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The Policewomen's Bureau
“A page turning story, based on fact, about how it was to be an NYPD cop and a woman several decades frightening, exciting, rewarding, as well as insulting, demoralizing and surreal, all at the same time. Policewoman Marie Carrara is the ultimate survivor.”—Joseph Wambaugh
From the New York Times Bestselling author of Blue Bloods comes a fast-paced novel about the inner workings of the NYPD, and the early days of women on the force. “
It’s The Bronx, 1958. The Policewomen's Bureau isn’t respected within the Department, even when it handles cases the men can’t solve. Marie Carrara is a young police matron who wants to move beyond the grim routine of guarding female prisoners to become one of the few female detectives in the NYPD.
Though she is a shy and naive, from a sheltered, immigrant background, Marie dives into the strange and terrifying world of big-city undercover work without hesitation, using her genuine innocence to deceive degenerates and drug dealers into thinking that she’s an easy target.
As she begins to create tougher undercover characters, she discovers that they might be able to inspire her in her off-duty life as well. Despite the violence of her job, the sexism she faces daily, and a rocky-at-best marriage waiting for her at home, Marie is determined to make a name for herself within the NYPD and be the role model her young daughter deserves.
With the support of Marie Cirile, the real-life inspiration for Marie Carrara, Edward Conlon adapts the true events of her memoir into a thrilling drama, a book only a best-selling author and decorated Bronx detective could have written.
From the New York Times Bestselling author of Blue Bloods comes a fast-paced novel about the inner workings of the NYPD, and the early days of women on the force. “
It’s The Bronx, 1958. The Policewomen's Bureau isn’t respected within the Department, even when it handles cases the men can’t solve. Marie Carrara is a young police matron who wants to move beyond the grim routine of guarding female prisoners to become one of the few female detectives in the NYPD.
Though she is a shy and naive, from a sheltered, immigrant background, Marie dives into the strange and terrifying world of big-city undercover work without hesitation, using her genuine innocence to deceive degenerates and drug dealers into thinking that she’s an easy target.
As she begins to create tougher undercover characters, she discovers that they might be able to inspire her in her off-duty life as well. Despite the violence of her job, the sexism she faces daily, and a rocky-at-best marriage waiting for her at home, Marie is determined to make a name for herself within the NYPD and be the role model her young daughter deserves.
With the support of Marie Cirile, the real-life inspiration for Marie Carrara, Edward Conlon adapts the true events of her memoir into a thrilling drama, a book only a best-selling author and decorated Bronx detective could have written.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2019
105 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Edward Conlon
10 books49 followersEdward Conlon was born in the Bronx. Conlon spent most of his childhood in nearby Yonkers. He attended Regis High School and graduated from Harvard in 1987 before joining the NYPD in 1995.Mr. Conlon's family background is also in law enforcement. Mr. Conlon's great-grandfather was a police sergeant in Brooklyn, and his father was an F.B.I. agent.
Conlon's police experience focused on patrolling city-owned public housing developments, as well as arresting street-level drug dealers after observing their sales from surveillance posts. In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of detective, and was assigned to the Bronx's 44th Precinct. He retired as a Detective, Second Grade, in July 2011 after 16 years with the department.
He has published articles in The New Yorker and Harpers and his work has been included in The Best American Essays. He is the author of a memoir, Blue Blood, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, A New York Times Notable Book, and a New York Times bestseller." He is also the author of the novel, Red On Red.
Conlon's police experience focused on patrolling city-owned public housing developments, as well as arresting street-level drug dealers after observing their sales from surveillance posts. In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of detective, and was assigned to the Bronx's 44th Precinct. He retired as a Detective, Second Grade, in July 2011 after 16 years with the department.
