Once Were Cops: A Novel by Ken Bruen
The novel’s tone somewhat resembles “The Shield,” an FX TV series in which Michael Chiklis plays Vic Mackey, the leader of a gang of ruthless cops. But viewers of the show find themselves rooting for the anti-hero. It is impossible to develop a rooting interest in either Kebar or O’Shea. Both are irredeemably evil.
But, as the reader will eventually discover, they aren’t even the most vile characters in the book.
Bruen tells the story brilliantly. The dialogue captures both Irish and New York accents. The pacing is intense. And the prose is at once vivid and as tight as anything this side of a haiku.
‘Once Were Cops’ brilliantly told, pacing intense – Yahoo! News.


Ken Bruen is a genius. His prose is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. His stories, characters and settings are vivid and brilliant. I will endeavour to get this book asap!