, I had forgotten about this series so I'm catching up. Despite being part of a series, this book works well as a stand alone so you don't need to read the others to enjoy this one.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/08...
I liked this book, though I found it ended quickly and neatly. I enjoyed the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective in Carter's voice. There are occasional chapters written in third person perspective with a side story about illegal gun sales. As a head's up, there is swearing.
I liked the characters. Carter is funny yet dorky and the other characters are colourful.
This is the fourth book in the Carter Ross series ... I had read the first three a few years ago and had enjoyed them and the series. For some reason, though, I had forgotten about this series so I'm catching up. Despite being part of a series, this book works well as a stand alone so you don't need to read the others to enjoy this one.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/08...
October 24, 2016
Reporter Carter Ross is based in Newark, New Jersey, quietly rebelling against the commodification of the news for internet and social media tastes. This is the fourth book featuring Ross and his wicked sense of humor. He needs it, because his work takes him to some pretty dark places. Ross is looking into the suicide death of Newark policeman Darius Kipps and before long decides the death wasn’t a suicide at all. Clues are hard to come by, though, and he can recognize stonewalling when he encounters it. The paper accepts the official story, so he’s pretty much on his own, depending for help on a lively and engaging set of secondary characters. Absinthe is drunk (apparently I missed a trend here). You’re reminded of the importance of deep reporting and a commitment to uncovering the truth somehow lost in the era of “non-stop news” soundbites.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews