This was funny and hard to read at the same time. As this was full of stories and experiences from a former police officer, I wasn’t expecting it to be a pretty and calm read, and it wasn’t.

At times, I forgot this wasn’t a made-up story, and it was a bit horrifying to hear some of the things police officers deal with.

However, even though this was Eric’s real experiences, I thought some of the language used shouldn’t have been written, regardless of it being direct quotes. And it didn’t sit right with me to recount stories of people who seem to have been in mental health crises.

This book comes with several TW's!!! It is stories from a former police officer. It has the good, bad, ugly, and devastating all wrapped up in one. Take care of yourself while reading.

Pig Latin is hilarious, gut wrenching, and at times a difficult read, but it's most definitely worth the read. Tansey wasn't lying when he said he may make us laugh, cry, and angry. I felt them all while reading. The only chapter I remember being angry at was the first chapter and the crude way he described the woman he was attempting to detain. There were a few chapters that had me laughing at loud and reading aloud to my husband so he could get a laugh out of them as well. The sad chapters I kept to myself because they were incredibly difficult to read about.

This book puts the job of police officers in perspective in a big way. Sure there are good cops and bad cops, but don't let the bad ones ruin the profession for all. Not every officer is out there to cause harm to the communities they serve, a lot of them put their entire heart and soul into this job.

I will say my 11 year old son has always said he wants to be a police officer and honestly after reading this book I'm terrified for him, but I will support him regardless.

Thank you, Eric Tansey for sharing your story and heart on these pages with us, thank you for your dedication to our country and the town of Raleigh. Thank you to Atria for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pig Latin is a hilarious, honest, and surprisingly emotional look at life as a cop, written by former Army Scout and police officer Eric Tansey. From chasing naked suspects to pepper-spraying himself, the laugh-out-loud stories are unforgettable. But the book also dives into the deeper issues—broken systems, political influence, and the public’s often contradictory expectations of law enforcement. Tansey strikes a great balance between humor and insight, giving readers a rare, real look behind the badge. Highly recommend for anyone curious about what police work really looks like—both the good and the frustrating.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a well-done book that provoked so many thoughts, ran through all the emotions, and made me laugh so many times.

The structure of this book was perfect. It started hilariously, moved into the heavier and gorier side of policing, and finished with a hopeful defiance. Tansey wrote these stories as a way to cope during his days on the job, but these vignettes were woven into this story in a cohesive way that made them feel like a complete picture and not short stories. Some of these stories were heavy, and while humor was used respectfully to lighten the load, don’t expect to feel good about it all. I had many moments where I cringed, winced, and even questioned if Tansey was sure he wanted to write that for the world to read.

The writing was conversational in tone, and it took a “no pulled punches” approach. It had a clear POV, and Tansey was not afraid to state his opinion. I found his honesty refreshing even if I didn’t agree with everything he said. While this book was pro-police, it didn’t excuse bad actors or bad policing; it took an even-handed approach to the profession exploring both good and bad, nice and ugly, right and wrong. His perspective made me think, and I did walk away from this book with a deeper empathy for good cops.

This read reminded me a lot of Adam Kay’s: This is Going to Hurt. Fans of books that give an inside perspective to a profession, honest and opinionated reads, and reads that will make you laugh will find much to love in this one.

This book was everything the by-line promised it would be. The issue was me. I thought it could be lying. It was not. I laughed out loud and snorted, and cried tears of laughter through a large amount of the book. This would be my attitude 100% if I could be a cop - I would laugh about the ridiculousness of every single situation wondering why these things kept happening. I appreciated how honest and earnest the author was, because he really put himself out there for public ridicule. But it totally worked for me, entertained me and kept me turning the pages.
When the tone switched about halfway through I was so invested in the author that I appreciated his take on the events going on, while also factoring in his own mental health and personal journey. I had a lot of these same feelings about things happening and hearing his experience really solidified this for me. It was an important conversation and I'm glad it was included.
Really really solid - I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. Parts of Pig Latin were genuinely funny and offered a raw, unfiltered look at life in law enforcement. However, some sections came across as quite offensive and detracted from my overall enjoyment. While I appreciated the honesty and occasional humor, this one was a mixed read for me.

This is a funny cop story book. Eric Tansey likes to tell funny stories & this is like you are sitting at the bar with a guy who is telling you about a few things that happened to him at work. Written in way makes you want to keep reading, but dreading the end of the book.

I thought this was gonna be a comedic memoir, but instead I didn't laugh as much as I thought. So, good read to understand a rookie perspective, just remember that his experience isn't a monolith.

Pig Latin: A seriously funny true story of a former police officer by Eric Tansley with Nick Palmisano is a hilarious book about law enforcement.

Eric Tansey is a former Army Scout, Special Operations Military Veteran and police officer.

Eric reveals hilarious situations he often found himself in as a cop including chasing naked suspects and pepper spraying himself in the face. This book gives readers a different view at a cops day to day life.

Thank you Eric Tansey and Nick Palmisciani for working with NetGalley. I received and advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review. It shows us a more humorous and human side that we do not often see portrayed in the media.

