Publisher: Little, Brown
Authors: Michael Connelly
List Price: $26.99
Amazon Price: $17.00
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Echo Park (Harry Bosch (Hardcover))
Publisher: Little, Brown |
| ISBN: 0316734950 List Price: $26.99 Amazon Price: $17.00 Not yet published |
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The Harry Bosch Novels: The Black Echo, The Black Ice, The Concrete Blonde
Publisher: Little, Brown |
| ISBN: 0316154970 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $12.97 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: The Harry Bosch Novels-Volume One Connelly develops a great main character, Harry Bosch, around whom these mysteries all revolve. Harry is a Vietnam Vet who is an "underdog" detective in the Hollywood division due to his preference to work cases alone, leaving his bosses to believe that he's not really to be trusted. I was pleasantly surprised that each book in succession held my attention very well, unlike other books with characters or plotlines repeated in successive novels that become boring after the second book. These stories are for anyone who likes crime and cop suspense mysteries. Summary: Nothing Better than Bosch I've been reading Harry Bosch from day one and to this day he is one of my favorite authors (#2 on a list of 10). Here and there I had loaned a lot of my books to others, and for one reason or another didn't get most of them back. Seeing this made me want to read Michael Connelly all over again so I'm buying them again (and nobody borrows them this time!). I promise you will love reading Harry Bosch! Summary: Great Reads! Harry is the Man! Although he nods way too much Am I the only one who notices that "Bosh Nodded" seems to show up at least once a page. Petty, I knnow..But the man nods more than most. Summary: |
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The Closers
Publisher: Little, Brown |
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| ISBN: 0316734942 List Price: $26.95 Amazon Price: $16.98 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: Harry Bosch is Back Fans of Harry Bosch, a detective in the Los Angeles Police Department, will welcome another solidly-written tale that results in the solution of a murder. If you are new to the Harry Bosch series, you will find an excellent police procedural that should keep your attention as Bosch and his partner, Kiz Rider, systematically solve a crime without resorting to slam-bang shoot-outs or wild, car chases. This time, Bosch is assigned to the cold-case unit and faces the 17 year-old murder of Rebecca Verloren, a high school student. The mixed-race girl was somehow taken from her locked home, carried up a steep hill, and shot dead in the woods. The only evidence is a bit of skin on the nearby pistol that killed her. DNA from the skin matches that of a white racist, tow truck driver, but he seems to have no connection with the girl. It is up to Bosch and Rider to untangle the web of mystery. They do a fine job and give us a fascinating story. Summary: First Bosch book I've read Closes the deal The Closers is the first Michael Connelly book I've read. Connelly is a very popular author that writes books in a series as well as stand alone novels. Det. Harry Bosch is featured in this novel. Bosch has been retired for three years but is lured back to the force by the new police chief. Bosch will be working with his old partner, Kiz Rider, on a "open-and-unsolved" unit trying to solve old cold cases. The department divides cold cases by years and Rider and Bosch have a hot lead. DNA collected from the case of murdered Rebecca Valoren 17 years ago has been matched to a career petty criminal Roland Mackey. Rider and Bosch quickly famaliarize themselves (and the reader) with the case by going through the murder book and interviewing witnesses and police involved with the case. There are many suspects, and all are looked at: high school friends, ex-boyfriends, teachers, white supremicists, corrupt cops. This police procedural is solid, if not a little slow at times. Connelly tells the entire story from Bosch's point of view. We know only his thoughts on the case. Connelly is obviously a talented writer, but I found this novel to be kind of boring. Yet it was easy to pick up being part of a series. You won't be lost at all if you start the Bosch series with this novel. It is a straight forward police procedural with only hints of a personal life of the characters thrown in. In fact, there probably isn't nearly enough characterization. The parents of the murdered girl were mixed, one black and one white, and I have no idea which was which and I thought it was relevant because the both are affected in different ways by the murder. Also, I think partner Kiz Rider may be black, and gay, but I'm not sure. Connelly keeps the twists and turns coming fast enough to keep me interested. I'll definitely continue to read Connelly novels because this was entertaining and a quick read, just not a lot of flash, gore or sex (like a John Sanford Lucas Davenport novel for example). For readers hesitant to start a new series I recommend this book. You'll enjoy the straightfoward police procedural and want to read more books by Michael Connelly. The Amazon.com review summarizes the problems I see with the book, and says it better than I can: "But the greater problem is that Connelly exhausts so much time and effort following his protagonist through the tedium of modern police procedures, that he neglects what