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LA Confrontation
Los Angeles, the City of Angels. A place of glamour, dreams, and dark secrets. Spencer, his wife, and young daughter arrive to paint the town red with visits to Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Hollywood Boulevard. But fate has other plans.
Without warning, Spencer is thrust back in time, finding himself lost and alone in the desert of 1961-hungry, thirsty, and desperate. His unlikely savior is Priscilla, a good-time girl with a heart of gold. Yet, Spencer's troubles are far from over.
Teaming up once again with Special Agent Savannah Steele, Spencer dives into the sordid underworld of drugs and sex slavery, dominated by the sadistic movie mogul Zacharia Colchester and his henchman Charlie. Their infiltrate and dismantle the cartel of Emilio Bustillos, the supplier of Zacharia's illicit empire.
As Savannah's relentless pursuit of justice escalates, the body count rises. Spencer fears her 'win at all costs' mentality might seal their fates. All he wants is to return to his own century, but first, they must survive a deadly mission that could be their last.
'Spencer glanced at the motley assortment of villains, figuring the hierarchy. The older man obviously their leader. A modern-day Fagin.
Spencer guessed he was the El Patron to the younger guys, determined to stamp his authority on his admiring proteges. To Spencer he looked like a cartoon character waiting for a caption.
'C'mon guys really, you're out of your depth.'
Without warning, Spencer is thrust back in time, finding himself lost and alone in the desert of 1961-hungry, thirsty, and desperate. His unlikely savior is Priscilla, a good-time girl with a heart of gold. Yet, Spencer's troubles are far from over.
Teaming up once again with Special Agent Savannah Steele, Spencer dives into the sordid underworld of drugs and sex slavery, dominated by the sadistic movie mogul Zacharia Colchester and his henchman Charlie. Their infiltrate and dismantle the cartel of Emilio Bustillos, the supplier of Zacharia's illicit empire.
As Savannah's relentless pursuit of justice escalates, the body count rises. Spencer fears her 'win at all costs' mentality might seal their fates. All he wants is to return to his own century, but first, they must survive a deadly mission that could be their last.
'Spencer glanced at the motley assortment of villains, figuring the hierarchy. The older man obviously their leader. A modern-day Fagin.
Spencer guessed he was the El Patron to the younger guys, determined to stamp his authority on his admiring proteges. To Spencer he looked like a cartoon character waiting for a caption.
'C'mon guys really, you're out of your depth.'
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 2, 2024
LA Confrontation is the fourth novel in a series I’m currently following. I was immediately hooked when I read the first Spencer Marlowe adventure, The Singapore Saga.
The central character, Spencer, has inexplicably travelled back in time to Singapore, Hawaii, New York and now Los Angeles in the 1960’s.
In the last adventure, The Manhattan Sting, Spencer teams up with special agent Savannah Steele, to take down New York mobster Tony Romano.
I was pleased to see Savannah re-appear in LA Confrontation. And what a surprise to find out about her new love interest. I didn’t see that coming, but that certainly adds an interesting aspect to her character. Savannah’s persona adds so much to these stories, possessing warmth and a certain type of naivety that is interestingly at odds with her killer instincts. The relationship between her and Spencer, although at times fraught with differences, is clearly a close friendship and adds depth to the story.
The plot of LA is fast and brutal. It’s an exciting ride that travels Los Angeles to Mexico, taking on the villainous Emilio Bustillos, the head of a cartel that corrupts police and officials. As in the Manhattan Sting, the conclusion to LA Confrontation is particularly satisfying.
A great cast of characters add to what is indeed a stirring story.
At the end of the novel, we read the intro to the next in the instalment, The Chicago Story, once again featuring Savannah Steele and no doubt her uncompromising style of rough justice.
I have also read Kelvin White’s collaboration novels; Birthright, a crime story co-authored by fellow Western Australian author Bruce L Russell, and Undercover Heat with American author Tali Sandbridge. I found both novels to be compelling reading and although entirely different writing styles, are unique and guaranteed to keep the readers turning the page.
The central character, Spencer, has inexplicably travelled back in time to Singapore, Hawaii, New York and now Los Angeles in the 1960’s.
In the last adventure, The Manhattan Sting, Spencer teams up with special agent Savannah Steele, to take down New York mobster Tony Romano.
I was pleased to see Savannah re-appear in LA Confrontation. And what a surprise to find out about her new love interest. I didn’t see that coming, but that certainly adds an interesting aspect to her character. Savannah’s persona adds so much to these stories, possessing warmth and a certain type of naivety that is interestingly at odds with her killer instincts. The relationship between her and Spencer, although at times fraught with differences, is clearly a close friendship and adds depth to the story.
The plot of LA is fast and brutal. It’s an exciting ride that travels Los Angeles to Mexico, taking on the villainous Emilio Bustillos, the head of a cartel that corrupts police and officials. As in the Manhattan Sting, the conclusion to LA Confrontation is particularly satisfying.
A great cast of characters add to what is indeed a stirring story.
At the end of the novel, we read the intro to the next in the instalment, The Chicago Story, once again featuring Savannah Steele and no doubt her uncompromising style of rough justice.
I have also read Kelvin White’s collaboration novels; Birthright, a crime story co-authored by fellow Western Australian author Bruce L Russell, and Undercover Heat with American author Tali Sandbridge. I found both novels to be compelling reading and although entirely different writing styles, are unique and guaranteed to keep the readers turning the page.
October 2, 2024
LA Confrontation is the fourth Spencer Marlowe novel and continues with his time travel adventures. This time in Los Angeles in the swinging 60's.
