Monday, September 15, 2008

48. The Last Coyote - Michael Connelly

AUDIO Read by Dick Hill (++)
For: Adults
Book Pub: 1995
Audio Pub: 1995 Brilliance Audio
13 hrs.
528 pgs.
Rating: 5/5
Finished: Sept. 15, 2008

Boy, I love Michael Connelly's plots and characters. You really get inside Harry Bosch's mind a little in this installment. It was sit-in-the-car-and -listen-until-you're-late good. I'm almost sorry it was over!

Harry Bosch is on temporary suspension from the LAPD because he threw Harvey Pounds, his lieutenant and boss, into a window head first. He WAS a snide, stupid son-of-a-gun. Part of the telling of this story comes as he sits and talks to his appointed police psychiatrist, a thoughtful, compassionate Hispanic woman named Carmen Hinojos. During his forced hiatus, he decides to look into the 1961 murder of his mother, an LA prostitute named Marjorie Lowe. Clues take him to a past DA Arno Conklin, Conklin's largest backer, Martel, a pimp named Johnny Fox, two homicide cops that had been on the case....and to Florida and Las Vegas. Also causing a dilemma is the ruination of his hillside home from earthquakes. Bosch just can't win. And even at the end of the book, Harry is contemplating leaving the police force as penance for getting at least one innocent person killed. Oh - and it looks like he might have even fallen in love!

Harry Bosch loses a little of his tougher-than-nails exterior in this novel. Hill's reading includes Harry's attitude and trepidation and heartbreak. Wow, he was good. And so was the storytelling. This guy has to be my all-time favorite mystery writer. I can't wait to read Trunk Music, Connelly's next Bosch creation.

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