Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Underwhelming.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC and all the best to the author (hopefully he'll do a bit more research - talking to one junior officer or tailing one bad cop does not mean everyone is racist or that there is systemic racism (though there may be in real life, the examples given here are too sporadic and from low-level staff).

Cop is a quick read which jumps out of the starting gates and never lets up. Rather than inject his ego into the story, Valentin acts as the everyman and records the events unfolding in front of him with a neutral gaze.

He is neither overly sympathetic nor harshly critical of his fellow officers. Rather, he understands that they are people, ordinary people, put in a difficult position. His comments on domestic abuse and the almost complete lack of training that officers receive is a strong point, he quickly realises how difficult it is for officers to jump in and resolve very difficult issues such as domestic violence.

The book offers no great revelation but, where the interests lies, for me at least, is the detail it offers of everydau France in the modern age.

An interesting read and Gendrot deserves praise for embedding himself in his story in this way. His writing and research carries on the tradition of the new journalism style.