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The Happy Pigs: A Novel [Hardcover]

Lucy Harkness (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 8, 2002
Six years into her stint with the London police force, Louisa Barratt is burned out. Because she is a woman in a largely male profession, Louisa has been relegated to the Child Protection Unit, where her primary task seems to be baby-sitting a fragile young abuse victim who clings to Louisa like a mother. Trouble is, she's suffering from a bad case of compassion fatigue, and with nothing to look forward to each day but her depressing caseload and nonexistent social life, just getting up in the morning is threatening to become more than she can manage.

She wants out, but the young rape victim she spends her days counseling has no one else to turn to. When Louisa herself is viciously attacked in the street by a would-be rapist, she fights hard, determined not to become another victim. Unfortunately, the consequences of these fleeting moments of life-and-death struggle are more grave than she can possibly imagine, and before she knows it her entire life is thrown into the depths of a turmoil the likes of which she has never seen.

Written with passion and dynamic energy, The Happy Pigs is at once a unique portrayal of police life from a truly fascinating perspective and an outstanding new novel about a smart young woman trying to keep her sanity and sense of humor in a world that's crumbling around her.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

While Detective Constable Louisa Barratt is talking to some London street women, the women are approached by a man who begins insulting and threatening them. The man follows Louisa, who has turned and walked away, and pulls her into an alley and rapes her. She manages to get free but is haunted by feelings that she somehow caused the incident and that because she is a police officer she should have been able to handle the situation better. Louisa tells her story in the form of police reports, listing the facts as she analyzes them using her professional expertise. She also traces the identity of the man to discover his motivation. Louisa's being very near to burnout after six years in the Child Protection Unit adds to her angst and gives the story another dimension. Herself a former police officer, Harkness offers a fresh look at what it means to be a female officer in a large metropolitan area. The only jarring note to this excellent debut is the unfortunate title. Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., OH
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Louisa Barratt works for the Child Protection Unit of the London police. She's tough, funny, eccentric, and good at her job. Like many thirtysomethings, she's looking for love and happiness--a better job, a husband, a house, maybe even kids one day. But then a catastrophic event changes Louisa's life forever. Walking home in broad daylight, she's attacked and nearly raped. She defends herself in the only way she knows how, but when her new boss fails to show up for work the next day and his battered body is found in a nearby alleyway, Louisa realizes that the actions she took to defend herself will have far-reaching consequences. Written by a thirtysomething London policewoman, this hard-hitting first novel is a sort of copper's version of Bridget Jones' Diary, albeit with a more serious theme. Cleverly written and sharply witty, the story nonetheless has a sad, empty feel as Louisa struggles with the angst of being an unfulfilled 31-year-old. A spot-on portrayal of one aspect of the contemporary urban experience and a good description of the everyday life of a London cop. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (January 8, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312282869
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312282868
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,677,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Urban noir at its' best, December 18, 2001
This review is from: The Happy Pigs: A Novel (Hardcover)
Louise Barrat has been on the London police force for six years going from a street bobby to a member of the child protection unit. She has seen and heard all the misery an adult can do to a child and is dangerously close to suffering from total burnout. Her latest case is one of the worst cases she has ever witnessed. Ten-year-old Candy was raped and tortured and it is Louise's job to look after the child's best interests by steering her gently through the judicial system.

One day Louise is talking to two hookers, trying to find out if any underage prostitutes has come into the area. While conversing, a John comes over and Louisa walks away. The next thing she knows is the John has her in a back alley trying to force himself on her because she walked away from him. It's clear he doesn't know she's a police officer and since she has no proof to share with him, she flips him into the ally and walks away very upset. That incident although she doesn't know it yet, will change the rest of her life.

This first person narrative will grab the attention of the reader from the very first page because the protagonist is such a sympathetic and likable character. Lucy Harkness is able to use the written word to make the audience feel the pain and suffering police officers go through in pursuit of their job. THE HAPPY PIGS is a refreshing and unusual work that stimulates the readers' intellect as much as their feelings.

Harriet Klausner

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5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling novel, August 13, 2009
By 
Srdjan Pesic (Minneapolis, Mn United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Happy Pigs: A Novel (Hardcover)
Former policewomen Lucy Harkness, I suspect, wrote a book deeply inspired with her own short stint in the police force. And it is a powerful and compelling book. A mix of fiction and police procedural, " Happy Pigs" is a short and merciless portrayal of British police and justice system. After finishing this book I felt that Ms. Harkness made a very good decision to quit the police work and move on. If only in her new life she finds time to write another novel. She is good at it.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
not entirely sure how to do this . . . Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hot bath cold beer, robbery squad, incident room, area commander
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
King's Cross, Child Protection Unit, Ron the Poet, Eversholt Street, Vine Street, Oceana Fish Bar, Ted Doddy, Bow Street, Vic Nolan
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