Publication
Grand Central (2011)
Original publication date
2011-11-22
Collections
Genres
Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — Novel — 2012)
Lefty Award (Nominee — 2012)
This Mystery is Amazing! (#7 — 2017)
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two. DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab's DNA cases currently in court. Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation. Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
One of the difficult choices facing writers of series of novels is how, or indeed whether, they address the ageing process of their characters. Some of the great figures in traditional detective fiction seemed impervious to the ravages of time. Both of Agatha Christie’s principal recurring
More recently, the trend among leading writers of crime fiction has been to allow their characters to age in real time. This, of course, lends verisimilitude, and allows the author to express their own changing perspective as they themselves grow older. It does, however, pose other challenges, as their readers have finite credibility and might struggle to accept protagonists nearing, or even entering their seventies, not only with their energies and faculties undimmed, but still employed within the police force. Both Ian Rankin and Michael Connelly have had to face this quandary, and have adopted the same approach, seeing John Rebus and Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch retiring from their respective forces (Lothian and Borders Police – now Police Scotland – and LAPD), before returning within a couple of years to work on ‘cold case’ teams, reviewing old, unsolved murders.
The title of this novel is, in part, a reference to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, the scheme by which Bosch returned to work for LAPD following his formal retirement several years (and books) previously. As the story opens, he is advised that under the DROP regulations, he now has just over three years to go before his mandatory final retirement. There is, however, a passing reference to the case that represents the principal focus of the book.
Bosch has clashed over many years with Irwin Irving, formerly Deputy Chief of LAPD and subsequently, following his enforced retirement from the force, a member of the city’s governing council. In that role he has sought revenge for being ousted from his leading role on LAPD, and has been the central figure in a cabal of councilmen who have voted to curtail funding for the police and, in particular, pare back its overtime budget. Irving’s and Bosch’s paths cross again after the councilman’s son is found dead in the parking lot of one of the city’s more flamboyant hotels, where he had taken a room on the tenth floor. There is no immediate indication as to whether the death was suicide or murder. Irving musters all his considerable influence to have a full investigation undertaken by LAPD, and, despite their longstanding enmity, specifically requests that Bosch should lead it. Despite their strained relationship over the years, Irving recognises the essential integrity of Bosch’s approach, and knows that he will not let politics interfere with his investigation.
As always with Connelly, the plot is very strong, and the characters all immensely believable. His depiction of Bosch struggling to balance his portfolio of investigations and the stresses of family life a he brings up his teenaged daughter is very convincing.
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sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, were already advanced in age when the reader first encountered them, but they exhibit little sign of growing significantly older. It may be easier to leave characters who had already retired at an advanced but unspecified age, but there are also some leading characters who seemed to persist unchanged within the police force. Ruth Rendell’s Chief Inspector Wexford, and Michael Innes’s Sir John Appleby, feature in twenty-four and thirty-two novels respectively, without any clear sign of ageing (or even progression of rank, having achieved their senior positions early on), although some of the peripheral characters do seem to age.More recently, the trend among leading writers of crime fiction has been to allow their characters to age in real time. This, of course, lends verisimilitude, and allows the author to express their own changing perspective as they themselves grow older. It does, however, pose other challenges, as their readers have finite credibility and might struggle to accept protagonists nearing, or even entering their seventies, not only with their energies and faculties undimmed, but still employed within the police force. Both Ian Rankin and Michael Connelly have had to face this quandary, and have adopted the same approach, seeing John Rebus and Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch retiring from their respective forces (Lothian and Borders Police – now Police Scotland – and LAPD), before returning within a couple of years to work on ‘cold case’ teams, reviewing old, unsolved murders.
The title of this novel is, in part, a reference to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, the scheme by which Bosch returned to work for LAPD following his formal retirement several years (and books) previously. As the story opens, he is advised that under the DROP regulations, he now has just over three years to go before his mandatory final retirement. There is, however, a passing reference to the case that represents the principal focus of the book.
Bosch has clashed over many years with Irwin Irving, formerly Deputy Chief of LAPD and subsequently, following his enforced retirement from the force, a member of the city’s governing council. In that role he has sought revenge for being ousted from his leading role on LAPD, and has been the central figure in a cabal of councilmen who have voted to curtail funding for the police and, in particular, pare back its overtime budget. Irving’s and Bosch’s paths cross again after the councilman’s son is found dead in the parking lot of one of the city’s more flamboyant hotels, where he had taken a room on the tenth floor. There is no immediate indication as to whether the death was suicide or murder. Irving musters all his considerable influence to have a full investigation undertaken by LAPD, and, despite their longstanding enmity, specifically requests that Bosch should lead it. Despite their strained relationship over the years, Irving recognises the essential integrity of Bosch’s approach, and knows that he will not let politics interfere with his investigation.
