Cold Shoulder

Lorraine Page #1

by Lynda La Plante

The author of the Emmy Award-winning TV series Prime Suspect now pens her first thriller. Lorraine Page, a down-on-her-luck ex-cop, finds herself in recovery the hard way, when she winds up on the trail of a serial killer. Film rights sold to Michelle Pfeiffer/Twentieth Century Fox. Film version will star Michelle Pfeiffer as Lorraine Page.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Detective

415 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Lynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.

Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.

In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.

She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.

Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).

Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.

Reviews

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saddest aspect of this novel is the fact it is based on a true story.

I love Lynda La Plante and have read almost all her work, so at times I found myself struggling to identify her style in this novel. It is very different to her well-known and much loved Prime Suspect/Jane Tennison series. From setting the (USA) to the main character (alcoholic, disgraced, unfathomably callous Lorraine Paige).

The similarities are only in the quality of writing. La Plante is masterful in creating an all consuming tale. The difference is what I felt for the protagonist (frustration, determination, loathing and desire to right her ways) but I suppose that is the art and talent of such a skilled writer.

Now that I have assimilated my feelings about this novel I will have to read the other two books which follow.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I loved or hated this one, it was an ok, bang average read.

I didn't like this enough to continue with the series, so I'll be stopping here.

Three stars.

[TheBookWarren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars — It might have been out down a few times, but this classic crime novel — whilst nothing remotely like I expected — I knew very early on, was very clearly a Novel of high quality, prose that oozes class and that carries a weight to it that feels heavier than most other crime writers, but most of all the characters made an impression, staying with me even in long periods of absentia.

Telling the story of an alcoholic police officer, and her incredibly rough & ready fall all the way down to rock bottom, then beginning the long and winding road back, with genuine grit & absolute aplomb. Lorraine is an all consuming heroine. That has a similar weight to the authors prose. She feels weary, sharp, reticent & almost omnipresent-stalking-persona that is as gripping as it is turbulent.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Lorraine Page series by author Lynda La Plante. I really enjoy the Tennison series by the author so was keen to try this series. Although it took me a while to get to grips with the characters and the plot by the end I was ready to read book 2. Good characters that will surely grow on me as I learn more about them but a decent start to this series.

Lorraine Page is an ex Homicide cop and recovering alcoholic following her fall from grace when she kicked off the police. While drunk and grieving for her dead partner, she shot at a young criminal who was running away and killed him. The incident finished her career in the force, her marriage suffered and she hit rock bottom.

Now six years later she is ready to face the world again and rebuild her life. Teaming up with ex colleague Bill Rooney and Rosie Hurst who helped save her when she hit the lows she is ready to tackle crime again. A prostitute killer is on the loose and about to become the teams first case to solve.

All the signs are there that this is going to be another good crime series. Good characters with plenty of attitude, solid plots and well written. I am looking forward to the next one.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, never read this author before, this was a holiday buy.
Was so enjoyable i want to collect the rest of her work.
A well crafted storyline with so many unexpected twists and turns it kept me guessing right up until the last page.
Well worth reading if you like fast paced thrillers and serial killers.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book difficult to get through. It was well-written, and absorbing, but the content was quite confronting. I thought the main character had hit bottom, and then went even further. The book built up nicely, with a bunch of twists, some expected, some unexpected. The climax was a little disappointing, but it turns out it wasn't the major climax, which snuck up on me. The resolution was a little rushed, but I suspect it leads into the next book in the series. I am not certain if I will read it.

[Carrielurane · Rating 1 out of 5]

On my way to a vacation in a remote place, I realized that I'd forgotten to pack any books. My only option was a resale shop, selling used books for $1 each. I grabbed this one, and I suffered.

Where to begin?

