Summer of Fear

Rating:
Summary: Summer of Fear by T. Jefferson Parker
Review: I have read almost of all of T. Jefferson Parkers book, and he is
one of the best authors around.
THIS book was my favorite however, because there are two stories going on at once and they are both fascinating.
The first is a crime writer who's wife if dying, literally wasting away in front of him, and the touching realistic way he is trying to deal with it.
Then, there is a serial killer on the loose in So. CA (Orange County) which is a laid back beach community, and the serial killer begins communicating with the crime writer. Some serial killer books can be too grueling to read, and although I was glad I wasn't alone while reading this book, it was a good psychological thriller, and with the skill of a writer like T. Jefferson, this book was just hard to put down.
Scary one minute, and then heart breaking in the next chapter.
I'm hoping that this book will have some sort of sequel, at least with the crime writer coming back so we can see how his life is now, and his job is so interesting that there are many more story line possibilities.
I'm an avid read, and mystery is my favorite genre, and T. Jefferson Parker just gets better and better the more he writes.
I recommend you read any of his books, especially this one. The latest books with Merci Rayborne are great as is Silent Joe.
I love the California beach background and all of his main characters; you feel as if you've met them and care about their life. He is a truly gifted writer, and if I recommend a writer to read it is definetly T. Jefferson Parker!
Summer of Fear is for the truly hard core mystery fans, which I am, and the mixture of fear, pathos and also love, loss and closure, makes for a book that I didn't want to end.
Thank you T. Jefferson Parker.

Rating:
Summary: Fear of caculated violence is not primary in this work
Review: I read Parker's Silent Joe, and am now working my way back through his books. I would not recommend this book to someone looking for tight plotting and suspense in the unfolding of the looming threat of a serial killer, but for the myriad of conflicting emotions that surround adult relationships, this book gets all stars. Parker consistantly pedestals his female characters, even as he draws their more reprehensible characteristics, a predisposition I cannot understand. I find most provocative his protrayals of men, how they relate to one another, their views of family and their place in their worlds. Several intriguing characters were introduced in this book, and while I am content to let the story of Russ and Izzy rest, I would wish for follow ups on some of the secondary characters, Chet, Marty, Karen.

Rating:
Summary: Fear of caculated violence is not primary in this work
Review: I read Parker's Silent Joe, and am now working my way back through his books. I would not recommend this book to someone looking for tight plotting and suspense in the unfolding of the looming threat of a serial killer, but for the myriad of conflicting emotions that surround adult relationships, this book gets all stars. Parker consistantly pedestals his female characters, even as he draws their more reprehensible characteristics, a predisposition I cannot understand. I find most provocative his protrayals of men, how they relate to one another, their views of family and their place in their worlds. Several intriguing characters were introduced in this book, and while I am content to let the story of Russ and Izzy rest, I would wish for follow ups on some of the secondary characters, Chet, Marty, Karen.

Rating:
Summary: Parker is masterful at capturing hard-to-look-at emotions
Review: Summer of Fear may not be the most carefully plotted suspense tale I've ever read, but I was riveted by the unblinking focus he placed on raw, difficult emotions. I've never before experienced a writer who more accurately portrayed the inner life of someone watching a loved one suffer a debilitating illness. When people rank a piece of fiction as "for adults only," we usually mean it contains sex and/or violence. This novel has both, but I would keep it away from children because the strong, ambivalent feelings of a tortured spouse are for grown-ups only. I'm a mystery and suspense fan, and I recognize the plot weaknesses in Summer of Fear, but I would recommend this novel to anyone who appreciates well-drawn characters. But be prepared to look at real life in all its conflicted, ugly, transcendent, messy glory.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Look
Review: The is an excellent character study. The family dynamics (something that usually bores me) had me glued, and helped bring new layers to the story. I've enjoyed all the Parker books I've read, and this one had the most interesting characters -- deep, involving and meaningful.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Look
Review: The is an excellent character study. The family dynamics (something that usually bores me) had me glued, and helped bring new layers to the story. I've enjoyed all the Parker books I've read, and this one had the most interesting characters -- deep, involving and meaningful.