readers have liked more about this series in the past: its persistently deft exploration of Bosch's lonely, haunted soul (which remains mostly out of sight in this tale), and the author's frequent flights of lyrical prose (also not much in evidence). Would-be novelists wanting an example of a solidly constructed cop tale need look no further than The Closers. But readers hoping to learn why Connelly is so well-respected in this genre should turn, instead, to previous Bosch titles." Summary: Connelly knows how to write mysteries Harry Bosch is an interesting believable character as his female partner. The story, steeped in LA police procedural minutiae, is not overly violent and keeps the reader interested by the interplay of Bosch, his partner, investigative techniques and the atmospherics of the City of the Angels. Connelly's ending is well done and understandable based on the crime; leaving the reader with one word of praise: neat. Summary: |
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Trunk Music (A Harry Bosch Novel)
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks |
| ISBN: 0312963297 List Price: $7.99 Amazon Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: A very solid mystery At times in Trunk Music, it's difficult to fathom Harry Bosch's motivations - but this is because Michael Connelly has made him a palpable, real character - with his own murky stew of agendas and impulses. Trunk Music is an entertaining blend of mystery, moving between a domestic and a mafia plotline at a dizzying speed. The twists, when they come, are great. Hints happen at times, but in general I was caught by surprise. Perhaps there's something too pat about the ending, but the novel on the whole is an enjoyable, exciting ride. Connelly has a real skill in drawing characters, flowing from his gifts at observation. He allows litle details to make their ways through. The result is a lifelike depiction of a murder investigation. I read this out of sequence with the other Bosch novels and found it comprehensible. Still, I think there might be benefits to tackling these in order - not huge ones, but appreciable ones. Either way, you'll enjoy Trunk Music Summary: MUSIC TO MY EARS TRUNK MUSIC is the fifth Harry Bosch detective novel and may be the best of the series so far. Mr. Connelly writes sharp dialogue and page-turning narrative. Beyond writing mechanics, the creation of hard-boiled detective Bosch is what makes the series so interesting. Because Harry Bosch is so interesting. Set in LA and Las Vegas, TRUNK MUSIC gets the reader involved in Hollywood slease, police corruption and mob antics on the way to solving the murder of a man left in the trunk of his car (hence "trunk music"). I am getting a bit tired with Harry Bosch getting in trouble with his police bosses and IAD (Internal Affairs Division) and his fellow detectives suspecting him of being a rogue cop. I mean, Harry has solved many murders brilliantly and, by now, they should be trusting him more. So it seems a little unrealistic that they still come down hard on him for doing his job. Perhaps Mr. Connelly will see the logical flaw in the plot there and correct that with different plot complications and tensions in future Harry Bosch books. I don't know but maybe I'll find out in the sixth Harry Bosch story, ANGELS FLIGHT. Such nit-picking aside, TRUNK MUSIC is music to my ears. Summary: Not garden variety mystery writing... Trunk Music is the fifth novel in Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch mystery series, and so far, I have been very impressed with the consistency of Connelly's writing. After spending all of book number four, The Last Coyote, suspended from the LAPD homicide department, Bosch is once again on the force. He is called out when another officer finds a body in the trunk of a car. The victim is Tony Aliso, and independent film producer. As Bosch and his two partners, Jerry Edgar and Kiz Rider, start to investigate, they discover that he lived an opulent lifestyle that could not have been possible based on just his film business. In fact, they believe it looks like a Mafia hit (i.e. Trunk Music). But when they notify the LAPD's Organized Crime Unit, they seem uninterested in pursuing the case. Tony Aliso went back and forth between LA and Las Vegas, and Bosch and his partners go back and forth between the two cities trying to run down clues. They also run up against the FBI, who is doing a mob investigation of their own. As with most Bosch mysteries, Harry is able to see things that most investigators can't and he gets a handle on the case before anyone. Connelly seems to have a love/hate relationship with LA, and he constantly describes the complex personality of this city. In Trunk Music, he shows similar feelings for Las Vegas, although more loathing than love. He writes "Bosch had never liked Las Vegas, though he came here on cases. It shared a kinship with Los Angeles; both were places desperate people ran to.....Beneath the veneer of glitz and money and energy and sex beat a dark heart. No matter how much they tried to dress her up with neon and family entertainment, she was still a [...]." We're not talking garden variety mystery writing here. This is good stuff. The only thing I found hokey with Trunk Music is that Bosch and his partners would secretly work on a case they were officially removed from (with the consent of their bureau commander). But Bosch is a loose cannon anyway, and even if he didn't have the bureau commander's approval, he would have done it anyway. So don't let this minor issue keep you from reading another good Connelly. Summary: |
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Angels Flight (Detective Harry Bosch Mysteries)
Publisher: Warner Books |
| ISBN: 0446607274 List Price: $7.99 Amazon Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: Very good This 1999 book is a re-read for me. Can't remember all the details of a 7 year old book so it's as good as a new book for me. Connelly, as usual, writes a very good crime book. It's not fast paced, it's not scary, but it's a very good police crime book. Connelly's forte is writing realistic characters. I know all the protagonists, Bosch, Edgar, Kiz, Irvine and Chastain from previous books where he did a good job of bringing them to life. There is a very good depiction of how the LAPD and LA reacts to a very serious crime, very realistically written and almost worth the cost of the book itself. However, it might put off some of his audience...... There is only minor subplot here, and some interesting stuff about the internet, but that's 7 years old. I didn't really like the subplot with Eleanor since this is a crime book, not a drama. I cringed when I read about Eleanor since I did not want to be reading 3-4 pages about something that had nothing to do with the plot. The crime itself is very nicely plotted out. We are led along the leads and are right there as Bosche unravel the crime(s). Like I said, not very fast paced, but a very solid crime book. This was not a book I had to read til my eyelids dropped. I could put it down and do other stuff and get back to it, but still a very worthy addition to the Bosch collection. I don't want to give anything about the plot away so that's all I'll say about it. Summary: A bit of a 'cop' out First of all let me start off by saying that if anyone else had written this novel it would probably get a five star review. However, when it comes to comparing Connelly with...well, Connelly-Angel's Flight falls a bit short. A hotshot civil rights attorney (You get one guess who this character is modeled after) who has made a career out of suing the LAPD (of course we have never heard of him until this book) is killed one night on a sort of subway train on his way home. Bosch and his team (more like gofers) are called to the scene. Bosch soon finds he has to work with IED, FBI, and even the master general on this case--but still all of them are extremely absent. Plus, I was struck by how much this book resembles another Connelly novel: The Poet. The Pedophilia websites and fake suicides. Plus, Bosch is making mistakes that Bosch doesn't usually make. Bosch even retells a story about he's able to figure out a suicide of some young girl was really a homicide by the fact the girl boiled eggs on the day of her murder, but when it comes to his ex-partner (again, a character I never remember hearing about) supposedly takes his life with a mysterious gun, Bosch buys it hook, line, and sinker??? Plus, Bosch hates loose ends, but we never find out who the pedophile is with the kincaid's daughter. (The mother says it wasn't her husband) So we never know. I was hoping it was going to be grandfather Kincaid, a sort of father like son kind of thing. Nope. The matter was just dropped. And what about Irving. The man who was so ashamed how Bosch mother's case was handled is now the same kind of spin doctor he supposedly hated back in the day. Plus, given how Bosch works cases, I surprised he put Bosch on this case at all. Surely, Bosch, Rider, and Eggar aren't the ONLY three never sued by the attorney. As far as L.A. ready to riot at the drop of dime, I find this highly unlikely. Especially for the circumstance presented here. Connelly swerves into a social political territory where he is ill equipped to handle and it's not pretty. Plus, the ending flew wide into the unbelievable realm. Bottom line-it's still a well written piece, but not classic Bosch (Black Ice excluded). Summary: Another typical day for Harry Bosch-Facing pressure from all sides An attorney, who has made his career and reputation on suing the LAPD, is murdered and Bosch is called in to deal with the racially sensitive and politically explosive case. Corruption, secrecy, and political expediency are all factors that Bosch must contend with in trying to find the killer, amidst a community and police department that have their own agendas. Bosch must also deal with his own preconceived notions of what the really occurred at Angels Flight and this is another obstacle that has to be overcome if he is to find the real killer, not just one that will suit the outside forces weighing heavily on this case. This is a gripping example of Bosch having to extricate himself from an extremely tough circumstance; the type of story that Connelly excels at. Only a flawed conclusion, where things don't really play out the way they would in the "real" world, keep this from being among the best in Bosch novels. Summary: |
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The Narrows (Harry Bosch (Paperback))
Publisher: Warner Books |
