Rating: 
Summary: A Top Story That Changes Hearts As Well As Lives
Review: I have followed Connelly's work since he was an LA reporter, and he just keeps getting better. From the microcosm of several murders that matter little to the grand scheme of the cosmos he has woven a story that engrosses the reader and brings him or her into the grander story of why people are the way they are, how they get that way, and how they can change. The story is gripping, the personal enlightenment invaluable. I thought Blood work and Angels Flight were his best. Now there are three best -- and the rest are still far ahead of almost anyone else.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A SEDUCTIVE READ! WHAT A BRAVURA PERFORMANCE!
Review: It's double trouble and a double treat for fans of mystery master Michael Connelly when he pairs two of his compelling protagonists - LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch ( "The Black Ice," "The Concrete Blonde," etc) and Terry McCaleb ("Bloodwork"). The duo serve up surprises and shocks in this tale of murder and mayhem Hollywood-style. Michael Beck, who has read several of John Grisham's classics, delivers a blockbuster performance in this riveting encounter with a movie director accused of murdering an actress. LA is, of course, agog, clamoring for details. The trial transfixes as Bosch, who was the arresting officer, is also a star witness. He goes mano a mano with McCaleb who has a different take on the crime. As the complexly plotted drama unfolds it seems that what may be the conclusion is too outre, too incredible to consider. What a pair of crime busters! What a seductive read! What a bravura performance!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: A fantastic book. Connelly remains at his riveting best -- an enthralling read, finished in one session. I've been a fan of his for a long time and he is never off the mark. But this is better than Void Moon and Blood Work, getting up to the brilliance of the Black Ice and Concrete Blonde. Thoroughly worthwhile. (And good to see that we have the drop on the US from all the way here in Sydney; the book's been out here for a while :-)
Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER GREAT NOVEL
Review: Terrence McCaleb, the FBI agent from the bestseller "Blood Work" returns in this riveting new thriller. Recently married, and with a brand new baby, McCaleb, is approached by a fellow agent with a proposition...help the FBI research a recent killing, similar to the killings he once profiled. After struggling with the idea of returning to work, McCaleb, decides to help and just give a profile of the killer. As he begins receiving the details of the crime, McCaleb starts investigating, and putting together his profile, to his shock, the profile fits that of someone he has worked with...Detective Harry Bosch! McCaleb is now drawn back into the twisted world he so desperatly tried to escape, and he must unravel this bizzare puzzle to find out if the decorated officer has stepped over the line of the law. "A Darkness More Than Night" is a riveting thriller, it takes about 100 pages to take off, but when it does, you will be up all night to discover the secrets that Michael Connelly has carefully placed within the novel's plot. Michael Connelly has taken his hugely popular character, Harry Bosch, and teamed him up with McCaleb in a novel that will rocket up the bestseller list's, and further prove his talent of creating fresh, exciting thrillers. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: A Writer better than most....
Review: It is always a difficult thing to do - to bring 2 of your major characters together in a novel. Connelly pulls it off with a flourish. What makes Connelly tick? He does not write poetic paragraphs but his writing is crisp and clear. His characterisation is brilliant. There are no always do-good, super-American heroes in his books His plotting is almost always brilliant with just about enough twists and turns. I go crazy with plots that twist and turn like a hairpin bend road - it just seems so contrived. This plot would have been perfect except for the last bit with Harry and Terry There is always a problem with great writers running out of steam - Connelly seems to have not lost it so far (Looks like Narrows passed the test) The Owl, Paintings and title add to the psyche of the setting There is something about novels set in LA that has a great feel (like a Western) - from Chandler, McDonald and Connelly continues that tradition with aplomb Michael Connelly is without doubt the best crime fiction writer alive today. What more you have in store for us?
Rating: 
Summary: Less than the sum of its parts?
