Award winning police reporter Paul Anderson obviously spent a lot of time around the Victorian Armed Robbery Squad during some pivotal investigations in this state as there's much of the plot in THE ROBBERS which rings loud, persistent and very musical bells.

There is therefore a parallel when journalist Ian Malone is assigned as a police reporter, his first involvement with the "the Robbers" as he wants to write a feature about the feared, and not always admired Squad. Malone is along for the ride as "the Robbers" slowly fall from favour with the more controlled, corporate, considered style of policing overtaking the Victorian Service.

There is also the parallels that can be drawn between the villains in this book and many of the "names" from some of the worst of the Melbourne Underworld wars and associated cases, some of which have been the most high-profile crimes in recent Victorian history. These aspects are the most chilling parts of this book taking the opportunity to look behind the headlines and court cases at the sorts of people that many of this criminals could be / maybe actually are.

Along the way Anderson takes the opportunity to cast a light into some very dark corners of all sides of the equation. There's not a lot of aspects that miss out, from the criminals that front-line police have to find a way of dealing with, past policing behaviour including physical violence, and the posturing that goes on at the top.

Given Anderson's background you would be well within your rights to expect that this is well written, and extremely realistic. Warts and all storytelling without the niceties of not offending readership or the individuals so easily recognisable for that matter. This is, after all fiction, even though it's obviously based very firmly in true life events and a part of the great strength of the book is the searing, unapologetic realism of the whole thing.

It's interesting to see the proliferation of books based on true life events recently appearing, although it's probably not so surprising. There was something so over the top, so seemingly fictional about the cases they are casting a light on, in very real examples of truth definitely being stranger than fiction. The great thing about THE ROBBERS is that it's actually making a fictionalised version that's actually publishable.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/robbers-paul-anderson ( )

In the beginning we are told

Paul Anderson spent fourteen years as a police reporter with the Herald Sun before becoming the newspaper's chief court reporter in 2009. He has won team Walkley and Quill awards for crime coverage and most recently won a joint Quill for the Best Feature in Print. Paul is the author of five true crime books. This is his first novel.

And I certainly hope it is not his last: the writing is assured and fluent, the background stories authoritative and cohesive, and the central plot(s) keep you reading right until the end.

The style of policing administered by the Robbers (The Victoria Police Armed Robbery Squad) has become unpopular with the general public, answering violence with violence. And through the thread of the investigation into a spate of armed robberies the author asks the question: whether the Robbers are morally better than those they hunt. And they are not above a little bit of corruption here and there. But we ask ourselves whether that is the price we pay for feeling safe in our beds.

THE ROBBERS is noir and gritty, and reminds me a lot of the new breed of Irish writers. And yet there is definitely an Australian flavour to it, not just the colloquial language and the Melbourne setting. ( )

Drawing on his relationship with the Victorian Armed Robbery Squad as an award winning police reporter, Paul Anderson's gritty 'The Robbers' is a fictionalised account of modern day policing from the inside amongst the officers who confront some of society's most dangerous and desperate criminals.
When journalist Ian Malone is assigned as the police reporter for The Age,, his first planned feature is on the fearsome reputation of the Victorian Armed Robbery Squad. Repeatedly under fire in the media for allegations of excessive force and intimidation, the units modus operandi is in direct conflict with the growing culture of corporate policing. But protecting society from the excesses of violent, remorseless criminals demands a unique commitment and The Robbers explores the myriad of grey area in maintaining law and order.

And there is plenty of grey. Few among us can comfortably condone the use of physical violence against a police suspect but can the ends ever justify the means? Fast paced and action packed, the author highlights the conflicts and complexity of modern policing with unflinching honesty. While police bureaucracy busy themselves with image making and political point scoring, police on the coalface, such as the members of the Armed Robbery Squad, are mired in the realities of violent crime and the brutality of those that commit them. Anderson expertly delves into the paradox, dissecting the idyll from the truth. This is a world where moral certainty wars with callous indifference, and the rules of polite society are dismissed with violent prejudice.

It is often said there is a thin line between fact and fiction and Anderson hasn't had to look far to find inspiration for the criminals that taunt the Armed Robbery Squad in his novel. In April 2012 the Herald Sun published a list of Victoria's worst criminals as named by the author which included Victor George Peirce, Bandali Michael Debs and Dennis "Mr Death'' Allen, all of whom have had their violent actions attributed to Anderson's fictionalised characters.

And what of the members of the squad? These are men who play hard and work hard and I have no doubt are based on real officers Anderson has come in contact with. While it's easy to judge them for their worst behaviours it's difficult to not admire their commitment and dedication to the protection of society at the risk of their own lives. These men 'hold the line' not for recognition or reward but for "the immeasurable pleasure from removing the worst of the worst from society".

There is a stunning authenticity to Anderson's writing, not only in terms of plot and characters but also in the style and tone of the text. The uncensored dialogue (a note for those easily offended, swearing is rife) is realistic and the novel is well grounded in both time and place.

Definitely one of my favourite crime reads for the year I'd recommend it particularly to readers who enjoyed Y A Erskine's The Brotherhood as it has a similar tone. Compelling, confrontational and thought provoking The Robbers is a gripping and entertaining crime drama. ( )