A rich top notch gripping thriller, this book is the ideal company for courtroom action and true crime mistery lovers looking for a good read. This my third Connelly book after The Black Echo and The Black Ice, (I recommend to read them in this order) and Mr Connelly, has again as in the others, developed his unique skills too create fast paced action packed suspense and to easily manipulate the reader the way he wants providing also a thorough knowledge of the setting, the city of LA with its dregs. At the same time that Harry Bosch is on trial for pulling the trigger "too quick", he gets in his crosshairs several suspects to investigate (one at a time), and that brings along excellent opportunities to unfold the outstanding suspense when he follows them, in addition the trial provides further entertainment, great court action, and more positive confusion. Unfortunately, I can see some flaws; the suspects are investigated for reasons not too clear, (looks like if you are close to Harry he will investigate you), on top of that our hero makes it again catching the bad guy employing his great proficiency and brainy capacity, but this time he gets too much help of "his father" Mr. Connelly who turns around all the events for Harry Bosch the easy way with the typical ending. Why that easy Mr.Connelly?, you are an excellent writer, the ending is not your trademark "master twist" style

Having read (and liked) Mr. Connelly's "The Poet", I picked up this book (number 3 in the Harry Bosch series) and couldn't put it down once I started. I will now start reading the remaining five Harry Bosch novels in chronological order because "The Concrete Blonde" was that good.

Harry Bosch is a tough and extremely credible character, the book itself is an exciting read and very well written. I especially liked the fact that it kept you guessing right to the end, providing the reader (and Harry Bosch) with a lot of false tracks to explore. If you like John Sandford's Minneapolis-based "Prey" series, you can't go wrong with Michael Connelly.

First, before I begin reviewing THE CONCRETE BLOND, how easy is it to buy a book when upon opening it for a cursory scan, you see the main character's name is Hieronymous? It was a must read as I ... nearly laughed out loud! Seriously, this was the first Michael Connelly offering I've read and I was thrilled to find the brashness of Spillane and the heady detail of Grisham. Don't misunderstand, I believe the quality of Connelly's writing to be much more elegant than Spillane's and perhaps more exciting than Grisham's (certainly his latest works) but there are some attributes of those authors seeping into Mr. Connelly's grey matter. Regardless, Mr. Connelly's writing is not one dimensional.

The reader is introduced to Hieronymous ... "Harry" Bosch, a tough, hardened LA detective loathing authority with a seemingly unpenetrable psyche. (Note: My reference to Spillane above was in comparison of his Mike Hammer character to Bosch; definitely some similarities.) As the story opens, the reader is thrown back four years as Harry bursts into an isolated apartment to ostensibly arrest a notorious serial killer known as the 'Dollmaker.' As Harry enters, he is confronted with a naked man, totally devoid of hair. Harry orders him to "freeze" when the man reaches for something under his pillow. Harry fires and the man crumples on the bed, dead. As Harry looks under the pillow for the gun, he discovers that the man's weapon of choice wasn't a gun rather, it was a toupee. Harry's tail is eventually bailed out after he and the forensics team discover enough evidence to tie the hairless man to the 'Dollmaker' murders.

Fast forward four years.....Harry is heading to court as his 'Dollmaker' killing has provided the fodder for a lawsuit by the "victim's" family. The charge? Excessive force. To make matters worse, the family has hired Honey "Money" Chandler, a trial-hardened civil rights attorney known for her ability to procure 'money' from whomever she sues. Bosch seems to be perfect prey for her.

As the trial opens, Bosch is called by his current lieutenant to a crime scene. A tip, in the form of an anonymous note, was left in the squad room by an unknown person. The note indicated that the 'Dollmaker' had not been caught and to punctuate the point, the note provides directions to a body proving his claim. As Harry arrives, a demolition crew is removing slabs of concrete from a dilapidated building destroyed in the LA riots. Soon and much to Harry's dismay, a body is discovered (a blond woman buried in concrete, in case you were wondering) who ultimately died under the same "M.O." as that used by the 'Dollmaker.' Harry is freaked. Had he killed the wrong man? Was the nefarious 'Dollmaker' still on the streets? Or is this a copycat trying to pull his chain? Regardless the answer, Harry decides he will find out, trial or no trial.

The ride Connelly takes the reader on is fabulous. Mind-bending, severe twists. Just when I thought I had it nailed, Connelly would throw another curve. There are so many possible suspects here AND, the reader must determine if, in fact, there is a copycat and who or if the real 'Dollmaker' remains. This is a mystery easily worth 5 stars. I don't often give 5 stars but I was happy to do so here. As proof, I've purchased 4 other Connelly offerings to further my enjoyment, THE LAST COYOTE, TRUNK MUSIC, ANGEL'S FLIGHT, and CITY OF BONES. I look forward to getting to know Hieronymous Bosch much better.

I bought this book while in Boston and was eager to read it as I was unable to remember much of the course. Marathons kill brain cell, I guess. In the early chapters the author tells how he didn't qualify, but intended to run anyway. I could not keep this detail out of my mind. Part of the "Boston Experience" is qualifying. The book gives lots of information of the towns and neighborhoods along the course which is great. Skip the author's acount of his run. It upset me, since I worked and sweat to qualify for Boston. The guy wrote a book that is easy to read, but he never qualified or experienced the real Boston. Skip this book unless you can't find anything else.

I read this book as someone looking forward to doing his first Boston Marathon (20th overall) next April. I can't imagine a better introduction to subject. It is rich in history, anecdote and illustration. And its mile by mile "feel" for the course brings the event alive. I suspect it is the closest thing to a definitive book on the subject. But particularly I want to address the criticism (in one of these reviews) that it is written by a participant who didn't qualify for the event -- i.e., a "bandit." I agree (with the critic) that achieving a qualifying time is an important part of the experience. Doing a 3:42 marathon in Portland (Ore.), after my most diligent training ever, brought me my greatest thrill as a runner (at age 65!). But as a first-time marathoner, Michael Connelly conveys a delightful naivete and sense of wonder that by definition a "qualifying" marathoner couldn't. I found myself particularly looking forward to the italicized paragraphs begun with his initials "MPC:". Secondly, whether the Boston Athletic Association or any of the official runners likes it or not, "bandits" constitute a regular part of the landscape. It seems significant that the BAA, on the book's jacket, offers an endorsement of "26 Miles to Boston." One more thought: Three-time winner Uta Pippig of Germany, quoted throughout, comes across as such a classy, wonderful athlete and human being that her spirit ought to be bottled.

For a person who isn't into sports, I found this book delightful, very easy to read and quite educational. Mike Connelly is very witty and his descriptions of his experience make you feel like giving it a try

After reading the black echo, I found the black ice a more consistent story, far more interesting and credible. This time Harry is driven down to the US- Mexican border in his quest to solve a drug related crime of an anti-narcotics unit cop who apparently crossed to the bad side of the line. Harry, stubborn, bright and cunning makes his own decisions, shows a little quota of contempt and rebels himself against his bosses making him an example of self determination and a character of his own.

In my opinion, this work would have been a little bit better if in some chapters action were slowed down in exchange for more suspense, adding bogus elements, scary episodes and false clues to confuse and frighten the reader moving him down to the edge of his chair, Nevertheless, the book is compelling, original, very graphic, entertaining and though keeping on a main line of investigation all the way along, ends with a master twist (the best) that almost knocked me off my own chair showing the top quality of Mr. Connelly as a crime writer

I can't get enough of Michael Connelley. I was introduced to him in 'Void Moon' and I haven't been disappointed yet! 'The Black Ice' introduces the reader back to Harry Bosch who is investigating the apparent suicide of an anti-narcotics cop. But, as usual, things are not always as they seem in Boschs' world and soon is in Mexico, looking for answers that involves drugs and a body count.

Bosch is a superb character and Connelly is sensational at developing him and making a brilliant story to go along with it. The reason that I love picking up anything that Connelly has written is that everything he writes is different and extremely entertaining and that is what keeps me coming back for more!

If you are sick of the usual 'whodunit's and want thrillers with a twist or few, then pick up The Black Ice or Void Moon, you won't be disappointed!

