Rogue Cop

by William P. McGivern

From the station-houses to the joy-houses, they knew about Mike Carmody. He was the best cop money could buy. And when the Syndicate boys said jump, Carmody knew just how high.

But they couldn't buy Carmody's kid brother Eddie. And when Eddie turned against them, the Mob snuffed him out like a nickel cigar.

Now Carmody's coming after them. Savage. Bloodthirsty. He's stalking them down the city's darkened back alleys... and straight into hell.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Noir, Novels

Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

William P. McGivern was a novelist and screenwriter. In his early years he worked as a police reporter for the Philadelphia Bulletin and a reviewer and reporter for the Evening Bulletin in Philadelphia. Prior to his career in the newspaper business he served in the United States Army from 1943-1946.He moved to Los Angeles in 1960. His works include over twenty thrillers and mysteries as well as Soldiers of 44 , a novel based on his experiences in World War II. His novels turned into movies include The Big Heat, Rouge Cop, Shield For Murder, Odds Against Tomorrow and the bestselling Night of the Juggler .In 1952 McGivern received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America and served as president of that organization in 1980. He was the master of the hard-boiled detective novel.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGivern has slipped off the modern radar. Pity. Excellent, tough yarn is about a bent cop struggling with his cynical attitudes. Reprinted in the 1980s.

[Ronald Koltnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Wm McGivern kick may have stopped here. ROGUE COP, which was the basis of a pretty good Robert Taylor movie, is not up to the high standards set by THE BIG HEAT. It is as readable but is less impressive, more cliched, more redundant. Part of the problem is the "rogue cop" is such a self absorbed lug that he is less credible than those in the earlier novel. The bad guys are badder and the good guys are too lily white. The precision of THE BIG HEAT is gone. Even the one shaded character, ex-gangster moll turned good girl, her marred character mirrored in her bum leg, is a cliche.

[Julio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent crime story about a corrupt cop undermined by clunky dialog about morality. It even includes the stereotypical priest who pops by occasionally to provide the prerequisite guilt and guidance.

[Kyle Vernier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of like a noir b picture. Not crime novel as high art but crime novel as matinee entertainment.

[Carles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una mica semblant a l’anterior “La gran onada calenta” . De fet Carmody, el policia protagonista de “Un bòfia massa viu” , ja apareixia a “La gran onada calenta” , com un policia més de la comissaria, company del detectiu Bannion.

Altre cop la corrupció dins de la policia. Policies venuts, a sou dels capos de la màfia. Si a “La gran onada calenta” , Bannion era el policia incorruptible, íntegre, que ha de lluitar contra els gàngsters i també anar amb compte amb les ovelles negres dins el cos, ara el nostre protagonista Carmody és precisament una d’aquestes ovelles negres (no és cap spoiler, això se sap des de el minut ú).

La vida autèntica s’escampava al voltant de cada ésser humà, com una mena d’estossinada a estiracabells per tal d’obtenir diners i poder.

De les quatre novel·les llegides de William P. McGivern, aquesta penso que és la més fluixa.
No hi trobo els fascinants retrats de personatges de “L’escut del crim” o, sobre tot, “Sota la pell” i, sent semblant a “La gran onada calenta” , és més simple, no hi ha els cops de efecte, les sotragades brutals i la trama tan ben travada.

[Tim Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than cover art and title sugges.