Rating: 
Summary: Worth your time.
Review: Michael Connelly shows us in this book that an old dog can still learn some new tricks. Harry Bosch is back, as we all knew he would be,notwithstanding the fact that he has retired from the police department. That does not mean that he has stoped doing police work however, and a call from a former colleague gets him back in the game of trying to solve a crime that has been eating at him since before he retired. In doing so, two unsolved crimes from the past become intertwined and it is left to Harry to peel the onion, layer by layer, until the matter is solved. I thought the first third or so of the book was slow to develop, however once he gets into his stride the book moves very nicely. It seems that we have not read the last of Harry's exploits and that is good news for those of us who have come to enjoy and admire him.
Rating:
Summary: Bosch is Back...But He's Different Now
Review: Harry Bosch called it quits in City of Bones, retiring from the force. Now we find Bosch in the private sector, getting his P.I. license like so many cops do after they leave the police department. He really has no interest in pursuing a life as a private investigator, though. Only when an old case falls back into his lap does he start nosing around in classic Bosch style. Four years ago, a production assistant was murdered and the pose of her body haunted Bosch. When he went to a movie set to ask routine questions about her death, he got caught up in a shootout as armed robbers took off with two million dollars. Robbery-Homicide took over the case and that was the end of his involvement. The cops investigating the case were involved in a shootout, leaving one dead and the other paralyzed. The money was never recovered. The murder never solved. And as Bosch tries to figure out what happened, to close just one more case, he instead finds nothing but opposition standing in his way. He's bullied by former colleagues, doors aren't as open for him as they were when he donned a badge and there seems to be an even bigger presence involved in the case. Even bigger than the LAPD. He feels like he's getting nowhere but someone's sure worried. He's being followed, lied to and shot at. And he has no idea what for. The Harry Bosch we've gotten used to in the past seven books of this series is quite different from the Bosch in this eighth novel. He's taking on a dark persona at times but still has that good old Harry heart that makes him a lovable character. The end is so surprising, Michael Connelly could actually end the series on this note. But we sure hope he doesn't. Fans will be anxious to see a ninth Bosch book with this new twist.
Rating: 
Summary: Connelly may be writing to make money.
Review: Time and time again I have thought that Connelly's books were both innovative and fun to read. His latest offering was not bad, but in comparison to the novels he has written before, it does not succeed. If you are a Connelly fan it still flows well, but by the end I felt a bit ripped off.
Rating:
Summary: Great Day in the Morning, Harry!
Review: Newly retired and newly humble Harry speaks to us in the first person in "Lost Light." Harry is bored with his retirement and all too aware he is no longer a cop with a badge ("us"), but a plain joe average citizen ("them") with no automatic entries to questioning and sleuthing. Harry decides to work on one of his cold cases, the never solved murder of a young woman whose death was connected to a heist of two million in cash from a movie set. (The director insisted he have "real" money in the pivotal scene for authenticity's sake). Harry undergoes the labors of Hercules trying to get interviews and documentation. Then both LAPD and the FBI warn him off. Harry (no surprise) doggedly carries on. Connelly gives the FBI the back of his hand as usual. He succinctly shows the dangers of the absolute power of Homeland Security. Best of all, Connelly's characterizations, particularly of a paraplegic former police officer shot on duty is so sharp and acute, it is painful to read. The reader shares Harry's reluctant empathy of the desolation of the man's daily life. The complex plot is deft and always firmly under Connelly's control as he springs twists, turns, and surprises on us. But the biggest surprise of all is the last one, and it strictly belongs to Harry. His life is going in a new direction, and I can't wait to see what it is.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
Rating: 
Summary: Another Night With Harry
Review: Another Bosch treat. Everytime I buy another Connelly book I think that, well this one has got to start getting tired, but Connelly hasn't disappointed me yet. He just like John Stanford and his Lucas Davenport series or the Henry Rios series, just never seem to disappoint. I keep looking for just one more book. Now that I've read them all I am amazed that they are all so interesting. Some might be less of a treat than others but they are all slightly different, all engaging, and this one was a real page turner
Rating:
Summary: Plain good story telling...