Michael Connelly's books are definitively within the "hard-boiled urban detective" genre that historically has been highlighted by the work of Raymond Chandler and other great mystery writers. *The Black Ice* is the second in a series of novels with LAPD detective Hieronymous Bosch as the protagonist (the first was *The Black Echo*), and it's definitely a winner. There's murder, intrigue, twists and turns in the plot, and plenty of action, as well.

One thing that Connelly does particularly well is to include geographical/place descriptions in his work. When one reads his descriptions of life in Los Angeles or travels to a bordertown like Mexicali, these places really do seem real and are accurately depicted.

The book is not perfect; as in so many police mysteries, sometimes the clues come just a bit too neatly packaged, and at times this doesn't seem realistic. But then, real police work is probably pretty dull 90% of the time (false leads, endless drudgery, etc.), so streamlining the process for the sake of fast-moving fiction is certainly forgiveable. The other thing that had me rolling my eyes a bit is the obligatory "romantic angle" that seems always to be a subplot in these books. Again, it's kind of a sacred part of the genre, but wouldn't it be interesting if for once Bosch noted the "gorgeous but sad woman" and then went about his business without becoming involved with her?

All in all, this is a terrific book and an absorbing, "can't put it down" read. One last thing: I would recommend that people who wish to read the Bosch novels start with the first (*The Black Echo*) and read them in chronological order, as Connelly is very careful in his novels about maintaining accurate references to what has happened to his protagonist previously.

Michael Connelly has dusted off an increasingly rare gemstone in the crown jewels of American literature: the hard-boiled detective. Present in Connelly's pithy and believable prose is all of the wit and grit of Hammett, MacDonald, Stout, and Spillane. What he's brought us in Harry Bosch is a cop's cop. Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective, is a real-life hero for whom the principled drive to see justice done allows him to deal with the treacherous world of Los Angeles politics and some even more treacherous politicians (some of whom masquerade as police officials).

While _The Last Coyote_ is the fourth Bosch novel, the plot and characters are so artfully developed that this novel could stand alone as a complete novel. At the same time, the writing is so compelling and captivating that it is a real pleasure to know that Bosch is a recurring character in Connelly's work. Although this is my first Connelly story, I am officially an addict, and I cannot wait to devour the rest of the titles in the Bosch series.

_The Last Coyote_ opens with Bosch under suspension for assaulting his Commanding Officer, Harvey "98" Pounds. With his newfound freedom comes a mandatory psychiatric evaluation to determine his fitness as a police officer. The ensuing therapy sessions force Bosch to take a hard look at his options, should he later be kicked off the force for the assault on his CO.

Faced with his ever-present personal demons, his suspension, and time on his hands, Bosch begins to investigate perhaps his greatest mystery: the unsolved 1961 murder of his call-girl mother. Though cautioned by his therapist that solving this mystery may remove his motivation to be a detective, Bosch dives into a mystery (and his personal story) that exposes the seedy underside of Los Angeles political corruption. The ride is taut, human, and utterly engrossing, and we are at once deeply satisfied and virtually winded when the dust settles.

My introduction to Harry Bosch was one of those rare joys: a gifted writer spinning a fascinating tale with grace and skill. Perhaps equally enjoyable to me was the principled drive of the protagonist to get at the facts, despite the potential costs-to himself, his career, and his department. Bosch's belief that the truth shall set you free is more than a bromide. While freedom may not always bring redemption, it allows him to sleep at night.

I really enjoyed this book! I began my Michael Connelly journey with Concrete Blond, then Blood Work, then Trunk Music. Then I decided to start at the beginning. This book is one of my favorite Connelly books! I really like Harry, and "feel his pain." I'm about to read The Poet, which I understand is not a Harry Bosch book. But, neither was Blood Work, and I enjoyed it very much. After The Poet, I guess I'll have to wait for his next novel. Hope it's soon!!

THE LAST COYOTE is the fourth Harry Bosch novel in Michael Connelly's series and the fourth one I've read. I haven't been disappointed yet. Connelly writes taut, suspenseful mysteries that keep you guessing right to the end. His background as an L.A. jornalist gives him the experience necessary to depict criminal investigations in a realistic and believable way. His stories are gritty and graphic, so be prepared for that, but he definitely keeps you turning the page to see what happens next.

In THE LAST COYOTE, Harry Bosch is on suspension and under psychiatric evaluation. With time on his hands, he decides to take up the investigation of an unsolved murder from thirty years ago. The victim was his mother.

Connelly's Harry Bosch series is great. THE LAST COYOTE is the fourth one for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all (if you're new to Harry Bosch, start with THE BLACK ECHO and read them in order). The characterization has depth, the plots are well-constructed and full of surprises, and Connelly's writing is well-executed. I recommend this, and all of the previous Harry Bosch books, very highly.

Michael Connelly's debut, which won the Edgar Award for Best 1st Novel, is an engrossing mystery in the tradition of updated L.A. noir. It begins when near-burnout detective Harry Bosch is called on to investigate the death of a smackhead found in a drainage pipe. Turns out the dead junkie is an old war buddy of Harry's. Other facts about the apparent O.D. begin to bother the lone-wolf detective, and what begins as a routine inquiry turns into a convoluted mystery involving the FBI, the Internal Affairs Division of the LAPD, and old secrets from 'Nam. Connelly uses a wealth of authentic detail and an intricate-but-never-incomprehensible plot to great effect, but the book is hampered by hackneyed characterizations and verbosity. In fact, Connelly's over-writing telegraphs many of the surprises of the story, especially when he tries to portray Bosch's thought-processes on the verge of discovery. Bosch's mullings circle important clues again and again, in Connelly's attempt at a kind of angst, until the reader wants to reach into the book and scream the all-too-obvious conclusions at the detective. The book could have been cut by a fourth without losing anything, and the cuts would have strengthened the tautness the mystery's spine. The character of Bosch himself is not particularly vibrant or inventive, conforming to all the cliches of the genre of wounded, lone-wolf detectives whose only saving graces consist of a plodding perseverance and a kind of reckless courage, although there is an interesting attempt to elevate Bosch's woundedness to a kind of metaphor involving a Hopper painting and the artist who is Bosch's namesake. The other characters are, for the most part, even flatter. Given that this is 1st novel, however, it is a promising one, especially in its detailed authenticity, and I would recommend it as a starting place for anyone interested in contemporary LA police procedurals.

I read BLOOD WORK a few months ago and thought it was so enjoyable that I had to read Michael Connelly's other books. THE BLACK ECHO was his first and it was excellent.

Harry Bosch, an L.A.P.D. detective recently demoted from the more prestigious Robbery-Homicide Division to Hollywood homicide, gets a call on what looks like a run-of-the-mill heroin overdose. But Harry recognizes the victim - a fellow "tunnel rat" named Meadows from his Viet Nam days - and he spots evidence that leads him to believe that Meadows was murdered. Harry unearths a connection between Meadows and a huge bank robbery, and after initially being tossed off the case, Harry is teamed with a female FBI agent on the theory that the bank robbers are the ones who murdered Meadows.

Connelly did such a great job in weaving this plot that I just followed the twists and turns as they came, not anticipating the outcome. You will suspect everyone and still be surprised by the ending. What an entertaining novel.

This was my first Michael Connelly book, and after breezing thru this I know it won't be my last. The action gets started right away & never lets up. Det. Harry Bosch is a former Vietnam War vet, a tunnel rat who saw plenty of action during his tour there. It turns out the case he's called in to work on involves the body of an old war buddy named Bill Meadows. Harry has to find out who killed him and why. His maverick ways of doing his job have gotten him in trouble in the past, transferring him to Hollywood Homicide where he is under surveillance by 2 IAD detectives named(I kid you not)Lewis & Clarke! I won't divulge any further info but must tell you if you like great mysteries with likeable detectives then get started with this book & look for further books with Harry Bosch as the main character. Highly recommended.

