Illegal: an interview with author Paul Levine

March 25, 1:28 PMLA Books ExaminerFrank Mundo

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Photo credit: Alan Weissman 

This Saturday, March 28 at 4:00pm, Edgar-nominated author Paul Levine will be at The Mystery Bookstore in Westwood discussing and signing his latest legal thriller, Illegal, which was just released this week.

Best-known for his two series of courtroom dramedies, the Solomon vs. Lord series, and the Jake Lassiter series, Levine's memorable Miami lawyers have been entertaining readers for nearly twenty years, through 11 thrilling books in 23 languages. 

In Illegal, Levine leaves South Florida behind for Southern California, where we meet his newest memorable lawyer, Jimmy "Royal" Payne, at a major crossroad in his life. Haunted by the tragic death of his son, Jimmy is on the run from the law, from his past, and from his ex-wife Sharon, an LAPD detective who he still loves, when he is confronted by 12-year-old illegal alien Tino Perez. Tino robs Jimmy first, but then begs him to help him find Marisol, his mother who went missing after crossing the border with a ruthless coyote. What follows is a shocking and funny quest for redemption through greed, corruption, and betrayal from Mexico to California's Hellhole Canyon.

I met up with Paul Levine the other day and had a few questions for him.

Q. In your book, Illegal, there seems to be an authentic quality to the scenes about crossing the border. How did you prepare or research for something like that?
 
A. I always start with "book learning."  I read everything I can find. Non-fiction.  Magazine and newspapers. Then, Google satellite to get an idea of the terrain.  Then, on-site at the border between Calexico and Mexicali. And finally interviews with Border Patrol agents and people on both sides of the broken border dispute. I like to think that the book – while fiction – fairly portrays the legal, moral and economic issues involved.
 
Q. On your website, you say that your main goal as a writer is to entertain – which you've definitely accomplished with Illegal. But were you worried about the politics involved in writing a story about such a hot-button topic as illegal immigration?
 
A. I just wanted to write a book with social significance.  That sounds a little pretentious.  Let me re-phrase.  I wanted to write a book that had more meat on its bones that some of my lighter work.
 
Q. Have we heard the last of Jimmy Payne, or is Illegal the first act of a thrilling new series?
 
A. I'm working on the second Jimmy Payne novel now.
 
Q. You've been a trial lawyer, a newspaper reporter, a Hollywood writer, and a novelist. What's next for Paul Levine? 
 
A. Social Security? I don't know. I'm happy being a storyteller...which you'll note...each of those careers involves.
 
 
Meet Paul Levine this Saturday at 4pm at
 
The Mystery Bookstore
1036-C Broxton Avenue Los Angeles, California 90024
(310) 209-0415
Get directions

Illegal (Bantam, 2009, 384 pages)
 

In this article, Paul Levine reveals that Illegal is, in fact, the first book of a brand new series and might be something you want to start collecting. Read my article on investing in books.