He has published articles in The New Yorker and Harpers and his work has been included in The Best American Essays. He is the author of a memoir, Blue Blood, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, A New York Times Notable Book, and a New York Times bestseller." He is also the author of the novel, Red On Red.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 21, 2019
In his Author’s Note, Edward Conlon explains that The Policewomen’s Bureau is a lightly fictionalised account of the life of Marie Cirile-Spagnuolo, who began her career with the NYPD in 1957. A former officer himself, Conlon was fascinated by Marie’s experience as a married Italian woman in a male-dominated, predominantly Irish police department, and worked with her on this novel before her death in 2011.
Asked what is true, Conlon answers “Most of it, and the worst of it.”
In The Policewomen’s Bureau, Marie Carrara is a new recruit in the 44th Precinct. It’s 1957, and the majority of the NYPD believe the force is no place for a woman. Most serving female officers are tasked with matron duty, used to guard female prisoners, console victims, search dead female bodies, and, more often than not, fetch and carry for their male colleagues, never leaving the precinct. But there are a handful of women who are reluctantly called upon to assist in cases that require a woman’s touch. These women are under the command of Inspector Melchionne of the Policewomen’s Bureau, and Marie is excited to join them after six months on the job.
Despite her startling naivety, not unexpected for a young Catholic woman in the 1950’s, Marie quickly finds she enjoys, and has a talent for, the undercover work she is tasked with. I enjoyed Conlon’s descriptions of her activities which are interesting, and often amusing. Her first case requires her to apply for a job with a man who is sexually assaulting many of the young female applicants. While she is successful, it takes a few hits with her blackjack to cool his ardour, and while waiting for patrol officers to arrive she decides to tidy up, throwing out a canister of ‘spoiled’ sugar (which is later found to be cocaine), and incinerating a stack of dirty pictures.
I was disappointed to learn in an author interview that the only purely fictional part of Conlon’s novel is Marie’s later work with the detective squads. I don’t begrudge Conlon taking fictional licence, and these sections were well written and entertaining, however I can’t help but feel as if it somewhat negates the real Marie’s accomplishments as a pioneering policewoman.
Conlon also weaves the professional and personal together in The Policewomen’s Bureau to illustrate a woman who is intelligent, brave, and resourceful, yet still a product of her time and background.
In 1957, Marie is also one of four daughters of Italian Catholic parents, married unhappily to Sid, and mother of four year old Cindy. Sid, himself a police officer, is generally considered to be good looking and charming, but he is also emotionally and physically abusive, a serial cheater, and venal. It was many years before divorce would be an option for Marie, and while she slowly gained some measure of respect in her workplace, she never gained the respect of her husband.
The Policewomen’s Bureau is an interesting and engaging read, both as a work of fiction, and for the truth it shares about women’s early experiences as serving police officers in the NYPD.
Asked what is true, Conlon answers “Most of it, and the worst of it.”
In The Policewomen’s Bureau, Marie Carrara is a new recruit in the 44th Precinct. It’s 1957, and the majority of the NYPD believe the force is no place for a woman. Most serving female officers are tasked with matron duty, used to guard female prisoners, console victims, search dead female bodies, and, more often than not, fetch and carry for their male colleagues, never leaving the precinct. But there are a handful of women who are reluctantly called upon to assist in cases that require a woman’s touch. These women are under the command of Inspector Melchionne of the Policewomen’s Bureau, and Marie is excited to join them after six months on the job.
Despite her startling naivety, not unexpected for a young Catholic woman in the 1950’s, Marie quickly finds she enjoys, and has a talent for, the undercover work she is tasked with. I enjoyed Conlon’s descriptions of her activities which are interesting, and often amusing. Her first case requires her to apply for a job with a man who is sexually assaulting many of the young female applicants. While she is successful, it takes a few hits with her blackjack to cool his ardour, and while waiting for patrol officers to arrive she decides to tidy up, throwing out a canister of ‘spoiled’ sugar (which is later found to be cocaine), and incinerating a stack of dirty pictures.
I was disappointed to learn in an author interview that the only purely fictional part of Conlon’s novel is Marie’s later work with the detective squads. I don’t begrudge Conlon taking fictional licence, and these sections were well written and entertaining, however I can’t help but feel as if it somewhat negates the real Marie’s accomplishments as a pioneering policewoman.
