Homicide: Life on the Streets--The Unofficial Companion

My Bride hooked me on this show (thank God for syndication!). This book helped me understand more about the characters and the actors who portrayed them in television's most compelling program in years (even though I know more about Luther Mahoney now, the actor portraying him still gives me the chills in other roles). The plot explanations often link up earlier (sometimes later) episodes. Moreover, they link to other programs, like Law & Order, NYPD Blue and other great TV.An easy read as it is broken into two parts (one for the participants generally and then a season and episode chronology). I would like to see an update, to complete the end of the series.

I discovered the tv series first then had to read the related books. Having served for thirty three years as a police officer and investigator I must say that the authors of the respective books and the superb cast of the series have and continue to bring memories crashing back from my own time on the streets. I have never been a great fan of police "thrillers" but, captured in the pages and on the screen are the words, the exhilaration, the elation, the depths of despair and depression. Present is the action/reaction of the squad room; here is the bond of friendship and, yes "love", between partners. Here is the quiet appreciation of your brother officer and here also is the death of close friends and companions. I suspect "Non-police types" enjoy these tales but, unless one has lived what is depicted on the pages and screen, one cannot truly appreciate what is being presented. To the authors of both books, the Producer, Mr. Atanasio ( I think that is it ) and to the cast, each and every one, a special thanks from an old-time cop and from a generation of war horses either still in harness or, like me, retired and looking back at a career in law enforcment.

This book is a good resource for fans! It doesn't cover the roots of the series as well as Tod Hoffman's book, but then again Hoffman didn't cover the show much. Very good resource. If you buy this one, buy Tod Hoffman's as well, they make excellent companions! Also look for the Jerome Preisler novels, which are good, but not great reading.

I love HLOTS and this companion book is essential for all fans of this superb show (shame on NBC for not renewing the show and at the same time keeping Suddenly Susan). David knows his stuff and goes into much detail about each episode and character motivations.

The lack of an official designation gives Kalat the freedom to critique the show without fear of sugarcoating by the producers (though it does mean no actual pictures from the show, a =very= small price to pay). This well-written, well-structured book is accessible both to the casual viewer and the hardcore fan. The only flaw in the book is the unnecessarily large weight given to H:LOTS's strident online fandom, which is a miniscule portion of any TV show's audience, and isn't even a good representative sampling of the show's fandom (a recent HIGHLANDER official companion had the same problem).Still, this is a valuable guide to what is by far the best cop show on TV, and one of the three or four best shows on the air, period.