Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews
Page One of TwoCold Pursuit by T. Jefferson Parker
Hyperion, April, 2003Hardcover, 384 pages
ISBN: 0786868058
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
"That night the wind came hard off the Pacific, an
El Nino event that would blow three inches of rain
onto the roofs of San Diego. It was the first big storm
of the season and overdue. Palm fronds lifted with a plastic
hiss and slapped against the windows of McMichael's
apartment." So begins Cold Pursuit, T. Jefferson Parker's
gripping detective thriller which is set against the background
of a cold and rainy San Diego winter. Homicide detective
Tom McMichael is called in to investigate the apparent murder
of Pete Braga, one of San Diego's wealthiest and most influential
citizens. There are no shortage of suspects; as the former Port
Commissioner, and owner of a successful car dealership,
Braga had plenty of enemies, both professional and personal.
McMichael was once wildly infatuated with Braga's
beautiful granddaughter, and McMichael's grandfather
is widely believed to have delivered the severe beating to
Braga's son which left the son with permanent brain
damage. All of this makes for some very uncomfortable
moments for McMichael during the investigation.
Adding to his discomfort is his attraction to the prime
suspect: Braga's very hot nurse-companion, whose
blasé attitude isn't helping her defense.
T. Jefferson Parker knows noir; he takes a classic murder mystery and gives it a unique styling that fascinates as it entertains. Non-Californians might think of San Diego as a sunny summer destination, which features happy side trips to Seaworld and the San Diego Zoo. But residents will recognize Parker's winter incarnation of San Diego, which can be dark with some torrential downpours. The dialogue flows smoothly, the plot twists and turns and the characters -- whether appealing, pathetic or totally repugnant -- all have that ring of authenticity that is the hallmark of the most skilled writers. If you haven't entered the world of T. Jefferson Parker, by all means head to the bookstore and remedy the situation immediately.
--Claire E. White
The Confessor by Daniel Silva
Putnam, February, 2003Hardcover, 400 pages
ISBN: 0399149724
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Gabriel Allon is a noted art restorer who undertakes
commissions all over Europe. But he is also an Israeli
spy, who can never quite seem to get his name off the
list of active agents. Allon is asked to investigate the
murder of his old friend Benjamin Stern, who
was an Israeli agent in his youth. The signs point to
Stern's having been killed by an infamous assassin
known only as the Leopard. As Allon tracks the Leopard,
he also must find out why Stern was killed. At the time of
his death, Stern was doing research for a book about the
Catholic church's cooperation with Hitler in regards to the
Holocaust. The incendiary research has drawn the ire of
the Crux Vera, a secret, wealthy and influential society
whose members reach right into the heart of the Vatican.
As Allon's investigation proceeds, Allon becomes convinced
that the current, more liberal, Pope is going to be assassinated --
and, ironically, it will be up to the Israelis to prevent
that from occurring.
This is the third outing for the spy turned art restorer, Gabriel Allon, after The Kill Artist and The English Assassin. The classic spy novel has been in somewhat short supply lately. Instead, the shelves are filled with legal thrillers and serial killer books. But Daniel Silva has breathed new life into the genre -- his work is polished and fast-paced, with fully-fleshed characters whose ethical dilemmas ring true. This is truly the thinking woman's spy novel.
Mystery/Thriller Reviews
Page One | Page Two
Click Here to Return to the Book Reviews Index
Return to the April 2003 issue of The IWJ.
More from Writers Write