Pacific Beat [Mass Market Paperback]

T. Jefferson Parker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2004

Ex-cop Jim Weir thought he'd seen it all during his years on the force. That is until he saw the body of his sister Annie, brutally used by a monster in human form, then carelessly discarded. He'd never seen such grief ravage the face of his friend and brother-in-law Ray Cruz, a good cop on the Newport Beach Police Department. When Weir learns that the only witness swore the killer made his escape in a Newport Beach squad car, his disbelief turns to confusion and outrage. Now the anguished Weir is on the killer's trail, looking for answers among his former colleagues, but he's going up against a solid wall of silent blue. And just out of sight, a fractured shadow of a man watches Jim's progress with twisted amusement as he waits for his time to come.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Parker's powerful story of murder and police corruption--a Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection in cloth--features sparkling, tough prose in the hard-boiled tradition of Chandler and MacDonald.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The author of Laguna Heat (LJ 9/1/85) again combines generous detail, heartfelt characterization, and impressive language in an outstanding, memorable, and magnetic work. John Weir, an ex-sheriff's department employee, and brother-in-law Raymond battle corrupt police, development-at-all-cost advocates, and a known sex offender when they try to find the murderer of John's beloved sister. Splayed against the coastal community of Newport Beach, California, where old-time residents hope to elect a "slow-growth" candidate, their investigation reveals ever-deeper layers of deception. This exciting, multidimensional plot should grab even the most demanding mystery reader.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 423 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312927924
• ISBN-13: 978-0312927929
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #653,964 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Early Work By T. Jefferson Parker!, June 9, 2007

By 

bobbewig (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pacific Beat (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read many of Parker's more recent books, I decided to read Pacific Beat, which was his third book written in 1991. This book clearly demonstrates that even early-on in his career Parker had a strong talent for creating intricate plots, rich characters, lots of atmosphere and believable, tough prose. Pacific Beat is a story of murder and corruption in Newport Beach, CA, and, in typical Parker fashion, has some interesting plot twists and a surprising ending. Two factors, however, kept me from giving this book a 5-star rating (and almost caused me to lower my rating to 3 1/2 stars). One, and the bigger of the two factors, is that it is a little too long and tended to drag at times. For me, this problem would have been overcome, if it was about 50 pages or so shorter. The second factor is that a few of the surprises seemed a bit too contrived. While not Parker's best book (which to me is Where Serpents Lie), Pacific Beat is worth reading.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, characters, description, plot., March 22, 2000

By 

SandyCeren - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pacific Beat (Hardcover)

A beautifully written sensitive portrayal of characters and relationships woven into a good story. One of the best in this genre. Parker has hooked me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, not a great read. I'd give it a 'B' or a 'B+', November 22, 2005

By 

DWD "DWD's Reviews" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pacific Beat (Mass Market Paperback)

So, why not an A?

For my tastes, it was a little too dark and a little too slow. Sometimes it felt like some of the plot twists were forced on the reader by way of surprise information (to the reader) that all of the characters already knew about, such as the many connections between the land developer and the local politicians.

On the other hand, I was surprised by the ending which, despite the slow parts in the rest of the book, just flew by.

Strong character development, good use of false leads. Solid, solid work.