As always with Connelly, the plot is very strong, and the characters all immensely believable. His depiction of Bosch struggling to balance his portfolio of investigations and the stresses of family life a he brings up his teenaged daughter is very convincing.
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LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.5 stars
Detective Harry Bosch comes across two cases in one day. One, a cold case, where a DNA sample of blood on the victim traces to someone who would fit the profile exactly... except that he was just a boy when it happened. The other, a suicide – or is it a homicide? – of a local
This was the first book in this series that I've read and I liked it. Maybe not enough to start at the beginning and read more of the series, but I won't rule that out completely. I was happy that I was able to follow without having read the earlier books, though. I did find the cold case much more interesting than the suicide/homicide. I also really enjoyed the personal side of Bosch, especially his relationship with his daughter.
Detective Harry Bosch comes across two cases in one day. One, a cold case, where a DNA sample of blood on the victim traces to someone who would fit the profile exactly... except that he was just a boy when it happened. The other, a suicide – or is it a homicide? – of a local
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politician's son. This was the first book in this series that I've read and I liked it. Maybe not enough to start at the beginning and read more of the series, but I won't rule that out completely. I was happy that I was able to follow without having read the earlier books, though. I did find the cold case much more interesting than the suicide/homicide. I also really enjoyed the personal side of Bosch, especially his relationship with his daughter.
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LibraryThing member ChelleBearss
For the first 200 pages I was sure I had read this book already. I started checking online to see when it was published and since it just came out I could not have read it. Yet I felt like I knew too much of what was starting to happen, how could that be possible? Well once I looked at a couple
Once I got over my déjà vu I continued to read the book and it's a classic Bosch story: first class officer with a partner that he tends to leave out of the loop, tension between Bosch and the "higher powers", amazing police work catching criminals that otherwise might have gotten away.
While the books are not terribly hard to read and are pretty much mind candy for me, I will continue to read them and love them as long as Connelly continues to write them!
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reviews it clicked, the book flap! There is way too much information in the publishers blurb! I had read the blurb a couple times online before I bought it and then by the time I read the book I knew what the first few chapters would be about! Note to self: don't read the book flap on books that I already plan to buy!Once I got over my déjà vu I continued to read the book and it's a classic Bosch story: first class officer with a partner that he tends to leave out of the loop, tension between Bosch and the "higher powers", amazing police work catching criminals that otherwise might have gotten away.
While the books are not terribly hard to read and are pretty much mind candy for me, I will continue to read them and love them as long as Connelly continues to write them!
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LibraryThing member ecw0647
I liked this classic Connelly as I have enjoyed most of the Hieronymous Bosch detective series. But...read on for a few caveats.
The title is a play on multiple plot themes: the suicide of the son of Bosch's earlier nemesis who now sits on the city Council and has become a thorn in the side of the
Connelly likes to show off his knowledge of LAPD police procedure and buildings, which is OK, it brings some verisimilitude to the book, but at times feels like overkill.
There's also a tension between getting the bad guys and doing things by the rules. This is always something the bugs the hell out of me. Many police detective stories rely on the heroes breaking the rules in order to get the bad guys as if they couldn't without doing so. It's the we're-righteous-so-it's-OK syndrome. [spoiler coming] After the suicide/murder investigation has been resolved and Harry and his partner, David, have returned to his original cold case, they finally track down the father of the guy they think is the perp in an old rape case. Bosch cleverly realizes the guy is not the father but the son. Then Bosch proceeds to coerce a confession out of the guy and does an illegal search of the next door apartment where the guy says all his trophies are stored. This, while they are preparing a search warrant (he jumped the warrant) to look for evidence they already know is there and would be totally tainted if the coerced confession were revealed. This is followed by a sanctimonious lecture on how important it is to follow the rules in order top make sure the guy doesn't get off on a Fourth Amendment violation. The fact is, Bosch has just committed a plethora of legal errors quite willingly and totally unnecessarily. Once they had the information about the son's impersonation of the father they had more than enough information to get a proper warrant (they can submit requests wirelessly and it would have taken but a few minutes) and search the adjoining condo where all the incriminating evidence was stored, thus eliminating the risk of a tainted prosecution.
Now, if that's the way the LAPD really operates, it's abhorrent and breeds a sense of distrust and dismissal of the very rules the police are enjoined to enforce.
