Disappearances at Laguna Beach in the late 60’s
A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The horrific death of a sixteen year old missing girl he’s seen around the traps, has Matt Anthony, also sixteen, nervous about his sister Jasmine. Jasmine is missing—only a couple of days true! Still the death of Bonnie Stratmeyer has him worried. Living in the Californian Laguna Beach area in 1968, Matt is the product of a separated family. He and his mother and sister work as they can for food and rent. Matt supplementing their diet with his fishing offerings.
Matt’s mother Julie is a product of the 60’s. Matt is surrounded by the ‘happening’ era. The free thinking, experiments with pysycholdic drugs, heroin, hash and of course weed. Timothy Leary gets more than a mention. The Vietnam War is raging, the Peace Movement is out in force, Hippies chill out and life’s cool. VW vans are part of the scene. (OK, I had one and loved it! Still miss it!)
There’s your obligatory swami and the beautiful people searching for evolution to a higher plane. There’s a rock star, regular parties (drugs and sex) for “rich old men” hidden behind high fences and security guards. Where there’s drugs and sex, there’s porn and crime. No surprises here.
I’m fascinated by Matt’s search for his sister, his ability to blend into situations, to observe the small details. Matt is a talented artist, intelligent and adventurous. He’s on the cusp of manhood, of girlfriends and dating.
Jasmine’s disappearance takes on a fantasy life of it’s own—except there’s nothing fantastical about the fact that she’s gone. Sinister is more like it. Matt is desperate. The police seem to be ignoring things so it’s up to Matt to find his sister.
A pretty full on story, I’m amazed by Matt’s ability to coordinate his search, the help he has from various friends and the weird circle his search draws through the Laguna Beach of these times.
An exceptional murder thriller with ooomph!
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