Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews

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Cold Pursuit by T. Jefferson Parker

Hyperion, April, 2003
Hardcover, 384 pages
ISBN: 0786868058
Ordering information:
Amazon.com


Cold Pursuit
 by T. Jefferson Parker "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, 2003
Hardcover, 400 pages
ISBN: 0399149724
Ordering information:
Amazon.com


The Confessor
 by Daniel Silva 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.


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