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philantrop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
After the delight that “Angels Flight” was, I was eager to delve into Michael Connelly's 'City of Bones', the eighth instalment in the Harry Bosch series. Although it did not quite live up to the intensely riveting and thrilling standards set by some of its predecessors, it still proved to be a very enjoyable read.
»The point is, this doctor says it was just a kid, Harry. So could you humor us and go check out this humerus?”«
From the onset, Connelly's writing style was as engaging as ever; as a result, the story was well-paced, providing a steady flow of intrigue and suspense that kept me turning the pages. However, I did find certain sections to be a bit lagging, lacking the heart-pounding intensity that I've come to expect from a Bosch novel.
»Bosch almost laughed.
“The department doesn’t care about it. The department cares about the image, not the truth. And when the truth endangers the image, then fuck the truth.”
“Well, I care, Harry. And so do you.”
Bosch looked down at the card and nodded and put it in his pocket.
“Okay, I’ll call you.”«
Harry remains a compelling character. Connelly continues to explore Bosch's complex personality, delving into his psychological makeup and personal life, which adds depth to the narrative. Bosch's unyielding determination and relentless pursuit of justice are admirable, making him a true master of his craft. However, I found his character development in this book to be somewhat stagnant compared to earlier instalments.
»Don’t go existential on me, Harry. The important thing is that it means something to you. And if it means something to you, then it is important to do what you can.«
The supporting characters were well-developed and added colour to the story. Connelly does a fantastic job of creating multi-dimensional characters that feel real and authentic. However, some of the secondary characters felt underutilised, and I would have liked to see them play a more significant role in the plot, e. g. Julia whose storyline felt unfinished…
»“By the way, I’m Julia Brasher. I’m new in the division.”
- “Harry Bosch.”
“I know. I’ve heard of you.”
- “I deny everything.”«
Ultimately, if you're a fan of the Harry Bosch series, this book is definitely worth a read. If you’re new to Bosch, consider “Angels Flight” instead.
Four stars out of five.
»“Somebody once told me that life was the pursuit of one thing. Redemption. The search for redemption.”
“For what?”
“For everything. Anything. We all want to be forgiven.”
libbiebell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
3.5
mhuntone's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital audio narrated by Peter J Fernandez.
3.5***
Book eight in the popular Harry Bosch detective mystery series. When a man’s dog returns from exploring a wooded hillside bearing a human bone, Harry gets called to investigate. The bone is not recent, and once more of the skeleton is recovered, the medical examiner notes signs of continued abuse, including multiple healed fractures. Who is this child? And who was the murderer?
I really like this series, partly because I really like Harry Bosch. He’s a great detective, and does his best to circumvent the political minefield of a big-city police department and political interests that seem to interfere with investigating and discovering the truth.
The action is fast paced and Connelly gives the reader enough red herrings to keep anyone guessing.
Peter J Fernandez does a fine job narrating the audiobook. He moves along at a good clip, and does a pretty good job of voicing the women characters as well as the men.
3.5***
Book eight in the popular Harry Bosch detective mystery series. When a man’s dog returns from exploring a wooded hillside bearing a human bone, Harry gets called to investigate. The bone is not recent, and once more of the skeleton is recovered, the medical examiner notes signs of continued abuse, including multiple healed fractures. Who is this child? And who was the murderer?
I really like this series, partly because I really like Harry Bosch. He’s a great detective, and does his best to circumvent the political minefield of a big-city police department and political interests that seem to interfere with investigating and discovering the truth.
The action is fast paced and Connelly gives the reader enough red herrings to keep anyone guessing.
Peter J Fernandez does a fine job narrating the audiobook. He moves along at a good clip, and does a pretty good job of voicing the women characters as well as the men.
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
The next book in the Harry Bosch series begins in the holidays, the loneliest time of the year, and Harry finds himself on a call checking out a bone a dog brought down from the forest. Lucky for Harry, the dog’s owner is a former doctor who adamantly claims the bone belongs to a young boy
As the search continues, Harry and his team discover the skeleton of a pre-teen boy and some of his belongings, slowly drawing the conclusion through evidence and phone tips that the murder occurred some 20 years ago, making it nearly impossible to fully track what happened.
In the midst of solving his holiday murder, Harry finds himself under the watchful eye of the chief of police and his superiors, worried about what the future really holds and how long his job will be offered to him.
I really enjoyed this adventure with Harry. It brought even more to light on his character, what he was willing to risk to solve a case, and what he is willing to sacrifice and give up in the end. I’ve already halfway through the next book and very eager to find out what they all have in store.
As the search continues, Harry and his team discover the skeleton of a pre-teen boy and some of his belongings, slowly drawing the conclusion through evidence and phone tips that the murder occurred some 20 years ago, making it nearly impossible to fully track what happened.
In the midst of solving his holiday murder, Harry finds himself under the watchful eye of the chief of police and his superiors, worried about what the future really holds and how long his job will be offered to him.
I really enjoyed this adventure with Harry. It brought even more to light on his character, what he was willing to risk to solve a case, and what he is willing to sacrifice and give up in the end. I’ve already halfway through the next book and very eager to find out what they all have in store.
greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
Another smash. Harry is back and doing his thing his way. Heartbreaks and all.
peter_gagne's review against another edition
3.0
A really good book. Tough to read, because of the subject matter, but you really feel what Harry Bosch feels. To me, that's the mark of good writing. Don't read as your first Michael Connelly book. If possible, read it in at least relative order in the Bosch series. It'll make more sense, and you'll appreciate it more.
vkaz's review against another edition
4.0
Hard to put the book down, though I found the ending a little anticlimactic.
essie_may's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0