The title is a play on multiple plot themes: the suicide of the son of Bosch's earlier nemesis who now sits on the city Council and has become a thorn in the side of the
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police department; Bosch's ability to continue work as a detective past the normal retirement sequence (called the "drop); and the budding relationship Harry's starts with a Hannah, a psychologist working in a half-way house for sexual predators. This relationship, BTW, seems woefully unnecessary to the rest of the story(ies) and appears to be there for the sole purpose of some Connelly "preaching" -- I use the word advisedly -- with regard to how society treats sexual predators and the roots of evil and Harry seems to do a flip-flop-flip on the issue depending on whether he wants to have Hannah in bed or not.Connelly likes to show off his knowledge of LAPD police procedure and buildings, which is OK, it brings some verisimilitude to the book, but at times feels like overkill.
There's also a tension between getting the bad guys and doing things by the rules. This is always something the bugs the hell out of me. Many police detective stories rely on the heroes breaking the rules in order to get the bad guys as if they couldn't without doing so. It's the we're-righteous-so-it's-OK syndrome. [spoiler coming] After the suicide/murder investigation has been resolved and Harry and his partner, David, have returned to his original cold case, they finally track down the father of the guy they think is the perp in an old rape case. Bosch cleverly realizes the guy is not the father but the son. Then Bosch proceeds to coerce a confession out of the guy and does an illegal search of the next door apartment where the guy says all his trophies are stored. This, while they are preparing a search warrant (he jumped the warrant) to look for evidence they already know is there and would be totally tainted if the coerced confession were revealed. This is followed by a sanctimonious lecture on how important it is to follow the rules in order top make sure the guy doesn't get off on a Fourth Amendment violation. The fact is, Bosch has just committed a plethora of legal errors quite willingly and totally unnecessarily. Once they had the information about the son's impersonation of the father they had more than enough information to get a proper warrant (they can submit requests wirelessly and it would have taken but a few minutes) and search the adjoining condo where all the incriminating evidence was stored, thus eliminating the risk of a tainted prosecution.
Now, if that's the way the LAPD really operates, it's abhorrent and breeds a sense of distrust and dismissal of the very rules the police are enjoined to enforce.
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LibraryThing member mikedraper
Harry Bosch is assigned to a cold case of a 1989 rape and murder that now shows evidence that an eight-year-old child was involved. He has to see if the evidence was compromised or learn what happened.
He is also given a case of an untimely death of the son of his former adversary, Councilmen Irvin
Harry is dealing with his retirement which he hopes to delay for another four or five years. In the meanwhile, he wants as many cases as he can get so he can take criminals off the street. He's also raising his fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, who indicates that she wants to follow her father into a career of law enforcement.
He doesn't like the political case because he feels that in the cold case, a killer might still be active, doing their killing in the Los Angeles area.
We see Harry's investigation on both cases move forward. There are some gruesome details with the case. These are so severe that even Harry gasps.
The author also provides a number of surprises in the story which add to the interest. Overall, this enjoyable story adds to the legacy of Michael Connelly as one of our leading writers in the mystery and thriller area.
He is also given a case of an untimely death of the son of his former adversary, Councilmen Irvin
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Irving.Harry is dealing with his retirement which he hopes to delay for another four or five years. In the meanwhile, he wants as many cases as he can get so he can take criminals off the street. He's also raising his fifteen-year-old daughter, Maddie, who indicates that she wants to follow her father into a career of law enforcement.
He doesn't like the political case because he feels that in the cold case, a killer might still be active, doing their killing in the Los Angeles area.
We see Harry's investigation on both cases move forward. There are some gruesome details with the case. These are so severe that even Harry gasps.
The author also provides a number of surprises in the story which add to the interest. Overall, this enjoyable story adds to the legacy of Michael Connelly as one of our leading writers in the mystery and thriller area.
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LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
On the drive to work today I was trying to figure out how to categorize Michael Connelly and Harry Bosch. Not in terms of genre. In terms of why I continue to read them. Like a good piece of chocolate, that first bite is oh so good. However, as you look at that 17th and last piece, begging you to
In The Drop, Harry has two cases going on simultaneously. The first deals with a serial sex offender and the second deals with the death of George Irving, the son of his nemesis, Irvin Irving. True to form, Harry does his own thing and while the cases get wrapped up neatly, Harry suffers from his trade. Was he used as a political pawn? Did he not let justice take his course?
As I said, Maddie, his fifteen year old daughter, turns out to be the best character. Smart, observant, funny, she is the comic sidekick to Harry’s serious nature.
