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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
One last quick read to get my book count to a fitting total of 20 for 2020. What a surge at the end!
I gave this four stars because, while maybe not amazed, there’s nothing I can think to nitpick here, and it did the job I was looking for; a shorter, faster novel to roll through and actually maintain interest in. This is the first I’ve read of Connelly’s, but I was reasonably confident it would fit in that Flynn/Baldacci/Brown/Patterson genre of airport and vacation dramas. That it did.
Pleasantly surprised by the LA Times reporter perspective and the character of McEvoy, which seems to be legit coming from Connelly’s own life, and the riveting, if at times predictable, murderer chase. This guy’s got the mystery chops promised on the back cover, and I’ll definitely be hitting The Poet and Bosch books eventually.
These short-chapter speed reads (especially this one) are always a breather from the pressures of extra long or extra dense book experiences, almost a literary palate cleanser in some funny way. Not always a winner, but you usually avoid the sunk cost fallacy by the time it’s over. And good or bad, it’ll get you ready to jump back in the deep end of Classics and Epics. Best to keep around as many as possible.
I gave this four stars because, while maybe not amazed, there’s nothing I can think to nitpick here, and it did the job I was looking for; a shorter, faster novel to roll through and actually maintain interest in. This is the first I’ve read of Connelly’s, but I was reasonably confident it would fit in that Flynn/Baldacci/Brown/Patterson genre of airport and vacation dramas. That it did.
Pleasantly surprised by the LA Times reporter perspective and the character of McEvoy, which seems to be legit coming from Connelly’s own life, and the riveting, if at times predictable, murderer chase. This guy’s got the mystery chops promised on the back cover, and I’ll definitely be hitting The Poet and Bosch books eventually.
These short-chapter speed reads (especially this one) are always a breather from the pressures of extra long or extra dense book experiences, almost a literary palate cleanser in some funny way. Not always a winner, but you usually avoid the sunk cost fallacy by the time it’s over. And good or bad, it’ll get you ready to jump back in the deep end of Classics and Epics. Best to keep around as many as possible.
Not as engaging as The Poet. Kind of a by-the-numbers Connelly. The tie-ins to other Bosch novels were cheeky.
medium-paced
I've read the entire Harry Bosch series (minus the one published this year) and 1-4 of the Lincoln Lawyer series - which are all in this same universe, and references were made in this book to Mickey Haller and Bosch, but neither by name. I felt a niggling sense of déjà vu throughout this book. Possibly just because I'm pretty sure it was with Bosch that Rachel had the 'single bullet theory' conversation that was referenced, but so many other aspects felt familiar too. Perhaps this case or these people were referenced in a different Bosch book; who knows.
For the most part, this was a pretty fast read. But because I felt like I'd read it before, I don't think I enjoyed this as much had I not felt that way. It also really bothered me that it took them so long to suspect Carver. They made the comment several times that he would have had to be unaware of Stone & McGinnis's business, but never once did they stop to think that he was letting it by because he was involved. It seemed weird to me that there was absolutely zero suspicion cast onto him. The connection between Stone & Carver was never really established either, or if it was it was told in such an insignificant way that it was a detail forgotten, when it was actually a big significant piece of the puzzle.
Not Connelly's best, but still decent.
For the most part, this was a pretty fast read. But because I felt like I'd read it before, I don't think I enjoyed this as much had I not felt that way. It also really bothered me that it took them so long to suspect Carver. They made the comment several times that he would have had to be unaware of Stone & McGinnis's business, but never once did they stop to think that he was letting it by because he was involved. It seemed weird to me that there was absolutely zero suspicion cast onto him. The connection between Stone & Carver was never really established either, or if it was it was told in such an insignificant way that it was a detail forgotten, when it was actually a big significant piece of the puzzle.
Not Connelly's best, but still decent.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I enjoyed the references to my place of residence, Mesa AZ
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Oh, it's Michael Connelly. With a computer-twist! I like Bosch better, but there are similar relationships to authority.
well written and rich LA detail, but violates my rule against books about torturing women.
Disappointing. What happened? Jack is a cliche. Full of pathos and melodrama. Rachel- the same. The killer- no one really cares.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Connelly returns to his reporter character, Jack McAvoy, who has relocated after the events of the Poet to the LA newspaper world, which is locked in competition with true crime blogs and 24 hours news. Attempting to do an expose on the racial and social currents under a lurid murder, Jack realizes that he might be dealing with another serial killer, sending him back to the FBI agent whose career was almost wrecked helping him before, into a world of high tech creep recruitment and onto the radar of a multi-state killer far more able to exploit the cyber availability of data than a reporter or the authorities. It's always fun to see Connelly back in his press roots.