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Harry Bosch #15
The Drop
Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two.
DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab's DNA cases currently in court.
Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation.
Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.
DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab's DNA cases currently in court.
Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation.
Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.
388 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 2011
About the author
Michael Connelly
425 books30.7k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,576 reviews
February 13, 2019
This is another excellent entry in Michael Connelly's series featuring LAPD homicide detective, Harry Bosch.
Bosch, who had earlier retired from the department is now back under the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). He has a little more than three years left before he will be forced to retire for good and he is anxious to accomplish as much as he possibly can in the time he has remaining.
Harry is now working in the Open/Unsolved Unit, investigating cold cases, and as the book opens, he and his partner, David Chu, are assigned a particularly interesting case from over twenty years earlier. A child was sexually assaulted and murdered and now DNA evidence has linked the crime to a convicted sex offender. It seems like an open and shut case, except for one small problem: at the time of the crime, the offender whose DNA was found on the body was only eight years old.
While Harry pursues this puzzling cold case, he's also assigned to a new live case by special request. The son of an old nemesis, city councilman Irvin Irving, has dropped to his death from a balcony at a posh hotel. The councilman insists that Bosch investigate the death personally. While he and Harry may have at times been bitter opponents, Irving knows that Harry is a man of integrity and that he will find the real truth, irrespective of whether the son's death was an accident, suicide or murder.
Inevitably, Harry will face any number of obstacles in both investigations and in the end, he has to wonder whom, if anyone, he can trust. Both cases are very interesting and as always, it's enormous fun to watch Harry work. Michael Connelly, like his fictional detective, seems to just be getting better and better with age. This is a real page-turner that should appeal to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and that will be treasured by fans of this great series.
Bosch, who had earlier retired from the department is now back under the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). He has a little more than three years left before he will be forced to retire for good and he is anxious to accomplish as much as he possibly can in the time he has remaining.
Harry is now working in the Open/Unsolved Unit, investigating cold cases, and as the book opens, he and his partner, David Chu, are assigned a particularly interesting case from over twenty years earlier. A child was sexually assaulted and murdered and now DNA evidence has linked the crime to a convicted sex offender. It seems like an open and shut case, except for one small problem: at the time of the crime, the offender whose DNA was found on the body was only eight years old.
While Harry pursues this puzzling cold case, he's also assigned to a new live case by special request. The son of an old nemesis, city councilman Irvin Irving, has dropped to his death from a balcony at a posh hotel. The councilman insists that Bosch investigate the death personally. While he and Harry may have at times been bitter opponents, Irving knows that Harry is a man of integrity and that he will find the real truth, irrespective of whether the son's death was an accident, suicide or murder.
Inevitably, Harry will face any number of obstacles in both investigations and in the end, he has to wonder whom, if anyone, he can trust. Both cases are very interesting and as always, it's enormous fun to watch Harry work. Michael Connelly, like his fictional detective, seems to just be getting better and better with age. This is a real page-turner that should appeal to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and that will be treasured by fans of this great series.
June 2, 2018
Another really entertaining few hours spent with Harry Bosch and friends. I always love these books and this was an especially good one.
I enjoyed the relationship he has with Maddie in this book. It is nice to see a main character actually succeeding in managing his work and home life and caring for his daughter in a supportive way.
Of course at work he is his usual uncooperative self. Harry is not a team player and his partner is that in name only. Not surprisingly the partnership goes off the rails although Harry is not the only person to blame. Also not surprising is that he has the same lack of success in his love life.
Poor Harry. but at least he has Maddie plus he always gets his man. This is a great series.
I enjoyed the relationship he has with Maddie in this book. It is nice to see a main character actually succeeding in managing his work and home life and caring for his daughter in a supportive way.
Of course at work he is his usual uncooperative self. Harry is not a team player and his partner is that in name only. Not surprisingly the partnership goes off the rails although Harry is not the only person to blame. Also not surprising is that he has the same lack of success in his love life.
Poor Harry. but at least he has Maddie plus he always gets his man. This is a great series.
January 8, 2012
This is how much I enjoy Michael Connelly's "Harry Bosch" series - I bought a hardcopy and gifted to myself as a Christmas present. I couldn't wait to hop into bed with Harry. I savored each page and even reread a few the next night to set the flavor of the evening's reading. Connelly is at his finest - once again - even though he does break some writing rules by telling rather than showing - so like who cares? It works. Harry is back from retirement working cold cases, not the active murder cases he so wants to solve. He is on a DROP - Deferred Retirement Optional Plan - three years until, Harry it's over (sniff, sniff What will I do without him?). He has his 15 yr old daughter living with him, and him such a loner and confirmed bachelor. I mean he's not the greatest ha ha guy in the world rather he's moody and intense. The cold case assigned him has an interesting element of DNA, which can't be, still it gets bumped for a maybe yes, maybe no, suicide of a councilman's son. The councilman is Bosch's old enemy Irvine Irving. Against direction Harry continues to work the cold case while solving the present one which brings him trouble from 'high jingo' - the higher ups. I found the cold case is more interesting as a murder story. A plus regarding how Connelly writes: A fan of (too) many crime novels, it appears more and more authors' descriptions of torture and blood letting are as gorey as they can imagine. For me, it's a turn off from what could be good writing and plot. Connelly creates that "OH!" shock without having to do that because he is truly a master writer. And this novel proves it, again.
July 30, 2018
Bosch is one of my favorite TV cops. The narrator's voice didn't match my image of Titus Welliver, but the audio was still compelling.
January 13, 2019
Number 15 in the Harry Bosch series.
Yet again another par excellence police procedural by Michael Connelly.
Two cases to be solved this time around. Case one, what looks like a suicide but could be a murder. Case two, a cold case from twenty years ago where a young girl was murdered. Case unsolved. New DNA evidence now indicates that the DNA belongs to an eight year old boy who has, in later life, been found guilty of sexual crimes.
Case one, Harry and his partner are given the task of determining if it was a suicide or not. There is one major problem; the diseased is the son of Harries arch nemesis, Irvin Irving, his one time boss in the LAPD now councilman of the city of Los Angeles.
Before Harry and his partner are finished the LAPD will be in major damage control.
Case two starts of slowly but will become one of the biggest crime busts in LAPD history.
To boot Harry now has to manage his police life with his new roll as father of a fifteen year old daughter.
Just to keep things interesting, love comes knocking on the door.
If you like police procedurals you will love this.
Highly recommended. 5/5 stars.
Yet again another par excellence police procedural by Michael Connelly.
Two cases to be solved this time around. Case one, what looks like a suicide but could be a murder. Case two, a cold case from twenty years ago where a young girl was murdered. Case unsolved. New DNA evidence now indicates that the DNA belongs to an eight year old boy who has, in later life, been found guilty of sexual crimes.
Case one, Harry and his partner are given the task of determining if it was a suicide or not. There is one major problem; the diseased is the son of Harries arch nemesis, Irvin Irving, his one time boss in the LAPD now councilman of the city of Los Angeles.
Before Harry and his partner are finished the LAPD will be in major damage control.
Case two starts of slowly but will become one of the biggest crime busts in LAPD history.
To boot Harry now has to manage his police life with his new roll as father of a fifteen year old daughter.
Just to keep things interesting, love comes knocking on the door.
If you like police procedurals you will love this.
Highly recommended. 5/5 stars.
September 24, 2017
Harry Bosch is facing forced retirement unless he receives approval of his Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) extension request. He and his partner are back in the Open-Unsolved unit and are tasked with finding out how the DNA hit on an old murder/assault case points to a former sex offender who would have been eight years old at the time. Before they can get started, Harry's plopped in the middle of a politically charged case involving his nemesis Irvin Irving whose son was either dropped from a hotel room window or committed suicide.
Intriguing story juxtaposing Harry's desire to stay on the job as long as he can while forcing him to face many of the things about the department that had him walk away from it a few years ago. As much as I dislike Irving, I enjoy seeing these two tangle. It's always interesting and one of them always walks away with the upper hand. The unsolved case was classic police procedural but with a few personal challenges added to make it more emotionally complex.
Len Cariou delivers another fine audio performance and I've now grown used to him as Harry. The ending had a couple of subtle twists and a gruesome discovery associated with the cold case. Harry's got a lot to consider going forward that will tax his personal code of ethics. This one was much more than solving a couple of cases.
Intriguing story juxtaposing Harry's desire to stay on the job as long as he can while forcing him to face many of the things about the department that had him walk away from it a few years ago. As much as I dislike Irving, I enjoy seeing these two tangle. It's always interesting and one of them always walks away with the upper hand. The unsolved case was classic police procedural but with a few personal challenges added to make it more emotionally complex.
Len Cariou delivers another fine audio performance and I've now grown used to him as Harry. The ending had a couple of subtle twists and a gruesome discovery associated with the cold case. Harry's got a lot to consider going forward that will tax his personal code of ethics. This one was much more than solving a couple of cases.
