Review: The Fallen

I was first introduced to Parker's work in the UK when he published three magnificent thrillers a few years ago Black Water, Red Light and The Blue Hour, so I was amused to find that in his latest, he uses colours again, but in a unique and surreal manner. The importance of colours are that at the centre of the plot is - Synesthesia [a neurological disorder that confuses senses], where the protagonist San Diego Cop Robbie Brownlaw sees colours when he meets people, following a serious injury. The likeable cop gets flung from the window of a burning building while trying to rescue the occupants. Parker really is an extraordinary novelist, as this tale takes a very amiable everyman Cop. Brownlaw and thrusts him into the epicentre of a most extraordinary turn of events. I was pleased that Parker didn't overplay the Synesthesia aspect of the story, avoiding falling into X-Files territory, but worms a devious tale from extraordinary events.

Once recovered from his fall, he finds himself back on the force investigating the mysterious murder of Garrett Asplundh who seems a man of great morality working in the PD's Ethics Authority. A job that has caused him to attract enemies from within as it is analogous to 'internal affairs', and got him embroiled in politics that left a widow behind. From then we get immersed in a captivating police procedural that takes Brownlaw and his partner McKenzie Cortez to the heart of a conspiracy that threatens everyone who was involved with Asplundh. This novel is full of compassion, as witnessed vis-à-vis his relationship to his wife Gina. I really felt also for Stella [Asplundh's widow], because Garrett was trying to bring his life from the brink, following the drowning of Samantha [their only child]. Garrett had suicidal tendencies and was only days away from divorcing Stella when he was found dead. His widow when asked about what she felt about his death, replies "He wouldn't have said it was a murder, it was a piece of work", and that to me also sums up this wonderful book it is a real piece of work, crafted, considered and totally involving.

What makes it rise to the top of current crop of police procedurals is Brownlaw's ability to see when people are lying to him, as he sees colours that give him a steer, even if sometimes the steer can be misleading especially when the investigation seems to point to the Vice Squad, and the Red Light district. This gives the procedural an interesting dimension because the case is far from what it seems at the outset. This is a fast read, and without giving away the ending, I just hope Brownlaw and McKenzie return as I considered this to be Parker's finest hour, and as a tale it certainly is colourful enough to read in one sitting Bravo and gold stars all round.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM

Book Review: The Fallen