Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Harry Bosch, who's been given three years until he must retire, is yet again deep in high jingo, the LAPD's special version of power politics, in which a combination of cover-up, corruption, and the good of the department gets in the way of justice. This time, the jingo is tied to the apparent suicide of George Irving, son of Bosch's longtime nemesis, former cop Irvin Irving, now a city councilman. Why does Irving handpick his enemy, Bosch, to take the case? The ploys and counterploys run deep as Bosch works the suicide while simultaneously following up on a 1989 rape and murder. As that trail seems to be leading to a serial killer, Bosch finds he's setting himself up to face double jeopardy: break both cases, and invite departmental crossfire. Readers love to root for the antiestablishment, bureaucrat-hating Bosch there's some high jingo in every office, after all but where Connelly really excels is at giving us both sides of the equation. Does Harry's complete unwillingness to bend cause more harm than it saves? Connelly makes us think about that, even though we'd much rather celebrate Harry's never-give-an-inch approach to life. Crime fiction with a dose of the ambiguity-sodden real world. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Connelly's Mickey Haller novels have consistently topped best-seller lists, but the author's longtime devotees love Harry Bosch above all. A new Bosch novel is always headline news, and Connelly's publisher will be spreading the world in print and online (don't forget to download the new Michael Connelly app!).--Ott, Bill Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Edgar-winner Connelly's compulsively readable and deeply satisfying 17th Harry Bosch novel (after 2010's The Reversal), Harry, still a member of the LAPD's "Open-Unsolved Unit," pursues two investigations. A recently unearthed DNA hit connects the 1989 murder of a young woman with Clayton Pell, a convicted sexual predator. But Pell couldn't have committed the crime because he was eight years old at the time. Meanwhile, Irv Irving, a city councilman and LAPD nemesis, wants Harry to look into the apparent suicide of his 46-year-old son, George, a well-connected lobbyist. The case smacks of politics ("high jingo," Harry calls it), but he and partner David Chu do a by-the-book investigation to determine whether George fell from the seventh floor of the Chateau Marmont or was pushed. All of Connelly's considerable strengths are on display: the keen eye for detail and police procedure, lots of local L.A. color, clever plotting, and-most important-the vibrant presence of Harry Bosch. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
In Connelly's 17th Harry Bosch procedural, the Los Angeles police detective has been placed on the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). Although facing retirement in three years, Bosch seeks challenging cases to test his mental, physical, and moral strength. Good for Harry, he gets two: the DNA match of an eight-year-old boy associated with the rape of a teenage girl in 1989 and the surprising death of a city councilman's son, who was pushed or had fallen from a hotel window. Connelly tightly twists the two cases with conflicting power grabs, plausible procedural barriers, and unexpected snafus to support his credible plot. Furthering his noble cause to root out evil, Bosch exhibits an unshakable and highly respected integrity that will not be swayed from the truth. Verdict If Connelly's engaging plot doesn't hit you between the eyes, Bosch's insights and integrity will. Mystery fans as well as general readers will appreciate this engrossing novel. Order multiple copies. [See Prepub Alert, 5/16/11.]-Jerry Miller, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
9 Dragons (2009).]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
