Hollywood
Crows: A Novel ,
by Joseph Wambaugh (Read by Christian Rummel)
Do not let the title fool you. This is a great
story of the LA Police Department. The title refers to a special
division, the community relations office, whose members are
called the CROWS by the police in other divisions. They deal
with calls like noisy neighbors, domestic disturbances, parking
problems and other minor crimes.
This story features many of the outstanding characters
from Joseph Wambaugh's previous novels. The Oracle, who served
46 years and was a father figure and mentor to the men in
the Hollywood division, died of a massive heart attack in
the last book. Now his picture is near the door all must exit
through to go on duty, and they all touch the picture as they
leave. He is revered by all except the 28-year-old college
grad who followed the honored sergeant and is now irritating
the men and women on the force. The surfer boys, partners
nicknamed Flotsam and Jetsam, are again a key part of the
story. So is Hollywood Nate, the handsome cop who has an intense
desire to be a Hollywood star. Wambaugh includes other new
and old characters that add to the excitement and humor of
the daily experiences of the LAPD.
The central plot deals with a beautiful stripper
who is in a nasty divorce situation with her wealthy Arab
husband who is fighting to get custody of their son. Because
she suspects the husband wants to take their 9-year-old son
out of the country to live, the stripper is planning to kill
her husband. She connives to try to get a CROW to kill her
husband by seducing the cop and setting him up to be the fall
guy.
There are many twists and turns to this story,
and the excitement and surprises will hold your attention
from start to finish. Joseph Wambaugh is as good as ever,
giving the listener the opportunity to feel what it's like
to be part of a special unit in an urban police force. He
combines inside information with human interest to tell an
appealing story, packed with cop humor and drama.
This book is more than just a police procedural novel, however.
It's also a literary portrait of some of the real characters
that inhabit Hollywood. Some are comic, some are tragic, but
all come vividly to life through Wambaugh's writing and Rummel's
narration. This book is very entertaining and highly recommended.
John
Mormon
5/2/08
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