The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
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Book Reviews of The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch)
Book Review: "It's him, he thought. It's him."
Summary: 5 Stars
Connelly's previous books were of the kind that is hard to put down, but this novel is even better. The author delivers a work that combines an in-depth look at the main character, with an investigation and a trial with many clever twists. At this point I am definitely a fan of the series, and something really odd will have to happen in the future to change this fact.
The novel starts with a bang, narrating the events of four years ago, in which Harry Bosch killed a man accused of being a serial killer, known as the Dollmaker. In the present time, the wife of the supposed killer is suing Bosch and the department for wrongful dead. When the detective gets a letter that resembles the ones the Dollmaker used to send and another body surfaces, matters become quite complicated. Did Harry Bosch kill the right man? Is the killer still at large or are the current events the work of a copy cat?
One of the main things that Connelly excels at in this book is in introducing some well-crafted characters, in particular the attorney for the plaintiff. This woman is so ruthless and cut-throat that there are times at which I felt like ripping the pages of the book just to get to her! Another very interesting element that the author introduced is a romantic relationship that started in the previous installment, as a casual one, and that now is taking a whole different color. This adds variety to the story and helps give the character of Bosch an additional dimension that makes him more real to the reader. This third novel in the series is a clear winner; I hope the quality stays at this high a level.
Book Review: One of the best
Summary: 5 Stars
The third in the Harry Bosch series is one of the best of the entire thirteen currently available (yes, I've read them all). This entry has everything. Hard boiled Harry is the defendant in a civil trial, the plaintiff the widow of a suspected serial killer, "The Dollmaker", whom Harry shot to death four years ago. The plaintiff's attorney is a star, Honey "Money" Chandler, whose trial record is legendary and who is characterizing Harry as a coldblooded rogue cop. Harry is stuck with the unimaginative LA hack provided by the city. Just as the trial begins, a note appears in the police station taunting him with the claim that The Dollmaker is alive and well, and to prove it, provides directions to the grave of one of his victims.
The harrowing trial itself, along with Harry's attempts to discover the truth - did he shoot the wrong man? - form the plot of this novel, which is tautly organized and full of mis-steps and surprises. Harry's colleagues come under suspicion, and it's likely that someone within the department is acting as a snitch. One of the most suspenseful sequences in the book is the account of an illegal search that he conducts in a suspect's home. Another is the lengthy passage when he fears that his lady friend, whom he is coming to love, has been targeted by the psycho. The outcomes of both trial and investigation are truly unforeseen.
Michael Connelly is a master of the genre, and The Concrete Blonde shows what he can do. Highly recommended.
Book Review: First, it was robbery. Then, it was drugs. What we have here now is prostitution.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Black Echo, the first in the Bosch series, was the first time that I have ever read something by Michael Connelly. It was good, but it wasn't very great. The sequel, named The Black Ice, was a bit better, but was still lacking something. Then comes The Concrete Blonde, and I will say that it's much better than the first two. Here, Detective Harry Bosch is in court and is being sued by the widow of a supposed killer named the Dollmaker (because of the way he paints his victims' faces). She believes that her late husband was innocent the entire time, and that Bosch had set him up in order to close the case. And what's worse is that a corpse buried in concrete (hence the name "Concrete Blonde") has just been found, and the Dollmaker's trademark is found on the body. This leads Bosch to grow skeptical whether of not he may have killed the wrong man.
This is a well-crafted, sharply written, and cleverly structured crime thriller that crawls into your skin and just wants to stay in there. This is both a solid detective thriller and a courtroom drama, a perfect blend of tension and humor. The adult content is strong as always, so this is not for those who can't handle the issues of murder and prostitution. The climax may not be very enticing, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of this book. I had an excellent time reading The Concrete Blonde, and I hope that the next installment, The Last Coyote, is just as great.
Grade: A
Book Review: A solid read!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been working my way through the Bosch series that Connelly has written and this, the third book in the series, was by far the best. There is no room for blonde jokes or getting ones feet stuck in concrete as this is one novel whose pace is steady and is never at any point dumbed down for the reader.
Finally in this novel we get to see Harry in a more intimate light. He's still having major trust issues with his job, he is in a relationship he wants to make work, all while being in court for a reckless kill. Did he shoot the wrong man? Would he do it again? His life is in the hands of other people for the most part... except that's never the case with Mr Bosch. He's not one to sit by and let life float away.
New kills, tackling lawyers, trying to make a relationship work, whose the inside rat... not to mention he's been called in, in secret no less, to help track down this copycat. Or is it a copycat? Did he make a mistake?
No spoilers from this review!
The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch) was a book you could submerge yourself into. I'm looking forward to book four and hope the pace continues! I highly recommend this book. Best in the series so far!
Book Review: A slick thriller. Bosch has always been on his game.
Summary: 5 Stars
Michael Connelly has written a lot of Bosch novels, and Concrete Blonde is one of the earliest. For a novel written in 1994, it is still every bit as good as the more recent Connelly novels. In THE CONCRETE BLONDE, Bosch is on trial for killing Norman Church four years ago. The police, press and Bosch believe Church was a serial killer known as the Dollmaker. His widow is suing Bosch for using improper force in killing her husband. As the trial begins, Bosch receives a note identical to the ones the Dollmaker used to right. The note led them to another victim. The victim was killed in the exact manner as the Dollmaker's victims. Bosch is stunned. The Dollmaker was killed four years ago. Who could be sending the note?
Bosch quickly develops a theory and a task force is developed to find what the police believe is a copycat killer. Much of the novel revolves around the trial, and the rest follows Bosch as he tries to formulate leads on new suspects.
I loved this novel because it is as good as anything new I've read. Connelly has been good from day one. In THE CONCRETE BLOND, Bosch struggles to keep the relationship with his girlfriend going, and encounters some of the most tormented, demented suspects yet. This is a must read for Bosch fans.