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| ISBN: 0446611646 List Price: $7.99 Amazon Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 3 Reviews: Summary: Connelly can do much better than this Connelly has such a talent for realism, it's sad to see him fall under the influence of Patterson. When a character in a novel dies, leave him dead. Don't go to ridiculous lengths to resurrect him. Connelly is able to make his characters live and breathe. They seem like real people, usually. Because they seem so much like the people around us, the readers' interest is captured, to see why these people so much like us are so much unlike us. Backus is not somebody you can believe in, so you don't really care much about him. Connelly went to so much trouble to explain how Backus didn't die when he was dead; for the same amount of ink, he could have portrayed a believable new villain without jeopardizing his credibility. I personally thought naming the murderer The Poet sounded like something out of Batman and Robin. Maybe Bosch should have found some kryptonite to after Backus with. Exaggeration is easy. Placing murderers in ordinary citizens, and making the readers understand and believe, is infinitely harder. Connelly can usually do it, but this book is a great disappointment. While I'm at it, I'd like to ask, what was going on with the lady in the next room watching the planes? If she didn't have anything to do with the story, why make her so mysterious and then just drop her? I think Connelly simply forgot about her. He didn't try very hard with this book. I just hope Backus is really dead this time. Maybe they should drive a stake through his heart. Summary: My First Harry Bosch Novel I have not read any other novels in the Harry Bosch series so I am not sure if my reading experience would have been heightened or diminished if I would have read "The Poet." Harry Bosch is a retired LAPD Homicide detective. He is asked by the wife of a deceased friend to look into his death although it appears to be of a natural cause. Harry's detective work, albeit somewhat lengthy and dry for this reader, reveals a suspicious character whom should be investigated. Harry's analysis of his friend's, an ex FBI profiler, notes leads him to the barren desert outside Las Vegas. This happens to be the site of a mass grave, consising of six men believed to have been killed by the Poet, an ex FBI agent himself who also happens to be a serial killer. It is there he reunites with Rachel Walling and together they go about solving the case. I think what I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that Harry is a regular guy who struggles with lifes problems. He does not appear to be a particularly happy guy and recently learned he has a young daughter who lives in Las Vegas. In fact his entire life centers around her. I found the first half of the book to be rather slow. The latter part of this novel is fast paced and a good read. The finale, although a little far fetched, will keep you glued to your seat. Summary: Not his best My major complaint with this book is Connelly's failure to plausibly mesh high-profile characters and all their ensuing flaws and backstories into one coherent plot line. This is difficult to do under the best circumstances when you have a riveting story and fast-paced action to hold things together. Unfortunately "The Narrows" has neither. I continually found myself either bored with long pages of dialogue that did little to carry the plot or wondering how he expected the reader to believe certain actions and plot twists. Many characters from previous novels show up for less-than-stellar cameos... wandering in and out of the plot and causing one to wonder what exactly they contributed to the overall story. In addition, most of these cameos, and some of the main characters, are treated with less than the usual respect and effort by Mr. Connelly and end up little more than two-dimensional caricatures of their previous renderings. Finally, this was probably one of the most dismal, depressing, and unsatisfying endings I have read in a very long time. The book should have ended two chapters sooner. I'm debating whether or not I'll try the next one. In the meantime I'm glad I got this one out of the bargain bin and didn't pay full price. Summary: |
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The Harry Bosch Novels Volume 2: The Last Coyote, Trunk Music, Angels Flight
Publisher: Little, Brown |
| ISBN: 0316614564 List Price: $19.95 Amazon Price: $13.57 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: Well up to his high standard As I write this I have only read book #1, The Last Coyote and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is probably best, I think, to read the Bosch novels in sequence; then you may appreciate better the developing plots which sometimes refer back to previous events. But each novel can, of course, be enjoyed on its own. Summary: Harry Bosch Novels (1&2) The Harry Bosch Novels (both volumes 1 & 2) introduced me to Harry Bosch and Michael Connelly. These are great police procedural stories as well as very well done mysteries. I could do with a little less of Harry's attitude, but it plays well, too. Except that no hierarchy would put up with the extremes of the attitude. The six novels included are very much worth the money and are excellent reading. I am in the process of ordering the rest of the Harry Bosch series from Amazon. Summary: Detective Harry Bosch Hits His Stride Former newspaper reporter Michael Connelly has been writing intriguing and suspenseful novels for his Harry Bosch protagonist for over a decade now. The first six of these novels have been collected into two hardcover omnibus volumes. The first volume is certainly required reading if you want to understand the complete background and motivations of this brooding LAPD detective who won't tolerate injustice or any