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A review by laurenjodi
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
5.0
The Concrete Blond
5 Stars
Detective Harry Bosch gained national fame when he shot and killed a serial killer known as The Dollmaker. Now Harry is being sued by the killer’s family for wrongful death and their case is being bolstered by the appearance of a new victim bearing all of the marks of the Dollmaker’s macabre signature. Did Harry make a mistake or is their a copycat on the loose?
The serial killer plot alongside the court room scenes make for a gripping and balanced mix of police procedural and legal thriller. The investigation is compelling with several red herrings to lead the reader astray. The final showdown with the actual killer is intense although his identity and motivation do feel contrived.
As with the previous books, Harry’s characterization is a highlight as more of his past is revealed. The developments in his relationships with Irving and Edgar are intriguing although the romance is rather weak mainly due to Sylvia’s contradictory attitude and behavior. It appears that Harry and Sylvia’s relationship is not actually going anywhere.
Connelly’s writing has improved with each successive installment. The action scenes are tighter although he still has the same difficulty that many male authors of thrillers encounter - they know how to write suspense and action, but struggle with expressing the more intimate and romantic emotions.
In sum, this is the best book in the series so far and I look forward to finding out what happens next with Harry and company.
5 Stars
Detective Harry Bosch gained national fame when he shot and killed a serial killer known as The Dollmaker. Now Harry is being sued by the killer’s family for wrongful death and their case is being bolstered by the appearance of a new victim bearing all of the marks of the Dollmaker’s macabre signature. Did Harry make a mistake or is their a copycat on the loose?
The serial killer plot alongside the court room scenes make for a gripping and balanced mix of police procedural and legal thriller. The investigation is compelling with several red herrings to lead the reader astray. The final showdown with the actual killer is intense although his identity and motivation do feel contrived.
As with the previous books, Harry’s characterization is a highlight as more of his past is revealed. The developments in his relationships with Irving and Edgar are intriguing although the romance is rather weak mainly due to Sylvia’s contradictory attitude and behavior. It appears that Harry and Sylvia’s relationship is not actually going anywhere.
Connelly’s writing has improved with each successive installment. The action scenes are tighter although he still has the same difficulty that many male authors of thrillers encounter - they know how to write suspense and action, but struggle with expressing the more intimate and romantic emotions.
In sum, this is the best book in the series so far and I look forward to finding out what happens next with Harry and company.