Conlon also weaves the professional and personal together in The Policewomen’s Bureau to illustrate a woman who is intelligent, brave, and resourceful, yet still a product of her time and background.
In 1957, Marie is also one of four daughters of Italian Catholic parents, married unhappily to Sid, and mother of four year old Cindy. Sid, himself a police officer, is generally considered to be good looking and charming, but he is also emotionally and physically abusive, a serial cheater, and venal. It was many years before divorce would be an option for Marie, and while she slowly gained some measure of respect in her workplace, she never gained the respect of her husband.
The Policewomen’s Bureau is an interesting and engaging read, both as a work of fiction, and for the truth it shares about women’s early experiences as serving police officers in the NYPD.
March 12, 2019
The real Marie was a remarkable person who overcame spousal abuse in her personal life and sexism in her work life, and Conlon does justice to her story. Occasionally the writing is a bit rough (as often happens in books written by men about women), but overall, her voice (this is based on an unpublished memoir) comes through, and Conlon (a retired NYPD officer) knows his subject well. Marie's undercover exploits are fascinating, and I could see this making a great movie or even a TV series.
May 2, 2019
NetGalley ARC
This is a fictionalization of the memoir of real life Policewoman Marie Cirile-Spagnuolo. The author is also a police officer, but of a different era and he knew Marie personally. While the subject matter of this book is very interesting, the writing is not very nuanced and very matter of fact. The story is really just a string of anecdotes. I think the original memoir, Detective Marie Cirile, is probably more interesting.
This is a fictionalization of the memoir of real life Policewoman Marie Cirile-Spagnuolo. The author is also a police officer, but of a different era and he knew Marie personally. While the subject matter of this book is very interesting, the writing is not very nuanced and very matter of fact. The story is really just a string of anecdotes. I think the original memoir, Detective Marie Cirile, is probably more interesting.
July 21, 2020
I had a good time with this book. (Loved the Italian slang sprinkled throughout.) Detective Conlon tells a very good story about a remarkable woman. Not only was Marie a damn fine cop, she did it all with the odds against her; in a much different time. Well done, Ed!
February 25, 2022
I enjoyed this book, as Marie is a highly developed and sympathetic character along with many others (especially Ed and Al), yet at the same time I found it difficult to read, especially the first half, primarily because it was hard to keep track of the timeline and larger context in which Marie's story happened. It definitely picked up in the second half, though, especially during her work with Ed and Al (which is interesting since Conlon largely fictionalized that portion as opposed to the other parts based more directly on the real Marie's life). A lot of the police minutiae didn't help either, although that doesn't surprise me since Conlon was a cop himself. A good read overall, but definitely an involved one.
April 19, 2025
This book can be summed up by the hardback cover, which misspelled Joseph Wambaugh's name on his blurb. It's an appalling mistake. That level of inattention prevails -- a few more in the book, but more annoying is the lack of editing. It can be confusing where we are time-wise in the story, the slow parts draaaaag, and there's a huge section that spends so much time on the main character's home life that you get to wondering why the book's named after the bureau.
But the book's decent at detailing how tough it was to be a female cop then, and how the 1950s mindset for everyone, including women and Italians/Catholics, made the main character make some bad-for-her choices. (The book's based on a real person, but large parts are fictionalized.)
But the book's decent at detailing how tough it was to be a female cop then, and how the 1950s mindset for everyone, including women and Italians/Catholics, made the main character make some bad-for-her choices. (The book's based on a real person, but large parts are fictionalized.)
March 7, 2020
I loved this book, probably because I could relate to so much of it, having been a female police officer in the DC Metropolitan Police Dept in 1969-72. This was a fictionalized account based on fact and it wasn’t hard for me to separate one from the other. One fiction for sure: no police officer is EVER supposed to fire a “warning shot!!”
