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West on 66
An innocent cup of coffee at a roadside diner on Route 66 embroils vacationing deputy sheriff Kevin Pulaski in a dangerous case involving a beautiful woman and missing fortune in Mafia loot.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 4, 2013
This is a fun, peppy read first pubbed in 1999 just before the big Y2K scare. Many thanks to James Reasoner for his recommendation on his blog.
It's September 1958. L.A. Deputy Sheriff Kevin Pulaski (who's spent 4 years in the hellhole called Korea) goes to Chicago on R&R to reconnect with his brother.
Instead our hero hooks up with a Mobster's daughter, and their high-octane, on-the-road caper kicks off. Lisette ISO a slug of dad's money hidden somewhere. This familiar storyline pretty much takes place on the historic Route 66 (all now a tourist by-way).
Assets (ak.a. why I enjoyed WEST ON 66): Snappy prose. Old school romance (Pulaski calls his girlfriend "The Princess". Cute.). Lots of chase scenes. Unexpected plot twists. First-rate settings on Route 66.
It's September 1958. L.A. Deputy Sheriff Kevin Pulaski (who's spent 4 years in the hellhole called Korea) goes to Chicago on R&R to reconnect with his brother.
Instead our hero hooks up with a Mobster's daughter, and their high-octane, on-the-road caper kicks off. Lisette ISO a slug of dad's money hidden somewhere. This familiar storyline pretty much takes place on the historic Route 66 (all now a tourist by-way).
Assets (ak.a. why I enjoyed WEST ON 66): Snappy prose. Old school romance (Pulaski calls his girlfriend "The Princess". Cute.). Lots of chase scenes. Unexpected plot twists. First-rate settings on Route 66.
December 4, 2013
A young undercover Las Angeles County Deputy Sheriff is headed home from
a Chicago family vacation and stops at a truck stop for his evening meal. He is approached by a beautiful young woman looking for a ride west. He agrees and the couple are accosted in the parking lot on their way to his souped up '57 Chevy by three gangster types, driving a hemi powered Chrysler 300, who have a relationship with the young woman and very much want to keep her in Chicago. It makes for an exciting ride west on 66.
a Chicago family vacation and stops at a truck stop for his evening meal. He is approached by a beautiful young woman looking for a ride west. He agrees and the couple are accosted in the parking lot on their way to his souped up '57 Chevy by three gangster types, driving a hemi powered Chrysler 300, who have a relationship with the young woman and very much want to keep her in Chicago. It makes for an exciting ride west on 66.
May 3, 2019
A fun read, West on 66 is ostensibly the story of an undercover cop who helps a woman as she runs from the Mafia and tries to find some missing cash. Really, though, it's a fantasy quest story, with the main character Galahad (he's called this twice), the woman a Princess, the gangsters dragons, and the money (or L.A.?), the Grail. And despite its gritty, car-chasing, gun-blasting surface, the book is actually quite Romantic - the hero triumphs, and you find yourself cheering him on.
August 18, 2011
A hot car, hot chick, and a hot colt 45. Wrap around a tense mystery on a long road and you've got a tight grip on a great book. The author writes this tale in the first person. Great descriptive language, keeping the reader "locked in" to a quick read of 265 pages. Indulge yourself!!! I dare ya.
September 4, 2018
This book is fan-friggin-tastic! In the tradition of Elmore Leonard, Cobb comes up with a fast, action-packed cops and robbers story / mystery which is right up my alley. I love this kind of no-nonsense writing which both moves and shows a canny command of language and prose. Give me more please!!
September 11, 2023
It's 1958 and Kevin Pulaski has taken a three-week vacation from his job as an LA County sheriff to reconnect with his brother in Chicago. It only takes him four days to realize he and his brother don't really have that much in common any more.
So he and his rebuilt 1957 Chevrolet start a road trip home, leaving early and taking their time, heading west on Route 66.