human vice that feeds it either directly (corruption, politics) or indirectly (bureaucracy, laziness, incompetence). They're interesting reads for sure, especially "The Concrete Blonde". However, those earlier stories expose Connelly as a new novelist unsure of what type of character Bosch is destined to be. This second volume is the work of a much more seasoned and confident author writing about a multi-dimensional and human character. Without giving away any spoilers, I'll say that these three books develop Bosch well beyond just a grim crime-solving automaton who moves from case to case in a very detached manner. He goes after crimes that have personal significance and he undertakes situations outside his role as a police detective. The result is that by the time you turn the last page, you'll be hooked on the Bosch character, not just the stories of the crimes he's solved. That's the hallmark of a great fiction series. Plus, these three stories are varied and intriguing in their own separate ways. The universe of characters that surround Bosch rotate in and out in ways that are highly interesting without being incredible. "Trunk Music" stretches this point a bit with a story that throws in every angle imaginable and almost loses its way. However, "Angels Flight" rebounds superbly and gets my vote for the finest book of either volume. These volumes are must-haves for anyone interested in getting acquainted with one of the best mystery writers working today. At a price less than the cost of three paperbacks, you get a well-bound and attractive hardcover book, making this package a wonderful value as well. Summary: |
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The Concrete Blonde (Detective Harry Bosch Mysteries)
Publisher: Little Brown and Company |
| ISBN: 0316153834 List Price: $30.00 Amazon Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours |
Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: The best of both worlds: a murder mystery inside a courtroom drama... The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly provides the best of both worlds: a murder mystery that takes place within a courtroom drama. The Concrete Blonde opens with Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Harry Bosch on trial for murder. When Bosch shot Norman Church, he believed he was killing the Dollmaker, a serial killer responsible for the rape and brutal murder of eleven prostitutes in Los Angeles. The Dollmaker's widow believes otherwise, and she sues Bosch in civil court for wrongful death. Just as the trial is underway, another victim is discovered and this one was murdered after the death of Church. This 12th victim was encased in concrete and is dubbed the Concrete Blonde. The Concrete Blonde casts a shadow on the trial and gives ammunition to the aggressive and scheming prosecuting attorney, Honey "Money" Chandler. Is it possible that Bosch killed the wrong man? Maybe there's a copycat killer. Also, Chandler and the press have information that is being leaked from within the LAPD. Whatever the case, the investigation is ongoing and the judge won't delay the trial to give Bosch time to solve the new murder. Connelly is one of the best mystery writers out there today, and his plots and characters reflect a realism that developed in his years of being a police reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The Concrete Blonde was written after the LA Riots and Rodney King, and shows the darker side of this city of contrasts. When Bosch tells his lawyer in the courtroom that he seeks the truth, he is lectured "And you're going to sit there and talk to me about truth? When was the last time you saw a truthful police report? When was the last time that you put down the unadulterated truth in a search warrant application? ... The truth has got nothing to do with what goes on in here. Neither does justice. Just words I read in a law book in a previous life." But for homicide detectives, "the homicide squad wasn't a job. It was a mission. As surely as murder was an art for some who committed it, homicide investigation was an art for those on the mission. And it chose you, you didn't choose it." So while Bosch may be cynical and jaded by his many years of wearing a badge, he can't give up his battle of good vs. evil. But for as brilliant as Bosch is at solving cases, he's a bit of a cowboy and doesn't always follow rules, which often gets him in trouble with his superiors. Connelly is a talented writer, and The Concrete Blonde is one of his best books. I'm now going to have to fill in the gaps with his other Bosch books. Summary: Excellent Just when I was begining to worry about my decision to go back and read this series from the begining, Connelly hits one out of the ball park. This is an excellent, mind twisting thriller that left me guessing all the way until the end. One of the lessons I love from this novel is that you never know anyone. Highly recommended. Summary: Harry Bosch is in trouble again! Harry is on trial for the shooting death of the serial killer known as the Dollmaker. After eleven victims, a twelfth turns up-a blonde buried in the concrete. After a mysterious note from the Dollmaker arrives for Harry, he begins to doubt whether he shot the right person. This was an ingeniously crafted tale about a serial killer. My only problem is Connelly's choice of who the murderer is at the end of the book. Harry's love interest is pretty boring too. Summary: |
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