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.