Perhaps this book is evidence of the old recommendation to would-be writers: to write of what you know. In his central character Michael Connelly captures perfectly the life of a dedicated cop reporter as well as those of the police investigators. Particularly interesting is his drawing of the authentic relationships between the two - from cooperation to the basic slightly hardened attitudes of police towards journalists, and that of journalists on a mission, being hindered by authority. Just when you thought all serial killer plots had been dreamed up, here is an originally chilling one. While I feel the only main female character is slightly underdeveloped, it is in keeping with the first person narration of the male and somewhat inexperienced and lonely journo. FINALLY I'm pleased to note he takes care to humanise his reporter - what a pleasant change in ANY crime fiction where most authors lazily and criminally ignore the mutual and often friendly relationship between newshounds and police to opt for the cheap public perception image of "vultures". But then, I'm totally biased... Louise Matthews, N

I waited SO LONG for this book to finally get into my hands that I thought 'this has got to be great' and I was not disappointed! The thing that I like most about Connelly is the way he can write excellent crime thrillers without having to rely on one character throughout his books. I do love Harry Bosch but Connelly is such a talented writer that every book of his is better than the last, Bosch or no Bosch!

'The Poet' centers around the apparent suicide of a cop, Sean, who has left behind a note that is written on his windshield, it is a line from an Edgar Allen Poe poem, and nobody can quite figure it out. Enter his brother, Jack, a reporter, who is convinced that his brother definately did not committ suicide and soon learns of other cops that died exactly the same way.

Jack gets involved with the FBI and soon everybody his trying to hunt down 'The Poet'. With insight into the killers mind & life throughout the book, this makes a truly excellent and riveting read for those who love Connelly's work or love crime fiction. There are a few twists in the ending to keep you the reader guessing and coming back for more Connelly!

This was my first Michael Connelly book I've read. I have never read an author who could add twists and turns to characters and make them believable until now. I have enjoyed Grisham and others but I must put Connelly at the top now. I am now reading The Black Echo to see how his first book in the Harry Bosch series will stack up. The Poet was a real page turner.Connelly's grasp of what the dark side of our society might be like is scary but yet totally within the realm of possibility.I never knew how the book would end until the final page and thats the way it should be.The characters were well developed and made me feel that I had emotions both good and bad towards them.His style of short chapters made for easy but addictive reading.I understand why he won the EDGAR award for this book. READ IT!

I've read three Michael Connelly mysteries now, and I'm trying - really hard - to enjoy them, and to understand all the buzz and the great reviews. I just can't seem to get there. This was my first Harry Bosch and I found it, well, kind of boring. The book was at lot about Harry and his various relationships - with Edgar, his cardboard partner, with his boss, with the bueatiful rookie cop, with the assistant chief of police... And, oh yeah, and there was actually a mystery to solve going on in the background, though it seemed almost a distraction to both Connelly and Bosch.

This wasn't a bad book - but essentially "CoB" is just another average crime novel. I've found Connelly's work rather sterile: today's really accomplished writers of this genre (Lehane, Crais, Burke, Teran,...) will build a scene which lets you feel the grit in the streets and smell the decay from the projects. Connelly, on the other hand, just kind of "tells" the story. The cities and the characters have a "plastic" feel to them; the situations overly simplied and contrived. Not much passion, little regional flavor, nothing to really grab the reader and reel them in. Perhaps the hardened Bosch fan will find this hard to put down, but in the final analysis, "City of Bones" is just another tale of LA. Others have done it much more effectively.

I have heard lots of good comments about the Harry Bosch novels and I was not disappointed with this seventh book of the series. Bosch is a hard boiled homocide detective in the Hollywood division of the LAPD who gets a call that a dog has discovered a human bone. The investigation uncovers a 20 year old murder of a 12 year-old boy who was the victim of child abuse. As the case proceeds, Bosch meets and becomes involved with a rookie cop named Julia Brasher, who has an idealistic view of police work.
Some information leaks and false clues initially sidetrack the investigation but slowly the victim is identified and his short and tortured life revealed. Connelly draws his characters with fine strokes and his development of the details of the police procedures which are key to solving cases was really fascinating to me. Understanding the murder book, how warrants were drawn up and served, and details behind the forensic investigation added to my enjoyment of the story.

False directions provide intrigue but I was a little disappointed with the unsatisfying way the murderer was revealed and dealt with.

All in all though, a fast paced (I read it in one 24 hour period), and very enjoyable read.

With "Blood Work" (1998 ) set to become a major motion picture and "A Darkness More Than Night" (2001) receiving plaudits one might think ace crime writer Michael Connelly would be resting on his laurels, film rights, and royalties. Not so. The energetic author now presents "City Of Bones," another in his bestselling Harry Bosch series.

This time detective Harry Bosch faces off with a child murderer, a killer who has remained on the loose for nearly two decades. Once a dog uncovers what appears to be a human bone in the woods of Hollywood Hills, Bosch is called. It takes the savvy sleuth only a glance to realize this is a child's arm bone.

Once the media spreads the word Laurel Canyon is crawling with police, amateur crime solvers, the curious, reporters, and (true to Connelly form) a gorgeous young police officer whom Harry takes under his wing in more ways than one.

As additional remains are unearthed Bosch determines the bones are those of a long dead abused boy. Obviously, there's a killer out there who believes he's home free, and Bosch is haunted by black images of his own childhood. The pressure is mounting and it's all on Bosch.

Few can bring to life the components of a police investigation as capably and thoroughly as former crime reporter Connelly. Authenticity and rapid fire action make "City Of Bones" another can't-put-it-down read.

- Gail Cooke

"A Darkness More Than Night" features Harry Bosch (Trunk Music, Angels Flight, Black Ice) and Terrance McCaleb (Blood Work) as the main "detectives". These two are great characters to read about. Terrance McCaleb is enjoying his retirement on Catalina Island, California. He loves spending time with his wife, Graciela, and his new born baby. The good times end when he gets a surprise visit from an old police colleague asking for his help in a murder case. A man named Edward Gunn, has been brutally murdered. The police cannot find the killer. They are stumped! Terrance goes to the scene and starts investigating. As he looks at the pictures that the police took, he discovers that there is an owl decoy planted on a dresser looking down at the victim. When Terrance gets to the scene, he discovers that the owl is stolen. He thinks that the owl could be the killer's trademark, and he goes on the look for it. Terrance then links the owl to gothic and evil painting done by people who perceive owls as evil. As Terrance travels to museums to see what artist uses owls, he finds that the main artist that uses owls is Hiernonymous Bosch, aka Harry Bosch! The detective Harry Bosch was named after the painter! Terrance starts to believe that Harry Bosch has been setup for the murder of Edward Gunn. Unfortunately, some other people believe that Harry is the killer. Harry Bosch is in the courtroom testifying against a man named David Storey. Harry knows that David has killed a young woman, and he must use his police tactics to prove to the jury that David is a guilty man. As Terrance and Bosch hook up to try and prove Bosch's innocense, they find a disturbing link between David Storey and Edward Gunn. This is probably Michael Connelly's best novel yet. It is a must read for Connelly fans and for all suspense fans. Don't be left in the dark, read "A Darkness More Than Night."

Brad Stonecipher

I discovered Michael Connelly last summer and tore through his Bosch series in a couple of weeks. It quickly became one of my favorite detective series. I had read The Poet prior to these books and finally made the connection. I was a little worried when I got to Blood Work and Connelly departed from good old Hieronymus and took up with Terry McCaleb as his protaganist...but the storyline with the detective investigating the murder of the donor whom he received his heart from was too delicious to pass up. Now, in A Darkness More Than Night, Connelly makes the brilliant move of pairing these two characters up in more than just the passing manner of prior stories. Even Jack McEvoy from The Poet makes an appearance. The strength of this book is web of characters and events that fans will remember and enjoy. If you haven't read Connelly before, you might enjoy this book even more by starting the series from the beginning (The Black Echo) and watching the pieces fall together...but I suppose you could read this book alone and still be gripped by the storyline. The plot is yours to discover, but I will say that the darkness that seems to seep into my favorite detective makes the possibilities suggested by the twisting discoveries of McCaleb more than a little disconcerting. This is a guaranteed hit.

Jaye Winston, detective with the L.A. Sheriff's office has hit a brick wall on a particularly gruesome and grisly murder case, involving a strangled, hog tied drunk with a penchant for hurting prostitutes, so she visits an old friend and collegue, Terry McCaleb, now retired from the FBI's profiling unit and running fishing charters off Catalina Island. Her hope is that he will "volunteer" to go through the crime scene video and murder book and pick up on something that she's missed. McCaleb obliges and soon is hooked, running down leads and making a startling discovery. At the same time, LAPD detective Harry Bosch is up to his ears in a murder case of his own. Movie director, David Storey, is on trial for the brutal murder of a would-be actress and then manipulating the scene so that it looked like an accidental suicide. Bosch is not only the lead detective on the case, but also the prosecution's star witness and is determined to put this guy away and see justice done. As these two separate cases move forward, the lines begin to blur and overlap and one name keeps coming to the top of the list, Harry Bosch..... Michael Connelly has brought back favorite characters from several previous novels and written a tense and gripping, fast paced mystery/thriller. A Darkness More Than Night has it all...interesting and complex characters with strong voices, a compelling and suspenseful plot with intriguing, riveting scenes and enough twists, turns and false starts to keep you off balance and turning pages to the end. Don't start reading this novel unless you have the time to finish it in one sitting, because you won't be able to put it down. Michael Connelly is back and better than ever!

I had read all the Harry Bosch stories and started branching out to Connelly's other books when I reached Void Moon on the list. It was ok, 3 stars, when I'd give the first 3 Harry Bosch novels by Connelly 4.5- 5 stars, Angels Fight too, I think.

Read the other reviews for plot specifics. Here is my lowdown; spend the money to buy the book and you'll feel ok about it in the morning. It is not his best stuff, but this one had some trademark Connelly twists, nice research and detail into the topic (thievery) and reasonably well rounded characters. On the down side it felt a little too contrived, a little too pat, almost like this was written as much by the author as by the editor and publisher. The criminal is the hero so we have to like her. It is hard to make a felon the good guy, and in doing so it stretches the believability quotient a bit.

Connelly has been successful long enough to be a brand name, and not simply an artist as he was in the beginning with Black Echo and Black Ice. The result is that he is expected to produce a new novel every 2 years, whether it is worth publishing or not. This one was ok, but don't make it your first experience with Michael Connelly.

Void Moon by Michael Connelly Little Brown 2000

This is not a Harry Bosch book but has the high quality writing and taunt style that we are used to. Cassie Black, on parole, after spending 5 years in jail for the death of her partner and lover, Max, in a robbery attempt gone bad, decides to get back into the robbery game. The planning and execution of the robbery are excruciatingly tense and keep you glued to the page. When the casino she robbed hires Jack Karch, known as "Jack of Spades" because he keeps a spade in the trunk of his car to bury bodies, to find Cassie and the 2.5 million dollars inadvertently part of the loot things begin to heat up. Psychopathic Jack is clever and ruthless but Cassie has some strengths of her own and when it becomes clear that she wants to escape with her daughter Jodie, adopted by another family while Cassie was in prison, motivation is all on Cassie's side.

The writing is concise and taunt and Cassie and Jack are developed into believable characters. I enjoyed the book immensely but still look forward to the next Harry Bosch.

Cassie Black is an ex-con who's worked hard to stay on the straight-and-narrow. But she has a dream that keeps her going. When that dream is threatened she quickly goes back to her old hot-prowler ways for the one score that will allow her to disappear and live her dream. But it falls apart and before long she finds herself pursued by Jack Karch, amoral trouble-shooter for the Las Vegas syndicate.

Michael Connelly is an excellent writer. This book delves behind the scenes of Vegas casinos showing both the security measures and how they're circumvented by thieves. I found this fascinating. But it also shows us the complicated character of Cassie Black and Jack Karch. Neither are either all good or all bad which makes them very real. The pace is excellent as is the plot. My only complaint, and it is a minor one, is at the very end I felt left hanging. Since Cassie broke the law I was wondering how she was going to get away with it but the book stops short of supplying the answer. I still recommend this book highly anyway.