July 4, 2021
পুলিশ প্রোসিডিউরাল থ্রিলারে মাইকেল কনেলি কেন সেরা, আরেকবার প্রমাণ পেলাম। পোড় খাওয়া ডিটেকটিভ, হ্যারি বশ এই ট্রোপ থেকে ঠিক বের হতে পারেনি। কিন্তু সততা আর ন্যায়বিচার প্রতিষ্ঠার প্রতি তার আকাঙ্ক্ষাই এই সিরিজের মূল চালিকাশক্তি। 'Nobody counts or everybody counts'- এই মূলনীতিতে বিশ্বাসী ডিটেকটিভ বশ।
কাহিনীর শুরুটা বেশ আগ্রহোদ্দীপক। ১৯ বছর আগের এক অমীমাংসিত হত্যাকাণ্ড সমাধানের দায়িত্ব পায় বশ এবং তার পার্টনার ডেভিড চু। ভিক্টিমের শরীরের সম্ভাব্য খুনীর যে রক্তের ছাপ পাওয়া গিয়েছিল, সেখান থেকে এত বছর পরে একজনের পরিচয় শনাক্ত করা সম্ভব হয়েছে। কিন্তু ঝামেলাটা হচ্ছে, খুনের সময় সন্দেহভাজনের বয়স ছিল মাত্র আট! তাহলে ভিক্টিমের শরীরে তার রক্তের ফোটা গেল কি করে? এই গেল প্রথম রহস্য। দ্বিতীয় রহস্যটা হচ্ছে, নামী এক হোটেলের আটতলা থেকে লাফিয়ে পড়ে মৃত্যুবরণ করে এক লোক। ওটা কি আসলেও আত্মহত্যা, নাকি এর পেছনে আছে নিগূঢ় কোন রহস্য? মৃত ব্যক্তির বাবা আবার শহরের কাউন্সিলম্যান, আরভিন আরভিং। যার সাথে বশের পুরনো শত্রুতা।
ড্রপে কখনোই গল্পের গতি খুব বেশি নয়, আবার খুব কমও নয়। ধীরে ধীরে সুতো ছেড়েছেন কনেলির। নিখুঁত তদন্তের মাধ্যমে এক এক করে সব তথ্য বের করে এনেছে বশ। কোন সূত্রই ওরকম অতি নাটকীয় ছিল না। পড়ার পর মনে হয়েছে, আরে এমনটা তো হতেই পারে। এখানেই কনেলির স্বার্থকতা। Outstreched কিছু নেই তার লেখায়। শেষটাও তৃপ্তিদায়ক, সবচেয়ে বড় চমকটা সেখানেই দিয়েছেন লেখক।
যাদের মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি ভালো লাগে, তাদের জন্যে হাইলি রিকমেন্ডেড।
কাহিনীর শুরুটা বেশ আগ্রহোদ্দীপক। ১৯ বছর আগের এক অমীমাংসিত হত্যাকাণ্ড সমাধানের দায়িত্ব পায় বশ এবং তার পার্টনার ডেভিড চু। ভিক্টিমের শরীরের সম্ভাব্য খুনীর যে রক্তের ছাপ পাওয়া গিয়েছিল, সেখান থেকে এত বছর পরে একজনের পরিচয় শনাক্ত করা সম্ভব হয়েছে। কিন্তু ঝামেলাটা হচ্ছে, খুনের সময় সন্দেহভাজনের বয়স ছিল মাত্র আট! তাহলে ভিক্টিমের শরীরে তার রক্তের ফোটা গেল কি করে? এই গেল প্রথম রহস্য। দ্বিতীয় রহস্যটা হচ্ছে, নামী এক হোটেলের আটতলা থেকে লাফিয়ে পড়ে মৃত্যুবরণ করে এক লোক। ওটা কি আসলেও আত্মহত্যা, নাকি এর পেছনে আছে নিগূঢ় কোন রহস্য? মৃত ব্যক্তির বাবা আবার শহরের কাউন্সিলম্যান, আরভিন আরভিং। যার সাথে বশের পুরনো শত্রুতা।
ড্রপে কখনোই গল্পের গতি খুব বেশি নয়, আবার খুব কমও নয়। ধীরে ধীরে সুতো ছেড়েছেন কনেলির। নিখুঁত তদন্তের মাধ্যমে এক এক করে সব তথ্য বের করে এনেছে বশ। কোন সূত্রই ওরকম অতি নাটকীয় ছিল না। পড়ার পর মনে হয়েছে, আরে এমনটা তো হতেই পারে। এখানেই কনেলির স্বার্থকতা। Outstreched কিছু নেই তার লেখায়। শেষটাও তৃপ্তিদায়ক, সবচেয়ে বড় চমকটা সেখানেই দিয়েছেন লেখক।
যাদের মার্ডার মিস্ট্রি ভালো লাগে, তাদের জন্যে হাইলি রিকমেন্ডেড।
December 13, 2011
Not much action or adrenaline, but excellent police procedural investigating. I smiled a lot.
One of the reasons I gave this 5 stars might be because I have read all the other Bosch books, and I miss him. I was so happy to have another book to read, but also it was very good. One thing I love about Bosch is his intense mission in life – catching murderers. It was satisfying. I enjoyed his thinking, comments, decisions, and actions.
After the last two Bosch books, Nine Dragons and The Reversal, I was wondering if the series was getting tired or wearing out. After this book my opinion is not at all. The Drop has all the cerebral good stuff in it that had me smiling a lot as I read. Nine Dragons was almost too much of an action film. In The Reversal, Mickey Haller was the lead character and Bosch had more of a secondary role. He didn’t do as much investigating as he did in earlier Bosch books. The Drop returns to interesting and entertaining “thinking” with Bosch as the main guy. It’s very much a police procedural, following along as Bosch investigates two cases and uncovers leads and clues and solves things. Well done plotting. This book does not have any immediacy or danger to Bosch, so there is less action and suspense than in his earlier books. But I was fine with that.
I liked the way Bosch discovered a leak to the press. I loved his interaction and events with his 15 year old daughter Maggie. She wants to be a cop. She had neat thoughts. There were times in the story of cat and mouse games, one character trying to outthink or outmaneuver another. I liked the idea of how Pell was linked to the killer and how that was developed. I liked how Bosch figured out the killer’s disguise. I liked the way Bosch insisted on creating his own murder book, the old way. The department wants them online/digital, but the old-fashioned paper binders work better for Bosch. He goes through the murder book in different ways when he needs to rethink his approach to a case.
STORY BRIEF:
This book has Bosch working two cases.
Irwin Irving is a city councilman. He is anti-police department and votes against funding for them. Over the years he made Bosch’s life difficult whenever he could. His son falls from a hotel balcony. He insists on Bosch being assigned to solve the case.
The second case is a twenty-year-old cold case. A smear of blood was found on a dead girl. Just recently the dna was matched to a child molester who is out of jail and on parole.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Len Cariou has narrated several Connelly books. I don’t know whether he changed or my hearing changed, but in this book he sounds like he has ill-fitting false teeth. It sounds like he has to make an effort to pronounce consonants. There is a lisp-like quality. It was distracting.
Other than that, he does excellent voices and interpretations. I like his interpretation of Bosch.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 10 hrs and 55 mins. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to not shown. Setting: current day Los Angeles area, California. Book copyright: 2011. Genre: crime mystery. Ending: Very satisfying.
FOUR SERIES (Bosch, McEvoy, McCaleb, Haller):
I recommend reading the Harry Bosch books in order, but it would be ok to try “The Last Coyote” or “Lost Light” first, just to see if you like the style. Then go back and read the rest in order. Following is my recommended reading order. I’ve included four series within this list because there is a date flow and the characters interact. All of these books could be read as stand-alones, but reading them in order provides richer character development.
3 stars. The Black Echo (Bosch #1)
3 ½ stars. The Black Ice (Bosch #2)
4 stars. The Concrete Blonde (Bosch #3)
5 stars. The Last Coyote (Bosch #4)
4 stars. Trunk Music (Bosch #5)
4 stars. Angels Flight (Bosch #6)
4 ½ stars. Blood Work (McCaleb #1) Bosch is not in this.
3 ½ stars. A Darkness More Than Night (McCaleb #2) (Bosch #7) McCaleb is the primary investigator, but he interacts with Bosch.
3 ½ stars. City Of Bones (Bosch #8)
5 stars. Lost Light (Bosch #9)
5 stars. The Poet (McEvoy #1) Bosch is not in this. Read this any time before “The Narrows.”
4 stars. The Narrows (sequel to The Poet) (Bosch #10) Bosch is the main investigator.
3 stars. The Closers (Bosch #11)
3 ½ stars. Echo Park (Bosch #12)
4 stars. The Overlook (short, half-length) (Bosch #13)
4 ½ stars. The Lincoln Lawyer (Haller #1) Bosch is not in this.
4 stars. The Brass Verdict (Haller #2) (Bosch #14) Bosch has a small part in this.
4 ½ stars. Nine Dragons. (Bosch #15) Haller has a small part in this.
3 stars. The Reversal. (Haller #3) (Bosch #16) Mostly Haller. Bosch has a secondary role.
3 stars. The Fifth Witness (Haller #4)
5 stars. The Drop (Bosch #17)
One of the reasons I gave this 5 stars might be because I have read all the other Bosch books, and I miss him. I was so happy to have another book to read, but also it was very good. One thing I love about Bosch is his intense mission in life – catching murderers. It was satisfying. I enjoyed his thinking, comments, decisions, and actions.
After the last two Bosch books, Nine Dragons and The Reversal, I was wondering if the series was getting tired or wearing out. After this book my opinion is not at all. The Drop has all the cerebral good stuff in it that had me smiling a lot as I read. Nine Dragons was almost too much of an action film. In The Reversal, Mickey Haller was the lead character and Bosch had more of a secondary role. He didn’t do as much investigating as he did in earlier Bosch books. The Drop returns to interesting and entertaining “thinking” with Bosch as the main guy. It’s very much a police procedural, following along as Bosch investigates two cases and uncovers leads and clues and solves things. Well done plotting. This book does not have any immediacy or danger to Bosch, so there is less action and suspense than in his earlier books. But I was fine with that.
I liked the way Bosch discovered a leak to the press. I loved his interaction and events with his 15 year old daughter Maggie. She wants to be a cop. She had neat thoughts. There were times in the story of cat and mouse games, one character trying to outthink or outmaneuver another. I liked the idea of how Pell was linked to the killer and how that was developed. I liked how Bosch figured out the killer’s disguise. I liked the way Bosch insisted on creating his own murder book, the old way. The department wants them online/digital, but the old-fashioned paper binders work better for Bosch. He goes through the murder book in different ways when he needs to rethink his approach to a case.
STORY BRIEF:
This book has Bosch working two cases.
Irwin Irving is a city councilman. He is anti-police department and votes against funding for them. Over the years he made Bosch’s life difficult whenever he could. His son falls from a hotel balcony. He insists on Bosch being assigned to solve the case.
The second case is a twenty-year-old cold case. A smear of blood was found on a dead girl. Just recently the dna was matched to a child molester who is out of jail and on parole.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Len Cariou has narrated several Connelly books. I don’t know whether he changed or my hearing changed, but in this book he sounds like he has ill-fitting false teeth. It sounds like he has to make an effort to pronounce consonants. There is a lisp-like quality. It was distracting.
Other than that, he does excellent voices and interpretations. I like his interpretation of Bosch.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 10 hrs and 55 mins. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to not shown. Setting: current day Los Angeles area, California. Book copyright: 2011. Genre: crime mystery. Ending: Very satisfying.
FOUR SERIES (Bosch, McEvoy, McCaleb, Haller):
I recommend reading the Harry Bosch books in order, but it would be ok to try “The Last Coyote” or “Lost Light” first, just to see if you like the style. Then go back and read the rest in order. Following is my recommended reading order. I’ve included four series within this list because there is a date flow and the characters interact. All of these books could be read as stand-alones, but reading them in order provides richer character development.
3 stars. The Black Echo (Bosch #1)
3 ½ stars. The Black Ice (Bosch #2)
4 stars. The Concrete Blonde (Bosch #3)
5 stars. The Last Coyote (Bosch #4)
4 stars. Trunk Music (Bosch #5)
4 stars. Angels Flight (Bosch #6)
4 ½ stars. Blood Work (McCaleb #1) Bosch is not in this.
3 ½ stars. A Darkness More Than Night (McCaleb #2) (Bosch #7) McCaleb is the primary investigator, but he interacts with Bosch.
3 ½ stars. City Of Bones (Bosch #8)
5 stars. Lost Light (Bosch #9)
5 stars. The Poet (McEvoy #1) Bosch is not in this. Read this any time before “The Narrows.”
4 stars. The Narrows (sequel to The Poet) (Bosch #10) Bosch is the main investigator.
3 stars. The Closers (Bosch #11)
3 ½ stars. Echo Park (Bosch #12)
4 stars. The Overlook (short, half-length) (Bosch #13)
4 ½ stars. The Lincoln Lawyer (Haller #1) Bosch is not in this.
4 stars. The Brass Verdict (Haller #2) (Bosch #14) Bosch has a small part in this.
4 ½ stars. Nine Dragons. (Bosch #15) Haller has a small part in this.
3 stars. The Reversal. (Haller #3) (Bosch #16) Mostly Haller. Bosch has a secondary role.
3 stars. The Fifth Witness (Haller #4)
5 stars. The Drop (Bosch #17)
October 23, 2016
Michael Connelly “The Drop”, the 17th novel in his Harry Bosch Series, sees Harry being transferred to the LAPD's Open/Unsolved Unit, investigating cold cases and the story opens with him and his partner, David Chu, assigned to a cold case involving a rape/murder of a woman in 1989.
When the DNA found on the victim turns out to be that of Clayton Pell, a convicted predator, who had been an eight years old at the time of the crime, it's thought at first that it probably had been a mistake. But when the same DNA evidence of another murder is found in Pell's file, Harry realizes that there is more than just the one murder for him to solve.
Harry is also assigned to solving the suicide or perhaps murder of George Irving, the son of city councilman, Irvin Irving.
Although the story starts off slow, it soon picks up. The author takes us through some unforeseeable twist and misdirection's that reaches the most unexpected conclusion.
Another good addition to this series.
PS....I watched the Harry Bosch TV Series a while back and the one episode dealt with the murder of George Irving. I really loved watching it. Titus Welliver, is fantastic as Bosch
When the DNA found on the victim turns out to be that of Clayton Pell, a convicted predator, who had been an eight years old at the time of the crime, it's thought at first that it probably had been a mistake. But when the same DNA evidence of another murder is found in Pell's file, Harry realizes that there is more than just the one murder for him to solve.
Harry is also assigned to solving the suicide or perhaps murder of George Irving, the son of city councilman, Irvin Irving.
Although the story starts off slow, it soon picks up. The author takes us through some unforeseeable twist and misdirection's that reaches the most unexpected conclusion.
Another good addition to this series.
PS....I watched the Harry Bosch TV Series a while back and the one episode dealt with the murder of George Irving. I really loved watching it. Titus Welliver, is fantastic as Bosch
and it's a really great show. And I'm pretty excited that there's going to be a season 3/4....
April 25, 2024
Много добра книга!
Хари Бош очаква да получи нов случай за разследване, но получава два. И нито един от тях няма да го отведе там, накъдето си мисли че се е запътил.
Когато попаднеш в опасен политически ендшпил, не е никак чудно, че трябва да жертваш и част от съвестта си. Дали си струва?
А злото продължава да дебне търпеливо в мрака…
Хари Бош очаква да получи нов случай за разследване, но получава два. И нито един от тях няма да го отведе там, накъдето си мисли че се е запътил.
Когато попаднеш в опасен политически ендшпил, не е никак чудно, че трябва да жертваш и част от съвестта си. Дали си струва?
А злото продължава да дебне търпеливо в мрака…
August 31, 2019
This is the 15th book in the Harry Bosch series, and is set about two years after the events of Nine Dragons, so a lot has changed in Harry’s life. He has appeared in a couple of the Mickey Haller books, set in between these, which I read at least five years ago, before starting the Bosch series from scratch, and there are also several short stories set in this period that I haven’t yet read.
There is a lot going on in this one, and it is a testament to Connelly’s skills as a writer that he can continue to deliver such moreish thrillers, after so many books and keep his hero evolving.
Harry is one of the senior detectives in the Open Unsolved (ie Cold Case) unit, now partnered with David Chu that he met in Nine Dragons. Still hungry to close cases, despite the clock ticking on his remaining time in the department before mandatory retirement, he is intrigued when a recent DNA analysis of blood found on an old murder victim points to a known sex offender - who was only eight years old at the time of the crime. Then he is pulled into the investigation of the apparent suicide of a high profile lobbyist - the son of Bosch’s former nemesis, powerful councilman Irvin Irving - who has demanded he take the lead, because of his reputation for getting to the truth, no matter what.
The title of this book is a play on both the police acronym DROP - Deferred Retirement Option Plan - which allows experienced officers to stay at work for up to five years more than usual, and the fall from a hotel balcony of George Irving. It brings back the topic raised in earlier books of “High Jingo” - meaning political meddling in cases - that Bosch has tried and failed to keep out of. Now his friend and former partner Kiz Rider is involved and he feels even more torn. He’s also dealing with resentment from Chu that he doesn’t treat him like an equal or confide in him, and the general pressures of an underfunded department due to Irving’s attacks on the overtime budget.
Harry’s personal life is also very different, as he has prioritised his fifteen year old daughter Maddie, who is apparently very well adjusted in spite of the traumatic loss of her mother in the last book. She’s decided she also wants to be a cop, so hopefully she’ll play a role in future books. I enjoyed Harry’s scenes with her as it’s good to see his tender side - especially when he’s still such a tick at work. He does also meet a new love interest, but as ever, it’s complicated...
I liked that the two cases here are not conveniently coincidentally linked, but that we actually see the tension caused by the team being pushed towards solving one when the other is arguably more important. Harry’s determination leads to the break revealing that a killer has been operating for decades (this is not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb) and the crimes involved are particularly grim. As ever though, just when we think it’s all over, there’s always more! I was also tickled by some of the nods to other fiction - Maddie is reading The Stand then refers to watching episodes of Castle - which Connelly made a cameo in towards to beginning of the show.
Overall another brilliant instalment in one of the best American crime series out there, and I mustn’t leave it so long until the next one. 9.5 rounded up.
There is a lot going on in this one, and it is a testament to Connelly’s skills as a writer that he can continue to deliver such moreish thrillers, after so many books and keep his hero evolving.
Harry is one of the senior detectives in the Open Unsolved (ie Cold Case) unit, now partnered with David Chu that he met in Nine Dragons. Still hungry to close cases, despite the clock ticking on his remaining time in the department before mandatory retirement, he is intrigued when a recent DNA analysis of blood found on an old murder victim points to a known sex offender - who was only eight years old at the time of the crime. Then he is pulled into the investigation of the apparent suicide of a high profile lobbyist - the son of Bosch’s former nemesis, powerful councilman Irvin Irving - who has demanded he take the lead, because of his reputation for getting to the truth, no matter what.
The title of this book is a play on both the police acronym DROP - Deferred Retirement Option Plan - which allows experienced officers to stay at work for up to five years more than usual, and the fall from a hotel balcony of George Irving. It brings back the topic raised in earlier books of “High Jingo” - meaning political meddling in cases - that Bosch has tried and failed to keep out of. Now his friend and former partner Kiz Rider is involved and he feels even more torn. He’s also dealing with resentment from Chu that he doesn’t treat him like an equal or confide in him, and the general pressures of an underfunded department due to Irving’s attacks on the overtime budget.
Harry’s personal life is also very different, as he has prioritised his fifteen year old daughter Maddie, who is apparently very well adjusted in spite of the traumatic loss of her mother in the last book. She’s decided she also wants to be a cop, so hopefully she’ll play a role in future books. I enjoyed Harry’s scenes with her as it’s good to see his tender side - especially when he’s still such a tick at work. He does also meet a new love interest, but as ever, it’s complicated...
I liked that the two cases here are not conveniently coincidentally linked, but that we actually see the tension caused by the team being pushed towards solving one when the other is arguably more important. Harry’s determination leads to the break revealing that a killer has been operating for decades (this is not a spoiler, it’s in the blurb) and the crimes involved are particularly grim. As ever though, just when we think it’s all over, there’s always more! I was also tickled by some of the nods to other fiction - Maddie is reading The Stand then refers to watching episodes of Castle - which Connelly made a cameo in towards to beginning of the show.
Overall another brilliant instalment in one of the best American crime series out there, and I mustn’t leave it so long until the next one. 9.5 rounded up.
March 24, 2018
Outstanding! What a truly fantastic read by what has to be my favourite crime writer; Michael Connelly. What is it about his style, what is it about his writing that makes a character so real, so unbelievably complex yet so dedicated who truly believes "Everybody counts or nobody counts." Bosch working with the unsolved crimes unit is looking into historic cases that were never resolved, in this particular instance the murder of Lily Price some 20 years previous. Added to this he has been requested, by his long-time rival Councilman Irvin Irving, to help apprehend the murderer of his son George. There is so much that is "human" about Harry Bosch constantly working as a lone maverick and ignoring advice or guidance from his immediate superior or his present partner David Chu. Harry is so arrogant so impossible to work with, a maverick who always seems to read and understand the facts before anyone else and thus identify the culprit.
Irvin Irving has especially requested Bosch to find the truth behind his son's death, no matter how painful that truth may be. Irving has no love for Harry but he knows that this wily experienced detective will surely uncover the story behind his son's suggested suicide. Meanwhile the historic search for the killer of Lily Price will lead Bosch on a journey into the mind of an evil predator where depravity knows no bounds. Add to this the emergence of Harry's daughter Maddie into adulthood, and a timely long overdue love interest then we have all the ingredients for a wonderful read. Michael Connelly brings to life the daily pressure and decisions that are a constant occurrence for the officers within the LAPD....."Every Cop knew that quietly carrying the horrors of the job inside could be like carrying untreated cancer".... It has been a joy to read "The Drop" over the last 24 hours I could not put the novel aside which is a tribute to the brilliant storytelling. A fantastic 10 star read! one of the best in series and highly highly recommended
Irvin Irving has especially requested Bosch to find the truth behind his son's death, no matter how painful that truth may be. Irving has no love for Harry but he knows that this wily experienced detective will surely uncover the story behind his son's suggested suicide. Meanwhile the historic search for the killer of Lily Price will lead Bosch on a journey into the mind of an evil predator where depravity knows no bounds. Add to this the emergence of Harry's daughter Maddie into adulthood, and a timely long overdue love interest then we have all the ingredients for a wonderful read. Michael Connelly brings to life the daily pressure and decisions that are a constant occurrence for the officers within the LAPD....."Every Cop knew that quietly carrying the horrors of the job inside could be like carrying untreated cancer".... It has been a joy to read "The Drop" over the last 24 hours I could not put the novel aside which is a tribute to the brilliant storytelling. A fantastic 10 star read! one of the best in series and highly highly recommended
October 14, 2016
There are a lot of books in this series & they should be read in order, but don't let that put you off. This one is just as good or better than any of its predecessors which is an amazing feat. Connelly pulls this off in a large part because his characters are so well drawn. They grow in very realistic settings over the years.
The title refers to the deferred retirement program (DROP) that Harry is working under. This personal theme runs through the story as he wonders how long he should keep at it. (Is he slipping? What else could he do?) He's working an Open Unsolved murder where DNA has opened up a new clue when his old nemesis, Irving, uses his political clout to put Harry to work on Irving's son's death. Both cases twist around him as he deals with his personal issues - very believable & fascinating.
As usual, neither went quite the way I expected. Moral ambiguity dripped from every page. Connelly did a great job making me sympathetic toward individuals I'd normally scorn completely. The end was a fantastic cap, too.
Len Cariou read this & it was well done at high (x1.25) speed. At normal speed, it was awful. He's a good actor (Grandpa in Blue Bloods), but he's too slow & deliberate as a narrator. Luckily, his voice is low enough that it's still pretty good at speed. It is a bit weird that Harry's daughter & male partner have the same voice, though.
This book stands alone very well, but there is a lot of history that will make it far better in its proper place. See my review of The Black Echo, the first Harry Bosch book, for the complete chronology in this universe & more details.
21 - The Reversal (Mickey Haller #3, (Harry Bosch #16), 2010
21.5 - The Perfect Triangle, 2010 Mickey Haller short story, published in The Dark End of the Street: New Stories of Sex and Crime by Today's Top Authors (May 2010)
21.6 - Blue on Black - Harry Bosch Short Story 2010
22 - The Fifth Witness (Mickey Haller #4 – Harry Bosch appeared only briefly, 2011)
23 - The Drop (Harry Bosch #17), 2011
23.5 - Blood Washes Off, 2011 - Harry Bosch Short Story, published in The Rich and the Dead (May 2011)
24 - The Black Box (Harry Bosch #18), 2012
24.5 - A Fine Mist of Blood, 2012 - Harry Bosch Short Story, published in Mystery Writers of America Presents Vengeance(April 2012)
24.6 - The Safe Man: A Ghost Story (2012) (SS)
25 - The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller #5 – Harry Bosch appeared only briefly), 2013
The title refers to the deferred retirement program (DROP) that Harry is working under. This personal theme runs through the story as he wonders how long he should keep at it. (Is he slipping? What else could he do?) He's working an Open Unsolved murder where DNA has opened up a new clue when his old nemesis, Irving, uses his political clout to put Harry to work on Irving's son's death. Both cases twist around him as he deals with his personal issues - very believable & fascinating.
As usual, neither went quite the way I expected. Moral ambiguity dripped from every page. Connelly did a great job making me sympathetic toward individuals I'd normally scorn completely. The end was a fantastic cap, too.
Len Cariou read this & it was well done at high (x1.25) speed. At normal speed, it was awful. He's a good actor (Grandpa in Blue Bloods), but he's too slow & deliberate as a narrator. Luckily, his voice is low enough that it's still pretty good at speed. It is a bit weird that Harry's daughter & male partner have the same voice, though.
This book stands alone very well, but there is a lot of history that will make it far better in its proper place. See my review of The Black Echo, the first Harry Bosch book, for the complete chronology in this universe & more details.
21 - The Reversal (Mickey Haller #3, (Harry Bosch #16), 2010
21.5 - The Perfect Triangle, 2010 Mickey Haller short story, published in The Dark End of the Street: New Stories of Sex and Crime by Today's Top Authors (May 2010)
21.6 - Blue on Black - Harry Bosch Short Story 2010
22 - The Fifth Witness (Mickey Haller #4 – Harry Bosch appeared only briefly, 2011)
23 - The Drop (Harry Bosch #17), 2011
23.5 - Blood Washes Off, 2011 - Harry Bosch Short Story, published in The Rich and the Dead (May 2011)
24 - The Black Box (Harry Bosch #18), 2012
24.5 - A Fine Mist of Blood, 2012 - Harry Bosch Short Story, published in Mystery Writers of America Presents Vengeance(April 2012)
24.6 - The Safe Man: A Ghost Story (2012) (SS)
25 - The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller #5 – Harry Bosch appeared only briefly), 2013
March 18, 2015
~2.5
This entire book was ruined for me by one small subplot, and I'm still fuming over it. In fact, other than the culmination of Irvin Irving's flanderisation to the Evil Schemer, I'm finding it hard to remember the plot in light of that subplot.
