Hollywood Crows
By Joseph Wambaugh
Read by Christian Rummel Hachette Audio, (2008)
An Unabridged Recording on 10 CDs
ISBN 10: 1-60024-153-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-60024-153-6
Genre: Mystery
Reviewed by Herbert White - May 12, 2008
Joseph Wambaugh is in top form in his novel Hollywood Crows. In true Wambaugh style, this is a gritty police procedural filled with humor, memorable characters, and unexpected plot twists. Best of all, Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant brings an unbelievable sense of realism and insider knowledge to this novel.
Set in Hollywood, California, the story follows the two officers assigned to the CROWS - otherwise known as the Los Angels Police Department's Community Relations Office. The officers in question are want-to-be actor Nathan Weiss and his hard-drinking friend, Bix Ramstead. In their capacity as CROWS, the two cops meet Margot Aziz, the very beautiful wife of Ali Aziz, a wealthy strip club owner. Margot wants to be the ex-Mrs. Aziz, but Ali would rather see her dead than to have to split his fortune, or their child, with her. Seeing her as a damsel in distress, Weiss and Ramstead come to her aid, only discovering too late that she is not all that she seems to be.
The audio edition of this cleaver tale is read by Christian Rummel, a seasoned audio book reader and actor who has appeared on stage and on television. Rummel not only brings the actors to life, but expertly maintains the pacing and tension of the story as he reads this stunning sequel to Wambaugh's Hollywood Station. In short, like most of Wambaugh's book, this story has a little bit of everything from petty crimes and murder to drug addicts and seductresses, and just about everything else in-between.
Hollywood Crows lets you see Hollywood from the viewpoint of a beat cop. You get to see everything from the seedy underbelly of the area to its glitzy society veneer. The story is full of unique and complex characters, and the underlying plot gritty and unforgettable. Hollywood Crows is a must read for all Wambaugh fans, as well as anyone who likes to read or listen to a well-seasoned police story.
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