This book comes to stores near you August 26th 2025

Pig Latin by Eric Tanzi is all about his time as a police officer in Raleigh North Carolina from his bare bottom beginning to his award winning ending this really is a funny and awesome read. Not only does Mr. Tanzi have a way with words the stories he tells are fraught with hilarity by the time you’re done reading this book you will believe some people really do have the strangest kind of luck. People in the department called him Leroy Jenkins because there’s a character who always goes too quickly into the fray and messes up any plan they previously had to conquer and destroy. It really was a breath of fresh air to read stories from the cops point of view and one that’s so authentically feels humble And truthful not to mention as I said freaking hilarious. The only thing I didn’t understand is if he was in North Carolina why did everyone have Boston and New England accents… Just something I pondered. if you’re dubious about reading this story, the panty wife beater cowboy boots lesbian gang story is worth the price of admission trust me. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #EricTanzi, #PigLatin,

This was probably the most raw and honest book I've ever read. Most authors when writing about themselves will try to influence the readers' opinion of them, but Eric Tansey seems to truly not care what you think about him personally. He is human, like all of us, and isn't afraid to show his flaws. Instead, he wants the reader to get a new perspective in what it's like being a police officer especially one in an area rampant with gang activity. He shows that not only Hollywood, but also news media gets so much of it wrong.

He doesn't sugar coat anything and he doesn't shy away from what pop-culture would consider inappropriate. He tells it like it is, but with his own sarcastic and goofy voice. I'm not really one for "potty" humor, so a few of the funny moments fell flat for me, but the sarcasm and dark humor to cope is something I could deeply relate to.

Was this the greatest piece of literature I've ever read? No. But I think it is really important and very relatable and it should be read by so many people just to get a new perspective on law enforcement.

I understand and appreciate the intent behind this book: to offer support and validation to those in the line of duty, while also giving the general public a glimpse into the realities of police work. Eric's writing is clear, and the structure of the book, with its appropriately sized chapters and overall digestible length, makes it an easy read on the surface.

That said, I personally struggled to connect with many of the stories. While they were clearly intended to be humorous, I found the comedic value difficult to access. Scenes involving individuals in crisis or physical confrontations, though presented with levity, didn’t land for me as funny, likely because the reality behind them was too present. Had these anecdotes been purely fictional, I may have been more inclined to find humor in them. But knowing they were drawn from real-life situations made it harder for me to laugh along.

Ultimately, I think this book just wasn’t for me, and that’s okay. It’s likely better suited for readers who have a closer connection to law enforcement culture or a different perspective on gallows humor. While I didn’t walk away entertained, I did walk away with a clearer understanding of the pressures and absurdities officers face daily—and for that, I’m still glad I read it.

Having read this with an extensive background in law enforcement I felt it was a bit over the top. The author seemed to almost sensationalize the fact he "stuck his nose" in work he shouldn't have which lead to his career ending as opposed to just telling the stories of a career in law enforcement. I understand that he was including the stories that would sell his book but just seemed over the top and a little pretentious.

Thanks to atria and NetGalley for this arc.

I initially thought this was going to be more of a comedic memoir, and while it is funny, it gives an eye opening insight on the life of a law enforcement officer.

The stories were funny but also humanizing. I would recommend basically to anyone.

Eric Tansey’s “Pig Latin” was an eye-opening look at a field that most people probably have some sort of preconceived notion about. Advertised as a comedic look into the world of a police officer, this book starts off fitting that mold, but does, understandably, veer off into some of the more serious aspects of the job. I thought the stories were captivating, making me laugh out loud, or sometimes sticking with me long after I had put the book down. I think especially in recent times, it’s a great perspective from one of the “good guys”, who genuinely wants to make the community a better place. As someone with several LEO in the family, I would definitely recommend this book.

Honest emotional look into a cop's life. Stories that are funny and heartbreaking, it also talks about
the emotional toll it takes on police officers. The effects of politics and society on law enforcement are
sobering. An engrossing read which gives one a better understanding of what law enforcement
officers do and endure.
#PigLatin #AtriaBooks #NetGalley

2 Stars! This book was incredibly funny with a lot real world stories that I found interesting and gave me empathy for the officer. I didn't like the rant that the author went on several times about the system that he signed up to work for and the administration above him. I totally understand not liking your boss or the changes in policy but the way it was handled in the book and presented just gave me a different outlook on the author. Thank you to NetGally for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

This book was a lot darker and depressing than I thought it would be. Don’t get me wrong, some of the author’s stories about his past life/career as a cop were funny and downright crazy. I think the author has a strong and down to earth personality but something felt off. I would still recommend it to friends, but I was expecting a comical story about police work gone hilariously wrong.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc. Some amazing stories but overshadowed by the author's self descriptions.

Reading Pig Latin was like sitting down with an old friend who just happens to have a lifetime of wild, raw, and hilarious stories from the front lines of police work. What I loved most was how real Tansey's storytelling is—this isn’t just a highlight reel of arrests and antics. It’s a journey, following him from rookie days to the end of his career, showing all the triumphs, mistakes, and hard truths.

Tansey doesn’t try to paint himself as perfect—he’s honest about his mistakes, his growth, and the moments that shook him. Something that really stuck with me was how deeply he was affected when some of whom he tried to help, just didn't make it. You could feel how personal those moments were to him, and it gave the book real emotional weight beneath the humor.

And speaking of humor—classic Tansey. If you know him, you already know he’s got a one-of-a-kind way of making you laugh even when the subject matter gets heavy. It’s sharp, self-deprecating, and perfectly timed.

As a police wife, I’d recommend this book to every police officer, former officer, and the families who support them. It’s not just entertaining—it’s a powerful reminder of what life behind the badge is really like.