Sloppy and lazy writing.
Absurd coincidences.
Unlikeable protagonist. She's a truly terrible person who makes inexplicable choices and constantly screws other people over. She's supposedly this crack detective but she does stupid, reckless things constantly and she makes no sense.
Terrible, terrible sentences. Was there no editor?
Casual racism.
Fatshaming.
RAMPANT TRANSPHOBIA. Jesus. At one point, our heroine threatens to send a trans woman to a men's prison in order to get her to confess. It works, as the woman is justifiably terrified at the prospect of what the men in the men's jail would do to her. We are meant to think this is brilliant police work. Our heroine also verbally abuses this same trans woman in an appallingly transphobic way.
Also, every gay or trans character (called "transsexual" or "transvestite" by the author) in this book is a murderer, a blackmailer, a thief, or all of the above. Or they make child porn.

It feels like LaPlante tried to load this book full of things that she thought would seem shocking or sleazy to readers, including a truly gross last minute description of child sexual abuse that seemed to serve no purpose other than providing an explanation for why one character is a cross dresser and a murderer. Gross, gross, gross.
This is a terrible book.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorraine Page #1: Lorraine Page is a police officer who loses everything because of her alcoholism; and this is the story of how she drags herself back up by becoming involved in a serial murder case in her old precinct. A masterclass in characterisations and plotting by La Plante! It's always nice to see mega bestselling writers turning out decent stories. 7 out of 12.

[Isabella Range · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I got this book from my grandma thinking it was going to be some crime novel from the 90’s. LITTLE DID I KNOW this was a crazy transphobic, fatphobic, sexist, stereotypically harmful book, holy shit. Not only are all the killers transgender or homosexual but all characters that aren’t stick thin are described in the craziest most disgusting way. The women in this novel can’t have a single healthy relationship without cattiness/jealousy and there’s a random part of the book where it glosses over pedophilia and doesn’t actually address it further??

THE ONLY reason I stuck through it was because of the way Lynda writes really captures you and it’s very fast-paced and easy to follow. It was an entertaining book overall and I was going to give it a 3 star until the weird incesty twist that was given at the end.

It was an interesting read but I’m so glad I didn’t buy this book, would not recommend.

[Pat K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I almost ditched this book after only two chapters. The main character, Lorraine Page, is so unlikeable I didn't want to finish it. It is the story of an alcoholic detective in the process of hitting rock bottom. For about 3/4 of the book I didn't care what happened to her, but the story and the writing is very good, so I kept listening and I will read the next book in the series.

[Keith Weller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sad to say that this is not one of the best Lynda La Plante books for me, I found it hard to get into the characters. I think it’s because it was based in America. it still is a well written book I am sure there will be hundreds of people out there who love it, only giving it a lower rating because of my personal preference.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disturbingly raunchy, squalid book. Lorraine Page is fired from a southern California police force after shooting dead a fleeing teenage boy, while intoxicated. Her drinking problem spirals further out of control and her husband divorces her, taking the kids. She spends years homeless and turning tricks until finally, after a brief stay in a rehab facility following a car accident, a recovering alcoholic named Rosie takes her in and persuades her to try AA. One last trick nearly kills Lorraine, as a serial killer with a claw hammer attacks her in the middle of a blow job. Lorraine goes on the lam, hiding from the police who want to find this anonymous witness (her) who saw the killer's face. She's too humiliated to let on to the police or Rosie that she's been turning tricks, but she still has her good detective skills so she hunts for her attacker.

Lynda La Plante created the British series Prime Suspect, and I didn't like the two episodes I watched of that, either. (I think they were about homeless teenage boys turning tricks, come to think of it.) This book reeks of the early 90s/late 80s. There's a lot of "bitch" and "cunt" thrown around. There are cross-dressers, transvestites, homosexuals, and transsexuals aplenty.

Brad Thorburn is a very rich, very hot man who is friends with a psychology professor helping the police department with the case. Lorraine nearly orgasms just laying eyes on Brad, and the professor's wife actually does orgasm. This, despite the fact that Brad sometimes wears a "caftan" (p. 188), but also a "kaftan" (p. 283).



