an unrelenting joy

I am a harsh marker - but this is a 9/10 audiobook.

Contrary to the slightly misleading publishers blurb, this is an ensemble story which only really focuses on one story towards the end of the book. A full and diverse range of police officers and citizens are given a thorough outing and each of them brings a unique joy. While there are undoubtedly moments of drama and pain, the emotive core of the book is comic; Wambaugh has a perceptive and critical eye for Americana and all that lies within in it, with the cultures of drugs, police, politics and of course hollywood sent up in a style that quite frequently made me laugh out loud.

It should also be noted this audiobook is a fantastic medium; this is one of the best narrations I've heard from Audible, and the chapters are at just the right length at around 40 minutes.

I can think of few people to whom this would not appeal; as highly recommended as anything else on this site.

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4 people found this helpful

This one will sneak up on you....

I greatly enjoyed 'Hollywood Crows' by the same author, and so was prepared that this title would be a slow burner, and so it proved. The book starts by introducing some of the characters who will form the key thread of the narrative, and an sympathetic, mixed bunch they are; down-and-out meth-smoking 'Tweakers' and their hapless girlfriends, Eastern European immigrants with eyes on being gangsters, streets run by gangs, and the underlying screed of low-lifes at every turn, every one of them on the take.

Into this we introduce the characters of the LA Police Department: Hollywood Station, and the bizarre and often dangerous situations that make up their working day.

Because of the number of characters involved, it takes a while to 'set the stage', but stick with it, because as their lives intertwine a fascination set of events is put in motion that will definitely have you 'turning pages' right up the the last.

Narration, by Adam Gruper, really is first class. He manages to imbue each character with just enough of an accent so you can picture them as you listen, but avoids the trap of turning the whole thing into a radio play. I would definitely like to hear more from him.

Highly recommended

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1 person found this helpful

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure at first but it’s got great characters and the story is fast moving and not something I’ve heard before, not really.

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