It doesn't take long for Kevin to stumble into someone else's trouble, rescuing a young woman at a highway truck stop. But the young woman may also be the key to some unsolved mysteries, engaging Pulaski's policeman side.
It's wonderful road trip along the fabled highway, leaving me wanting to take one more drive myself.
So he and his rebuilt 1957 Chevrolet start a road trip home, leaving early and taking their time, heading west on Route 66.
It doesn't take long for Kevin to stumble into someone else's trouble, rescuing a young woman at a highway truck stop. But the young woman may also be the key to some unsolved mysteries, engaging Pulaski's policeman side.
It's wonderful road trip along the fabled highway, leaving me wanting to take one more drive myself.
February 14, 2023
Entertaining
Ok, I rated 4 stars but that's a small stretch. Call it 3 1/2 because even though Lisette's run from a mobster isn't a thriller it is certainly action packed with a dose of romance. I like Cobb's writing style and recommend this if you're looking for something to tide you over till the next seat of your pants thriller.
Ok, I rated 4 stars but that's a small stretch. Call it 3 1/2 because even though Lisette's run from a mobster isn't a thriller it is certainly action packed with a dose of romance. I like Cobb's writing style and recommend this if you're looking for something to tide you over till the next seat of your pants thriller.
January 17, 2024
Get your kicks on 66.
Engaging and highly readable story that will keep the reader turning the pages. Cobb can be a bit heavy-handed with his narrative musings and purple prose, but the story doesn't suffer from it much, if at all. The plot is simple and predictable, the characters are few, and the action moves right along.
Engaging and highly readable story that will keep the reader turning the pages. Cobb can be a bit heavy-handed with his narrative musings and purple prose, but the story doesn't suffer from it much, if at all. The plot is simple and predictable, the characters are few, and the action moves right along.
May 13, 2022
Pure exciting escapism.
I loved the way the story tumbled from one breathtakingly riveting incident to the next. Incredibly graphic descriptions meant I could picture every town, every motel visited on this charge down route 66.
I loved the way the story tumbled from one breathtakingly riveting incident to the next. Incredibly graphic descriptions meant I could picture every town, every motel visited on this charge down route 66.
June 15, 2022
Fast read about a fast car
Good book that you can get through on a long flight. Get two head about the famous Route 66 and it's importance back in the 50s. While a bit over dramatic at times, the action and suspense makes up for the love story throughout.
Good book that you can get through on a long flight. Get two head about the famous Route 66 and it's importance back in the 50s. While a bit over dramatic at times, the action and suspense makes up for the love story throughout.
June 26, 2022
This was a fantastic book with plenty of action, a ‘57 Chevy, Route 66 road-trip, a Chicago mafia connection, pretty girl and buried cash. If you like to read about any of those things, I recommend this book.
August 5, 2022
Route 66 as it was
Fascinating for those of us who have actually driven the mother road before the interstates. I well remember many of the towns and locations along the way, but never on a trip as exciting as in the book.
Fascinating for those of us who have actually driven the mother road before the interstates. I well remember many of the towns and locations along the way, but never on a trip as exciting as in the book.
December 16, 2022
Unforgettable journey.
Really good story, part travel,drama and action. Simple storyline L A cop travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles via route 66 picks up girl at truck stop and then his troubles begin. Very descriptive and some good chases.
Really good story, part travel,drama and action. Simple storyline L A cop travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles via route 66 picks up girl at truck stop and then his troubles begin. Very descriptive and some good chases.
March 11, 2023
thriller on Route 66
I have always known about Route 66, but never followed it all the way. This a mystery/thriller set in the late 50s. Some of the tropes are a little standard, but overall the story is good. Car aficionados will enjoy many of the descriptions.
I have always known about Route 66, but never followed it all the way. This a mystery/thriller set in the late 50s. Some of the tropes are a little standard, but overall the story is good. Car aficionados will enjoy many of the descriptions.
April 12, 2022
3.5*. Great to visit lots of the Route 66 gems when they were in their heyday and Route 66 was a "thing".
May 9, 2022
pretty shallow characters
May 20, 2022
Superb tale
I enjoyed every word of this tale. The storyline twisted and turned a lot.it was a challenge to keep up
.
I enjoyed every word of this tale. The storyline twisted and turned a lot.it was a challenge to keep up
.
July 31, 2022
Far better than TV series
A great description of the country side all along the highway and various tows,and landmarks. A exciting mystery as well.
A great description of the country side all along the highway and various tows,and landmarks. A exciting mystery as well.
June 6, 2025
What a ride!!
One of those books where you can't wait to pick it up again. Incredible writing, great characters great '57 Chevy!!
One of those books where you can't wait to pick it up again. Incredible writing, great characters great '57 Chevy!!
April 18, 2013
West on 66 is a love story about a man, his gun and his car. The man is named Kevin and the car is named Car. She's a 1957 Chevy, and she forges a deep emotional, physical and spiritual bond with our hard-chargin' hero as they travel the full length of Route 66, peeping, fighting, shooting, stabbing, fornicating and killing in all the right places.
There's also a dame--and despite being abused, raped and violated since late childhood--she's still a looker with enough good sense to swoon at our hero and admit that she's clueless without his guidance.
This is a giant load of patriarchal horsepuckey. I can only hope the attitude behind this throwback becomes as extinct as the roadway it exploits.
There's also a dame--and despite being abused, raped and violated since late childhood--she's still a looker with enough good sense to swoon at our hero and admit that she's clueless without his guidance.
This is a giant load of patriarchal horsepuckey. I can only hope the attitude behind this throwback becomes as extinct as the roadway it exploits.
November 10, 2010
A mysterious young woman walks into the truck stop where off-duty police detective Kevin Pulaski has stopped for dinner. He senses something sinister to her request for a ride to St. Louis. Before he knows it, he's deeply involved in her flight from a life ruled by organized crime. Set in 1957, this murder mystery is a fast ride along old US Route 66 as Kevin and Lisette run for their lives from a gang of mobsters intent on revenge. It kept me turning pages, trying to find out what happens next and what happened years ago to Lisette and her family. James Cobb keeps the tension going all through the book.
December 5, 2013
I don't remember a lot about this book,(read it in 2002) but I do remember how much I enjoyed it being different from what I was used to reading from Cobb.
Also, there were the fond memories of my youth and family vacations between Los Angeles and Chicago, riding along as my father drove Route 66.
And who of my generation can forget the TV series, Route 66 with the new Corvettes each season?
Also, there were the fond memories of my youth and family vacations between Los Angeles and Chicago, riding along as my father drove Route 66.
And who of my generation can forget the TV series, Route 66 with the new Corvettes each season?
May 7, 2014
If you have ever wanted to drive Route 66 when it was THE route from east to west, before freeways took the glamor out of a cross country ride, this is the book for you, in a '57 Chevy no less. Along with the scenery you get a thrill-a-minute adventure.
October 2, 2014
I enjoyed how the book was structured. It was easy to follow as he went state-to-state along Route 66. I like that there was a little bit of love thrown in there.
Though I am not a big fan of mysteries and of the extremely graphic sexual parts. I think the incest scenes were a bit much.
Though I am not a big fan of mysteries and of the extremely graphic sexual parts. I think the incest scenes were a bit much.
February 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, not only because Cobb is able to spin a good yarn, but because I have traveled Route 66 from Chicago to LA and have been many of the places he describes. It's a page-turner!
July 16, 2008
The pacing was a little rough in spots, but it is certainly the best noir I've read in awhile. Aggressively masculine, exactly what I was looking for.
August 13, 2012
Having read this book I had an urge to travel the same road myself. I know its not the same now but the book gives an evocative feel to the journey,while still telling a compelling story.
June 3, 2013
This book fit the genre specifics, but it just didn't thrill me.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews