The Killing Season

by Miles Corwin

Book Overview

Meet Pete Razanskas, 22-year veteran homicide cop and Marcella Winn, a rookie detective who grew up in the 'hood. They're an unlikely partnership whose job it is to attempt to close some of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068480235X
• ISBN13: 9780684802350
• Release Date: May 1997
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

The Prequel To Homicide Special

I won't try to repeat the details from the other reviews, but here's my take: 1. I read this in one night -- could not put it down. I'd read Homicide Special before this and enjoyed it. This is perhaps not as engrossing as his later book, which interweaved several detective teams through six investigations -- The Killing Season concentrates on one pair, which gives the opportunity for more detail. 2. I can imagine meeting Rakanzas, the senior detective - Corwin's portrait of a tobacco-chewing, wise-cracking veteran is spread throughout the book, building his character slowly but in depth. 3. I didn't see the same characterization of his partner, but certainly no worse than par for the course in true crime books. 4. The detective team eventually splits. This part of the book seems to gloss over the details, and I think more time could have been spent here. 5. Corwin gives a fair amount of coverage to the victim's relatives, and the aftermaths of the murders. He points out the disparity between the news coverage and police effort given to a couple of contemporary murders on L.A.'s prosperous Westside and San Pedro areas, versus the shoestring response to the comparative slaughter in South Central. This could have been followed up a bit more in the book IMHO. (In fact, the LA Times did a front-page Column One series on homicides in South Central earlier this year (2006), and the situation seems to continue.) 6. The supporting players (the lieutenants and other detectives) don't get as much attention in this book as in Homicide Central. 7. If you are an Angeleno and read crime novels or true crime, I think you will enjoy this book. If you are outside the LA area, it's still worthwhile, but I'd suggest a map to give some scope to the story. 8. One thing I would have liked to have seen was an appendix outlining the relationships of the various sets of Crip and Blood gangs, although Corwin does give a reasonable thumbnail history of the gang problem. Overall, I'd give this four-and-one-half stars. The raw material is compelling, and Corwin's style presents it nicely, leading to the refinement of his style in Homicide Special.

excellent book for both cops and civilians

I must say this book is as close to the "real thing" as you can get. I am a homicide detective in California, and I will tell you that Mr. Corwin writes the truth! His coverage of the LAPD's now defunct South Bureau Homicide is done in a journalistic style that keeps you turning the pages and not want to put the book down.I have met Mr. Corwin and can only say that I am looking forward to his next book!!!This is a great read for both cops and civilians who want a look at what homicide cops go through day in and day out.

The Killing Season--The Best of the Bunch

Where David Simon's HOMICIDE succeeds in sounding in prose, THE KILLING SEASON succeeds in speaking the truth. I have read most of the "True Cop" genre, which is mired in cops with axes to grind, journalists with careers to further, and others constrained by their lack of literary talent. As a cop, I was so relieved to see that at least one journalist could shed his skepticism of police officers' motivations and just sit, watch, listen, and reflect. The shock, sadness, and resignation Corwin expresses so eloquently and easily are the constant companions of even the most idealistic cop. Most, however, can't master the vocabulary to express their motivations to the general public, who seem to think we are all power-hungry, single-minded, and without empathy. We think the same of journalists, and Miles Corwin goes a long way to bridging this gap of mutual understanding. If you want to know what cops are like, read this book.

Must read for native angelenos

As a native angeleno, I found this book about the daily lives of homicide detectives in South-Central Los Angeles to be fascinating. Corwin also provides an insightful look into the history of animosity between the LAPD and minority groups in the city, thereby providing some enlightenment into the etiology of the 1992 riots. This book is a must read for native angelenos as well as a quick page-turner for anyone fascinated with homicide detectives and their investigations.

A compelling look at real-life inner city Los Angeles.

Corwin gives us the real-life look of policing in the inner city -- not the 30-minute sensationalized "Cops" version. The book looks at all the players caught up in crime. Corwin's work on describing the Mexican background of one victim is above and beyond the call of duty. The book moves quickly and stays on focus.