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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780060562373
ISBN number: 0060562374
Label: HarperTorch
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 396
Printing Date: January 01, 2006
Publishing house: HarperTorch
Release Date: December 27, 2005
Sale Popularity Level: 109549
Studio: HarperTorch
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Product Description:
The times, they are a-changin' . . .
The Orange County, California, that the Becker brothers knew as boys is no more -- unrecognizably altered since the afternoon in 1954 when Nick, Clay, David, and Andy rumbled with the lowlife Vonns, while five-year-old Janelle Vonn watched from the sidelines. The new decade has brought about the end of the orange groves and the birth of suburban sprawl. It is the era of Johnson, hippies, John Birchers, and LSD. Clay becomes a casualty of a far-off jungle war. Nick becomes a cop, Andy a reporter, David a minister. And the decapitated corpse of teenage beauty queen Janelle Vonn is discovered in an abandoned warehouse.
A hideous crime has touched the Beckers in ways that none of them could have anticipated, setting three brothers on a dangerous collision course that will change their family -- and their world -- forever.
And no one will emerge from the wreckage unscathed.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I just began reading this author. I really liked The Fallen and Silent Joe. Both of those protagonists could carry a whole series of sequels. Each had a flawed and unusual character. CA Girl had none of that. Half-way through I just skipped to the end to see who "done" it. The writing was choppy. I could never tell which brother was narrating. The characters were NOT interesting. None of them seemed authenic or genuine. By the middle, I just didn't care about the ending or these people.
Rated by buyers -
On the surface, California Girl is a well written crime novel. It will particularly appeal to those who have a familiarity with Orange County, California and are interested in a story that captures the atmosphere of the OC of the 1950s and 60s with its orange groves, hippie culture, and drive-in churches. There are cameo appearances by California icons Timothy Leary, Charles Manson, and Richard Nixon. Just the local interest and plot action are enough to make this a worthwhile read, but the author has gone a step further and woven some thoughtful issues throughout the setting and plot.
Telling the truth can be painfully difficult and this becomes a noticeable theme throughout the novel. This seemingly grey and white concept becomes shades of gray when seen in the context of the story and the lives of the characters who find that they may hurt good people and reward the despicable if they tell the truth. A minor, yet not insignificant theme, is the struggle of growing up in a counter culture such as that of the 1960s. Thoughts and ways of life changed quickly during this period and created much personal and societal upheaval. I appreciated that Parker never trivialized these themes or turned them into cliches.
This was my very first T. Jefferson Parker novel and my experience would lead me to seek out other books by this author.
Rated by buyers 
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(***** = breathtaking, **** = excellent, *** = good, ** = flawed, * = bad)
... who are a cop, a minister, and a reporter try to solve the murder of a young woman whom they knew from childhood. A haunting, near-perfect book featuring startling cameos of real historical figures (e.g., Richard Nixon, Timothy Leary, Charles Manson).
Highly deserving of its Edgar Award for Best Mystery. Longer review on the Mystery Books site at BellaOnline (BellaOnline-dot-com).
Rated by buyers -
I read this book because I like to read nominated or winning books for the Edgar Awards. This was the third of three book that I have read from T. Jefferson Parker (others being WHERE SERPENTS LIE and SILENT JOE). I like to read an author in order of publication but I have strayed off course for Jeff Parker.
I liked the book because it was one of those books that I could read a couple chapters here and there, not rush it, but enjoy taking my time with it. Trust me, I love those books you can't put down but sometimes it is nice to read one of these 'pace' books.
The intertwined stories involved in the book kept my interest and waiting to see how they finalized was good. No huge surprises but my brow was raised a few times.
All in all, I am beginning to like TJ Parker. He is still not in my elite group of hardcover authors but I will continue to read his books and enhance my opinion of his writing.
Rated by buyers 
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If you like a fast, easy read with a sense of humour (e.g. Lashner, Levine, Rosenfelt), you're in the wrong part of town. I have no knowledge of the "California" life in the '60s; but Patterson's depiction of it didn't interest me and I felt it slowed down the narrative to the point of ennui. At 81 years of age, I like narratives to move a little faster. His characters are developed in spurts.
A worthwhile read if you're looking to pass the time leisurely.
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