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Twisted Shadows |
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T wisted Shadows byJames Schmerer Writers Club Press 269 pages, 2000 ISBN 0595095666 Reviewed by Bev Walton-Porter Read our author interview Meet Lou Parker, a retired cop from New York City who spends his days on a 24-foot boat off the coast of Florida, doing nothing more than nursing beers and pretending to fish. Retirement hasn't been all that it's cracked up to be for Lou Parker. But suddenly, things go from bad to worse when he is notified that his estranged son, Shawn Parker, also a New York City cop, has been killed. Seems Lou's son has been dubbed a dirty cop according to the quick and tidy investigation conducted by the 109th precinct - but Lou's instincts tell him otherwise. Despite Captain Ned Morrison's disdain for Lou Parker, the ex-cop isn't about to let things drop and have his son branded dirty. Like it or not, Lou sinks his teeth into the case and what he uncovers is deeper than he or anyone else expects - except for Detective Chris Preston, that is. Preston, the deceased Shawn Parker's ex-partner and ex-girlfriend, is as foul-mouthed and hard-boiled of a cop as Lou Parker is. Beyond that, she has a body that won't quit and Lou is determined to keep her out of the case. As a hard-edged veteran of the New York police ranks, Lou sees Preston as nothing more than a babe playing street cop when she should tone down her language and her demeanor to a more feminine level. The only problem is, Detective Chris Preston is as determined to find Shawn's killer as his dad is. With clever, realistic dialogue and lightning-quick action streaming off the pages, readers looking for a leisurely stroll through the pages of Twisted Shadows are in for a rude awakening. Instead, they should plan to receive a jolting, twisting romp through 269 pages of pure action, suspense and no-holds-barred verbal sparring between Lou Parker and Chris Preston. Author James Schmerer, producer of three television series and story consultant on countless others, delivers an engaging storyline, with characters who seem as real as your next-door neighbor. He delivers a refreshing female protagonist Chris Preston, who redefines what being a female detective is all about - she clearly reminds readers of a revamped, sexier, edgier 21st Century version of the policewoman Angie Dickinson made famous in the '70s. The characters of Detective Chris Preston and ex-cop Lou Parker deserve a series of novels, and possibly a weekly television show to boot. The palpable tension between the elder Parker and his deceased son's girlfriend sizzles. Yet the author manages to artfully keep the overt sexual writing to a minimum, something that is admirable in this day and age of show all, tell all novels. From Lou Parker's struggles with the 109th precinct over the investigation of his son's murder, to his professional and personal battles with Chris Preston, his ex-wife and his drinking, this story delivers a twisting, turning journey that keeps the reader on edge until the very end - with a first-rate surprise murder solution couched in clever packaging. An excellent read, this is one police story that shouldn't be missed. |
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