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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
2.5 stars rounded up because of Harry. I've loved all of the characters in the Boschverse & really enjoyed Renee initially but this one might be my last with her. Her justification of her actions after negligently losing her badge & gun was too much for me. I wanted some kind of repercussion to let us know that her behavior wasn't okay & it never came. She's not sympathetic & has become completely unlikeable.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second year in a row in which I ended the year by reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Michael Connelly. I like to save his books for my December post-Christmas holiday at home and this year’s installment did not disappoint. The focus this time is on Renee Ballard and the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit where she is the lead detective in a group that includes volunteers as well as LAPD employees. The unit traces a DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. It’s a familial connection as the arrestee is only 23, but when they follow the leads to the suspect a lot of secrets emerge. Meanwhile, Ballard is working to recover her badge, gun, and LAPD ID stolen from her car while she was surfing- she can't report the theft without endangering her career due to those in the department who seek her demotion. When this burglary leads to greater danger than anticipated, she calls in Harry Bosch to help. Meanwhile, Bosch’s daughter Maddie, now on patrol in Hollywood, volunteers for Ballard’s unit and works to solve one of Los Angeles’s longest running unsolved murders. Yes there is a lot going on in this edition of Ballard and Bosch, but it is never boring, always fast-paced, and provides a satisfying ending while providing more details about the now familiar characters and always makes sure that Los Angeles itself is a character in the story.
It was every bit as good as every other book in the universe- probably even more so. I was so happy with how much Christine Lakin narrated. My only sadness is how long it will take for the next one!!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m a big fan of Bosch, and having watched the TV show, I now have a visual of Maddie, his daughter who joins the team in this story. I really enjoyed having Ballard, Bosch and his daughter all in one book. There are some far fetched details (protocol-breaking things that “work out”) but nothing detracts much from the pleasure of spending time with these characters.
I read these Ballard books for a Bosch fix, but I don’t find her engaging as a main character. This one also gave us Bosch 2.0 aka Maddie who quite unbelievably announces after like 5 minutes on the Open Unsolved unit that she’s solved a *real life* still unsolved crime. Um, no. I’m not mad I read it, but like .. that was a stretch. The other storyline was OK.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A