Scan barcode
bobf2d33's review against another edition
5.0
Connelly is a very good, popular mystery writer. I read all his books
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
I said in an earlier review of a book in this series that I didn't have a
clear-cut favorite. I do now-so far, at least.
This book doesn't have any science fiction elements in it-no time machines,
no collisions between the future and the past, and yet there's something of
time travel here, and Connelly so vividly brings the past together with the
present that the end result is garish colors and clashing cymbals.
It's getting a bit tiresome and formulaic, but once again poor Harry Bosch
is in trouble with his department. He's the lone wolf-the guy who can live
and work within the parameters of society, but his heart is in a solitary
secret place.
He has been suspended for punching out his superior, and now Harry has a lot
of time on his hands and repeated obligations to talk to the psychiatrist
the department has hired to let it know when he can return to work without
harming others. Naturally, she's having a hard time of it though. Harry
isn't exactly loquacious, and there are so many rips and tears in the fabric
of his life that he's not sure how to fit into a world that doesn't always
make sense to him.
His house has been condemned as a result of earthquake damage, and perhaps
it's that sense of loss of home and hearth that brings him around to
investigating the brutal murder of his prostitute mother. She died in 1961,
but rather than bang into brick walled secrets harbored by the dead who once
worked her case but obviously no longer can, Harry soon learns that murder's
passion extends far beyond any man-made statute of limitations. While some
of the principal characters in the early investigation are indeed dead,
those who are not are extremely uncomfortable with Harry's determination to
resurrect the old case. The psychiatrist has her reservations, too, as you
might expect, and so does Bosch, for that matter. As he forges backward
into his past, he presses onward toward a dark and violent future that will
include death, violence, and even more mystery. The truth, when it is
revealed to you, will be logical but surprising and unsettling.
clear-cut favorite. I do now-so far, at least.
This book doesn't have any science fiction elements in it-no time machines,
no collisions between the future and the past, and yet there's something of
time travel here, and Connelly so vividly brings the past together with the
present that the end result is garish colors and clashing cymbals.
It's getting a bit tiresome and formulaic, but once again poor Harry Bosch
is in trouble with his department. He's the lone wolf-the guy who can live
and work within the parameters of society, but his heart is in a solitary
secret place.
He has been suspended for punching out his superior, and now Harry has a lot
of time on his hands and repeated obligations to talk to the psychiatrist
the department has hired to let it know when he can return to work without
harming others. Naturally, she's having a hard time of it though. Harry
isn't exactly loquacious, and there are so many rips and tears in the fabric
of his life that he's not sure how to fit into a world that doesn't always
make sense to him.
His house has been condemned as a result of earthquake damage, and perhaps
it's that sense of loss of home and hearth that brings him around to
investigating the brutal murder of his prostitute mother. She died in 1961,
but rather than bang into brick walled secrets harbored by the dead who once
worked her case but obviously no longer can, Harry soon learns that murder's
passion extends far beyond any man-made statute of limitations. While some
of the principal characters in the early investigation are indeed dead,
those who are not are extremely uncomfortable with Harry's determination to
resurrect the old case. The psychiatrist has her reservations, too, as you
might expect, and so does Bosch, for that matter. As he forges backward
into his past, he presses onward toward a dark and violent future that will
include death, violence, and even more mystery. The truth, when it is
revealed to you, will be logical but surprising and unsettling.
verbatim1512's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
imperfectcj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Hmm...I didn't like this one as much. It feels labored and with too many twists and close calls and subplots. I think I'll go with The Poet next and take a little Bosch break (but not a Connelly break).
brakian's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely best one in the series (so far :-) Dark, introspective - and tells us quite a bit about the kind of person Bosch is. Getting the character's background via a therapy session is a bit of a cliche, but Connelly really makes it work.
haustetter's review against another edition
5.0
Really developed more of the Bosch character in this book.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Great story telling, drags you into the plot immediately with quite a few twists and turns along the way.
Harry is a tortured soul, a decent man who resorts to subterfuge and obnoxiou rough behaviour to hide his true self quite often
Harry is a tortured soul, a decent man who resorts to subterfuge and obnoxiou rough behaviour to hide his true self quite often
srchief's review against another edition
5.0
Harry Bosch has always wondered about his mother's murder. It is one of the things that drives him. In The Last Coyote, Harry will find out the true story, no matter the cost. While he is on paid stress leave, he begins to investigate what happened 35 years ago. He quickly learns that there's a lot more to the case. Harry also quickly discovers that there are a lot of powerful people involved. But in typical Bosch fashion, he pushes for answers and justice.
This is a story that not only helps the fans to get a better handle on Bosch the individual. The Bosch series is wonderful and this story only increases the richness of the main character. Highly recommended to all mystery/thriller fans.
This is a story that not only helps the fans to get a better handle on Bosch the individual. The Bosch series is wonderful and this story only increases the richness of the main character. Highly recommended to all mystery/thriller fans.
susanj_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
zzzrevel's review against another edition
4.0
This was a re-read.
Well, I started out a bit disappointed
because it seemed like this one was basically just an
investigation to gather evidence over some bad guys
that I was sure were guilty. And a good portion of
the novel did proceed that way. But never under-
estimate this author. He pulled out a pretty good
twist (or two actually) that really made this really
slick. And to top it off this was the story of Harry's
mother's murder. It was nice for him (and me the
Reader!) to get closure on that.
Recommended.
Well, I started out a bit disappointed
because it seemed like this one was basically just an
investigation to gather evidence over some bad guys
that I was sure were guilty. And a good portion of
the novel did proceed that way. But never under-
estimate this author. He pulled out a pretty good
twist (or two actually) that really made this really
slick. And to top it off this was the story of Harry's
mother's murder. It was nice for him (and me the
Reader!) to get closure on that.
Recommended.