The subplot: one of the major suspects is a man who was "sacrificed to the mob" when he was thrown out of the LAPD for killing people with the choke hold. (That's right--the same type of chokehold that caused Eric Garner's death.) Here is Connelly's interpretation (spoken through Bosch's mouth, but taken as truth within the novel; in fact, it's spoken to an African-American woman who completely agrees with his conclusions) of the whole civil rights angle:
But it doesn't stop there. According to Bosch:
This shows such a monumental degree of willful misunderstanding of the situation that I simply can't wrap my mind around it. Let's be realistic: Rodney King wasn't beaten to subdue him. He was already subdued; hell, he was on the ground. They were just beating him. Over and over and over. I find it so disgustingly offensive that Connelly tries to turn this into an example of political correctness gone amok that I can't really be coherent about it.
So why is my rating even a 2.5? Well, like everything else Connelly writes, this was eminently readable. I like the way that Connelly is developing Maddie, Bosch's daughter, as a character. One of the most common tropes in Connelly's book pops up again here--twice--but the way it is dealt with is more interesting than most of the other books where it appears. But even though I still find Connelly to be compulsively readable, this book left a sour taste in my mouth.
This entire book was ruined for me by one small subplot, and I'm still fuming over it. In fact, other than the culmination of Irvin Irving's flanderisation to the Evil Schemer, I'm finding it hard to remember the plot in light of that subplot.
The subplot: one of the major suspects is a man who was "sacrificed to the mob" when he was thrown out of the LAPD for killing people with the choke hold. (That's right--the same type of chokehold that caused Eric Garner's death.) Here is Connelly's interpretation (spoken through Bosch's mouth, but taken as truth within the novel; in fact, it's spoken to an African-American woman who completely agrees with his conclusions) of the whole civil rights angle:
The statistics [of choke hold deaths] matched up across racial and geographic lines. Sure, there were more choke hold deaths in the south end. Far more African Americans died than other races. But the ratios were even. There were far more incidents involving use of force in the south end. The more confrontations, scuffles, fights, resisting arrests you get, the more uses of the choke hold. The more you use the choke hold, the more deaths you will have. It was simple math. But nothing is simple when racial politics are involved.What Connelly takes for granted there is that a disproportionate number of African Americans needed to be "subdued" in the first place. And yet by another interpretation, these same statistics are proof of endemic racism within the department. Consider this possibility: the LAPD discriminates in their use of force against the African American community, which leads to a horrific increase in the number of deaths by police force. Shockingly, this might lead more people to resist arrest because they see what happens to the people who end up in LAPD hands. Those darned politically correct pedants; why do they assume this is related to race just because of the evidence?
But it doesn't stop there. According to Bosch:
The task force recommended that the bar hold be dropped from the use-of-force progression and it was. Funny thing is, the department told officers to rely more on their batons--in fact, you could be disciplined if you got out of a patrol car without carrying your baton in your hand or on your belt. Added to that, Tasers were coming into use just as the choke hold went out. And what did we get? Rodney King. A video that changed the world. A video of a guy being Tased and whaled on with batons when a proper choke hold would've put him to sleep."
This shows such a monumental degree of willful misunderstanding of the situation that I simply can't wrap my mind around it. Let's be realistic: Rodney King wasn't beaten to subdue him. He was already subdued; hell, he was on the ground. They were just beating him. Over and over and over. I find it so disgustingly offensive that Connelly tries to turn this into an example of political correctness gone amok that I can't really be coherent about it.
So why is my rating even a 2.5? Well, like everything else Connelly writes, this was eminently readable. I like the way that Connelly is developing Maddie, Bosch's daughter, as a character. One of the most common tropes in Connelly's book pops up again here--twice--but the way it is dealt with is more interesting than most of the other books where it appears. But even though I still find Connelly to be compulsively readable, this book left a sour taste in my mouth.
December 19, 2018
This is vintage Bosch! Plenty of high jingo, a death, an old case, a serial killer and Irvin Irving.
I literally could not sleep until I finished the book. Woohoo!
I literally could not sleep until I finished the book. Woohoo!
January 29, 2022
This is another excellent book about Harry Bosch, my favorite LAPD homicide investigator. The title of the book may throw the reader off though. The DROP in this book refers to the Deferred Retirement Option Program of the LAPD. Harry is still working in the Unsolved Cases unit and is at the mandatory retirement age and had put in for a DROP. Through it is not the focal point of the story, it does tie in to Harry's mindset throughout the book.
Harry and his partner Chu get assigned to a cold case of a woman who was murdered several years prior. The DNA evidence on the case points to Clayton, Pell a convicted sex-offender. This would be a slam dunk except that when the crime happened, Pell was only eight years old.
Before Harry can investigate further he is told from the people upstairs (his former partner Kiz Rider) that he must drop everything and devote his entire effort to investigating the apparent suicide of a councilman's son. This brings up an issue for Harry. Firstly, he does not like the councilman at all and is anxious to investigate the other case. He is told that the councilman's son is crucial because the councilman is responsible for department budget cuts and handling this case could help the LAPD get some of their funding back.
Of course Harry will do things his way and will find ways to bypass instructions and work on both cases at once. At times through the book Harry's actions will alienate those around him, especially his partner Chu and his new love interest (a social worker helping Clayton Pell). The book never gets boring and Harry's relentless and methodical pursuit to get to the truth is prevalent throughout. Even his daughter Madeline seems to pitch in for some good advice and could play a bigger role in future books to come.
A real page-turner. The story line was gripping and I became emotionally invested in justice!
The characters have well-developed strengths and flaws, giving them great depth. Connelly’s story flows easily, making the pace enjoyable to read. He includes just enough technical jargon to give the story an insider’s feel. Descriptions are detailed, but not flowery. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Harry and his partner Chu get assigned to a cold case of a woman who was murdered several years prior. The DNA evidence on the case points to Clayton, Pell a convicted sex-offender. This would be a slam dunk except that when the crime happened, Pell was only eight years old.
Before Harry can investigate further he is told from the people upstairs (his former partner Kiz Rider) that he must drop everything and devote his entire effort to investigating the apparent suicide of a councilman's son. This brings up an issue for Harry. Firstly, he does not like the councilman at all and is anxious to investigate the other case. He is told that the councilman's son is crucial because the councilman is responsible for department budget cuts and handling this case could help the LAPD get some of their funding back.
Of course Harry will do things his way and will find ways to bypass instructions and work on both cases at once. At times through the book Harry's actions will alienate those around him, especially his partner Chu and his new love interest (a social worker helping Clayton Pell). The book never gets boring and Harry's relentless and methodical pursuit to get to the truth is prevalent throughout. Even his daughter Madeline seems to pitch in for some good advice and could play a bigger role in future books to come.
A real page-turner. The story line was gripping and I became emotionally invested in justice!
The characters have well-developed strengths and flaws, giving them great depth. Connelly’s story flows easily, making the pace enjoyable to read. He includes just enough technical jargon to give the story an insider’s feel. Descriptions are detailed, but not flowery. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you on the edge of your seat.
April 20, 2022
Another great read. Harry is solving unsolved murders with his new partner Chu. Then his old nemesis Irving’s son is found dead in an apparent suicide or was it? In parallel they are investigating the rape and murder of a young woman from 1989. They have a DNA match with a sex offender. However, he would have been 8 when he did the murder.
A good addition to the series with Harry coming to terms to being a father to Maddie and all that entails. The investigations take some turns and the ending results in the uncovering of a serial killer. Really enjoyed the story and the links making sense.
A good addition to the series with Harry coming to terms to being a father to Maddie and all that entails. The investigations take some turns and the ending results in the uncovering of a serial killer. Really enjoyed the story and the links making sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2018
Era un po' che non leggevo un Connelly. Connelly è uno dei miei scrittori preferiti. Per iniziare specifico che l'ho scelto a caso su Amazon, uno che mi fido a scatola chiusa diciamo, e anche che il mio libro è quello con il pescietto arancio sul fondo. Non questo de I Numeri Primi ma la copertina è uguale e le pagine anche quindi mi pareva brutto richiedere di fare una nuova scheda.
Poi ho scoperto di avere il numero uno con Bosh, cioè l'ho fregato a mia madre che non l'ha mai letto ma noi ci scambiamo i libri, e che quindi presto leggerò. Sono anni che è in camera che aspetta di essere letto. Sarà bello passare dal #15 al #1 come libro. Un salto all'inizio della carriera di Bosh visto che in questo libro mancano 39 mesi al suo pensionamento.
Lo so non è una recensione ma oggi sono pigra e non mi va di farla. Se vi piace Connelly e non l'avete letto leggetelo. Un altro di quei libri che si leggono veloci e si pappano in pochi giorni. O anche in poche ore se siete come Spencer Reid di Criminal Minds.
PS: Penso che terrò a mente il messaggio subliminale del libro che stava leggendo la figlia di Bosh. L'ombra dello scorpione di Stephen King. E io non l'ho letto.
Poi ho scoperto di avere il numero uno con Bosh, cioè l'ho fregato a mia madre che non l'ha mai letto ma noi ci scambiamo i libri, e che quindi presto leggerò. Sono anni che è in camera che aspetta di essere letto. Sarà bello passare dal #15 al #1 come libro. Un salto all'inizio della carriera di Bosh visto che in questo libro mancano 39 mesi al suo pensionamento.
Lo so non è una recensione ma oggi sono pigra e non mi va di farla. Se vi piace Connelly e non l'avete letto leggetelo. Un altro di quei libri che si leggono veloci e si pappano in pochi giorni. O anche in poche ore se siete come Spencer Reid di Criminal Minds.
PS: Penso che terrò a mente il messaggio subliminale del libro che stava leggendo la figlia di Bosh. L'ombra dello scorpione di Stephen King. E io non l'ho letto.
December 1, 2023
I think this is my sixth Michael Connelly and my third Harry Bosch. This one scores on every level. A superbly constructed police detective story, credible characters, fast paced and well written with an excellent plot which will have you keenly turning the pages in anticipation of the next exciting happening.
This is what every mystery novel should aspire to be, and Connelly has succeeded to the fullest. The two investigations which make up this novel, work superbly together and Bosch's relationships with his partner and his "superiors" at City Hall, his tender moments with his teenage daughter and his efforts in pursuing a new romantic interest set against a potent Los Angeles background, all get beautifully detailed in this first-rate crime thriller.
Connelly is in a class of his own.
This is what every mystery novel should aspire to be, and Connelly has succeeded to the fullest. The two investigations which make up this novel, work superbly together and Bosch's relationships with his partner and his "superiors" at City Hall, his tender moments with his teenage daughter and his efforts in pursuing a new romantic interest set against a potent Los Angeles background, all get beautifully detailed in this first-rate crime thriller.
Connelly is in a class of his own.
April 1, 2023
3.7⭐ Fat fingered update. I mostly do Goodreads on my phone or tablet so my fat fingers are always hitting the wrong button and I'm rating books I never read, or putting books on want-to-read that I don't, really( my favorite example is a sex manual in Japanese, which l rated at 5 ⭐. I almost left it on but decided no, that would skew the rating. Yeah, that's the ticket!). In this case I bumped this book up a star and this is me fixing it. I remember liking this better than some of the other Bosch books, especially the latter, more repetitive ones.
October 17, 2014
I thought this book was great. Classic Bosch. I've come to the conclusion that Bosch is the only one who is true and good, though flawed, everyone else winds up being a major disappointment and corrupt in some way. It's hard to believe he's soooooo right all the time. Maybe Bosch needs to actually mess up.
January 4, 2014
Few things bring me greater pleasure than stumbling across free books. One might even say I have a sickness or disease for which there is no cure in this life or the next. But I’ve learned to live with my disease and so has my wife. So when I happened upon THE DROP on the other side of the TSA line as it sat on a metal table and as I picked through my luggage before I headed toward the pearly gate and a destination that was not New Mexico, one might say I was giddy. I took a quick look around and then stuffed this gem of a novel in my backpack before I received a TSA pre-approved pat down and body cavity search.
Did it turn out to be a great novel? Not exactly. Would I have done it again if I could go back in time? Absolutely. Do I like TSA? We have a love-hate relationship, although recent traveling events have leaned me a little more in the love direction.
Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch has had a long and distinguished career within the confines of the LAPD, and I’ve entered the confines of his world from time to time to say hello and offer up a firm salute. Michael Connelly knows his crime fiction, and he knows how to offer up more than a few thrills for even the hard-to-thrill individuals. The cast of characters spans an entire precinct, and the two crimes placed firmly on Harry’s lap span decades forcing him in the middle of a political and criminal quagmire where the scales start to pile up against our aging hero.
The story holds firm even if it feels a bit forced at times, and it’s nice to visit in on an old friend, even if the surroundings feel just a bit too easy and familiar. There’s retribution and hate and animosity and enough of a story to keep the kiddos entertained, but I would have preferred a better meshing of the two crimes and more hard-hitting elements contained within this gritty tale.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
Did it turn out to be a great novel? Not exactly. Would I have done it again if I could go back in time? Absolutely. Do I like TSA? We have a love-hate relationship, although recent traveling events have leaned me a little more in the love direction.
Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch has had a long and distinguished career within the confines of the LAPD, and I’ve entered the confines of his world from time to time to say hello and offer up a firm salute. Michael Connelly knows his crime fiction, and he knows how to offer up more than a few thrills for even the hard-to-thrill individuals. The cast of characters spans an entire precinct, and the two crimes placed firmly on Harry’s lap span decades forcing him in the middle of a political and criminal quagmire where the scales start to pile up against our aging hero.
The story holds firm even if it feels a bit forced at times, and it’s nice to visit in on an old friend, even if the surroundings feel just a bit too easy and familiar. There’s retribution and hate and animosity and enough of a story to keep the kiddos entertained, but I would have preferred a better meshing of the two crimes and more hard-hitting elements contained within this gritty tale.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
November 13, 2016
Michael Connelly must be going through a creative streak lately. The last couple of novels have been really intense and gripping. Bosch is back with Open-Unsolved, with a new partner, Chu. Kiz Rider is working a desk next to the chief just a few floors up. Bosch not only gets an old cold case, but he was also requested to investigate a same day case, a possible suicide. Irvin Irving, who was pushed out of LAPD, quite a few years ago, became a councilman. Although he and Bosch are still major enemies, Irving has requested Bosch for this particular case, the death of his son. Seems a lot of people are setting Harry up, and using him for personal and political gain and it doesn't stop here, everyone is playing him. Poor Bosch, I really do feel for him. It is getting to the point where he just can't trust anyone, even his old partner Kiz.
June 5, 2021
3.5🌟
Another solid instalment from from Mr Connelly in which Bosch has to tackle two cases, one of which will take Harry to a very dark place indeed. I do like Bosch ; a character who stops at nothing to bring justice for victims even if it damages his relationships. Another good one.
Another solid instalment from from Mr Connelly in which Bosch has to tackle two cases, one of which will take Harry to a very dark place indeed. I do like Bosch ; a character who stops at nothing to bring justice for victims even if it damages his relationships. Another good one.
May 27, 2020
** Continuing my read and review of Michael Connelly’s Detective Bosch series **
Connelly’s 24th book and 15th outing with Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, a Vietnam war veteran and a twenty-year police officer serving in the Los Angeles, California police department. Harry was once a star in the Robbery/Homicide division, working out of the LA city headquarters until his bad habit of fighting the formal structure of the police department and especially those in leadership positions led him to being demoted to the Hollywood detective squad, and eventually retiring from law enforcement. Following a three-year stint as a private investigator, Bosch is back working in the LAPD, currently working in the Open-Unsolved Cases unit with partner, David Chu.
The story gets kicked off with Harry Bosch getting not only one case, but two. The first is a cold case involving newly tested DNA and the results don’t make sense. Lily Price, a college student, was strangled to death back in 1989, and a blood smear left on her neck is that of Clayton Pell. Pell is a recently-paroled child sex offender, so the case seems solid. However, Pell was only 8 years old back in 1989 and that makes it look like the possibility of contamination by the investigators or the crime lab. Either way, this is trouble for Harry.
Before Bosch can get going on the investigation, he is interrupted and called to a death scene by the Chief of Police. When Bosch arrives at the Chateau Marmont, he discovers that George Irving, an attorney and Business consultant working with businesses contracting with the city, is dead from a fall from his hotel balcony on the seventh floor. To make matters worse George is the son of Irvin Irving, city council member, former Deputy Police Chief and nemesis of Bosch, and a long history of power struggles that never seem to end. And the strange thing is… Irving requested that Bosch lead the investigation to figure whether his son was murdered or committed suicide. Despite their personal animosity, Irvin believes Bosch’s mantra that “everybody counts” will lead him to discover the truth, regardless of the outcome.
As expected, Bosch dives into both cases with full commitment, trying to dodge the explosive politics of the LAPD police and government leadership, as well as dealing with a case in which the clues are over 20 years old. The investigation into Irving’s death leads to the discovery of unusual marks on the victim’s shoulder, and a hazy eyewitness remembers seeing someone climbing down the trellis outside the hotel room patio. Further work leads to a competing company that the victim was working against for a prestigious city contract. The clues are leading Bosch to believe this looks like murder…
In addition, Harry’s cold case investigation takes him to the halfway house that Pell currently lives in, where he meets Pell’s therapist, Hannah Stone, who reminds him it’s been a while since he’s dated. Exploring a potential new relationship forces Harry to balance not only his incredible workload, but also being a single parent of an independent teenager, Maddie, who is learning to shoot guns and wants to become a cop like her dad.
