The Closer – Close to the End
Closer airs. The TNT detective show is a classic ensemble show with quirky
characters who work together to solve a crime each episode. Even after seven
years, the show has a fresh, modern feel with interesting camera angles,
well-thought out costumes, and the use of music giving some crime scenes a
“music video” element.
In novels, she would be the “point of view” character. In the first
episode she appears in the Los Angeles Police Department as the new
“Deputy Chief” of a major crimes unit. Originally from Atlanta, and CIA-trained, Brenda
has a reputation as a Closer – in other words, she gets confessions that lead to convictions
detectives who report to her resent an outsider coming into the department and
grabbing a coveted supervisory position, others in line for the job feel
cheated and work to undermine her, and her new boss, Assistant Chief Will Pope who
was someone with whom she’d had an affair some years back while working in
D.C., is less than helpful in smoothing her transition. It took several seasons
for her to establish good working relationships with her team of detectives –
trust came very slowly.
Over seven years Brenda has done what any good
character does – she’s grown and changed based on experiences that the audience
has shared with her. She married her FBI friend Fritz and we attended the
wedding and the not so smooth ever after. She learned to drive in L.A. and find her away around, much like she learned to navigate the L.A. Police Department. We became acquainted with her foibles
– her use of chocolate to self-medicate during times of stress, her oversized
purse (a security blanket substitute in my opinion), and her distain for sugar
coating the truth. We learned to like her, but it wasn’t automatic. A loner, she never wanted a pet but was
forced to take one that came with a dead hooker’s house. Finding affordable
real estate in L.A. was a problem so as soon as the crime scene tape came down,
Brenda moved in. She fed the cat but refused to name it – her attempt to keep
from getting attached. It didn’t work. Over the years “Kitty” gave
Brenda the unconditional love she craved. When the cat neared the end of its
life, Brenda finally admitted just how much emotion she’d invested in the animal.
“mole” in the department be revealed? Will Brenda continue to deal
with the fall-out from the “Shooting Newton” murders and her role in
the murder of the killer? Will she and Fritz decide to have children? Will her
father recover from his thyroid cancer or will that be the reason for Brenda
leaving L.A.?
I can’t
believe I’m the only one who’ll be sorry to say goodbye to Brenda Leigh
Johnson. The character, along with the actress who played her, broke a lot of
glass ceilings in the female detective realm. She solved crimes while dressed
in designer heels, flouncy skirts, sweater sets, and wide brimmed hats. She was a good shot, but never overpowered a suspect physically. She really did “fight like a girl” and only survived by outwitting her opponents and with the help of her team. Brenda did the best she could with what she had.
I guess it’s too late to invite her to join the Stiletto
Gang.
Rhonda
aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David
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Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords