Monday, February 14, 2011

The Border Lords

Having been introduced to author T. Jefferson Parker care of Robert Crais a few years back at a L.A. Times Festival of Books panel, I can honestly say it's been an enjoyable stretch. While friends have read and recommended his earlier works (notably The Fallen, Laguna Heat, and Silent Joe), I started it off with his L.A. Outlaws novel from 2008. It introduced the character of Charlie Hood (along with the personas of Joaquin and Alison Murrieta who continue to haunt all of these novels) and launched a series that has constituted my entire connection with the author. Though I have to admit my time with this string of novels hasn't been without its bumps -- see my review of The Renegades (the L.A. Outlaws follow-up) as a case in point.

Still, there are Southern California authors I will stay with no matter what because they write so well and craft their stories in and around the landscape that is their home (and mine) so adeptly. Parker is one of them. As well, he regularly delivers a consummate perspective (through a myriad of new and continuing characters) on the Drug War theatre happening on either side of the California-Mexico border through the four novels I've read. This author manages to give all the personalities he puts on the page a depth that poorer writers just turn into stereotypes and caricatures. Although, what I've finally come to recognize in the Hood novels is that Charlie is not so much the lead character, but is the platform that forms the basis of Parker's narrative. CH remains relatively interesting, but he can pale when compared to some of those TJP puts into orbit around him by way of southland crime.

That realization of mine began with last year's Iron River, the third book in the series. The history of southern California gun-making and gun-running, and its impact on both sides of the border, were manifest. Let alone the acts of devilry and butchery perpetrated among the drug cartels which Parker chronicled in that novel. Still, the SoCal native raised it up another notch with the fourth in the series published last month, The Border Lords. The synopsis of which has Sean Ozburn, a lone ATF agent 15 months into a deep undercover with the Baja Cartel, going rogue and devising his own strategy for doing good acts and 'fighting evil' that his own people would never condone, let alone authorize. It'll be left to Charlie Hood to ferret out the truth and what is behind the madness on both sides of the border. Jeff Parker has admitted that Border Lords is his implicit homage to his favorite work, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. IMO, it is one of his best books in the series (one that is projected to be six novels in length) and the genre.

A bit of fair warning, however: the author, who's research and detail of crime and the bureaucracy of law enforcement in the southland is extraordinary, introduced what many have perceived as a bit of mysticism into the last two Charlie Hood novels. Some readers have found it oft-putting (if you bother to read some of Amazon's customer reviews). If that seems incongruent, you may want to steer clear. However, if you do, you'll miss some compelling storytelling by this author and the spellbinding amalgam he's managed to capture on the page. Tim Rutten in his L.A. Times book review may have described it best:
"The border, for both peoples, always has been a moral frontier and a boundary of the imagination as much as a political one, and in this latest novel Parker takes full advantage of the physical and mental landscape's ambiguities. Almost nothing or no one in this gripping narrative is exactly who or what they seem to be. The author, moreover, has a knowing hand and pushes — in a sophisticated but never merely ironic way — against familiar literary memories as varied as Cormac McCarthy's border-hopping cowboys, Carlos Castaneda's Native American shaman and Graham Greene's whiskey priest. In fact, the book's most chilling character — and it's a tight competition — is a twisted pirouette off Greene's memorable character and one of the most appalling clerics in contemporary literature, if he really is what he appears to be."
Brilliance Audio once again produced the audiobook of this novel, as they've done for many of Parker's novels, with their usual fine production values. As well, David Colaci performed the narration with his customary skill, and he's been involved with the entire line since L.A. Outlaws. If you've heard him before, I think you can tell this narrator has become quite comfortable with the Hood character through his readings. Still, Colaci really seems to get a kick out of the variety of individuals Parker brings on to his stage. Although, having to assemble a large and distinct stable of vocal characterizations would not be his strong suit, IMO. Still, he's an asset for the audiobook listener and delivers on what the author has in store for fans who savor what he brings to the table.

16 comments:

  1. Wow! What a fabulous review. This is one author who keeps circling around my radar screen, and I may just have to break down and pick something from him up now.

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  2. Although he's still in my TBR pile, your path to Parker sounds just like mine, Michael.  Brian's read quite a few and recommended them, but not until seeing him at last years LAFoB did I actively move his books from Brian's shelves to my stack'o books.


    Great review.  Thank you, Michael!

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  3. I thought you were doing a post on...well never mind.
    T. Jefferson Parker is an underrated author. I have been recommending him to folks and I love when they come back and ask for more. Great review, as always!

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  4. He's a good one to pick up, Elizabeth. And he can be downright habit forming ;) .


    Thank you very much, my friend. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. Thank you very much, Christine (I'm making that leap since you mentioned Brian and LAT FoB and are listed a mystery guest ;) ).

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  6. Yeah, I'm so glad to have jumped on to the TJP wagon. He's very underrated. Oh... and the post you likely thought I'd do today can be found here. Thanks so much, Bev.

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  7. TJP's books are very hit and miss with me. I missed the last Charlie Hood (maybe even two? I dunno.), I didn't realize mysticism had crept into the work. Seems to be something of a trend in crime fiction.

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  8. After L.A. Outlaws, The Renegades was a bit of a come down. But for me, the last two Charlie Hoods have made up for it. Where else is mysticism trending in crime fiction, out of curiosity? Thanks, Naomi.

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  9. I'm so glad to hear you love this, Michael, and that you're turning other people onto TJP. I think he's a phenomenal writer. I don't have much interest in stories about drug/gun-running but I'd read Jeff write about anything because he's just that good.

    If you have time, go back and check out his Merci Rayborn books: THE BLUE HOUR, RED LIGHT & BLACK WATER. It's a stunning, heartbreaking trilogy, better than the CH series so far, in my opinion.

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  10. Based on your recommendation, I will definitely check out his earlier books. Thanks so much, Elyse.

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  11. I have finally decided to take the scary trip to my "deep end" and listen to a book. And I'm not giving up. I'm going to listen to an ENTIRE book. Would you recommend the start of this series as having the potential to convert a non-audio learner? If not, what would?

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  12. Rachel: I think that's a great move on your part. And L.A. Outlaws would be a good one to start with. Though, it is the rare one in that it has two narrators performing the read (the husband & wife team of David Colacci and Susan Ericksen). Another great one would be The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, read by MacLeod Andrews (Jen's review highly recommends). Lastly, try Adrian McKinty's Fifty Grand, read wonderfully by Paula Christensen.

    Thanks, Rachel.

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  13. Thanks for this review, I am a big fan of the work of Richard Stark/Donald Westlake, Charles Willeford and Elmore Leonard, it sounds like Parker may be a modern incarnation of that sort, is that a safe assumption? If so, I definitely need to remember to pick it up...and add to my massive pile of books to read!

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  14. The works of Stark/Westlake, Willeford, and Leonard are some truly great ones. If you enjoy them, Parker brings a Southern California flavor to the genre that you very well may enjoy. And if that TBR pile is to go higher, might as well have it done by good writers. Thanks, Colonel.

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