In the fourth in Brad Parks's award-winning series, Newark investigative journalist Carter Ross must uncover the truth behind a beloved cop's alleged suicide.

This had a pretty good story that included police corruption. But what made it the most enjoyable was the Carter Ross character. He was very likable and often humorous. I'll read more in this series when I'm in the mood for something light with a touch of humor. ( )

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". ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

Predictable. The biggest fault of THE GOOD COP is its predictability. A book that is called "mystery" should be mysterious, make a reader guess and then find the story take a different turn. But it seemed that I was always a step ahead of the main character, Carter Ross.

Its other problem is that, although humor is good in this type book, this author really needs to watch where he puts it. Sometimes situations are serious enough that his humor is not appropriate.

At the same time, though, Brad Parks' humor is funny in most places and makes the book an enjoyable read.

In spite of my recitation of its faults, I would not give THE GOOD COP a bad rating. That is because I'm sure it would work for some readers. I didn't like it. But younger readers, say 13 or 14 years old, are more likely to find the mystery unpredictable while they are old enough to appreciate the humor. ( )