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Summary: Something smart and different
Review:
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Summary: Fantastic Book!
Review: "The Blue Hour" is a psychological thriller filled from start to finish with suspense, drama and excitement. The book revolves around Tim Hess, a sixty-seven year old detective who comes out of retirement to track down the "Purse Snatcher," a mentally deranged man who abducts beautiful women from a shopping mall. Not for the faint of heart, the book can be very graphic and explicit when it comes to describing what the this demented mind actually does to his victims. Tim Hess, is also chasing his own demons after three failed, childless marriages. On his plate, however, is a more life-threatening battle - cancer. Following lung surgery, Tim endures agonizing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, while pushing himself to the limit to find this violent, psychotic killer. Working alongside a much younger female partner, Merci Rayborn, Tim is intrigued with her independent, often brash, manner and her driving ambition to become sheriff. In pursuit of the Purse Snatcher and the horror left in his wake, Tim and Merci find solice and refuge in each other. As the story unfolds, you will meet the tortured mind of the killer and his bizarre, contolling mother. You will discover that a psychotic mind does not think, feel or behave as a healthy mind would. The killer's childhood abuse and hatred for his domineering mother lead to unthinkable acts of violence. Written with the same suspense as James Patterson's "Alex Cross" novels, "The Blue Hour" will keep you reading late into the night. The end will leave a tear in your eye, and perhaps the realization that the life we often take for granted is far too short and can quickly be taken away from us and those we love.
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Summary: My Introduction to this author
Review: and I was very impressed. I read a lot in this genre and will be looking for other novels by this author. The characters are not run of the mill by any means and are written as very human. My one sticking point is the attraction between the two lead detectives..a 67 year old cancer stricken semi-retired cop and an outspoken female detective about half his age. Why must there be "something" between the lead characters? It just felt wrong to me. Removing that would not have hurt the book a bit...but it was still a good story.
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Summary: Opposites Attract
Review: As well as being a perplexing mystery story, this is also a story of two opposites who are brought together and work very well as a team. She is an up-and-coming deputy sheriff with designs on the top job. He's been brought out of retirement, going through chemotherapy, and has seen it all. While developing a complete character picture, we are also treated to a compelling mystery that had me guessing right to the end.
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Summary: A gripping intense crime novel
Review: Based on his proven track record, semi-retired senior officer Tim Hess is required back on duty by the Orange County Police Department Chief Brighton to catch a murderer called "the purse snatcher" and also to help the Chief to solve some internal police department affairs. As Tim Hess is suffering from cancer disorders, he needs the benefits of this job to pay his chemoterapy so he decides to hop in, in addition the police department also assigns him as partner, a conflictive tough minded brash woman officer called Merci Rayborn whose career is her life, these two characters are very well cast, particularly Merci and can be closely savored through their action, reflections and language usage as the story unfolds with spirited tension from beginning to end Generally speaking, this intriguing tale does not stand out from any other related to the whodunit pack type, but qualifies as an excellent novel, because it displays an skillful combination of ingredients related to police procedural like crime, gore, sleuth, and forensics
In particular, it features detailed portrayals of genuine somber activities and situations like body embalming technical procedures and the influence of chemical castration in the daily life and cognitive mind of a sexual offender, the latter renders another gripping story inside the plot The final chapters feature two endings, one than can be predictable depending on the insight of the reader and the other very moving and totally unpredictable, containing a pleasant surprise that provides a magnificent touch to the foregoing. This is my first experience with T Jefferson Parker and in light of the quality of "The Blue Hour" is certainly not going to be my last.
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Summary: Cop's novel!
Review: Being a retired cop from Orange County and former head of a homicide bureau I am skeptical when it comes to reading "cop books". I found Parker's novel to be as accurate in detail as I have ever read. I was so impressed with this book that I immediately read Red Light as a follow-up. I am in the process of buying three more of Parker's books. Keep up the good work!
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Summary: Tight, Tense, and Suspenseful.....
