Rating: 
Summary: COLD SHOULDER--a hot read!
Review: i've only seen one of the PRIME SUSPECT mini-series on PBS (PS #1) and only read one novelization (PS #3), so i came to la plante as a near novice. COLD SHOULDER is an amazing police thriller for people who enjoy character-driven storylines. for much of the book, the mystery takes a backseat to the spychological explorations of the main character--30-something lorraine page. seldom have i encountered a more fascinating and multi-dimensional character as page. at 452-pages, this is a tremendously readable page-turner that i couldnt put down. i carried it everywhere for more than a week. and i can't wait to spread the word to friends looking for the new patricia cornwell.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sometimes Dark and Depressing Thriller
Review: In Cold Shoulder, Lynda LaPlante takes Lorraine Page down about as low as it is possible to go. Alcoholic, thief, street-bum and occasional prostitute, Lorraine plumbs the depths of humanity after seemingly having it all. She has reached this point after a promising career in the police force, reaching the rank of lieutenant with two bravery commendations, the wife of an up-and-coming lawyer and the mother of two small girls.While trying to straighten herself out, Lorraine manages to escape from a killer, making her a valuable witness in a serial killer investigation. Because of who she has become, she doesn't come forward to the police, preferring instead to use her almost forgotten police skills to track the man down. With limited resources, money and hold over her alcoholism, an investigation of sorts is conducted. This is a dark and sometimes depressing book with little hope on the horizon for Lorraine Page. As a protagonist, Lorraine is a hard character to warm to. I think you just have to accept that she's a tough character who will occasionally succumb to her demons. It's these character flaws that make this an interesting story although, at times the going does get a little heavy as we wade through the morass of her life.
Rating: 
Summary: Cold Shoulder is a disappointment after reading Cold Blood
Review: LaPlante's "Cold Blood" is a well-told story that keeps you interested in the characters and the mystery they try to solve. Unfortunately, the sequel, "Cold Shoulder", left me cold. Stink-oh. It's hard to believe the two books were written by the same author. The plot of "Shoulder" is laborious and relies on unbelievable coincidences that one finds usually in stories from amateur writers. "Cold Shoulder" is at the bottom of the list of my choices from LaPlante, an author I usually enjoy reading.
Rating:
Summary: Fairy Tale???
Review: Let's see, female lieutenant guns down innocent black youth in L.A....and her name stays out of the paper in the weeks that follow. That episode from the prologue should make you realize this plot involving a high-ranking, Reagan-honored police officer-turned-fallen, drunkard prostitute is highly unbelievable. La Plante proceeds to build cliched, overwrought dialogue around cardboard characters, and completely loses your interest by page 50 (especially when you see you have another 400 pages to go). While Prime Suspect was a good read, this obviously is another example of a hot new writer demanding and getting carte blanche (and no editor?). The only thing worse will be the Michelle Pfeifer movie they're making out of this pap.
Rating:
Summary: A wretched story from cover to cover
Review: This book had no redeeming qualities. It's important to somehow connect with the main characters, and to empathize with them to some degree. For me, a good suspense story has to have a break from the darkness once in a while, and an exciting and absorbing plot that has me eagerly waiting to turn the page. This book started badly with it's main character, and only near the end,a candle was lit. It was too little,too late.
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTLEY SUPER DUPER!!!!!!!
Review: This is an excellent book and i recommend it to everyone!!!! I couldn't put it down and cant wait to get Cold Blood and Cold Heart!! What else can I say but GO OUT AND BUY IT!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Leaves me cold
Review: This rates as one of the poorer mysteries I have read in years. It was truly an ordeal to finish, and I am left wondering why I bothered. It has a totally unbelievable plot and inconsistent characters, many of whom are stereotypical creations of little or no interest. I was particularly amused when the detective was told to "make a few inquiries at the transsexual shoe shop, giving the size and style of the shoe from the corpse". In all of LA, I am sure there is just one known "transsexual shoe shop". Please. I suspect Ms. LaPlante has better material, but this is a poor example better left unread. I would give it less than one star, but unfortunately that's not an option.
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