Wednesday, January 9, 2008

I Still Like Harry Bosch. . . .

I just finished reading Michael Connelly's latest (in paperback) mystery, The Overlook. It was another LAPD detective Harry Bosch novel; previously I read Echo Park. And I still like Bosch, a somewhat irascible, very human fellow who goes with his instincts and heart even when it guarantees that he ends up at odds with the FBI, some of his LAPD superiors and, as happened briefly in this book, his partner. Being a homicide detective, he insists on solving the murder rather than letting the FBI sidetrack him because they a terrorist plot at the heart of the case which, in their logic, is more important than finding a killer. Harry believes that solving the murder will determine to what degree terrorists were or were not involved.



Curiously, this paperback edition of the novel had a new last chapter that had not previously been published. If I had read the hardcover edition of the book, I would have felt cheated because this addition to the end of the case ties up a lot of loose ends that were not covered in the original ending. Finally, something other than cost justifies my underlying nature of waiting for the paperback edition of books to be published before I buy them


If you like mysteries, this is a good, fast paced read featuring a wonderful protagonist.

3 comments:

Tattoosday said...

This is actually the only Michael Connelly I have read and I enjoyed it. Of course, I read it serialized in the New York Times magazine, so my reading experience was a chapter a week, or something like that. In the section entitled "Funny Pages," we get a new chapter each week. They just concluded Cathleen Schine's "The Dead and the Naked". I can't wait to see who we get next week!

nessie said...

Many of my mystery friends swear by him. I have yet to pick up one of his novels but its on a must do. Mystery was never "my thing" but Connelly has become a pillar in the genre. Talk about obligations! ;)

Are you a Ludlum fan? How do you enjoy the Eric Van Lusterbader take over? I read EVL's NInja novels (amazing) and his fantasy series (classic!).

Leon said...

Thanks for stopping ny Nessie. It's been a long time since I've read Ludlum but I have enjoyed his books in the past. Do come visit again! :-)