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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Another solid detective story -- author Michael Connelly's 25th book overall, released on the 20th anniversary of his original Bosch vehicle The Black Echo. Befittingly, this volume involves a cold case from two decades prior, of a foreign journalist found murdered in a Los Angeles alleyway during the Rodney King riots, when department resources were stretched thin. The investigation takes some unexpected turns, but it never quite kicks into higher gear as this series can do at its best. The copaganda elements are also a bit blatant this time around, with the protagonist unlawfully detaining a suspect, faking a search warrant, and laughing at a colleague for issuing bogus parking tickets to civilians who annoy him. I don't need fictional officers to always follow proper procedure on everything, but it muddles Harry's passion for justice to show him so blatantly abusing the power of his position this way at the expense of people's rights. What's the takeaway supposed to be here, especially in a novel that consciously evokes a notorious protest against police brutality?
But that's a minor issue, and the plot for the most part is fine, keeping me in suspense as to how exactly the mystery would be solved after so long without any major breaks. This is far from the writer's worst showing; I just know he can do better than this, on pretty much all fronts.
[Content warning for racism, rape, gun violence, and gore.]
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But that's a minor issue, and the plot for the most part is fine, keeping me in suspense as to how exactly the mystery would be solved after so long without any major breaks. This is far from the writer's worst showing; I just know he can do better than this, on pretty much all fronts.
[Content warning for racism, rape, gun violence, and gore.]
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6288479-joe-kessler
--Or click here to browse through all my previous reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
At present, I'm trying to find a crime writer I can "get into", given I've read a good amount of the books written by the crime writers I currently read.
This is the second Harry Bosch book that I've read, and I'm... less than convinced. It stars Bosch as an unsolved murder detective, investigating the murder of a photo-journalist killed during the LA riots 20 years previously, he views the can as "one that got away"). He'd been the original investigator, but had been taken off the investigation, because the department were overwhelmed by events, and he'd been needed elsewhere.
My problem wasn't the set up, which wasn't bad, it was more the conclusion I had issue with. The way he found the murderers made me think "Oh come on, what are the chances of him finding the exact murderers there>", and the way he managed to get a confession made me think "Ummm... no."
This is the second Harry Bosch book that I've read, and I'm... less than convinced. It stars Bosch as an unsolved murder detective, investigating the murder of a photo-journalist killed during the LA riots 20 years previously, he views the can as "one that got away"). He'd been the original investigator, but had been taken off the investigation, because the department were overwhelmed by events, and he'd been needed elsewhere.
My problem wasn't the set up, which wasn't bad, it was more the conclusion I had issue with. The way he found the murderers made me think "Oh come on, what are the chances of him finding the exact murderers there>", and the way he managed to get a confession made me think "Ummm... no."
After the last Harry Bosch book "The Drop" I wasn't sure I would ever pick up another. I wasn't even sure Michael Connelly would write another one, it had seemed that he had developed some sort of antipathy towards his creation. Bosch had become a grumpy old man and I wasn't sure I had any interest in taking another journey with him. But I am glad I did.
With "The Black Box" we get back to the Harry Bosch that we like. The Harry Bosch who is hard nosed and driven who is determined to get justice for the victims no matter the cost. No more is it Harry going solo at the expense of his partner and in the way that makes him seem like he has a superiority complex. Sure most all the book is Harry by himself, but the improved relationship with his partner is much better here, Harry seems like he actually wants to help him, maybe mentor him, not exclude him.
Harry's love life takes a back seat even while at the same time being very central to the plot. And Michael Connelly keeps the best relationship, the most interesting one front and center, Harry's relationship with his daughter. Harry struggles to be a good father while also being a good cop, and spends too much time thinking he is failing at both, when we know his is winning at both.
The novel was great, not the best Bosch book I have ever read, but as fantastic as most of them, Michael Connelly is by far the best crime fiction writer working today and has been for some time, and you should not deprieve yourself of reading his work.
With "The Black Box" we get back to the Harry Bosch that we like. The Harry Bosch who is hard nosed and driven who is determined to get justice for the victims no matter the cost. No more is it Harry going solo at the expense of his partner and in the way that makes him seem like he has a superiority complex. Sure most all the book is Harry by himself, but the improved relationship with his partner is much better here, Harry seems like he actually wants to help him, maybe mentor him, not exclude him.
Harry's love life takes a back seat even while at the same time being very central to the plot. And Michael Connelly keeps the best relationship, the most interesting one front and center, Harry's relationship with his daughter. Harry struggles to be a good father while also being a good cop, and spends too much time thinking he is failing at both, when we know his is winning at both.
The novel was great, not the best Bosch book I have ever read, but as fantastic as most of them, Michael Connelly is by far the best crime fiction writer working today and has been for some time, and you should not deprieve yourself of reading his work.