Matt Stormsoe, whose son and wife are accidentally killed when a childhood friend turned Mexican mobster tries to exact vengeance, is hired to protect a weather reporter from a stalker. Turns out the weather reporter is refining her grandfather's methods for creating rain, much to the chagrin of the LA Water and Power authority, who want her stopped at any cost. A bit reminiscent of the movie, Chinatown. ( )

Wounded ex-cop turned security corporation operator protects weather reporter w. a sideline of making rain from gang member is the hire of Saan Diego Corporate water executives. ( )

From Amazon:

Matt Stromsoe has come a long way since his wife and son were killed in an explosion meant for him. Wounded severely in both body and spirit, Stromsoe gave up the last thing that held any meaning for him—his job on the police force—and proceeded to hit rock bottom, hard.

That was a lifetime ago, and finally the spiral of personal destruction and despair seems to have come to an end. The man responsible for the murders—Stromsoe's best friend from childhood and his wife's old lover—is behind bars and Stromsoe has put the past behind him, rescued from the abyss by a former colleague who offers him a job at his private security firm. Stromsoe's first assignment is to protect local television personality Frankie Hatfield from a stalker. But the further Stromsoe is drawn into this case, the more he finds that the net of intrigue is wide and ultimately leads back to the man who killed his family. As events conspire against him, Stromsoe learns that prison is no safeguard against revenge.

My Thoughts:

Storm Runners introduces readers to Matt Stromsoe, a sheriff's deputy whose wife and child are killed in an assassination attempt meant for him. I usually really like T.Jefferson Parker's writing but this one struck me as a novel written in a hurry. It's mostly dialogue, which is not this author's strong point. Along with an unrealistic plot and underdeveloped characters made this book not one of Parker's best. I know he can do so much better than this. The saving grace for this that earned it an extra star was the hero, Stromsoe. He is an interesting character and would have been better served with a storyline that was stronger and more revealing of this character. ( )

Review by: Nopainnojain

A very captivating book, Parker is a great writer. Storm Runners is not a light read and at times it can confuse you, but if you like sciencey books as well as action Storm Runners is for you. ( )

Fascinating thriller featuring a contest between an ex-deputy and a vicious gang leader. Rain-making and politics also feature in the plot. Note: this is a thriller, not a mystery like California Girl, by the same author. ( )