T. Jefferson Parker Returns to O.C. for Signings of His New Mystery, ‘Red Light’

T. Jefferson Parker, the best-selling Laguna Beach mystery writer who moved to Fallbrook in north San Diego County earlier this year, will make a trek back to his old stamping grounds this week for a series of signings for his latest Orange County-set mystery.

The new novel, “Red Light,” deals with the investigation of a murdered prostitute and is set in San Clemente, Santa Ana and Modjeska Canyon. The book, a sequel to Parker’s 1999 mystery thriller, “The Blue Hour,” is his eighth Orange County-set novel.

Parker will sign at: Borders Books and Music, 1890 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. 7 p.m. Thursday. (949) 631-8661; Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 11 a.m. Saturday. (714) 538-3210; Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 4:30 p.m. Saturday. (714) 898-2583.

Coming Up

* Donald Spoto (“Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life”), J. Michael Reidenbach and Dana K. Drenkowski (“Legacy & Destiny”) and William Murray (“Janet, My Mother, and Me”) will discuss their books at the Round Table West literary luncheon at the Balboa Bay Club. Noon Thursday. $40. For reservations, call (323) 256-7977.

* Pat Walsh will sign “Pat Walsh’s Southern California Gardening” at Borders Books and Music in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 1 p.m. today. (714) 432-7854.

* Sharon Lovejoy will sign “Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots” at Borders Books and Music in South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. today. (714) 432-7854.

* Nathan Walpow will discuss and sign “Death of an Orchid Lover” at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 2 p.m. today. (714) 898-2583.

* Steve Nakamoto will discuss and sign “Men Are Like Fish” at Barnes & Noble in the Market Place, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine. 7 p.m. Tuesday. (714) 508-9707.

* Riley St. James will discuss and sign “Deceptions in the Rainshadows” at TDM Gift Shop at John Wayne Airport, 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana. 10 a.m. Tuesday. (949) 252-6144.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview Dr. David Elkind (“The Hurried Child”) on “Writers on Writing” on KUCI (88.9 FM). 4 p.m. Thursday.

* Judy Mercer will discuss and sign “Blind Spot” at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 11931 Valley View St., Garden Grove. 12:30 p.m. Friday. (714) 898-2583.

* Judy Mercer will sign “Blind Spot” at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 1:30 p.m. Saturday. (714) 538-3210.

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Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, The Times’ Orange County edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail to dennis.mclellan@latimes.com.