Review: Harry Bosch is an extremely likable fellow. After tours in Vietnam and some twenty-eight years with the LAPD, the man has managed to retain his humanity without the slightest hint of cynicism, though his realistic view of the world might be mistaken as such. As Harry states in the novel, it's difficult to let go of the job after so many years. But there are some cases, unsolved cases that refuse to go away, there must be closure. Bosch knows who he is - this sounds like a cliche, but the man knows his place in the world, and to maintain his integrity, he must follow his calling, or in Harry's words, his mission. Like the job, and relationships, he's come to realize that there's no turing back. Everything has a connection, and when he ponders on these things he knows "there is no end of things in the heart". Thus the story begins. Michael Connelly writes in a straightforward style, no over writing here, but just enough to draw you in and keep you there until the last page. This is just plain good story telling. There's no effort here to razzle-dazzle the reader with attempts at originality. This novel is a believable case with true to life characters that are interesting in their own right. His plotting is tight and the pace moves well, dragging the reader along effortlessly. ~Lost Light~ is a wonderful metaphor for the City of Angels - Los Angeles. The older natives of this strange and extraordinary city at least, including Harry, look back on it as having lost something. But even in the shadows, one can catch glimmers of the lost light, shining in the darkness. This is modern crime writing that will exceed your expectations. If you have become bored with gratuitous hype and needless special effects, read ~Lost Light~ it bring us back to reality and reminds us of what a good story should be. Excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Bosch's Back!!!
Review: If you like great mystery writers but haven't read Michael Connelly, you're missing a great one. Michael Connelly after thirteen stellar books is starting to get the recognition that, I knew, he deserved, after reading his award winning fifth book The Poet. Connelly is a superb story teller with some of the best plots I have read. This is not his best read (The Poet, Angels Flight and Blood Work claim that honor) but it's still a very worth while book. In fact Connelly's average books are as good as many other writers better books. Michael Connelly's main character in this and eight of the twelve other books is Hieronymous 'Harry' Bosch, (named after the famous painter)a LAPD homicide detective of impeccable integrity and almost a psychic innate ability for crime solving. Although Bosch had an exemplary arrest and conviction record, he was on the outs with his superiors, more often than not. Bosch was viewed as a cowboy, not a team player, so he never rose in the ranks. In his last Bosch bookCity of Bones, Michael Connelly retired Bosch and many fans thought that was it for their beloved 'Harry'. But never fear, Harry has resurfaced and just as wily and ornery as ever but now he's working outside the law. Such Boschless titles as Chasing the Dime have their merits, but most fans will undoubtedly be elated that Harry is back for another round. Lost Light Our man, Harry Bosch, after a call from Danny Cross decides to look into the four year old murder of a young movie set factotum named Angella Benton. Harry was the original investigator on the case but was subsequently removed after two million dollar heist took place at the movie set, wherein another person was killed and a third injured.
At that point both investigations were assigned to robbery detectives, Danny Cross and Lawton Dorsey In the present time when Danny Cross called Harry he is a quadriplegic and the sole survivor of a shootout that happened weeks after the robbery in a bar. Danny Cross's partner was killed and he was left paralyzed and that pretty much stopped the investigation. Harry never forgot Angella Benton and so he began to dig into the case. He started by interviewing the film's producer The next morning, an old partner of Harry's, Kiz Rider, who had been promoted to some elevated rank, showed up at his house and told him to stay away from the case. Now if you want Harry to stay away from a case, you don't tell him to stay away, so Harry asked why, who would care, it was a cold case not being worked. Kiz told him it was being worked at the highest levels and he could get in some serious trouble. Trouble never stopped Harry so he next visited the Quadriplegic, Danny Cross, to ask what else he remembers. The only additional information he can give Harry is that some FBI agent, a woman, called a couple weeks after the heist and told his partner, the late Lawson Dorsey that one of the serial numbers they were given didn't add up. Harry jumped on this lead and discovered that The FBI agent was a Martha Gessler and that she disappeared shortly after her phone call. He also discovered that he was being tailed by an FBI goon. Harry keeps getting in deeper and deeper into the case and eventually gets rousted by a crack anti-terrorism unit of the FBI. Who has in custody numerous terror suspects including one who was arrested at the Mexican border with a hundred dollar bill with a serial number matching one on the stolen money list, the so-called reason to lay off the case. All the terrorism suspects are being held without counsel etc., so Harry thinks he may never get out and might just disappear but they finally let him out with a very stern warning. In the meantime Harry shows up the goon and makes an enemy. Harry gets a little help from a regular FBI agent, who had worked with him in the past and happens to have been Martha Gesslers boyfriend. Meanwhile the plot keeps getting more and more convoluted. When Harry finally figures out who the killers are Harry does a dumb thing and confronts them. They subsequently visit him at his home which leads to some very tense minutes and Harry is almost killed again but finally he prevails. End of story right? Wrong! In typical unpredictable Connelly style, he still has a several important twists left, which you'll find out when you read the book. This book was a real page turner, not unusual for Connelly. The story, though not his best, was still well done and most definitely held my interest. The central character, Harry Bosch works alone, in this book, therefore the supporting cast is limited. Michael Connelly, Magician
Like a great magician, Michael Connelly Has the ability to misdirect and mislead his audience(the reader), with his twisting scenarios. In his previous book Chasing the Dime I not only was surprised by the ending, I was very impressed at how well Connelly was able to deflect any suspicion of the ending. This book is similar so be prepared to be surprised. Connelly, having been a journalist, has a nice flowing easy to read style. I seem to be able to read his books faster because his writing is unpretentious and straightforward so I get everything at first glance
Rating:
Summary: Easy, enjoyable read . . . but
Review: it never ceases to amaze me when an old lady like me can figure out who the main bad guy is before all these super-intelligent LAPD cops, FBI agents and Harry himself. As soon as the ever-so-illusive reference was made, I knew he'd end up being The One. It was so obvious that I thought maybe they threw it in just to throw me off - - but no, Connolly took the easy route. So I remove a star for that and for the "surprise" ending that has been so overused, it's no longer a surprise at all.
Rating:
Summary: "What a wonderful world..."
Review: The lines of the old jazz standard by Louis Armstrong play a large, if ironic role in Connelly's latest Harry Bosch tome, "Lost Light". Michael Connelly succeeds because he's not afraid to take risks. Finishing this "Harry Bosch" novel, your sense is he might even take a bigger risk in the next book...by moving Bosch from LA to Las Vegas. Now, LA is synonymous with Connelly in the way that Boston is with Robert Parker, so that will be another leap. But Connelly definitely wanted Harry to go in another direction...as a private investigator, Harry can be as much of a bull in a china shop, as much of a full-speed ahead guy, as he was as a cop. Only now there's no one to tell him "No". An old FBI "pal", Lindell says it best --when he accuses Bosch of putting himself in the path of the murderers, because he wants to take them on..."he wanted them to come after him....He's always been a private investigator, even when he carried a badge". So, at the age of 52, as grumpy and sarcastic as he's always been, as unlucky in love, as haunted by homicide that can't be solved as he's ever been, Harry's got a new lease on life. The plot here is interwoven, and we go up blind alleys with Harry. It becomes obvious who the killers are, but there's an end twist between Bosch and the old paralyzed cop who enticed him to open the cold case (Lawton Cross) that will make you feel as hollow as Harry must feel. Jazz still plays an intrinsic role in Harry's life, and the women who are important to him, Kiz Rider, Keisha Russell and Eleanor Wish all make appearances. I'm definitely tuned in to the change to first person storytelling that Connelly uses, now that Harry is out on his own. We get inside Harry's head more this way. And Connelly skillfully touches on a current political issue as he always does; this time Homeland Security and the potentially disastrous losses of citizen's rights that it may impose. I raced through Lost Light and think it may be Connelly's best since "The Concrete Blonde", and that's saying a lot...there's no "loss of light" here. Don't delay, and don't skip it, even if you've not experimented with Bosch before. It's tense, satisfying, and altogether deserves a 5 star rating!
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD CONNELLY READ!
Review: That says it all...if you like his others, you"ll like this one. Written in first person is good for BOSCH, it puts you more into his shoes.(I felt MICHAEL portrayed his own protagonist in "Chasing the dime"}..He"s there in Bosch"s shoes..so are you.. {only crical flaw..four guns against none..you lose..but hey..this is fiction..and the world is a little better with a good CONNELLY book. Thanks..and do it again!
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