The Black Ice

A good follow-up to the premier Harry Bosch novel. Black Echo left Harry in an odd place and made me wonder where the character could go from here. Black Ice plausibly moved the character ahead. I am way behind the curve reading Michael Connelly, but I am enjoying catching up. There are a few instances that are a little far fetched and stretch believability - but that is why we read novels and not newspapers. The skill Connelly displays is in showing the way Bosch handles his reality. He comes across as a fully fleshed person dealing with extraordinary circumstances. The same drive that makes Bosch a good detective is the same drive that won't allow him to be shut out of an investigation. Over all, a great read that moves Bosch and his world forward.

Executive Summary: I didn't think this book was nearly as good as [b:The Black Echo 32508 The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) Michael Connelly https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344265342s/32508.jpg 48262], but I still enjoyed it for the most part.Audiobook: I think Dick Hill did a good job again. It makes me disappointed that he doesn't so the whole series. I think I only have 1 or 2 books left that he narrates, which is a shame.Full ReviewI don't read a ton of mystery stories. I used to read a lot more of them when I was younger. I've always been on the lookout for a good series to add into the mix of all the fantasy and science fiction I read and I thought this might be a Unfortunately I felt like this book was a step back. It was still good, but not nearly as enjoyable to me as the first one. Often times a long running series like this can repeat some of the same patterns, but I didn't expect it to be so prevalent in the second book.I'm already a bit tired of Harry's love of jazz and the tendency to go after “damaged/vulnerable” women. I'm also not sure how much of the “cop who plays by his own rules” I want to deal with moving forward.That said the actual story of the book was pretty good and I liked how it played out, even if I didn't always like some of the subplot stuff.I'll probably continue on with the 3rd book if I can get the audio for cheap or more ideally from the library.

The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

“Black Ice” is a particularly seductive and dangerous concoction of coke, heroin and PCP manufactured in Mexico and shipped through our very porous southern border. Harry Bosch gets pulled into the drug underworld while investigating the death of a dealer. He gets some information from LAPD drug enforcement officer Calexico Moore. Before we know it, Moore has gone AWOL and then is discovered in a motel room with his head blown off in an apparent suicide.

Or is it murder? And is the LAPD going to cover it up in order to save face? And how is Bosch going to solve at least one murder at the request of Lt. “Ninety-eight” Pounds in order to get the solve statistic above 50%?

And what about Calexico's sultry wife; is Bosch going to do anything with his weirdly unrequited fascination for her?

And what about Teresa Corazon, who is knocking boots with Bosch and is trying to get a promotion to permanent Medical Examiner? Will Bosch make it out of this book with an intact relationship?

And how do the deaths of a dealer, Moore and another LAPD homicide officer all tie together with “Black Ice”?

This is the second Bosch book. Connelly keeps us watching all the balls as they fly through the air. Bosch comes across as the iconoic tough loner with a heart of gold, committed to seeing justice done and truth uncovered, even, though, he doesn't necessarily want the law to interfere with his investigation or truth to be revealed if it means that a widow may lose her pension.

The story was entertaining and kept me turning the pages.

»Bosch leaned back against the tree and watched the driver open the door for her. Then he lit a cigarette and watched as the sleek black machine carried her out through the gate and left him alone with the dead.«This is the second Harry Bosch novel I read and it surpasses its already strong predecessor in many aspects.The story begins on Christmas night, when Harry discovers that a fellow officer, Calexico Moore, has apparently committed suicide in a seedy motel. Harry is suspicious of the circumstances and decides to investigate on his own, despite the orders from his superiors to stay away. He soon uncovers a web of corruption, drug trafficking, and murder that involves not only Moore, but also a mysterious drug lord, who is behind a new and deadly drug called Black Ice.The writing is much improved compared to the first Bosch novel: Connelly has refined his style and skill, and has created a more polished and engaging narrative. The writing is more rounded and even and also more vivid and descriptive. Connelly uses a variety of techniques, such as dialogue, action, flashback, and foreshadowing, to create a dynamic and suspenseful story. He also uses rich and realistic details to bring the setting and the characters to life.The pacing has also greatly improved: Gone are any unnecessary or boring parts; instead, there's a consistent and smooth flow of the story. The pacing is fast enough to keep the reader interested and excited, but not too fast to lose the coherence, cohesion, and logic of the plot. The pacing also balances well between the two levels of the story: the private and the professional. Connelly gives enough relevant context and background information to explain Harry's thoughts and actions, and to show how his personal life affects his work, and vice versa. The private and the professional levels are nicely intertwined and work brilliantly together, creating a more complex and realistic character for Harry, and a more satisfying and rewarding reading experience for the reader.I still love Bosch's integrity and loyalty: When his investigation makes him visit Mexico, he's warned of the local corruption and told not to trust any cop. And yet, Harry is cautious but trusts his instincts which, ultimately, lets him overcome his institution's inherent racism and xenophobia.»“Right,” Bosch said. “I get it. No matter what goes wrong, it's my ass. I got it. I also have a vest in my trunk. He can use yours. I like my own.”«One might criticise some of Harry's decisions, of course. Most importantly a certain a bold and brave choice at the very end of the novel but thinking about it, that decision was not only fully within Harry's character (which, in itself, would be insufficient to justify it) but it ultimately serves everyone involved and sees true justice done. It was a realistic and fitting conclusion to the story, as it reflected the complexity and ambiguity of the situation. Harry did not take the easy or conventional way out, but he followed his instincts and his conscience, even if it meant losing his reputation and his friends. I think that this decision made Harry a more interesting and admirable character, and also a more human one. Harry is not a perfect hero, but he is a true one.»Irving finally turned around to face him again.“You are right, Bosch. I really don't understand you. Why risk everything for nothing? You see? It raises my concerns about you all over again. You don't play for the team. You play for yourself.”Bosch looked steadily at Irving and didn't smile, though he wanted to. Irving had paid him a fine compliment, though the assistant chief would never realize it.«“The Black Ice” is a very clever and complex story which is told elegantly by Connelly. Once again, a small drawback is the age of this novel: Written in the 90s, there still are no mobile phones, typewriters are still in use, etc..Due to the dense and extremely coherent atmosphere, the wonderfully designed tension arc, and the balanced pacing, I was able to simply overlook it.Five out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam