Showing posts with label Michael Connelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Connelly. Show all posts

Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Drop by Michael Connelly

Mystery

Detective Bosch has been a part of the cold case division for a short time. He knows he doesn't have too long left in his career, as he's already back from retirement and can only stay a maximum of 5 more years on the force. He has a young partner, Detective Chu, and a bunch of cold cases to get through. When a hit comes back on DNA, but for someone that would have been a child at the time of the crime, Bosch and Chu are asked to investigate. This comes at the exact same day that ex-Deputy Chief Irvin Irving learns that his son has committed suicide. Irving is now a councilman and against the police department after being ousted. He's never been a fan of Bosch, but Bosch is requested specifically from Irving to investigate his son's death.

Now with two cases, Bosch buckles down. Is the Irving death really a suicide or was there a third party involved? Any why was the blood of a child found at a murder scene? The two cases take Bosch and Chu all over. A new female love interest is introduced and there's already ups and downs in that relationship.

Every Bosch book I've read captures your interest right away and holds you the entire time. I really enjoy Maddie and how her youth allows her to see different things than her dad does. This different perspective and her interest in the police force will make her a very interesting character in the future and she's already starting to impact some of what her dad does.

This is another great book in the Bosch series. Looking forward to reading the next one.

First Line: "Christmas came once a month in the Open-Unsolved Unit."

Rating:
(4/5)

Friday, July 28, 2017

The Reversal by Michael Connelly

Mystery

Mickey Haller is called in to the DA's office to take a case as an independent and prosecute a man who was released from prison due to a new DNA test, after being charged with killing as young girl. Mickey accepts, but on the promise of independence and the ability to bring in his ex-wife to help with the legal side and his half brother to help with the investigation. Haller's half brother is Harry Bosch, gritty LA homicide detective.

Bosch has to examine the case from 20-some years ago and determine if anything was missed and what was just noise. He has to track down all the people that should testify even though some have passed away. The defendant is released without bail and Bosch ensures to follow him 24/7, seeing some abnormal behaviour. Is it possible that he killed before?

With so many Bosch books in this series, you would think that things would start to get stale. The book before this, Nine Dragons was a bit off the path but this took us right back to it. I really enjoyed this and think it would make a great addition to the Amazon series Bosch; I'd love to see this played out on screen.

First Line: "The last time I'd eaten at the Water Grill I sat across the table from a client who had coldly and calculatedly murdered his wife and her lover, shooting both of them in the face."

Rating:
(4/5)

Saturday, December 03, 2016

9 Dragons by Michael Connelly

Mystery

Detective Harry Bosch has had a slow couple of weeks. He ends up getting the case of a murder in a liquor store at what seems to be a robbery at first. He brings his partner, who has been half-assing the job, and sets to bringing justice to the family. After looking at the security tapes, Bosch begins to think that this could be a gang issue. As he investigates the triads, his daughter is kidnapped in Hong Kong. Bosch stops everything to fly to Hong Kong and find his daughter. Are the two related?

This book is a bit of a change in pace from regular books in the Bosch series. Since Bosch is looking for his kidnapped daughter, he's taken out of the usual search for clues on a murder and the story has a much more personal note. Yet I still felt like the two stories didn't quite flow together that well. I enjoy all Bosch books, but this wasn't my favourite.

First Line: "From across the aisle Harry Bosch looked into his partner's cubicle and watched him conduct his daily ritual of straightening the corners on his stacks of files, clearing the paperwork from the center of his desk and finally placing his rinsed-out coffee cup in a desk drawer."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

Mystery

In this cross-over book for Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller, one of Haller's old colleagues is killed in the parking lot of his office and Haller is called in to take over all of his cases. This brings Haller out of his year-long break, recovering from being shot. Haller has a big case now, that of millionaire Walter Elliot, charged with murdering his wife and her lover. The prosecutor has a pretty solid case against Elliot and Haller needs to get up to speed quickly, determine what his colleague had discovered, and what he can do to fight this case. Bosch enters the picture, trying to solve the murder of the lawyer.

We get a completely different picture of Bosch in this book. Rather than being in his mind as he investigates a crime, this time we're with one of his suspects as he investigates them. They way Bosch investigated Haller made him seem like a jerk, though we know that he's fantastic at his job. I fear that if this were my first time reading him, I'd probably not like him! Good thing, Bosch, that I know you so well.

This book captured my attention right away. I had troubles putting it down, wanting to know how Haller was going to get his client off (if he could), and if Bosch was going to catch his killer. The books in this series seem to be getting better and better. I didn't have much intention of reading the Haller series, but after this book I need to. This was a great mystery!

Rating:
(4.5/5)

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

The Overlook by Michael Connelly

The Overlook by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Bosch is back, in yet another department of the LAPD. He gets a call to take a recent homicide at the overlook of Mulholland where Dr. Kent was shot in the head. When his FBI friend Rachel Walling shows up at the scene, Bosch knows there's something bigger to this crime. Working with his new partner, Iggy, provides some additional strain as they work to solve the case. Eventually they determine that radioactive material was stolen and part of the reason why Kent was killed. Are there terrorists out there planning an attack?

Bosch has a new partner in this book, coming from two previous partners with big personalities that came across well in the series. Iggy's personality hasn't come across yet, other than the fact that he wants Bosch to call him Iggy. I was hoping to get a better picture of who his new partner is but I didn't get that from this book and what I did get, I wasn't overly impressed.

Having just come off the back of finishing the TV show Homeland, I actually found this book a bit of a let down. But I think that's only saying that Homeland does a better job of terrorism than Connelly does, which is OK because Connelly is a master of detective novels.

First Line: "The call came at midnight"

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Echo Park by Michael Connelly

Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Bosch and his partner Rider work old, unsolved cases. There's one in particular that has gotten to Bosch, as he was the detective on the case years ago but they could never determine who killed Marie Gesto. Out of the blue, Bosch gets a call from the DA wondering where the files are because they have a murderer that wants to make a deal to escape the death penalty in exchange for giving up where he dumped Gesto's body. Bosch can't believe it. He pours over his notes once again to see if there was something he missed that would have pointed to the killer.

This isn't a typical solve-the-murder book. It brings a new element in of the DA's office and creating a deal with a criminal in exchange for information. It was quite an interesting way of telling a story. As always, the story grips you and you can't put the book down. I'm not sure how Bosch manages to get in to so many political problems in his career. In this book is no exception. The poor guy also has horrible luck with women. I only hope that by the end of the series he finally has someone that loves him.

First Line: "It was the car they had been looking for."

Rating:
(4.5/5)

Sunday, April 01, 2012

The Overlook

The Overlook by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Bosch is called to the murder of Dr. Stanley Kent found on a overlook near Mulholland Drive. He has been shot in the back of the head and now some dangerous radioactive substances are missing. Bosch is soon in conflict with his superiors, Homeland Security and the FBI in the form of his former lover Rachel Walling.

Bosch, our nitty gritty cop has a new partner Iggy who really does not get much 'page time' but is in disagreement from the get go. Bosch follows his own instincts and tracks down the killer before he can destroy a whole city.

I love Bosch and even though this was written in the form of 16 serial stories for a newspaper it is still a good story. Yes, some of the character development is missing namely of Bosch's new partner but the grittiness of Bosch shines through. On to the next in the series

First Line: "The call came at midnight."

Rating:
(4.0/5)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Closers by Michael Connelly

The Closers by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Detective Harry Bosch is back on the force after almost three years of retirement. When he returns, he's put with his old partner Kiz Rider and the two become part of the Open Unsolved unit. Bosch and Rider are lucky because one of the cases they have been assigned just came back with DNA analysis. The murder happened back in 1988, before DNA analysis was common, and in a racially-charged era. Bosch and Rider have to familiarize themselves with the case, start hunting down the leads, and figure out who the murderer was to bring them to justice.

Even though there was only one book with Harry retired and off the force, I enjoy him as part of the police much more. There's interaction with him and a partner or boss which adds to the story line. He also seems able to accomplish more when he's part of the force. From the start of this book, I could feel Bosch's excitement to figure out the puzzle of an already existing case. Like all of Connelly's other Bosch books, this one grips you from the start and you can't wait to find out who the murderer is.

First Line: "Within the practice and protocol of the Los Angeles Police Department a two-six call is the one that draws the most immediate response while striking the most fear behind the bulletproof vest."

Rating:
(4/5)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Echo Park

Echo Park by Michael Connelly
Mystery



Harry Bosch, an L.A. police detective, in the Open/Unsolved Unit has a case on his desk from 1993. It involves the killing of Marie Gesto, who disappeared from a supermarket. Bosch gets a call from the D.A. requesting Bosch to interview the killer, Raynard Waits who has just confessed. According to Waits, he is responsible for the death of Marie Gesto. Bosch had investigated this case, and it is still unsolved. No body was ever found.

Waits has made a deal with the DA: he’ll confess in exchange for life in prison rather than death. Waites is willing to lead the police to the body. Waites leads them to the body but escapes.

Bosch follows the leads even after he is sent home. Rachel Walling is back with help for Bosch and as a love interest.

A great story with Bosch questioning his own investigation and what he could have missed back in 1993. Bosch is so vulnerable when it comes to his women. He never seems to have them last for long as either a colleague or a romantic interest. I think I like Bosch so much because of his foibles, just like us ordinary folk.

First Line: "It was the car they had been looking for."

Rating:
(4.0/5)

The Closers

The Closers by Michael Connelly
Mystery

Harry Bosch is back again with the LAPD after a very short retirement. He is assigned to the elite Open/Unsolved Unit(cold cases) and back with a former partner, Kiz Rider. He has a boss he can actually respect and all is right in the world for awhile.

Harry works on a 17 year old case of a teenager pulled from her house and shot. There was tissue found on the murder weapon in which the DNA can now be used. Harry does all the leg work and interviews while Kiz does the technological work, digging through the internet and finding people.

When the murder book is not all there Harry's nemesis, former Chief Irving is back on his case or are the tables turned this time?

A great mystery with all the twists a reader would want. Harry is in the best place of all and the reader is right there along for the ride

First Line: "Within the practice and protocol of the Los Angeles Police Department a two-six call is the one that draws the most immediate response while striking the most fear behind the bulletproof vest."

Rating: