The Overlook (Harry Bosch) by Michael Connelly
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Book Reviews of The Overlook (Harry Bosch)
Book Review: A great addition to the "Harry Bosch" series!
Summary: 5 Stars
I became a fan of the "Harry Bosch" novels by Michael Connelly late in life. I think it was the movie, Blood Work, starring Clint Eastwood and based on one of Connelly's other books, that caused me to buy The Narrows when it came out in paperback. I read that and found myself immediately hooked on the Bosch character. I've since gone back and purchased the other novels in the series (thirteen in all) and have loved each one of them. The Overlook is the newest one out in paperback and please don't confuse it with the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's greatest horror novel, The Shining. There's no relation between the two.
The story begins with a murder at night on a bluff off of Mulholland Drive, overlooking (hence the title of the book) the city of Los Angeles. The victim, Stanley Kent, was shot twice in the back of the head, and LAPD Homicide Detective Harry Bosch is called out to investigate. Several things then happen in a relatively short period of time. The first is that Harry's ex-lover, FBI agent Rachel Walling, shows up within a few minutes of him getting to the crime scene, and she makes it clear from the start that Kent's death is now a matter of national security and that the FBI is taking over the case. It appears that the victim was a doctor with access to radioactive materials such as cesium, which is used for the treatment of cancer. Kent and his wife, Alicia, had apparently been warned sometime back by Walling and her partner that they could be the focus of Middle Eastern terrorists because of the doctor's ability to get cesium at the local hospitals. The cesium could then be used to create a radioactive bomb. When Harry and Walling visit the Kent's home to break the news to Alicia of her husband's death, they discovered her naked and bound in the master bedroom. It seems that two men with Middle Eastern assents entered the home and tied her up, then called Stanley and told him to steal a supply of cesium, if he didn't want them to kill her. The victim did as required and was then murdered on the bluff. As the FBI pursues the investigation with the belief that terrorists could be planning to set up a bomb in Los Angeles, Bosch refuses to be kept out of the loop and diverts his attention to primarily solving the murder. It's his belief that either all count, or no one counts, and he won't allow the death of Stanley Kent to fade into the background of the bigger picture.
The Overlook was originally published as a serial in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and then as a hardcover and now as a paperback. The book is shorter than the others in the series and that certainly makes for a faster pace. In fact, I read this in just two days. I quickly got caught up in the murder investigation, Bosch's newest partner, Ignacio "Iggy" Ferras, who seems to fight his mentor every step of the way with how he chooses to do things, the tension between Bosch and his former lover, Agent Wallings, the struggle between the LAPD and the FBI, and the question of whether or not the death of one person should be forgotten in order to stop the possible deaths of thousands. Connelly has definitely created one of the finest characters of police procedurals during the last half of this century. Harry Bosch is the kind of guy you want covering your back when you go through the front door of a dangerous situation. And, if you go down the hard way, Bosch will make sure that justice is delivered one way or another, no matter what the rules are. I have to also state that the author captures the beauty and desolation of Los Angeles in ways that stay with you long after the novel is finished. On one side of the coin, it's a place where dreams can come true, while on the other side it's a city filled with crime and death and people who will do whatever it takes to get what they want, no matter how many individuals are hurt in the process.
In terms of how good a novel The Overlook is, I would rate it in the top five of the "Harry Bosch" novels. I definitely enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading the series.
Book Review: Harry Bosch is a relentless bulldog
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a big fan of Michael Connelly's novels and do believe I've read all the Harry Bosch thrillers. The phone rings at midnight. Harry is awake. He's waiting. I like way Connelly puts us on the case immediately. Not a lot of messing around. The writing is bare bones, spare, with no unnecessary scenery or dialog. As a reader I get the feeling that Connelly knows the ins and outs of the LAPD. He's got the Police Procedural down. He's the best at that, but what I really love is the writer's characterization.
When a murder comes in with any sort of political, celebrity or media attachment, a case that is particularly time consuming and threatens to stay active like a hobby, the precinct will take it initially, but it will be soon shuttled over to Homicide Special. This is Harry's first call out since his transfer from Cold Cases to his new outfit, Homicide Special. This one is anything but routine, and contains a threat to National Security and so has attracted the FBI, and who should be the agent but his old flame, Rachel Walling (Echo Park) who tries to take over his case. Is Bosch going to let that happen? What do you think?
"The Overlook" while more compact than other Connelly novels, still has that Harry Bosch, nothing-but-the-truth attitude, that don't-bother-me-with-that-supervision crap, that we love from our guy. Harry Bosch is a relentless bulldog, and even though we are screaming at the page, "No, Harry, play by the rules this time!" Harry will always be Harry. Meet his new partner/mentee Ignacio Ferras who tries in vain to keep the 30-year veteran of the department from recklessly taking them both down. By now, with a dozen Harry Bosch novels under my belt, I realize that my boy is going to pull it off. Somehow.
"The Overlook" has all the direction/misdirection, the red herrings, all the elements needed to keep us guessing. This one is particular good on that count, so when Harry's at the scene and gets that instinctual feeling that he's missing something, you better believe that what he has missed, he will eventually be figured out, and it'll come back later and clear itself up.
A great read. Highly recommended.
Book Review: The Overlook-Michael Connelly
Summary: 5 Stars
"The music helped Bosch smooth out his thoughts. He realized the case was shifting. The feds, at least, were chasing the missing cesium instead of the killers. There was a subtle difference there that Bosch thought was important. He knew that he needed to keep his focus on the overlook and not lose sight at any time of the fact that this was a murder investigation."
The Overlook, by Michael Connelly, is a mystery/ thriller novel that tells the story of a homicidal detective in L.A named Harry Bosch. Bosch is challenged with a case where physicist, Stanley Kent is murdered at Mulholland Drive, near the overlook. Harry comes to realize that the killer intends to obtain cesium, a radioactive nuclear material, from this physicist, in order to scheme some sort of plot. According to Kent's wife, who seemed strangely suspicious, the men seemed to be speaking some sort of Arabic language she couldn't comprehend. Bosch clashes heads with LAPD and the FBI, seeing this case as a possible "terrorist threat." Bosch also happens to team-up with former-lover Rachel Walling, to capture the alleged terrorist/killer whom could reap havoc among many cities in the United States with nuclear material he possesses.
This review is from: The Overlook (Paperback) If you are one of those people who like to read novels about enticing mystery murder cases, this book is for you. This book is one of Connelly's less complex novels, but interests the reader more than the others due to its intriguing plot and unique reason for one's murder. I really enjoyed this conspiracy-driven book and was disappointed when it came to the end. This book is very similar to Connelly's other novels in the way that they are based around murders, but one key difference unseen in every book but The Overlook, was the way that Bosch can show much composure, making the case seem deceptively easy. If you want a fairly short, attention-grabbing novel, The Overlook, is just right for you! I would give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars. -Drew Schneider (Langley High School)
The Overlook (Harry Bosch)
Book Review: A Great Overlook!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This current Harry Bosch offering by Michael Connelly is just as exciting as all his other Harry Bosch offerings. Michael is an expert in writing detective novels, as he was a Crime Reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Harry is a Detective for the Hollywood Special Homicide Division and his first case from being transferred from the Cold Case Unit, has him finding a body on the Overlook over Hollywood. With his young partner, Iggy, they, along with the FBI, attempt to track down the murderer of a Phycisist working with Cesium, a radioactive isotope used for treating ovarian -uteran Cancer. Along with murder, Harry is thwarted by the FBI, who wants Harry out of the loop, since a heist of this isotope by known terrorists makes this a National Security issue. With a few plot twists and turns, this makes for an outstanding who-donut. If you can handle the few bad words, this is a great novel. Since I was born and raised close to LA, there are places very familiar to me. If you want to learn more about how Homicide works and all the politics between the divisions and between the locals and the Feds, you'll enjoy this offering and the rest of the Harry Bosch books. Michael's new one with Harry comes out in a few days. I highly recommend this page-turner, as it takes you straight to the last page to resolve the case.
Book Review: Short, but very sweet thriller!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the 13th in Connelly's Harry Bosch Series and the quality has not wavered. This time out past lover Special agent Rachel Walling is back in Harry's life, and Bosch also has to break in a new partner a character by the name of Iggy Ferras. Physicist Stanley Kent has been murdered at a Mulholland Drive lookout. It is a professional hit. Then Walling arrives on the scene to try and take the case from Bosch in the name of national security, sparks fly! Kent worked at a hospital where some radioactive material has been stolen. She won't share and either will Harry! This is a fun fast read, my one complaint is that it is a very short book, and it ended way too fast. What is there though is excellent! A complex look at threats to National security and how we as a nation must deal with them, all wrapped up in a great suspense story!