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Summary and Reviews of Cold Pursuit by T Jefferson Parker

Cold Pursuit by T Jefferson Parker

Cold Pursuit

by T Jefferson Parker
  • Critics' Consensus:
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  • First Published:
  • Apr 1, 2003, 384 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Oct 2004, 448 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

A hard-hitting thriller of murder, vengeance, and secret passions that will keep readers spellbound.

From the Edgar Award–winning author of Silent Joe, a new hard-hitting thriller of murder, vengeance, and secret passions that will keep readers spellbound.

Homicide cop Tom McMichael is on the rotation when an 84-year-old city patriarch named Pete Braga is found bludgeoned to death. Not good news, especially since the Irish McMichaels and the Portuguese Bragas share a violent family history dating back three generations. Years ago Braga shot McMichael's grandfather in a dispute over a paycheck; soon thereafter Braga's son was severely beaten behind a waterfront bar -- legend has it that it was an act of revenge by McMichael's father.

McMichael must put aside the old family blood feud, and find the truth about Pete Braga's death. Braga's beautiful nurse is a suspect -- she says she stepped out for some firewood, but key evidence suggests otherwise. The investigation soon expands to include Braga's business, his family, the Catholic diocese, a multi-million dollar Indian casino, a prostitute, a cop, and, of course, the McMichael family. Cold Pursuit is the novel that T. Jefferson Parker fans have been waiting for.

Chapter One

That night the wind came hard off the Pacific, an El Nino event that would blow three inches of rain onto the roofs of San Diego. It was the first big storm of the season, early January and overdue. Palm fronds lifted with a plastic hiss and slapped against the windows of McMichael's apartment. The digitized chirp of his phone sounded ridiculous against the steady wind outside.

"Somebody killed Pete Braga about an hour ago," said McMichael's lieutenant. "You're up on the wheel of fortune, but I'll give it to Team Two if you want."

It was a question McMichael could think about for a long time but didn't.

"We'll take it."

"Somebody bludgeoned Pete in his house, Tommy," said the lieutenant. "Blood and brains all over the place. Patrol's holding the cleaning lady or some such thing."

It took McMichael a moment to transfer Pete Braga from the roster of the living to the ranks of the dead. Murder was always a surprise. ...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

Esquire
One of the most entertaining tough-guy writers

The Washington Post - Patrick Anderson
If you love the classic crime story, as it has evolved from, say, Raymond Chandler to John D. MacDonald to Michael Connelly, then don't miss Jefferson Parker's Cold Pursuit -- because this is about as good as it gets.

The San Diego Union-Tribune
[Parker's novels are] the thinking man's bestsellers.

Booklist - Wes Lukowsky
[Parker] takes the standard mystery plot device of a motive from the distant past and upends it. The result is surprising and deeply satisfying. Another wonderful mystery from one of the very best.

Kirkus Reviews
Parker's never got the respect he deserves. Maybe this engrossing tale of a flawed hero redeemed by suffering-the kind of theme he's always handled so well (Black Water, 2002, etc.)-will bring him a wider audience.

Library Journal - Jo Ann Vicarel
Parker, whose Silent Joe won the 2002 Edgar Award for Best Novel, writes complex mysteries peopled with finely developed characters. For most fiction collections.

Publishers Weekly
It's not unusual for a thriller to begin much better than it ends, but the more eloquent passages of Cold Pursuit make the routine ones doubly disappointing.

Author Blurb Sue Grafton
I rank the crime novels of T. Jefferson Parker right up there with the best.

Reader Reviews

McMike

I Am Speechless
Wow! This book is great! The way Parker chronicles the events in the book is way more than nice! It's perfect! It's a thrilling chase! Especially the chase on the Coronado Bridge! I love it! And the way he describes Patricia and Tom's past ...   Read More
Moe

Cold Pursuit
The book was alright, but kind of monotonous and dull in the begining. the best part was the middle of the book, the end was crappy.

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Read-Alikes

Read-Alikes Full readalike results are for members only

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    Filled with intelligent, well-drawn characters, sparkling, snappy dialogue, and razor-sharp plotting, P. J. Tracy's stylish, high-voltage new nail-biter will have readers on the edge of their seats.

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