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Echo Park
Harry Bosch Series #12

by Michael Connelly
Read by Len Cariou



      Out of retirement, Harry Bosch is back with the LAPD working unsolved crimes. His recent unsolved case is personal. Bosch and his old partner worked the Gesto case back in the early 90s. Every time Bosch pulls the file and looks through it, he senses there’s something he missed. Marie Gesto was a victim of a serial killer. They’ve yet to find her body, though. They have the killer in custody, but Bosch needs to find that missing clue because some recently added false ones have him believing Marie Gesto isn’t one of Raynard Waits' victims. If he didn’t kidnap and kill her, who did? And why is Waits so willing to take the credit? Bosch notes Waits was heading to a specific place in Echo Park when he was arrested, which makes him certain Echo Park is an important lead. Bosch and the DA take Waits on a field trip to find Gesto’s body. Waits’ lawyer and a member of the media go with them. Needless to say Waits gets away, Bosch’s partner is shot, and the taped evidence goes missing, leaving Bosch and the LAPD to take the blame. Needing a little extra help with this mess, Bosch calls on his old partner, his ex-girlfriend, FBI Agent, Rachel, and a reporter he worked with in the past. The case brings Rachel back in a personal way as well. Is it forgive and forget between these two? Bosch has a lot to prove in this one - both personal and professional.

Bosch takes readers on a journey in search of the truth. A slow startup leads to some dramatic scenes and startling discoveries. Bosch comes across as tenacious, sensitive and sometimes worn down. One can’t help but root for Bosch as he fights, sometimes against his own, to right the wrongs in his part of the world. Like a fine wine, Bosch’s aging makes him richer in character. Connelly knows how to lay out his clues and build his characters. Echo Park is a compelling addition to this powerful series.

In Hachette’s audio version, narrator Len Cariou does an impressive job of conveying Bosch’s determined and sometimes weary state of mind. I listened to both the abridged and unabridged version. Preferring the full story, when it comes to a superb series like this, it’s no surprise that I favor the unabridged version. Echo Park is a suspenseful tag-a-long ride you don’t want to miss. Due to the strong content, remember your headphones - and expect to keep them on for the duration.

Reviews of other titles in this series

The Last Coyote, Trunk Music,
Angels Flight, # 4, 5, 6
(Harry Bosch Vol 2)

[book]

A Darkness More Than Night, # 7 [book]  [audio]
City of Bones, # 8 [book]
Lost Light, # 9 [book]  [audio]
The Narrows, # 10 [book]  [audio]
The Closers, # 11   [book]  [audio]
Echo Park, # 12   [book] [audio]
The Overlook, # 13   [book] [audio]
The Brass Verdict, # 14
Bosch/Haller
[audio ]
9 Dragons, # 15 
[audio]
The Reversal, # 16
Bosch/Haller
[book] [audio]
The Drop, # 17 [book]
Murder and all That Jazz
-Bosch Short Story

[book]

The Black Box # 18 [audio]
Angle of Investigation [audio]
The Burning Room # 19 [book 1] [book 2] [audio]
The Crossing
Bosch #20/Haller #6
[audio]
The Wrong Side of Goodbye [audio]

 

The Book

Hachette Audio
October 9, 2006
Audiobook / Audio CD – Abridged / Unabridged edition
1594835896 (unabridged)
1594835853 (abridged)
Suspense / Police Procedural
More at Amazon.com Abridged version/
Unabridged version
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Brenda Weeaks
Reviewed 2006
NOTE:
© 2006 MyShelf.com