Michael Connelly
Little, Brown and Company
November 1st, 2016
Det. Harry Bosch and retirement just aren’t two things that will ever go together. Since Harry’s been fighting his forced retirement from the LAPD, he’s been persona non grata in LA law enforcement circles. He’s been taking some cases as a private investigator, and volunteering as a reserve officer/Detective for the cash strapped San Fernando police department.
Harry gets an unusual case as a P.I. when an elderly billionaire approaches him asking to find someone he’s not even sure exists–a child he left behind in his youth, when an indiscretion with a young woman left her pregnant and his father threatening to send him away. He has no other heirs, and he knows he’s not got too much longer left. He cautions Bosch to be extremely secretive and careful–if the board of his company finds out, they may go to any lengths to make sure the heir is never found. Billions are at stake.
Meanwhile, Bosch strikes paydirt on a lead with a case he’s been working for SFPD, on a home invasion rapist they’ve dubbed the Screen Cutter, as the perpetrator enters homes by cutting the screens of open windows.
This is the 21st Bosch book. This series has been around a very long time. As with most of the Bosch novels, you can jump in like it’s a standalone and not be too terribly lost, but you may be missing a lot of the finer points of the character’s history. Bosch is one of my favorite characters; with a 21 novel run, there’s been so much history this character has been through. He’s an interesting guy–with flaws, certainly, but has a strong sense of justice and a stubborn tenacity for ferreting out the smallest details. Connelly’s background in crime journalism shines through in every novel, and his wealth of experience has gifted us with characters we love getting to know, and stories that always feel satisfying. He’s an author I can always rely on to write something I can enjoy every time I pick up one of his books. Always an insta-buy.
The Bosch books have also crossed over into TV, with Amazon’s series Bosch, which is filming it’s 3rd season. It stars Titus Welliver as Bosch, and Welliver will also be narrating the audiobook for The Wrong Side of Goodbye.
JL Jamieson is a strange book nerd who writes technical documents by day, and book news, reviews, and other assorted opinions for you by night. She is working on her own fiction, and spends time making jewelry to sell at local conventions, as well as stalking the social media accounts of all your favorite writers.