An officer is never to even unholster their gun unless there is a clear and present danger of bodily harm to someone. Running down a crowded city sidewalk shooting your gun in the air while in pursuit of a guy who bought a nickel bag??? Between the justifying paper work and official reprimands, you would never see the light of day.
What was fact was the reaction of many of the line officers and commanders to female officers ( as well as the wives and the unsuspecting “perps.”)
Well written, entertaining and , for me at least, brought back a lot of memories.
An officer is never to even unholster their gun unless there is a clear and present danger of bodily harm to someone. Running down a crowded city sidewalk shooting your gun in the air while in pursuit of a guy who bought a nickel bag??? Between the justifying paper work and official reprimands, you would never see the light of day.
What was fact was the reaction of many of the line officers and commanders to female officers ( as well as the wives and the unsuspecting “perps.”)
Well written, entertaining and , for me at least, brought back a lot of memories.
September 18, 2019
Conlon strikes again
Mr. Conlon really has the police beat covered. Less of a procedural the Red On Red, but he does a fantastic job bringing the late 1960s NYC to life in this book. Really enjoyed reading this account of one policewoman’s experience on The Job and on the home front. Can’t wait for his next book.
Mr. Conlon really has the police beat covered. Less of a procedural the Red On Red, but he does a fantastic job bringing the late 1960s NYC to life in this book. Really enjoyed reading this account of one policewoman’s experience on The Job and on the home front. Can’t wait for his next book.
January 21, 2020
I really wanted to love this book but I just didn't LOVE it. Highlight was insight into the life of dedicated career-oriented police women in that era both personal and professional. But the writing was lacking something to keep me fully hooked. Narrative? I don't know. Still a good read just not a great one. 3 stars
September 4, 2023
Timely and heartfelt. After 50 years women are still struggling with respect and recognition. The struggle with being fulfilled with your job and loving your children is still felt today. Domestic abuse is still a problem women struggle with. Reading about such a strong, determined career woman was rewarding.
September 3, 2020
Overall a good book. It really isn't much of a historical story about the
Policewomen's Bureau as it is a fictional account of one woman that rose to the top of this unit but was never really appreciated for her contributions.
Policewomen's Bureau as it is a fictional account of one woman that rose to the top of this unit but was never really appreciated for her contributions.
July 5, 2019
This is one is spot on!
November 28, 2020
A slow start at the beginning but enjoyed this book nonetheless
December 13, 2020
Great choice
Couldn’t put this down - fast paced book with great characters. Addresses significant social issues but has fun at the same time.
Couldn’t put this down - fast paced book with great characters. Addresses significant social issues but has fun at the same time.
December 20, 2020
Fascinating account based on a true story. The dated (or are they?) aspects of views on women and race provided additional interest to an otherwise less literary account of life as a policewoman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
Very good book, kept my interest throughout.
July 27, 2022
3.5 stars. Really interesting.
December 29, 2022
dnf, read about a quarter, should be interesting - NYPD female cops in the ‘50’s! but written in the third person & not exciting
July 5, 2023
I should have read the memoir instead
Read
October 6, 2024DNF
August 28, 2020
Excellent novel based on a true story about the inter workings of the femal police bureau in New York City. The stories are very interesting to see what early female officers were allowed to do and what their expectations of the job were. The main character, although an exception detective, have to fight tooth and nail to become a detective and battle and abusive husband who was also a police officer. The story is very real and at times makes you cry or makes you very angry at the discrimination these women had to endure.
June 17, 2020
A Great beginning for women cops. They
It was sad to read how women policewoman had to work twice as hard to be cops. Justice does not always begin evenly,
It was sad to read how women policewoman had to work twice as hard to be cops. Justice does not always begin evenly,
March 22, 2019
Not my cup of tea. It did not keep my attention and had trouble to keep on reading.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
April 10, 2019
I was so excited to read this and just didn't believe some of the things were true in it. Doesn't matter if this as about a male or female, some of it just seemed to unbelievable.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews