In person, Winslow is gracious, soft-spoken and self-deprecating to a fault. He has also not shied away from controversial opinions either that often skewer both the left and right sides of the political debate, such as when he penned an op-ed for Esquire that claimed the push for legal marijuana exacerbated the drug war and the cartel violence. The style is hardboiled short paragraphs, graphic scenes, rapid-fire dialogue that’s close to the mould set by the likes of Elmore Leonard, Richard Price and George Pelecanos. His characters often start out wanting to do the right thing only to end up contaminated. In 20 novels, mostly mysteries and thrillers, Winslow, who lives near California’s border with Mexico, has specialised in all sorts of binds, not least the drug war – a folly, as he sees it, which has morally corrupted the US and unleashed hell across Mexico. They feel that pressure, they feel caught in that bind.” So sometimes we would turn a blind eye to cops taking shortcuts. “ a certain kind of hypocrisy or at least double standard about some of these things because we want to be safe. We want perfect safety at the same time as we want absolute individual privacy and rights.”Ĭivil rights-loving liberals are especially culpable, says Winslow, who counts himself a left-leaning Guardian reader. Often we the public have expectations of police that are both contradictory and in some ways impossible. “Is there systemic corruption? No question. I think most of the cops are trying to do a good job,” Winslow says.

“I have a great deal of admiration for NYPD. Hollywood has already snapped up the rights. They’re smart and brave but also flawed and wounded souls you root for even as they go astray. The boys in blue of The Force are not villains, they’re heroes. Cops will love this book, and love Winslow. Winslow could probably double-park a Hummer and not get a ticket. Which makes it sound like the author should beware next time he visits New York. “There are guys out there who are just overt racists.”

“Are there racist cops? Absolutely,” says Winslow, settling into an interview at a beachside diner near Los Angeles.

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