In a message dated 2/20/02 2:08:33 AM,
rribic@optusnet.com.au writes:
<< So, would the earlier books be worth reading? I read
"Summer of Fear"
(talk about generic titles) & wasn't very impressed,
either. >>
Jeff Parker's LITTLE SAIGON and the extremely generically
titled PACIFIC BEAT are just as powerful as LAGUNA HEAT.
After reading those three, SUMMER OF FEAR is that much more
of a disappointment. In my view however, Parker redeems
himself in his subsequent work. While not on a par with his
first three, his next four books are all quite good. I
especially enjoyed THE BLUE HOUR, although the coda is a bit
wonky. His protagonist Merci Rayborn, who also appears in RED
LIGHT, is similar to Robert Crais' Carol Starkey in
DEMOLITION ANGEL. While there are other very good writers
working the territory, some of whom are Avians, in my
opinion, Crais, Connelly and Parker, all in their 40s and at
the top of their games, currently own the L.A. crime
landscape. I haven't read Parker's latest, SILENT JOE
yet.
Laguna Heat was made into one of HBO's first original movies
back in the late 80's with a pre-L.A. Law Harry Hamlin,
Catherine Hicks and Jason Robards. While true to the original
source material, the film treatment to my recollection was
rather tepid.
John Lau
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