Want a NOOK? Explore Now
The audacious white-hot new novel from T. Jefferson Parker that redefines the landscape of the thriller and shatters every expectation you ever had about the good guys and the bad...
When Benjamin Armenta, leader of the powerful Gulf Cartel, kidnaps songwriter Erin McKenna, his demands are as unique as the jungle fortress in which Erin is imprisoned. She’s ordered to compose a narcocorrido, a folk ballad that will romanticize Armenta as one of the greatest desperadoes in Mexican history. Allowed to wander the hallways of the castle with only a guitar and a mysterious old priest to keep her company, Erin must produce the loveliest song these men have ever heard. Or she’ll be skinned alive.
As Erin’s music wafts through the jungle, it serves as a siren call to the two men who love her: lawman Charlie Hood and Erin’s outlaw husband, Bradley Jones. They have the power to rescue her, but their long-simmering rivalry could very well compromise Erin’s deliverance and cause the ending of a life-and-death ballad to be rewritten in blood.
Despite occasional affecting moments, the plot is essentially thin, unsustained by a cast of larger- than-life, empathy-proof characters. A rare misstep from the accomplished Parker.
T. Jefferson Parker is the bestselling author of eighteen previous novels, including L.A. Outlaws and Storm Runners. Along with Dick Francis and James Lee Burke, he is one of only three two-time recipients of the Edgar Award for Best Novel. Parker lives with his family in Southern California.
His writing career began in 1978 as a cub reporter on the weekly newspaper, The Newport Ensign. After covering crime, city hall, and local culture for the Ensign, Parker moved on to the Daily Pilot newspaper, where he won three Orange County Press Club awards for his articles. During this time, he filed away information he would later use to develop characters and plot points for his novels.
Published in 1985, Parker's first book, Laguna Heat, was written in whatever spare time he could find during his stint as a reporter. The book received rave reviews and was made into an HBO movie starring Harry Hamlin, Jason Robards and Rip Torn.
Since that auspicious beginning, Parker has made a name for himself with smart, savvy bestsellers dealing with crime, life, and death in sunny Southern California. In 2001, he hit the jackpot with Silent Joe, a bittersweet thriller that won the Mystery Writers of America's coveted Edgar Award for Best Novel. In 2004, he repeated the feat with Califoria Girl, making him one of only two writers (the other is James Lee Burke) ever to have won two Best Novel Edgars. Among other honors and accolades, Parker has won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller and the Southern California Booksellers Award for Best Novel of the Year. His books continue to score big on the national bestseller lists.
In an interview with hardluckstories.com, Parker explained how his definition of noir has altered: "It seems to me that since 9/11 our appetites for darkness have shrunk a little. Mine have. I know that as a writer I've tried to bring more breadth and humanity to my stories. I think when all is said and done, a noir attitude is fine, but it's still just an attitude, a pose.
Parker's first wife, Catherine, died of a brain tumor at a very young age. He has since remarried happily.
In an interview with Harlan Coben, Parker was asked about the state of crime writing, i.e., what's wrong and what's right with it. "I think the Achilles heel of mystery/crime writing is character," he responded. "You have to have good characters—and sometimes I think mystery writers rely to heavily on plot and velocity of plot at the expense of characters."
dijet
Posted February 7, 2012
Since I had enjoyed the 4 other books in the Charlie Hood series I'd looked forward to this one. However, I felt that the story lacked real credibility by the heroes actions in saving Erin. It just seemed way over the top to survive so many obstacles.
Hope the next one stresses more of Charlie and less of Bradley.