As with most Bosch novels, this one takes place over a fairly short period of time – a period of about a week or so. Connelly lays out a very complex, multi-layered plotline in a fast-moving, hold your breath, pace. There are barely a few moments of reflection, allowing the reader to process what is happening, before a return to the action. One of the things that I really like about Connelly is that to me he is the Jason Bourne of crime fiction. He makes you think and react fast. The scenes are raw and full of energy, a high level of analytical thinking is required, and it is crucial to pay attention to most unlikely clue. He is for readers who want gritty realism in their crime fiction, and to be challenged by complex mysteries that deal upon the darkness of the heart.
In this outing I was especially pleased by how Connelly is dealing with an aging Bosch. Instead of freezing him into a certain age and keeping him there, Connelly is addressing Harry’s age in real time. When the book begins, Harry receives “The Drop”, the answer to his request to stay five more years with the LAPD before being forced to retire due to the service age limit. Bosch is given 3 years and 3 months before his forced retirement kicks in. So, the clock is running on his last years as a detective, or so it seems for now.
I also appreciated that Connelly is allowing Harry to grow as a person. It may be influenced by his being a single parent to Maddie, or maybe he is mellowing with age, I am not sure. But without giving any spoilers away, Harry has a fallout with his partner, David Chu, and it sure looked like it was headed in a certain it-has-to-be-Harry’s-way-and-nothing-else and by golly, it took unexpected positive turn that was very enjoyable. I was sure we were in for another selfish Harry closeout, but Connelly surprised us with the old fog can learn new tricks outcome.
Overall, I am continually impressed with the strong quality that Connelly applies to each one of his books. Each book is a different and excellent journey. He is a master storyteller, constantly treating his readers with tight plotting, well-developed characters, and surprising twists that amplify the tension and results. I keep making the same statement after finishing each of his novels, and I am making it again - Bosch just gets better and better. It’s that simple. I don’t know how he keeps raising the bar, but he does. I can’t wait to read and find out what happens next…
Connelly’s 24th book and 15th outing with Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, a Vietnam war veteran and a twenty-year police officer serving in the Los Angeles, California police department. Harry was once a star in the Robbery/Homicide division, working out of the LA city headquarters until his bad habit of fighting the formal structure of the police department and especially those in leadership positions led him to being demoted to the Hollywood detective squad, and eventually retiring from law enforcement. Following a three-year stint as a private investigator, Bosch is back working in the LAPD, currently working in the Open-Unsolved Cases unit with partner, David Chu.
The story gets kicked off with Harry Bosch getting not only one case, but two. The first is a cold case involving newly tested DNA and the results don’t make sense. Lily Price, a college student, was strangled to death back in 1989, and a blood smear left on her neck is that of Clayton Pell. Pell is a recently-paroled child sex offender, so the case seems solid. However, Pell was only 8 years old back in 1989 and that makes it look like the possibility of contamination by the investigators or the crime lab. Either way, this is trouble for Harry.
Before Bosch can get going on the investigation, he is interrupted and called to a death scene by the Chief of Police. When Bosch arrives at the Chateau Marmont, he discovers that George Irving, an attorney and Business consultant working with businesses contracting with the city, is dead from a fall from his hotel balcony on the seventh floor. To make matters worse George is the son of Irvin Irving, city council member, former Deputy Police Chief and nemesis of Bosch, and a long history of power struggles that never seem to end. And the strange thing is… Irving requested that Bosch lead the investigation to figure whether his son was murdered or committed suicide. Despite their personal animosity, Irvin believes Bosch’s mantra that “everybody counts” will lead him to discover the truth, regardless of the outcome.
As expected, Bosch dives into both cases with full commitment, trying to dodge the explosive politics of the LAPD police and government leadership, as well as dealing with a case in which the clues are over 20 years old. The investigation into Irving’s death leads to the discovery of unusual marks on the victim’s shoulder, and a hazy eyewitness remembers seeing someone climbing down the trellis outside the hotel room patio. Further work leads to a competing company that the victim was working against for a prestigious city contract. The clues are leading Bosch to believe this looks like murder…
In addition, Harry’s cold case investigation takes him to the halfway house that Pell currently lives in, where he meets Pell’s therapist, Hannah Stone, who reminds him it’s been a while since he’s dated. Exploring a potential new relationship forces Harry to balance not only his incredible workload, but also being a single parent of an independent teenager, Maddie, who is learning to shoot guns and wants to become a cop like her dad.
As with most Bosch novels, this one takes place over a fairly short period of time – a period of about a week or so. Connelly lays out a very complex, multi-layered plotline in a fast-moving, hold your breath, pace. There are barely a few moments of reflection, allowing the reader to process what is happening, before a return to the action. One of the things that I really like about Connelly is that to me he is the Jason Bourne of crime fiction. He makes you think and react fast. The scenes are raw and full of energy, a high level of analytical thinking is required, and it is crucial to pay attention to most unlikely clue. He is for readers who want gritty realism in their crime fiction, and to be challenged by complex mysteries that deal upon the darkness of the heart.
In this outing I was especially pleased by how Connelly is dealing with an aging Bosch. Instead of freezing him into a certain age and keeping him there, Connelly is addressing Harry’s age in real time. When the book begins, Harry receives “The Drop”, the answer to his request to stay five more years with the LAPD before being forced to retire due to the service age limit. Bosch is given 3 years and 3 months before his forced retirement kicks in. So, the clock is running on his last years as a detective, or so it seems for now.
I also appreciated that Connelly is allowing Harry to grow as a person. It may be influenced by his being a single parent to Maddie, or maybe he is mellowing with age, I am not sure. But without giving any spoilers away, Harry has a fallout with his partner, David Chu, and it sure looked like it was headed in a certain it-has-to-be-Harry’s-way-and-nothing-else and by golly, it took unexpected positive turn that was very enjoyable. I was sure we were in for another selfish Harry closeout, but Connelly surprised us with the old fog can learn new tricks outcome.
Overall, I am continually impressed with the strong quality that Connelly applies to each one of his books. Each book is a different and excellent journey. He is a master storyteller, constantly treating his readers with tight plotting, well-developed characters, and surprising twists that amplify the tension and results. I keep making the same statement after finishing each of his novels, and I am making it again - Bosch just gets better and better. It’s that simple. I don’t know how he keeps raising the bar, but he does. I can’t wait to read and find out what happens next…
November 2, 2017
8.5/10
After the hit and miss thriller type outing in the last Bosch book, Nine Dragons, Bosch returns to what Bosch does best. Detecting . This is methodical work, such as interviewing people and working leads. This may not sound like riveting stuff but it is and you have to doff your hat to Connelly for getting this 100% right and not reverting to the action infested outing of the last book which just didn't work.
Bosch is at his best when he’s facing a number of foes on both sides of the law and this is what we have here. He is given a case which requires him to work a suspicious looking suicide of the son of one of Bosch’s nemesis'. This comes at the same time when he’s been handed another case but told to prioritise the former as it belongs to some big wig politician. This doesn’t bode well with Bosch as “Everybody counts or nobody counts”.
The cases have their highs and lows, much like you would expect in real life where one is quiet and the other heats up. Things lead to trickier events later on in both cases and leaves Bosch working his way through a minefield leading him to question a lot of his previous thoughts.
This is as good as Bosch has been for a while in my opinion (not that the quality ever really dipped). I really enjoyed it, almost to the point of awarding it the 5 star rating. The reason it just missed out where due to a little bit of pacing issues at the 33% mark just before things really got underway and it wasn’t clear the direction the book was going to take. Other than that though this is as good as it gets in the police procedural fictional world and I’m keen to get up to speed with this series as soon as now.
After the hit and miss thriller type outing in the last Bosch book, Nine Dragons, Bosch returns to what Bosch does best. Detecting . This is methodical work, such as interviewing people and working leads. This may not sound like riveting stuff but it is and you have to doff your hat to Connelly for getting this 100% right and not reverting to the action infested outing of the last book which just didn't work.
Bosch is at his best when he’s facing a number of foes on both sides of the law and this is what we have here. He is given a case which requires him to work a suspicious looking suicide of the son of one of Bosch’s nemesis'. This comes at the same time when he’s been handed another case but told to prioritise the former as it belongs to some big wig politician. This doesn’t bode well with Bosch as “Everybody counts or nobody counts”.
The cases have their highs and lows, much like you would expect in real life where one is quiet and the other heats up. Things lead to trickier events later on in both cases and leaves Bosch working his way through a minefield leading him to question a lot of his previous thoughts.
This is as good as Bosch has been for a while in my opinion (not that the quality ever really dipped). I really enjoyed it, almost to the point of awarding it the 5 star rating. The reason it just missed out where due to a little bit of pacing issues at the 33% mark just before things really got underway and it wasn’t clear the direction the book was going to take. Other than that though this is as good as it gets in the police procedural fictional world and I’m keen to get up to speed with this series as soon as now.
April 6, 2012
I've read--or rather listened to--all of Michael Connelly's books. Yep...all the Bosch, all the Haller, all the stand alones, everything except the short stories. With a few--very few--exceptions, they've been pretty much amazing.
This is the first I've read, and the first and only Bosch I've been disappointed with. It just didn't have the wow-factor of the others. The plot was far too linear for a Bosch, the characters too predictable, the humor too forced. In short, if this were the first Bosch or, for that matter, the first Haller, it would be close to my last.
