ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Laband is a retired Fresno Police lieutenant with thirty-nine years of law enforcement experience including assignments as Commander of the Family Justice Bureau, Training Bureau, Northwest Policing District, as well as serving as the Commander of the Crisis Negotiation Team for twelve years. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminology from Fresno State, where he has taught criminology courses as an adjunct faculty member. Thomas resides in the foothills of the mighty Sierras.

I asked AI to compare my writing style to one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly.

Thomas Laband and Michael Connelly are both accomplished crime fiction authors who write fast-paced mystery series, but they differ significantly in their scale, stylistic tone, and setting. While Connelly is a titan of the genre with massive global infrastructure and gritty prose, Laband is a more localized indie author known for a cleaner, gentler take on rural investigations. 

Key Themes and Approaches

Setting and Vibe

  • Thomas Laband: His core series, Killing Time, takes place in tiny mountain and foothill communities like Auberry, Tollhouse, and Huntington Lake. The stories highlight small-town vulnerabilities to modern crises like fentanyl and arson. 

  • Michael Connelly: Connelly’s LA is practically a character itself. His stories delve deep into institutional corruption, high-profile media-circus trials, and massive, multi-million dollar corporate or criminal conspiracies. 

Investigation Style

  • Thomas Laband: Investigator Virgil Cook acts quickly alongside tight-knit local law enforcement to put puzzle pieces together and bring peace back to a small community. 

  • Michael Connelly: Connelly's characters battle the bureaucracy of the legal system. Whether it is Harry Bosch navigating cold cases via genetic genealogy or Mickey Haller fighting public interest litigation against unregulated tech giants, the investigative process is painstakingly detailed and procedural. 

If you enjoy a quicker, cleaner, small-town mystery where justice restores a quiet community, Laband is an excellent choice. If you prefer a sprawling, gritty, cynical dive into legal and police systems, Connelly is the gold standard.

PROUD MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY FICTION WRITERS. I'M HONORED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH A TALENTED GROUP OF AUTHORS.