I have returned to the Harry Bosch series (Book 14, originally published in 2009) to follow the irascible detective as he steps out of his home environment of L.A. (albeit for just a short visit) to Hong Kong., where his ex-wife (and ex-FBI agent), Eleanor Wish and their 13 year-old daughter (Madelaine) are living.
The murder triggering the involvement of Bosch and his current partner, Detective Ferras, is on home soil and whilst fairly mundane on the face of it, suggests the work of a local triad.
In trademark fashion, the author examines a different strand of the rich social tapestry that is Los Angeles, through the eyes of her most driven law enforcer, albeit distracted by his own familial concerns. Bosch, the maverick this reader has come to regard with a mixture of admiration and incredulity, is again tested, almost to destruction, besieged by a less committed partner and the rule of law, for which the main character so often needs a workaround.
Given the panoply of characters, developed across the series, there’s always a frisson of excitement when the plot enables paths to cross again and the reintroduction of Eleanor Wish and Mickey Haller (defence attorney and half-brother to Harry Bosch), even for cameo appearances, keeps the pot bubbling.
Not the best novel in the series perhaps, but the forensics are interesting and the foundation for a profound change for Harry Bosch moving forward has been set. Bring it on!
BurfoBookish 