dijet
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.tomdeplume
Posted February 1, 2012
I have read all of T. Jefferson Parker's books. Most were good , others very good. This one is neither. The story is contrived, convoluted and unbelievable. Too many unnessary side trips just for filler. The character Mike Finnegan should be carrying a pitchfork The drug dealer wants another million bucks just so he can have a song written about him? This is laughable. And the ending is a ripoff. It's like Parker just stopped in mind thought, and decided he has to set up the next book. Really TJ you should be ashamed, you're better than this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2012
I haven't even finished this book yet but can definitely understand the bad reviews. I honestly didn't believe them so went ahead and bought it and now I actually don't think I can finish reading it, it's so bad. Boring characters, boring and unbelievable story line. Parker's always been one of my favorite writers. Didn't think he was capable of writing such a bad book. Sorry, TJP, but this faithful fan cannot recommend this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.666mike
Posted March 1, 2012
This has to be one of the worst adventure/mystery novels I've ever read. Well not completely. Got to page 275 and threw the book out. Pointless.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2012
It rambled and at times was disjointed in thought. I judge a book by the fact I don't want it to end. This one, the end didn't come soon enough.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BlueASA
Posted February 8, 2012
Terrible story line, no sense, nothing like previous Hood book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The average rating is currently 3.5 for The Jaguar, and that's about right. It doesn't match up to the previous books, in my opinion. Charlie Hood has no real role until the end. What happens with him prior to that does not feel real, especially the crocodile swim. My impression is that that scene, as well as the scene in Reynosa, were contrived just to get him in the action, which really centers around Bradley and Erin. The Mike character is a little off the wall, so it does not help the story that much. Charlie Hood should be the focus as the most dramatic character, and here he is not.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 13, 2012
Do not buy
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.bigdad1
Posted May 10, 2013
Super read. Best of the series. Hate to say goodbye to Charlie but can only hope he returns someday.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 21, 2013
!?!?!?!?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 17, 2013
Irp Rainbowwing has to go in for surgery
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 12, 2012
Mvhvtic
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 12, 2012
The white female jaguar paced around.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 12, 2012
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous
Posted November 1, 2012
Parker is a master of prose, people, and story telling. Parker has always chosen areas of this part of our world that other popular authors either stay away from or can not really do justice to in their stories. I'm thankful that Parker has provided me with decades of meaningful, rich, quality, and at times gripping reading.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.tedfeit0
Posted May 30, 2012
While this novel continues the series with Charlie Hood, the Los Angeles deputy sheriff and ATF agent, he plays a relatively minor role in the plot. Here he is more of a messenger carrying $1 million through Mexico to ransom Erin McKenna, wife of LA County sheriff’s deputy Bradley McKenna and a popular singer and songwriter who has been kidnapped by a gang of narcos and brought to the Yucatan castle home of the cartel leader, Benjamin Armenta. The story is, of course, of her experience as a captive, and the attempts to rescue her given the time limit within which Charlie must deliver the ransom.
While the descriptions of Erin’s captivity and the surroundings of the “castle” itself are well-drawn, the closing chapters seem almost perfunctory in the writing; Erin’s rescue is almost reduced to an afterthought; and the concluding portions sought presented with little foundation.
The novel continues the saga of the cross-border narcotics flow on a much different level. It really is a tale of a diverse set of characters, good or evil. And the reader ends up wondering who, with perhaps the exception of Erin, is which. Nothing and no one is what it seems.
Anonymous
Posted February 25, 2012
Ijust finished this wonderful bk in 3 days.i have not read a read lately
where I actually felt like I was there watching from afar.I have read
the first 2 bks & they were amazing.if you truly want to enjoy this book to the fullest..get the first 2 books in the series.I have read the other
reviews & frankly I just do not agree with them. I do not feel like I
wasted my time,in fact I feel that I just read a great book.honest.
actually,I feel a little bit let down..because what book should I read
now that will keep me entertained..better than music,better than tv....
what I will admit was ..I did not read the 2 books before this..& I do
agree I was just abit disappointed (also shocked) when the wife was
actually captured..there should of been a more thorough explanation on how the husband got to the wife. the mike character was just 1 lucky con
man.if u r looking for a good series to start & want good reads ahead..
begin the series now.Mr.parker never disappoints.cheers!
Anonymous
Posted January 10, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted March 22, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 19, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
The audacious white-hot new novel from T. Jefferson Parker that redefines the landscape of the thriller and shatters every expectation you ever had about the good guys and the bad...
When Benjamin Armenta, leader of the powerful Gulf Cartel, kidnaps songwriter Erin McKenna, his demands are as unique as the jungle fortress in which Erin is imprisoned. She’s ordered to compose a narcocorrido, a folk ballad that will romanticize Armenta as one of the greatest desperadoes in Mexican...