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andrew65's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
I'm very much enjoying this series, but I do wish (and so does his therapist!) that Bosch were less angry, hot-headed, etc. I'm sure it adds drama ... how much of a novel would we get if the hero were a nice quiet person who didn't like to trouble people? But it's so over-the-top that it's almost cartoonish, to my mind. I wouldn't want to ask him "any cream or sugar?" for fear that he'd lash out at me. I'm sure the author knows this, which makes it bearable (unlike with Patrica Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series, where the main character was Awful, but the author thought she was Terrific).
This is the novel where Bosch is on leave for being too angry and hot-headed, and decides to investigate his Mother's murder on the sly, in case I forget (it's so easy for books in series to slide into one another, and the title doesn't help. If it were "Who Killed My Mother?" I'd remember for sure).
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
This is the novel where Bosch is on leave for being too angry and hot-headed, and decides to investigate his Mother's murder on the sly, in case I forget (it's so easy for books in series to slide into one another, and the title doesn't help. If it were "Who Killed My Mother?" I'd remember for sure).
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
cnorbury's review against another edition
5.0
One of Connelly's better efforts. It's hard not to like Harry Bosch even though he's a bit of an antihero who doesn't play by the rules of law enforcement and couldn't care less about stepping on toes whether it's his peers or his bosses. His singular focus can be summed up in the catchphrase he uses: "Everbody counts or nobody counts."
This story is particularly good because Bosch is looking for something to do while on suspension for beating up his superior, Lt. Pounds, and he picks up a cold case file that happens to be his mother's murder. It had been ignored for some 30 years and even Bosch regrets not re-opening the case himself. So the outcome is as personal as can be, which means the stakes are higher than normal.
The plot thickens when bodies start piling up soon after Bosch starts investigating--an obvious coverup attempt. It twists and turns as we first suspect one person, then another, then reverse and consider someone else. Connelly's outlining of police procedure (by the book or not in some cases when Bosch gets on a roll) is quite believable and shows he did his research.
One subplot ties into real life--the destructive earthquake in southern California in the mid-90s (Northridge?) that literally shook Bosch's house so much as to make it unlivable--but he lives there anyway, sneaking around behind the city inspector's back.
His counseling sessions with the police psychologist, Dr. Hinojos, are interesting and reveal more of Bosch's personality than we normally get in the books.
Finally, there's a great twist that I should have seen coming but didn't because I was so focused on what I thought was the typical cover-up of the murder by the rich and powerful for political and financial gains.
Highly recommended if you're a Bosch fan. However, if you're new to the series, I'd read some of the earlier books first.
This story is particularly good because Bosch is looking for something to do while on suspension for beating up his superior, Lt. Pounds, and he picks up a cold case file that happens to be his mother's murder. It had been ignored for some 30 years and even Bosch regrets not re-opening the case himself. So the outcome is as personal as can be, which means the stakes are higher than normal.
The plot thickens when bodies start piling up soon after Bosch starts investigating--an obvious coverup attempt. It twists and turns as we first suspect one person, then another, then reverse and consider someone else. Connelly's outlining of police procedure (by the book or not in some cases when Bosch gets on a roll) is quite believable and shows he did his research.
One subplot ties into real life--the destructive earthquake in southern California in the mid-90s (Northridge?) that literally shook Bosch's house so much as to make it unlivable--but he lives there anyway, sneaking around behind the city inspector's back.
His counseling sessions with the police psychologist, Dr. Hinojos, are interesting and reveal more of Bosch's personality than we normally get in the books.
Finally, there's a great twist that I should have seen coming but didn't because I was so focused on what I thought was the typical cover-up of the murder by the rich and powerful for political and financial gains.
Highly recommended if you're a Bosch fan. However, if you're new to the series, I'd read some of the earlier books first.
josej589's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jecamp86's review against another edition
4.0
This one started a little slower and the story was certainly different than previous novels. It ultimately solves a crime we’ve longed to see finished and there are many twists and turns to get to that point.
tawallah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
Fourth in the harry bosch series finds our hero suspended from duty having attacked his immediate boss and forced to go to psychotherapy. He decides to investigate a historical crime very personal to him which unearths some skeletons that some powerful people want buried. A great character and a well plotted and tight storyline. Definitely a go to character who I really enjoy.
princessdeleon's review
4.0
For the first time in 4 books, harry gets to be happy at the end.... kinda