Book summary

Edward Conlon, a Harvard-educated policeman who comes from a long line of cops, writes about his experiences in a tough world. As he rises from rookie to detective in the NYPD, Edward Conlon faces the dirty day-to-day life of a cop who has to cope with the uncinematic realities of violent death, robbery, domestic violence, and the price paid for drug abuse. Conlon chronicles all this with candor, compassion, and wit, and with a perhaps surprising appreciation for his colleagues and bosses in a police department that he claims is--despite its reputation--short on corruption and overwhelmingly dedicated to its work. Under the name Marcus Laffey, Conlon originally published parts of the book as "Cop Diaries" in The New Yorker. A New York Times Notable Book for 2004.

Media reviews

"A street-smart and hilarious memoir....Conlon's prose, buffed to a high sheen, mixes the rich and rowdy dialogue of police and 'perps' with department lore about legends like Eddie Egan and Frank Serpico, literary allusions, and overviews of daily routine that bristle with sharp observation....Crackling sharp--and utterly compelling."