Reed Farrel Coleman, my new favorite mystery writer, said that he must age his characters to keep them interesting. I think one of my issues with Bosch is that while he’s aged chronologically, he hasn’t aged emotionally. He’s still the same maverick he was in the Black Echo. I can’t relate to him anymore.
So, like that last piece of chocolate, I’m most probably going to read the next Bosch installment. I’m just not sure I’m going to get as much satisfaction out of it. Good thing it’s a fast read and I won’t devote a lot of time to it. Sorry, Michael.
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devour it, it’s not quite as tasty. Yet, you can’t resist. And so it is with Harry Bosch and The Drop. I’ve invested a lot of time in Harry and, as each new episode is published, I feel compelled. Yet, they aren’t as sweet as the first. It’s sad to say that my favorite character has shifted from Harry to his daughter, Maddie. Surely, The Drop isn’t as catastrophic as the horrendous Nine Dragons, but it isn’t as savory as the earlier books.In The Drop, Harry has two cases going on simultaneously. The first deals with a serial sex offender and the second deals with the death of George Irving, the son of his nemesis, Irvin Irving. True to form, Harry does his own thing and while the cases get wrapped up neatly, Harry suffers from his trade. Was he used as a political pawn? Did he not let justice take his course?
As I said, Maddie, his fifteen year old daughter, turns out to be the best character. Smart, observant, funny, she is the comic sidekick to Harry’s serious nature.
Reed Farrel Coleman, my new favorite mystery writer, said that he must age his characters to keep them interesting. I think one of my issues with Bosch is that while he’s aged chronologically, he hasn’t aged emotionally. He’s still the same maverick he was in the Black Echo. I can’t relate to him anymore.
So, like that last piece of chocolate, I’m most probably going to read the next Bosch installment. I’m just not sure I’m going to get as much satisfaction out of it. Good thing it’s a fast read and I won’t devote a lot of time to it. Sorry, Michael.
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LibraryThing member emigre
As great as ever... Another gripping crime-story/LAPD politics tale by Connelly.
The son of detective Bosch's long-time detractor, Irvin Irving, was found dead at the LA hotel Chateau Marmount, most people suspect a suicide. Irving demands Bosch to investigate it and of course this brought out all
The son of detective Bosch's long-time detractor, Irvin Irving, was found dead at the LA hotel Chateau Marmount, most people suspect a suicide. Irving demands Bosch to investigate it and of course this brought out all
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sorts of worms. Another crime being investigated at the same time involves a child molester whose DNA was found on a young woman. Except the man was a child at the time... so what happened? Bosch has his share of romance and issues with his partner in this book as usual. Show Less
LibraryThing member peggygillman
A Harry Bosch novel and the last one I’ll read. It was too long and he put two stories together that had nothing to do with each other. 3/14/12
LibraryThing member nbsp
Harry Bosch investigates a fresh case and a cold one. The results and the journey there were surprising. I especially enjoyed Harry's ruminations about his "golden years" in law enforcement and in his personal life. And, his interactions with his daughter as she enters adulthood showed his
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tenderness and humility. I don't think Harry should be allowed to retire. Look what happened to Morse. Show Less
LibraryThing member everfresh1
Not the best Connelly's work. A little tired - as much as Bosch himself in this novel.
LibraryThing member bitsy08
Wow! I read A LOT! I had just finished another book which I thought was good and then I picked up The Drop. Within a couple of pages you could tell the difference in the writing. When you're good, you're good. When you've got more experience writing, you're even better. This book had two cases
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Bosch was working on. Man. If all the police departments had detectives like Bosch, the bad guys wouldn't have a chance. Connelly just keeps getting better and better. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
This round finds Bosch working two cases, one which is at the request of a councilman who has spent years trying to get him fired. Another well written vintage Bosch, this is one series that manages to stay fresh and interesting, never getting stale.
LibraryThing member SalemAthenaeum
Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two.
DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new
Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation.
Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.
DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new
Show More
Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab's DNA cases currently in court.Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation.
Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.
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LibraryThing member delphimo
Harry Bosch is one of my favorite series, and as soon as one appears, I eagerly devour the book. Connelly foreshadows the retirement of Bosch throughout this book. Will Harry continue to work for three years or for five years? Harry tirelessly works on two cases in this installment, with one case
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being a cold case. Also, Harry seems to experience problems with his current partner and a past partner. A woman enters his life, but a lasting relationship does not seem to be in the cards, and Harry really needs to focus on his daughter Maddie. The sense of relationships runs weakly in this story. Maddie is a teen-ager and Harry seems to spend no time with her. Also, Bosch's relationship and treatment of Kiz Rider seems stilted. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I really like how Len Cariou reads this book. To me he sounds just like I think Harry Bosch would sound. I liked the one of the storylines but I wasn't as fond of the other.
In one storyline Harry and his partner in the cold case squad have been handed a case to investigate. Forensics have matched a
However, before Harry can even get started on the case he gets called in to investigate a suspicious death that occurred the night before. The son of a city councillor (and former thorn in Harry's side) was found at the base of a hotel stark naked. Did he jump or did someone throw him off the balcony? And what was he doing in the hotel in the first place? This is the "high jingo" case because the chief of police, the city councillor and Harry's former partner, Kiz Ryder, all want a quick resolution but do they really want to hear the truth?
The endings to both storylines are pretty dramatic but the good news is that Harry is around for another 5 years. Look for more interesting cases with Harry Bosch.
In one storyline Harry and his partner in the cold case squad have been handed a case to investigate. Forensics have matched a
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blood stain on the neck of a murder victim to a known sex offender. It's a bit of a mystery because at the time of the murder the sex offender would only have been 9 years old. So that's the storyline that I liked. While they are investigating it Harry meets a woman to whom he takes an instant liking.However, before Harry can even get started on the case he gets called in to investigate a suspicious death that occurred the night before. The son of a city councillor (and former thorn in Harry's side) was found at the base of a hotel stark naked. Did he jump or did someone throw him off the balcony? And what was he doing in the hotel in the first place? This is the "high jingo" case because the chief of police, the city councillor and Harry's former partner, Kiz Ryder, all want a quick resolution but do they really want to hear the truth?
The endings to both storylines are pretty dramatic but the good news is that Harry is around for another 5 years. Look for more interesting cases with Harry Bosch.
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LibraryThing member susiesharp
Oh Harry how I have missed you! It is so great to have a book that is just Harry not him as a secondary character. It was also nice to see how Harry is handling being a single dad and I enjoyed his relationship with his daughter.
Harry is working a cold case where the DNA samples don’t seem to add
I love that being a single dad has not changed the essential personality of Harry or his attitudes towards people and that he’s still the flawed Bosch we all know and love! I really like the procedural cop that he is.
I’m really curious about the next Harry Bosch book because Harry is kind of betrayed by people he thought he could trust and I was surprised by one of them (it’s not giving anything away). At least I hope there will be another Bosch book this one wrapped up the cases but didn’t wrap up Harry so I have hope that there will be more from him!
As always I love Michael Connelly’s books especially Harry Bosch he is my favorite cop out there and this one is no exception glad to have you back Harry and please come back soon!
Audio Production: Len Cariou is and always will be the voice of Harry Bosch for me as I have listened to pretty much all the Bosch books on audio but Len’s voice is starting to show his age but since Harry is getting older too, (not sure how old he is supposed to be but retirement age), so I guess Harry is growing older too! So I am just going to go with that explanation because Cariou still does a great job.
5 Stars
Harry is working a cold case where the DNA samples don’t seem to add
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up and then he is called in on a new case but this is no cold case, this is a City Councilman’s son who has taken a header off a balcony at a local hotel and the Councilman wants Harry on the case. The Councilman and Harry have a history and not a good one but Harry is a good cop who goes after the truth no matter who is involved.I love that being a single dad has not changed the essential personality of Harry or his attitudes towards people and that he’s still the flawed Bosch we all know and love! I really like the procedural cop that he is.
I’m really curious about the next Harry Bosch book because Harry is kind of betrayed by people he thought he could trust and I was surprised by one of them (it’s not giving anything away). At least I hope there will be another Bosch book this one wrapped up the cases but didn’t wrap up Harry so I have hope that there will be more from him!
As always I love Michael Connelly’s books especially Harry Bosch he is my favorite cop out there and this one is no exception glad to have you back Harry and please come back soon!
Audio Production: Len Cariou is and always will be the voice of Harry Bosch for me as I have listened to pretty much all the Bosch books on audio but Len’s voice is starting to show his age but since Harry is getting older too, (not sure how old he is supposed to be but retirement age), so I guess Harry is growing older too! So I am just going to go with that explanation because Cariou still does a great job.
5 Stars
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LibraryThing member iddrazin
This novel is interesting from page one to its surprise ending on page 388, with no let up. Bosch is portrayed as a man of integrity, but he sees life in black and whites, and this personality trait affects, in interesting and positive ways, virtually all the events in this story. Bosch works two
The second case is an old cold case. While checking cold cases, the police check the DNA of blood found on a belt. It turns out to be the blood of a then eight year old. Since the case involves a rape and murder, it seems unlikely that the eight year old committed the crime. Since this fact may indicate that the police somehow made a mistake, this sensitive case is assigned to Bosch.
There are also several very interesting subplots. One concerns Bosch’s current partner. This man has a queer ever-questioning personality that frequently bothers Bosch. Bosch finds himself in a situation where he feels that he must hide information from his partner. This angers the man, who retaliates. Will Bosch who sees matters in black and white be able to forgive him? Another subplot is the sexual attraction that Bosch feels toward a certain woman who has a terrible secret, a black mark. Can Bosch overlook it? Still another is Bosch’s relationship with his former partner who now works with the Chief of Police. Again, Bosch’s integrity comes into play. Another is his relationship with his daughter. Here, and only here, there is no black and white; it is all love; love that goes both ways; love that it is a pleasure to read about.
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crime cases and is able to see facts missed by others, even experienced police officers. One case concerns an apparent suicide, but was it murder? The son of Bosch’s nemesis Irving Irvin fell off of a high-level hotel apartment that had meaning for the son. His father is a man who once worked at a high level job with the police until Bosch discovered something that made him resign. Irvin requests that the Chief of Police assign Bosch to the case, despite their past. He says he wants to find out the facts, was it really a suicide. He says he wants Bosch on the job because Bosch will find out the facts, and he will not hide anything.The second case is an old cold case. While checking cold cases, the police check the DNA of blood found on a belt. It turns out to be the blood of a then eight year old. Since the case involves a rape and murder, it seems unlikely that the eight year old committed the crime. Since this fact may indicate that the police somehow made a mistake, this sensitive case is assigned to Bosch.
There are also several very interesting subplots. One concerns Bosch’s current partner. This man has a queer ever-questioning personality that frequently bothers Bosch. Bosch finds himself in a situation where he feels that he must hide information from his partner. This angers the man, who retaliates. Will Bosch who sees matters in black and white be able to forgive him? Another subplot is the sexual attraction that Bosch feels toward a certain woman who has a terrible secret, a black mark. Can Bosch overlook it? Still another is Bosch’s relationship with his former partner who now works with the Chief of Police. Again, Bosch’s integrity comes into play. Another is his relationship with his daughter. Here, and only here, there is no black and white; it is all love; love that goes both ways; love that it is a pleasure to read about.
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LibraryThing member neddludd
Where other series grow predictable and tiresome, Connelly seems to have found the fountain of youth; his Harry Bosch continues to make self-discoveries, plumbing his core values and his unerring sense of right and wrong, and so the work remains fresh, vital, and surprising for readers. Here we
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encounter political corruption, a rich man's suicide (or murder?), and a despicable sexual predator who has been busily at work for decades. It's one of his victims, together with modern technology, which allows Harry the satisfying task of hunting his prey. There's an under-developed love interest (which fits in with Harry's damage and ambivalence), and also some nice passages featuring Harry as parent. There are also media and police ethics to ponder. This is a wonderful, satisfying series that will please anyone interested in how the police get the bad guys and skillfully participate in the contact sport of urban politics. Show Less
LibraryThing member SamM4
Another solid installment in the HB series. It leaves open possibilities to follow up in the next book, but is itself a standalone book. Looking forward to the next one.
LibraryThing member csweder
I think this is my 3rd Connelly novel, but first in the Bosch series. (Although it is like the 15th Bosch novel.) I have mixed feelings about Connelly. I loved the first book I read, but was utterly dismayed when the second book had the same plot line, just different character names. I abhor
So I am happy to report that it has either been long enough since I read Connelly that I didn't remember the formula, or that this book does a good job of standing on it's own. I did this as an audio book, and I think that is a good way to ingest this book. However the narrator had a habit of changing his voice to differentiate characters, for me this wasn't as good as just reading it (some of the characters were so nasally voiced I wanted to skip ahead in the book).
Overall not a bad read, and you don't have to know books 1-14 to understand this one.
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formulaic books (For those of you who know my love of formulaic crime television shows--I admit it, I am contradicting myself. I can't help it. I like what I like.). So I am happy to report that it has either been long enough since I read Connelly that I didn't remember the formula, or that this book does a good job of standing on it's own. I did this as an audio book, and I think that is a good way to ingest this book. However the narrator had a habit of changing his voice to differentiate characters, for me this wasn't as good as just reading it (some of the characters were so nasally voiced I wanted to skip ahead in the book).
Overall not a bad read, and you don't have to know books 1-14 to understand this one.
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LibraryThing member PIER50
Another really good Harry Bosch thriller. Bosch's past boss - Irvin Irving specifically asks for Harry to look at a case of suspected suicde, of Irving's own son. This brings Bosch into direct conflict with his nemisis. A seperate cold case is also being investigated and the book finishes with a
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good twist in the tale Show Less
LibraryThing member devenish
This is one of those books in which there are two crimes to solve,and one is of very much more interest than the other.
Harry Boch is sent to investigate a potential suicide/accident/murder of the son of a longtime and powerful opponent. Strangely,this enemy of Harry's wants him to look into the
The other investigation concerns an old case which has cropped up once more in which murder and rape are connected. Harry begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. Boch is again shown as a man of principle and honour who puts straight dealing before all else.
Harry Boch is sent to investigate a potential suicide/accident/murder of the son of a longtime and powerful opponent. Strangely,this enemy of Harry's wants him to look into the
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case for him.The other investigation concerns an old case which has cropped up once more in which murder and rape are connected. Harry begins to suspect that all is not as it seems. Boch is again shown as a man of principle and honour who puts straight dealing before all else.
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LibraryThing member ricaustria
Connelly builds this from the ground up, and by from the ground, I mean the gritty, slimy particles that make up the ground of dark dungeons and ancient prison cells.
LibraryThing member monica67
I haven't listened to a Harry Bosch tale in a while. The narrator has a distinct way of speaking I've come to associate with Harry Bosch. While engrossing enough to listen to during a commute, this story disappointed me on several levels. WARNING: Ahead there be spoilers.
I found Connelly
I may have forgotten details regarding Harry Bosch's character, but he behaved differently than I remember him acting in other stories I've read. Namely, he is more aggressive in this story, and well, he's kind of an ass. He consciously shuts out his partner, David Chu, ordering him about and outright telling him he isn't going to tell him what was going on. Once he tries the "I'm trying to protect you" line, but it comes off as patronizing and he never returns to the idea anyway. Besides, that's not how partners work. He's working a political case, but he should show Chu how to deal with the politics. Instead, he took control of the investigation himself, ordering Chu about, even though Chu calls him on it and tells him he doesn't appreciate being shut out.
Chu was out of line talking to the reporter, but when Chu confronts Bosch with how he's treating him, Bosch refuses to acknowledge it, insisting on holding Chu to a standard he's not keeping for himself. He treats Chu poorly and has no guilt about it and no desire to forgive Chu. He just writes off Chu as a partner.
Another thing I didn't understand was his reaction to Hannah. They get romantic after knowing each other a short time, and Hannah tells him about her son, who committed a horrible crime. When Hannah asks how he feels about what she told him, he is at a loss to offer anything but sympathy. When Hannah says she can't ignore her feelings, that she has to deal with what her son did and that he was in prison -- a reasonable statement, in my opinion -- Harry suddenly comes to the conclusion he's made a mistake with her and blows her off. It seems a huge leap that didn't have an explanation. There was no connection between point A and B. I don't see how he came to his conclusion just from what she'd said. Maybe it's a guy thing? Hannah starts talking about feelings, Bosch jumps to "this is a mistake"? There's something missing there to me. And somehow, Hannah "knows" she "messed up" with him when they next talk. I don't see how, since he doesn't give any indication except being a little abrupt in how he ended the last conversation. If she can sense he's annoyed, I don't see how she would have figured out why. It seems Connelly was operating with more knowledge than he was sharing with the reader.
By the end of the story, Harry has made a U-turn on his opinion of Chu, presumably because of how he handles their second case. I have to assume that, because he never explains his change of heart, except that he manages to tell Chu he did a good job with the case, and later tells himself he's going to move on and stop holding a grudge. But how did he get there from the deep insult he'd felt? It didn't seem plausible.
Chu was also a bit annoying in his reaction to Harry's behavior. While he tries to stand up for himself and complains to Harry when he shut him out of the case, that's all he does. Then when Harry finds out about the reporter, Chu insists he's going to make it up to Harry and practically begs Harry for a second chance. Repeatedly. The guy needs to grow a pair.
The Hannah storyline is left dangling a bit. But at that point, I didn't much care. With Harry being a general ass, I was less than happy with this story.
I found Connelly
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explaining a lot. Things that were obvious he said anyway. A lot of explaining of gestures, for example. The editor in me kept saying 'you just repeated yourself,' or 'that's obvious from what you just said.' It was distracting, interrupted the pacing, and took away from the narrative. Kind of a lesson what not to do for a writer. I may have forgotten details regarding Harry Bosch's character, but he behaved differently than I remember him acting in other stories I've read. Namely, he is more aggressive in this story, and well, he's kind of an ass. He consciously shuts out his partner, David Chu, ordering him about and outright telling him he isn't going to tell him what was going on. Once he tries the "I'm trying to protect you" line, but it comes off as patronizing and he never returns to the idea anyway. Besides, that's not how partners work. He's working a political case, but he should show Chu how to deal with the politics. Instead, he took control of the investigation himself, ordering Chu about, even though Chu calls him on it and tells him he doesn't appreciate being shut out.
Chu was out of line talking to the reporter, but when Chu confronts Bosch with how he's treating him, Bosch refuses to acknowledge it, insisting on holding Chu to a standard he's not keeping for himself. He treats Chu poorly and has no guilt about it and no desire to forgive Chu. He just writes off Chu as a partner.
Another thing I didn't understand was his reaction to Hannah. They get romantic after knowing each other a short time, and Hannah tells him about her son, who committed a horrible crime. When Hannah asks how he feels about what she told him, he is at a loss to offer anything but sympathy. When Hannah says she can't ignore her feelings, that she has to deal with what her son did and that he was in prison -- a reasonable statement, in my opinion -- Harry suddenly comes to the conclusion he's made a mistake with her and blows her off. It seems a huge leap that didn't have an explanation. There was no connection between point A and B. I don't see how he came to his conclusion just from what she'd said. Maybe it's a guy thing? Hannah starts talking about feelings, Bosch jumps to "this is a mistake"? There's something missing there to me. And somehow, Hannah "knows" she "messed up" with him when they next talk. I don't see how, since he doesn't give any indication except being a little abrupt in how he ended the last conversation. If she can sense he's annoyed, I don't see how she would have figured out why. It seems Connelly was operating with more knowledge than he was sharing with the reader.
By the end of the story, Harry has made a U-turn on his opinion of Chu, presumably because of how he handles their second case. I have to assume that, because he never explains his change of heart, except that he manages to tell Chu he did a good job with the case, and later tells himself he's going to move on and stop holding a grudge. But how did he get there from the deep insult he'd felt? It didn't seem plausible.
Chu was also a bit annoying in his reaction to Harry's behavior. While he tries to stand up for himself and complains to Harry when he shut him out of the case, that's all he does. Then when Harry finds out about the reporter, Chu insists he's going to make it up to Harry and practically begs Harry for a second chance. Repeatedly. The guy needs to grow a pair.
The Hannah storyline is left dangling a bit. But at that point, I didn't much care. With Harry being a general ass, I was less than happy with this story.
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LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Another excellent story with Harry in the Open Unsolved unit of LAPD worrying about the DROP - the department's Deferred Retirement programme, when he is unexpectedly assigned to a live case of suspected suicide of his old enemy's son, Irvine Irving, former police chief and city councillor.
Media reviews
The Toronto Star
No readers of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch novels doubts Bosch’s superiority as an LAPD homicide investigator. Where we’ve questioned Bosch over the years has been in the rest of his life roles. As a father, husband, friend and boyfriend, he has frequently revealed himself as a bust in the
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previous 14 Bosch books. But that perception changes with the new book. In The Drop, Bosch emerges as a freshly mature fellow.
It’s his 15-year-old daughter who seems to have made the difference (though some might say of Bosch, who is approaching 60, what took him so long to grow up?). Maddie moved in with Bosch two years ago after her mother was killed in Nine Dragons (2009). Bosch has turned into an alert and nervous father, constantly on the phone to his daughter. For her part, the kid is a gem. She’s far more technologically adept than her father and helps him past tricky computer problems. Her influence works further on him in ways she might not suspect; it’s her mere presence that keeps Bosch from drinking at home and influences him to settle for a glass or two of wine everywhere else.
At LA’s new Police Administration Building, Bosch works with the unit handling cold cases, and as The Drop opens, he and his partner are assigned to a 1989 rape-murder case that comes to life with a curious new clue. Ordinarily, this case, with much promise of twists and turns to come, would be enough to fill a satisfying Bosch book. But, still in the opening pages of the new novel, Bosch gets orders from the chief of police to add a second, non-cold case to his list.
The case’s crime, as hot as the day’s headlines, involves a prominent LA businessman who either jumped or was shoved from the Chateau Marmont’s penthouse. Worse news for Bosch is that the deceased’s father is Bosch’s mortal enemy, former LAPD deputy chief Irvin Irving. The situation places Harry in the awkward middle of a piece of “high jingo,” his phrase for dirty police politics.
Moving through this intense double story, Michael Connelly is at the top of his game. So is Bosch. So, for that matter, is Maddie. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780446556705
Physical description
6 inches