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The Robin Hood of L.A.

February 28th, 2008 Lesley - Central

T. Jefferson Parker’s latest thriller L.A. Outlaws features anti-hero Allison Murrieta who claims to be a direct descendant of the legendary 19th-Century California bandit Joaquin Murrieta.

By day Allison is history teacher Suzanne Jones, the mother of three sons living in Los Angeles.  By night she dons a wig and mask and, while carrying a derringer, robs fast food restaurants using a different car each time.  She never uses her gun, gives part of her loot to charity and has become a media star. 

Everything changes one day when she witnesses a gangland-style killing while stealing diamonds belonging to a master criminal known as the Bull.  Lupercio, the assassin, works for the Bull,  knows that Murrieta/Jones took them and sets off after her.

As she is leaving the scene Suzanne is stopped by L.A. deputy sheriff Charles Hood as a witness to the murders.  The deputy is interested in Jones and wants her to identify the killer.  With Lupercio in pursuit, Suzanne and Hood try to stay one step ahead of the assassin as he tries to recover the diamonds. 

Parker is the bestselling author of 14 previous novels and is one of only three writers to be awarded the Edgar award for best novel more than once.

Entry Filed under: Mystery, Recreational Fiction, Thriller