Review: Detective Merci Rayborn is smart, talented, ambitious, and also very rough around the edges. By Sheriff Department standards she's pretty unpopular, and does not work or play well with others. Retired detective, Tim Hess, has seen it all and then some during his forty plus years on the job. Three times divorced and fighting lung cancer, he's back on the payroll as a full-time consultant. He needs the benefits. This unlikely, mismatched team is hand picked to catch the "Purse Snatcher", a serial killer who abducts attractive women from Orange County malls, leaving behind only their purses and lots of blood in remote locations. With no bodies or other forensic evidence, and very little else to go on, Hess and Rayborn dig deep, working every conceivable angle to draw this killer out in the open, and hopefully push him to make a mistake..... T Jefferson Parker has written a masterpiece of suspense that grabs you from page one and never lets go. The writing is crisp, vivid, and intelligent, and the dialogue rings true. His intricate and compelling plot cleverly twists and turns, keeping the reader off-balance and guessing, and is filled with intense, riveting scenes. Mr Parker's indepth knowledge of Southern California, law enforcement, and police procedures adds real credibility to the story. But it's his brilliant characterizations that make this thriller stand out and sparkle. These are well defined, real people, sometimes heroic and well-meaning, often flawed and chasing their own internal demons, and Parker breathes life into even the most minor of characters. The Blue Hour is the first book of a superb series that just gets better with each installment, and those who have not yet met Merci Rayborn should begin here, at the beginning, and read them all.
Rating:
Summary: Tight, Tense, and Suspenseful.....
Review: Detective Merci Rayborn is smart, talented, ambitious, and also very rough around the edges. By Sheriff Department standards she's pretty unpopular, and does not work or play well with others. Retired detective, Tim Hess, has seen it all and then some during his forty plus years on the job. Three times divorced and fighting lung cancer, he's back on the payroll as a full-time consultant. He needs the benefits. This unlikely, mismatched team is hand picked to catch the "Purse Snatcher", a serial killer who abducts attractive women from Orange County malls, leaving behind only their purses and lots of blood in remote locations. With no bodies or other forensic evidence, and very little else to go on, Hess and Rayborn dig deep, working every conceivable angle to draw this killer out in the open, and hopefully push him to make a mistake..... T Jefferson Parker has written a masterpiece of suspense that grabs you from page one and never lets go. The writing is crisp, vivid, and intelligent, and the dialogue rings true. His intricate and compelling plot cleverly twists and turns, keeping the reader off-balance and guessing, and is filled with intense, riveting scenes. Mr Parker's indepth knowledge of Southern California, law enforcement, and police procedures adds real credibility to the story. But it's his brilliant characterizations that make this thriller stand out and sparkle. These are well defined, real people, sometimes heroic and well-meaning, often flawed and chasing their own internal demons, and Parker breathes life into even the most minor of characters. The Blue Hour is the first book of a superb series that just gets better with each installment, and those who have not yet met Merci Rayborn should begin here, at the beginning, and read them all.
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Summary: Tim Hess and Merci Rayborn held me spellbound!
Review: From the very first page, The Blue Hour, had me in its thrall. The retired detective Tim Hess and his crusty young partner Merci Rayborn are delightful, though flawed, characters. My heart was breaking all the way through the story because the ravages of cancer treatment were poignantly detailed. Merci's unbelievable understanding of Hess's struggle and her empathy were endearing. The mystery itself was a top-notch thriller, but the character development really makes this book worthy of recommendation. I loved every word on every page--until the very last and then I cried. That must mean something!
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Summary: A very engrossing audiocasette
Review: I found myself taking the long way home to finish this story, my first by Parker. He breathes new life into the boring old serial killer format, and you become engrossed with the lead characters. The narrator's voice is clear, varies from character to character, and he carries accents well. Unlike some abridged autiotapes, I did not have trouble keeping the story-line straight. I am hooked on Parker now.
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