Sure it was better than the latest Kellerman Victims. It was lot better than that, but as good as the other Bosches? Nope. There was something very important missing.
What I like most about Connelly is how he sets up the plot/mystery. Typically, it goes something like this:
1. Who could have done it?
2. Obviously it was A who did it.
3. Why can't the main character see it was A...is he stupid or what?
4. Main character sees it is A. Hurray!
5. But wait! It's not A, it's B!
6. No, wait, it is A.
7. Or is it B?
8. What about C? Could it be C?
9. Yes! It's C!
10. Or is it A?
11. B's not in the clear.
12. Yes! It is B!!!
Connelly whip-lashes you through the plot. First this then that, then the other thing and then back to that. You rarely if ever see the ending coming although he does play fair--all the clues are there as plain as can be.
This book lacked that...lacked it big-time. I kept waiting for the usual twists, but they took forever, and when they finally did come, they were more gentle curves than anything that could be considered a twist.
Very disappointed. Extremely disappointed. For now, I have no choice but to put Connelly on my probation list...What a sad, sad day.
This is the first I've read, and the first and only Bosch I've been disappointed with. It just didn't have the wow-factor of the others. The plot was far too linear for a Bosch, the characters too predictable, the humor too forced. In short, if this were the first Bosch or, for that matter, the first Haller, it would be close to my last.
Sure it was better than the latest Kellerman Victims. It was lot better than that, but as good as the other Bosches? Nope. There was something very important missing.
What I like most about Connelly is how he sets up the plot/mystery. Typically, it goes something like this:
1. Who could have done it?
2. Obviously it was A who did it.
3. Why can't the main character see it was A...is he stupid or what?
4. Main character sees it is A. Hurray!
5. But wait! It's not A, it's B!
6. No, wait, it is A.
7. Or is it B?
8. What about C? Could it be C?
9. Yes! It's C!
10. Or is it A?
11. B's not in the clear.
12. Yes! It is B!!!
Connelly whip-lashes you through the plot. First this then that, then the other thing and then back to that. You rarely if ever see the ending coming although he does play fair--all the clues are there as plain as can be.
This book lacked that...lacked it big-time. I kept waiting for the usual twists, but they took forever, and when they finally did come, they were more gentle curves than anything that could be considered a twist.
Very disappointed. Extremely disappointed. For now, I have no choice but to put Connelly on my probation list...What a sad, sad day.
February 15, 2019
NYT Best Seller List - Dec. 18, 2011 - #1 (hawes.com)
IMDb - Season 5 premiere is ready to broadcast
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch
The book’s title THE DROP refers to “Deferred Retirement Option Plan”.
Bosch was coming close to retirement, 3 years away & applied for extension. Bosch took it to keep him past his daughter’s high school graduation - better than nothing.
He didn’t want to retire. Bosch and David Chu (new partner) assigned to 2 cases. Bosch dominates all of the investigations over Chu.
1. George Irving, councilman’s son died from Chateau Marmont terrace? A jumper or pushed? A city-taxi licensing & crimes lead to Irving. He wants this to defeat the councilman, Irvin Irving, his nemesis/enemy & harm him. Detective Chu speaks to the news concerning evidence - this annoys Bosch & they become investigation enemies.
2. Lily Price (19-college student) was found dead. “DNA from a 1989 rape & murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist” Clayton Pell, but he was 8 at the time. As a child, Pell was abused by Clinton Hardy. Lily strangled with a belt? A link of photographs & movies of over 30 other victims are found with who?
At a “half-way house” where Lily lived, Dr. Hannah Stone helps drug addicts, psychiatric patients & others to “adjust to life”. Dr. Stone & Bosch start a romantic relationship which is good for them.
Can Bosch forgive Chu after talking to the news & take Chu back in a for a “showdown” with George Irving?
IMDb - Season 5 premiere is ready to broadcast
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch
The book’s title THE DROP refers to “Deferred Retirement Option Plan”.
Bosch was coming close to retirement, 3 years away & applied for extension. Bosch took it to keep him past his daughter’s high school graduation - better than nothing.
He didn’t want to retire. Bosch and David Chu (new partner) assigned to 2 cases. Bosch dominates all of the investigations over Chu.
1. George Irving, councilman’s son died from Chateau Marmont terrace? A jumper or pushed? A city-taxi licensing & crimes lead to Irving. He wants this to defeat the councilman, Irvin Irving, his nemesis/enemy & harm him. Detective Chu speaks to the news concerning evidence - this annoys Bosch & they become investigation enemies.
2. Lily Price (19-college student) was found dead. “DNA from a 1989 rape & murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist” Clayton Pell, but he was 8 at the time. As a child, Pell was abused by Clinton Hardy. Lily strangled with a belt? A link of photographs & movies of over 30 other victims are found with who?
At a “half-way house” where Lily lived, Dr. Hannah Stone helps drug addicts, psychiatric patients & others to “adjust to life”. Dr. Stone & Bosch start a romantic relationship which is good for them.
Can Bosch forgive Chu after talking to the news & take Chu back in a for a “showdown” with George Irving?
March 24, 2021
Cuando abro un libro de Harry Bosch ya sé con lo que me voy a encontrar. Es una lectura segura, no voy a topar con estructuras de difícil interpretación y no me obliga a ningún esfuerzo, todo fluye y en cierta medida reconforta.
Por el otro lado, la repetición de fórmulas lleva a cierto tedio y ya se espera una última vuelta de tuerca.
Las dos caras de una lectura promedio.
Por el otro lado, la repetición de fórmulas lleva a cierto tedio y ya se espera una última vuelta de tuerca.
Las dos caras de una lectura promedio.
April 11, 2012
A sobering story to be hearing as i drove up and down the 250 mile round trip to Plymouth in the run up to Easter. All blood, guts, suicide, embezzlement and dark conspiracies and police cover-ups not to mention serial rapists and child abusers. Not the most conducive of listens to get me into the mood for celebrations and resurrection but it was a story which kept the interest.
Harry Bosch is a detective in the Open-Unsolved Unit which searches out the open-ended murders and rapes and attempts to bring to justice the perpetrators who are, as of yet, thinking they are free as birds. A seemingly straightforward case where the DNA of a convicted rapist is found in the stored evidence of a 22 year old unsolved crime becomes bizarrely anything but when it is pointed out that the aforesaid rapist was only 8 at the time of the attack. Added to this complication a second case loaded on to Bosch of the seeming suicide of the son one of his greatest critics and the scene is set for twists, turns, revelations and horrendous discoveries which involve the detective in having to question a good deal of his comfortable preconceived ideas and opinions.
The story trundles along at a good enough pace although, as seems so often in this type of book, the rather hamfisted attempts at back stories of precocious teenage daughters or awkward new partnerships bedding in, just slow and weigh it all down and simply serves to muddy water gloomy enough as it is. Rather unconvincing nods in the direction of romance slows it all still further and the awkward dialogue smacks more of Connelly's inhibitions then his characters.
Having said all that it was an entertaining read for traffic jams and long journeys and was left open-ended enough to make me imagine that the characters had lives of their own which continuted on beyond the pages of the novel; always a good pointer. The main story-line was vile and shocking but then it was supposed to be. Its denoument was believable and managed to resolve itself whilst still managing to communicate the inevitability of the horrendous damage perpetrated on victims continuing on unhealed. The striking aspect though was the way in which the victims were identified; those with whom you would have instant sympathy and those from whom we might be first tempted to withhold sympathy but in this storyline the domino affect of cruel abuse is clearly painted.
Harry Bosch is a detective in the Open-Unsolved Unit which searches out the open-ended murders and rapes and attempts to bring to justice the perpetrators who are, as of yet, thinking they are free as birds. A seemingly straightforward case where the DNA of a convicted rapist is found in the stored evidence of a 22 year old unsolved crime becomes bizarrely anything but when it is pointed out that the aforesaid rapist was only 8 at the time of the attack. Added to this complication a second case loaded on to Bosch of the seeming suicide of the son one of his greatest critics and the scene is set for twists, turns, revelations and horrendous discoveries which involve the detective in having to question a good deal of his comfortable preconceived ideas and opinions.
The story trundles along at a good enough pace although, as seems so often in this type of book, the rather hamfisted attempts at back stories of precocious teenage daughters or awkward new partnerships bedding in, just slow and weigh it all down and simply serves to muddy water gloomy enough as it is. Rather unconvincing nods in the direction of romance slows it all still further and the awkward dialogue smacks more of Connelly's inhibitions then his characters.
Having said all that it was an entertaining read for traffic jams and long journeys and was left open-ended enough to make me imagine that the characters had lives of their own which continuted on beyond the pages of the novel; always a good pointer. The main story-line was vile and shocking but then it was supposed to be. Its denoument was believable and managed to resolve itself whilst still managing to communicate the inevitability of the horrendous damage perpetrated on victims continuing on unhealed. The striking aspect though was the way in which the victims were identified; those with whom you would have instant sympathy and those from whom we might be first tempted to withhold sympathy but in this storyline the domino affect of cruel abuse is clearly painted.
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