The professor's wife Dilly painted Brad nude, and the impressive painting hangs over their fireplace, featuring Brad's "large penis and balls that were over-prominent." Lorraine is captivated. And although Lorraine has lost some of her good looks from drinking, prostitution, and homelessness, Brad is very attracted to her too. He misplays his hand by offering her money for sex when they're alone together, which offends her (I couldn't really figure out why, since Lorraine is entirely id; her morals never rose above those of a stoat for the entire book). But the second time is a charm. They forget to close the door, and Brad's creepy transvestite half-brother observes them having sex.

The book is about 100 pages too long because La Plante has the serial killer killing five of the women and this mystery is solved in a timely fashion, but complicates the plot by having some other person or people kill two remaining women. I could not have been less interested in this second plotline, but on it dragged. Finally on p. 371 we got to meet Brad's ancient rich mother, who sits alone in a luxurious nursing home attaching Post-It notes to photos in Vogue of all the clothes she wants. If only this creaky dowager had been introduced earlier!

She suddenly pointed one frail, red-nailed finger to the gardens. "They're putting in a new border and a fountain. I just hope it's not some awful cherub pissing. I hate those little penises spurting water. I'm always surprised how many people choose them, very distasteful, nasty things, penises - uncircumcised ones in particular. I made sure you were circumcised - much more attractive, especially if you're being sucked off."

Brad leaves and Mother reminisces about her other son, the transvestite. "Only Steven had known how to love her....Sitting trapped in her wheelchair, she remembered his slim, delicate body, his sweet, tender kisses, his perfect circumcised penis that she loved to kiss awake and then to rub his semen over her skin, because it was better than any expensive creams. They had discussed its therapeutic powers endlessly, lying together in her overheated bedroom. She had never believed that what they were doing was wrong - it was only natural."

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing style is absolutely awful. I've checked repeatedly to make sure that this is the first in the series because it feels like I have picked it up and I'm missing context. There is no depth to anything. Lorraine is going through some enormous emotional events and yet she is emotionally untouchable. She is flat and devoid of life, I feel like I've just read her Wikipedia page written by a stranger and not experienced Lorraine's life alongside her.

Definitely not carrying on with this book or series.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am amazed that this was written by such an experienced author I love Lynda La plante normally but this was dreadful. The story seemed hurried at times and desperately slow at others, by the end I was finding it very hard to have any sympathy for the main character and didn't really care what happened to her! The flow of the story was spoilt with over the top swearing and too many graphic sex details which broke the story up so much that the plot became very confusing. A very disappointing read !!

[Juliet · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest I lost interest simply because of how long it took for this book to start. And it doesn't matter how good an ending is, a unnecessary slow start to a novel dilutes any greatness the novel could have had.

I would like to try another from this author simply because she knows what she's doing she just didn't do it right.

[Douglas Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novel although it seemed familiar but I can't remember reading any LLP until lockdown. I had already read Lorraine Page #3 before this one but that didn't spoil anything at all. A great story and easy to read.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Linda La Plante book I have read based in the U.S. and for the most part I enjoyed it. It was a little slow at times and some of the situations I found a bit implausible but overall good.

[Doris Papadopoulos]

this book is a page-turner.

[Ally Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost dnf until about 150 pages in. Very slow start but the plot is definitely there and it gets better threw out the book. I did find it hard to like the main character but I would give the book as a whole 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Rachel M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first part difficult to read and get into and then I couldn’t put it down.

[Elena Perini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voto 4,5

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was more 4 1/2 but upgraded as could not put down towards the end. I read other in series sometime ago and only 3*. Can’t think why

[Lainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 415

Publisher - Random House

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Lorraine Page is a down-on-her-luck ex-LAPD cop, recruited against her will to hunt for a serial killer. Cold Shoulder is the story of a young woman who has everything: a devoted husband, two beautiful daughters, and a successful career as a lieutenant with the Pasadena Homicide Squad. But when her partner is shot and dies in her arms, Lorraine's life starts to unravel. The after-hours drinking that once was social becomes her refuge, and soon she's not waiting until the end of her shift. From there it all comes undone with frightening speed: Drunk, she kills an innocent boy while on duty, is fired from the force, is abandoned by her family, and ends up living on the street as a prostitute. Cold Shoulder is the dramatic, frighteningly explicit account of Lorraine Page's fall and nightmarish recovery while caught between the danger of a serial killer on the loose and the manipulations of the old-boy police force that had ostracized her not so long before. The book reverberates with realism because it is based on a true story, one that has been meticulously researched and crafted by Lynda La Plante, a consummate expert in crime writing.



My Review

Thia has sat on my shelf for years, went on a bit of a buying splurge when I read this authors Bella Mafia and then Red Dahlia. Cold Shoulder opens with decorated officer Lorraine Page making a fatal mistake at work. Drunk and killing an innocent kid, career in tatters she hits the booze harder and loses everything including years of her life. Once she has hit rock bottom the road to recovery has to start, battling addiction/alcoholism does she not end up in the path of a serial killer. The last place Lorraine wants to find herself is with or helping the police. Past and present must be faced if she is to overcome her demons and face the challenge of helping stop a killer before they strike again.

Ooft what a busy book and some of the things Lorraine does! She is a very very unlikeable character, she goes to the very bottom of humanity with her addiction being the be all and end all. It is a gruelling journey to follow but we see glimpses of humanity and then fling in a killer, I got really pulled into this book. I forgot how much I enjoyed La Plante's writing, even when it is characters you really really don't like. You absolutely want to see where they head and what is next for them.

This is part of a trilogy, I have the other books as I bought a ton back when I found this author. It won't be long before I pick up book two and see where the story goes next. Some people may find upsetting the parts were addiction has it claws into the character, horrible choices and behaviours, dangerous situations, lack of care for herself, prostitution, endangerment and vile/selfish behaviour and attitude. Makes for very gripping reading though, 5/5 for me this time.

[Sridhar Babu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author..
Lynda La Plante..
Characters..
Lorraine Page, Rosie Hurst, Bill Rooney, Brad Thorburn, Steven Janklow, Art Matthews, Norman Hastings, Didi, Holly, Nula ..
location ..
Los Angeles..
Genre..
Suspense..

PLOT..
Eight Girls, all prostitutes from different areas and a male named Norman Hastings were killed by a nightmare serial killer. All had been killed by hammer blows to the back of the head and suffered severe facial injuries. Their bodies left in a trunk of a stolen vehicle. No witnesses. Each case left open file.
Lorraine Page Ex Lieutenant of Los Angeles Police Department, hired by Captain Rooney as a paid street informer to help him in the case. One night Lorraine herself comes face to face with the killer, being attacked in a garage of a shopping mall by claw hammer and from the cufflink logo of her attackers shirt, she learns that the perpetrator is connected with the vintage car selling company.Assisted by her best friend Rosie Hurst,she finds out their prime suspects were Brad Thorburn and his half brother Steven Janklow two influential persons with political backing in Los Angeles.











Lorraine's further investigation points out that victim Norman Hastings, suspect Steven Janklow were both transvestites and were blackmailed by photographers Art Mathews and hookers Nula and Didi. With the backing of Captain Bill Rooney, Lorraine is drawn in to the dangerous investigation with no hope of backing off.



The best part of the novel is about Lorraine Page's come back from her dark past. Kicked away from police department because of her being alcoholic, divorced, losing her children to her remarried husband, capable doing anything to earn enough money to drink herself to oblivion.Being sent to rehabiliitation center with no further hope. With her friend Rosie and Jake's support, getting her life back, as a private Investigator of Page Investigations. From my point of view, I think it would have been better if the author had given more of Lorraine's personal tragic life,her constant efforts to come back, than the routine 'serial killing 'stuff.

MY COMMENT..

OKEY DOKEY ..

