The Blue Hour (Merci Rayborn Series) [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

T. Jefferson Parker (Author), Tavia Gilbert (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2009 | Series: Merci Rayborn Series (Book 1)

Tim Hess is a semiretired veteran cop staring at a death sentence-his own. Detective Merci Rayborn, young enough to be his daughter, is brash, impatient, and not someone from whom Hess wants to be taking orders. He certainly isn’t planning on falling in love with her… Together they must track down a psychopathic killer who’s been abducting beautiful young women from the malls of Orange County. Dubbed the “Purse Snatcher” for the chilling way he brags about his shockingly distinctive crimes, he is one of T. Jefferson Parker’s most original creations. “Ingenious, intricate, complicated yet credible, a real page-turner. There are leaks, leads, false leads, and an express train of an ending. Within the crackling tale, a quieter current carries an unforeseen and ill-starred love affair. A man much praised doesn’t need more encomiums; T. Jefferson Parker deserves all he gets.” -Los Angeles Times. “One of Parker’s best-and that’s a major statement considering his track record.” -Chicago Tribune

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The plot may sound familiar, but surehanded thriller writer Parker (Where Serpents Dance) proves ever-surprising in his latest novel, the story of an unusual pair of police protagonists and a serial killer stalking beautiful women in California's Laguna County. Tim Hess is a retired cop, fighting lung cancer, who's called back to active duty to find the diabolical killer who "signs" his murders by eviscerating his victims. His boss and partner in the investigation is an attractive, brusque detective named Merci Rayborn, who quickly dismisses the lone suspect in the case, a paroled, chemically castrated Romanian rapist living under virtual house arrest in an apartment complex near the latest crime scene. Hess stays on the rapist's trail, though, tracking an embalming machine that may be part of the killer's bizarre m.o., but by the time the clues come together, Merci is in murderous hands. Parker places his building blocks with meticulous precision, balancing the feisty yet somewhat melancholic interaction between Hess and Rayborn with a terrifying portrait of a psychopath, although the physical relationship between the two cops does seem a bit forced. The details of the crime are presented with judicious authority as Parker consistently underplays the more sensational aspects of the homicides to keep the narrative unpredictable and dynamic, making it far more gripping than the average serial-killer thriller. Author tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Parker serves up another Orange County, CA, police procedural, this time pairing retired expert cop Tim Hess with brash young detective Merci Rayborn. They're an unlikely team fighting a nasty serial killer who abducts wealthy, attractive women, eviscerates them, and then apparently saves their bodies. What is even more unlikely is that a 70-year-old retiree fighting lung cancer could take orders from and work effectively with an ambitious woman half his age. But not only do they work well togetherAthey find themselves falling in love. Parker's seventh thriller (after Where Serpents Lie, LJ 1/98) has enough chills and twists to keep the pages turning, but the real story here is the surprising love match that Parker manages to pull off with realistic characters and true emotion. This will be another hit for Parker's fans and will appeal to Michael Connolly's as well. Recommended for all fiction collections.ARebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Calumet Lib., Hammond, IN
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD; Abridged edition (October 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441807233
• ISBN-13: 978-1441807236
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,527,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

T. Jefferson Parker is the bestselling author of numerous novels, including Storm Runners and The Fallen. Alongside Dick Francis and James Lee Burke, Parker is one of only three writers to be awarded the Edgar Award for Best Novel more than once. Parker lives with his family in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary!, September 22, 2000

By 

"eagerreader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blue Hour (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first time I've had the pleasure of reading one of Parker's books. I was impressed. This was not only a riveting and complex murder mystery, but the choice of two very opposite lead characters was a masterful stroke. Tim Hess, a 67 yr. old semi-retired detective is in the twilight of his life. He's recovered from surgery for lung cancer and is undergoing a very draining course of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Merci Rayborn is in her 30's, a brash,ambitious offficer who is having some problems in the Department after filing a long overdue sexual harassment charge against a fellow cop. Tim's boss asks him to work with Merci on a missing persons case where the only clues found are the victims' purses, blood soaked ground, and parts of human intestines--but no bodies. Merci lays down the ground rules. It's her case and she's in charge. As the two gradually mesh together, Tim tries to help Merci by giving her the benefits of his years of experience. At first, all she sees is a dying older cop she's been partnered with, but her growth begins as she comes to know and admire him for his vast knowledge and dedication to the job and his courage in dealing with his illness. Merci soon finds herself enjoying Tim's company, sharing meals and offtime with him, and looking at him with new respect and genuine affection. Their relationship is one of the aspects that sets this story apart from other serial murder mysteries. THE BLUE HOUR should go to the top of your reading list if you enjoy an unusual and innovative thriller, with an ending that leaves you with a lump in your throat and an appreciation of a well written keeper to add to your collection of outstanding books.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great Parker novel. He gets better all the time....., December 29, 1999

By 

Jayson (Rancho Santa Margarita, ca, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blue Hour (Hardcover)

I have read all of his books, and I can say like 'Where Serpents Lie', The Blue Hour is a real page turner....So much so, that I finished the book in about 2 days.

What is so amazing about his novels is his character development. His characters are not cookie-cutter super detectives, but real people with real problems, sometimes even tragic problems. This lends a lot more to a stories credability. In addition, being a resident of Southern California, I know many of the places he writes about, and he nails them to a 'Tee'.

I have noticed that Mr. Parkers novels as of late have taken a darker tone to them. The more horrific side of homicide, almost tickled the musings of Rod Serling. No, this is not fantasy like the Twighlight Zone, but the crimes are bizarre and so real...

The Blue Hour had many plot twists near the end and reached a climatic stage that really made you want to read faster and placed you right in the middle of things. The nice (or not so nice thing) is that Mr. Parkers novel's always have an unexpected ending, and they are not always happy endings!

Why this didn't rate 5 stars in my eyes is that there were two incidents in the book I had a hard time getting over: 1) The very end <didn't quite understand the relevance>, and a brief interlude about 2/3rds of the way through that sets up the very end. I think it was somewhat unlikely, though possible.

Also, anyone out there that knows how I can get in touch with Hyperion Books for fan mail to Mr. Parker, please let me know. Looking forward to his next novel 'The Red Light'

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Wonderful!, November 22, 2002

By 

J. Minkey (San Carlos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blue Hour (Mass Market Paperback)

I typically get all fired up and write a review on a book I can't stand. I'm finally writing one for a book I loved. This is one marvelous read. It works wonderfully as a thriller but it's the depth of the characters that really makes this a special book. On top of that Parker has a great way of creatively moving the story along that keeps you guessing right up to the end. Merci Rayborn's character is not very likeable yet she never becomes annoying. She's argumentative and abrasive and completely tactless and non political but the truth is that I know many people just like that...including me! She often say's just what I had been thinking. I was hoping that she would grow up a little bit and be less self absorbed, sort of my wish for myself as well. I found this book after discoving T Jefferson Parker with Silent Joe, which I also loved, and I've become a confirmed fan! He is truly gifted and it'll be fun to continue reading his books.