It’s an old story line that somehow never gets old.

... takes its time, unspooling the history of the Gun Trace Task Force. Mr. Fenton is after more than the portrait of a few malcontents.

Clearly inspired by The Wire, Fenton populates his narrative with a network of officers, informants and street dealers, all with different motivations and interests. Some of these personalities come through more vividly than others, but the overall effect is to capture the disorienting, churning quality of a city where the good guys and bad guys aren’t easily distinguished.

In We Own This City Justin Fenton tells a story of bad people and bad attitudes, but—whether he intends to or not—his book reveals the way systemic discrimination operates, whom it affects and how it is sustained. His narrative is brisk and engaging.

... a searing look at that city’s recent police corruption scandal.

Fenton’s fast-paced narrative, perfect for fans of The Wire, delivers a satisfying resolution, though it remains to be seen whether the department will truly clean up under new management, for which readers must stay tuned.