In the previous Spencer Marlowe story , The Manhattan Sting, Spencer teams up with Special Agent Savannah Steele. I was delighted that she turned up again in LA Confrontation.
Savannah adds an entirely different dimension to the series. Her consuming desire to rid the world of the bad guys without being concerned with due process presents Spencer with an ongoing dilemma as he tussles with not only the morality of her vendetta but the legality.
One terrific aspect of a series like the Spencer Marlowe stories is the reader feels like he or she knows the players and identifies with them as old friends.
Spencer over the course of the four novels marries his Japanese girlfriend Michiyo and now has a daughter Trilby.
In this story Spencer seems to finally get a handle on the concept that this may well be his life, he may well be condemned for eternity to keep flitting back into time.
Every Spencer Marlowe story has a completely different plot and in each one Spencer has to deal with the different values of the time and the technology or lack of that he has to get his head around.
In LA Confrontation the villains like Charlie, Zacharia and Bustillos are particularly evil.
Without giving away to much of the plot one can see the links of an infamous and heinous crime from the 60's LA, cleverly woven into the plot.
This is a terrific fast paced action story with dreadful villains and a plot that has once again a satisfying conclusion.
The novel finishes with an introduction to the next Spencer Marlowe adventure, The Chicago Story. I'm delighted to see that Savannah Steele appears once again.
In the previous Spencer Marlowe story , The Manhattan Sting, Spencer teams up with Special Agent Savannah Steele. I was delighted that she turned up again in LA Confrontation.
Savannah adds an entirely different dimension to the series. Her consuming desire to rid the world of the bad guys without being concerned with due process presents Spencer with an ongoing dilemma as he tussles with not only the morality of her vendetta but the legality.
One terrific aspect of a series like the Spencer Marlowe stories is the reader feels like he or she knows the players and identifies with them as old friends.
Spencer over the course of the four novels marries his Japanese girlfriend Michiyo and now has a daughter Trilby.
In this story Spencer seems to finally get a handle on the concept that this may well be his life, he may well be condemned for eternity to keep flitting back into time.
Every Spencer Marlowe story has a completely different plot and in each one Spencer has to deal with the different values of the time and the technology or lack of that he has to get his head around.
In LA Confrontation the villains like Charlie, Zacharia and Bustillos are particularly evil.
Without giving away to much of the plot one can see the links of an infamous and heinous crime from the 60's LA, cleverly woven into the plot.
This is a terrific fast paced action story with dreadful villains and a plot that has once again a satisfying conclusion.
The novel finishes with an introduction to the next Spencer Marlowe adventure, The Chicago Story. I'm delighted to see that Savannah Steele appears once again.
March 19, 2026
Kelvin White does it again. The opening chapter is a blast, with Spencer alone, dying of thirst in a Nevada desert, only to saved by happy hooker Priscilla. And the action doesn't let up from there.
Once more Spencer teams up with homicidal FBI Special Agent Savannah Steele.
Woven into the plot are all the ingredients that made Los Angeles in the 60's. The music the people and the vibe of sun , surf and sex.
I have now read all the Spencer Marlowe stories and they are all equally entertaining. Once again feisty bloodthirsty Savannah is the perfect foil for Spencer's dislike of violence. And let me say there is plenty of bloodshed as Spencer and Savannah travel to Mexico to take down murderous cartel kingpin Emilio Bustillos.
This is a cracker of a story. The final chapters where Savannah exacts brutal justice on the last two nasties is very satisfying.
I have to admit I'm hooked on Spencer and Savannah and look forward to reading more of their adventures. Another great read from Kelvin White.
Once more Spencer teams up with homicidal FBI Special Agent Savannah Steele.
Woven into the plot are all the ingredients that made Los Angeles in the 60's. The music the people and the vibe of sun , surf and sex.
I have now read all the Spencer Marlowe stories and they are all equally entertaining. Once again feisty bloodthirsty Savannah is the perfect foil for Spencer's dislike of violence. And let me say there is plenty of bloodshed as Spencer and Savannah travel to Mexico to take down murderous cartel kingpin Emilio Bustillos.
This is a cracker of a story. The final chapters where Savannah exacts brutal justice on the last two nasties is very satisfying.
I have to admit I'm hooked on Spencer and Savannah and look forward to reading more of their adventures. Another great read from Kelvin White.
October 3, 2024
I love this series, I feel as if I know Spencer, Savannah and Dale Fletcher and I'm familiar with their quirky habits. Spencer remains uncomfortable with Savannah's eagerness to slay the bad guys and her boss Dale Fletcher is still slightly naive, a reformed smoker who can't quite kick the habit.
I particularly enjoyed the locations where the story is set. I haven't been to Los Angeles or Mexico but the descriptions of these locations were so vivid and descriptive I easily formed a mental picture of the surroundings.
Some characters in the novel are easily recognizable as being based on real life people turbulent time.
As in the previous Spencer Marlowe novel 'The Manhattan Sting' the ending is a stunner with Savannah tying up loose ends.
Every novel in the series is uniquely different, both in location and plot and all are fast paced and keep the reader turning the page. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I particularly enjoyed the locations where the story is set. I haven't been to Los Angeles or Mexico but the descriptions of these locations were so vivid and descriptive I easily formed a mental picture of the surroundings.
Some characters in the novel are easily recognizable as being based on real life people turbulent time.
As in the previous Spencer Marlowe novel 'The Manhattan Sting' the ending is a stunner with Savannah tying up loose ends.
Every novel in the series is uniquely different, both in location and plot and all are fast paced and keep the reader turning the page. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews