The Black Box
A Harry Bosch Novel, Book 18
Michael Connelly

Hatchette Audio
November 26, 2012/ ISBN 978-1478978084
Mystery/Police Procedural
Amazon

Reviewed by Jo Rogers

Harry Bosch works in the LAPD's Open Unsolved Unit. He is a detective who works cold cases. Twenty years ago, during the Los Angeles riots, Bosch was called to a homicide in a dark alley. The victim was a beautiful photojournalist from Denmark.

Bosch had all of fifteen minutes to gather evidence before he was called to another homicide. The only people who were in the area were the National Guard unit that had been called in to help quell the riots.

Now, in an effort to clear all the unsolved cases from the riots. Harry is reassigned to the case. He feels glad he finally has a chance to bring the killer to justice. After twenty years, the trail is ice cold. All he has to work with is the evidence he and his former partner, Jerry Edgars, could gather in the short time they were at the scene.

Bosch goes about his investigation in his usual bulldog manner, not letting go until he is done. He follows the rules as long as they don't get in his way. This time, they get in his way.

His supervising Lieutenant, O'Toole, nicknamed O'Fool, filed a complaint against Bosch to get rid of him. Can he finmd the killer before O'Toole succeeds?

The Black Box is loaded with profanity, which is sad, because it has a stellar plot. It is not straightforward, but twists and turns in every direction. The characters are human, complete with all the little foibles that accompany the human condition.

The writing is superior and is a good lesson in what makes a story good. Listen to Michael McConnohie read this superb tale and lose yourself in a great mystery!

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