[Reader50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author though I've enjoyed the "Prime Suspect" mysteries on PBS based on her books. It's a fast, exciting page-turner whose protagonist, Lorraine Page, is a former police lieutenant who is kicked off the force in Pasadena, CA for killing an unarmed youth while she was under the influence of alcohol. At one time she was a highly commended officer but her life becomes a shambles as she is dismissed of her duties and divorced by her husband who takes custody of their two young daughters. Seven years later, living a life of crime and prostitution to support her drinking, she is viciously attacked by a would-be John but manages to escape. Lorraine is befriended by a hospital employee, Rosie, herself a recovering alcoholic, and together search for Lorraine's attacker who had killed several women in the past. The novel is filled with many colorful, quirky characters with a couple twists in the end. The plot was not as straightforward as I expected. Also as I read the book, I was rooting for Lorraine, hoping she could resist the pull of alcohol and get her life back together. The was, to me, a thoroughly sympathetic character.

Just as an afterthought, I wondered if a predominant thread in La Plante's books involves alcoholism as both the Jane Tennison character in "Prime Suspect" and Lorraine Page in this book have drinking problems.

[Squid McFinnigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading is like inviting a complete stranger to invade your body; it's a thrilling thing to allow. Like people, books can be well intentioned but a little boring, some are crass and offensive, some make you smile and believe again. This book was none of those.

This book was sometimes shocking, a bit moody and often confrontational. It was in your face and unapologetic about it. But underneath that was a spark of humanity and a glimer of truth. It's characters, and Lorraine in particular, made me wonder. Was this book really about dead hookers and a woman so broken she didn't want to be fixed, or was it a mirror held up to the dark side of possibility?

Did I love every line of this story? No, but I'm not a believer in perfection. What this story did do was make me think, and that is a mark of excellence. Long after the last page had closed I could see Ms Page in my head and she was facinating.

I nearly don't want to read any more stories about her for fear she is dulled by health and normality, but I have no hessitation in recommending this book to those who sometimes like to walk among the broken.

[Kathryn Key · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book that is only salvaged by the authors engaging style.
Overall it's far fetched and full of ridiculous coincidences that aren't believable at all.
It's also incredibly dated and transphobic. The author doesn't seem to know the difference between a transgendered person, a cross dresser, a drag queen and a gay person. She uses the very dated and offensive "transsexual" instead of transgendered. It made me cringe the whole way through, full of cliches and generalisations.
She also seems to be compelled mention the weight of any character she deems fat all the time "ie she lifted her fat arm to get a cup", but doesn't mention people's thinness every time they do something.
She also refers to sex workers only as "prostitutes"
All very degrading of a range of people who are already marginalised .
I only finished this book because my son gave it to me as a gift, otherwise I would have given up on it.
Don't bother.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one did not excite, thrill or interest the reader as much as many of her other books do. I am a big fan of La Plante, some of her books have been superbly written crime thrillers that keeps you holding on for more....not so with this one. The plot just seemed to take forever to even begin to have the slightest bit of momentum, then just when you think it's picking up it drops back a gear or two.

The female protagonist is the saving grace of the book, Lorraine Page - her character was gritty, real and likeable. The rest of the book was fairly insipid in comparison to her other books. Not one of her better works, I think many fans may agree. I would recommend this one only if you have nothing else to read. It could have been really good but simply, it wasn't.

[SueChor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading LaPlante, you have to know right off that the book will be a bit dark and gritty. First off, she’s a contemporary Brit, and next she wrote the Tennison series starring Helen Mirren. Her protagonists are women, often alcoholic, and as such, tend to be self-destructive. Already dark. In this one we clearly see Lorraine’s struggle to climb from the abyss into which she has fallen. Once you know what to expect, it’s easier to simply go with the storyline, and not to be swamped by the darkness. And this was a good story. LaPlante’s narrative can be a bit journalistic at times, stringing out fact, fact, fact, but the story livens it up just enough. And she does understand some of the self-hatred, the motivating factors for her character. Good read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, although if she had not gotten off the alcohol when she did I would have stopped reading. The mail character, Lorraine Page was a Police Officer, a lieutenant actually, and she kills a young boy who is running away from her and he was not armed, she was drunk at the time. She was a hard character to get to like, but Lynda LaPlante gets the job done. Lorraine gets involved in a series of murders, and proceeds to "investigate" on her own. Lots of twists and turns and interesting characters.