Review: Author Michael Connelly presents an intriguing premise: what if retired FBI profiler Terry McCaleb (from "Blood Work") were coaxed into working one more case - and his analysis led him to suspect LAPD detective Harry Bosch (from "Black Echo" and others) to be a murderer? Having both of these complex characters working interlocking cases in an atmosphere of increasing suspicion could make for a great book, but unfortunately here the whole is less than the sum of its parts. The author relies on the reader's recollection of previous books in the series rather than develop the characters, especially Bosch, in this book. The story is told mostly from McCaleb's perspective, though several chapters are devoted to Bosch as he prepares to testify in a trial happening at the same time as McCaleb's investigation. The relevance of the trial becomes clear in time, but it is too bad that a character as interesting as Bosch is given so little to do in this story. As the plot threads begin to come together, the suspense increases and there are some interesting twists toward the end. All in all this was an enjoyable and quick read, but not up to Connelly's usual high standard.
Rating:
Summary: An Entertaining Read but Not Connelly's Finest
Review: [...]. I'm a huge Connelly fan and it's my appreciation of his masterful writing that kept me from noting the missed opportunities while reading "A Darkness More Than Night". It's a great read when compared to the works of most other modern authors, but compared to the high standards that Connelly's other works have set for him, it sticks out as a (forgivable) misstep in the Harry Bosch timeline.
The initial idea of putting LAPD detective Bosch and FBI agent Terry McCaleb (introduced in the magnificent page-turner "Blood Work" - don't judge it by the lackluster movie) together on the same investigation is a great one. They exist as opposite sides of the law-and-order coin: Bosch's past has left him cynical to the point that he will pursue justice through any means, while McCaleb has found a new optimism through his second chance at a life and family. They maintain professional respect for each other while investigating related cases, but eventually their philosophies must collide. Along the way, each man also questions his own current belief set. These conflicts are the strongpoint of the book, but their examination comes too late and isn't handled with sufficient depth.
Instead, too much energy is devoted to weaving numerous other Connelly characters into the plot, and not always to great effect. For example, why force Jack McEvoy (the journalist from "The Poet") into the mix when established L.A. reporter Keisha Russell would have done just fine? Eventually, all of the crossovers [...] detract from the strengths that should have been the focus of the book. The introduction of characters from different book arcs is often used by authors as their series progress, and in lesser hands, they usually come off as ham-handed gimmicks. Connelly manages to salvage a good story out of this, but you're left disappointed that the crossovers kept it from being as good as it should have been.
The plotting of Bosch and McCaleb's parallel cases is very well done - Bosch is the star witness for the prosecution in a high-profile Hollywood murder case, while McCaleb has been asked by Jaye Winston (more crossovers, although justified here) to profile a current homicide that looks like a possible serial case. This duality is reminiscent of "The Concrete Blonde" except that it's McCaleb doing the current investigation this time. As a result, you won't find any of Bosch's usual supporting cast around (Jerry Edgar, Grace Billets, Irvin Irving) in this one; only Kizmin Rider makes a brief cameo.
Several other areas that didn't receive proper attention include an examination of the painter who is Bosch's namesake and the interesting parallels between the two, the arrogant Hollywood playboy defendant in Harry's trial, and the eventual resolution of that case. Each of these areas were given very promising leads that never fully matured as they should have.
I wish that Amazon allowed fractional ratings, because "A Darkness More Than Night" is a solid 3.5. It's both a good mystery read and a necessary chapter in the timelines of both Harry Bosch and Terry McCaleb. The story held great promise when focused on their distinct psychologies, the necessary conflict between the two, and the casework that draws them into each other's path. Unfortunately, this potential is never fully realized as too much time and effort is devoted to squeezing in crossovers from all of Connelly's different character arcs.
Rating:
Summary: Michael Connelly is a genious
Review: I am surging through the Bosch series and loving every minute of it.
First, this book would probably get very low reviews if the reader hasn't read the previous ones.
For those who have been reading the series, I think you will love this one. Connelly has a gift of pulling from previous books and developing top notch plots. This book has Harry in the midst of a trial against an arrogant Hollywood show-off. McCaleb, from Blood Works, is asked to look at a murder book on a victim who Bosch knows well. McCaleb is lead down a road where Bosch becomes a prime suspect. The 2 plots then come together at the end.
I really liked the reference to the painter Bosch's pieces. I found them very interesting.
This story kept me on the edge...I was pleased with the resolution, however, the only thing that puzzled me was the ending. I had to read the last 2 pages to figure out if there was something I missed....I hope I didn't.
Rating:
Summary: Bosch and Cnonelly are back better than ever...
Review: After two weaker efforts, Angels Flight and Void Moon, Connelly is back with a vegenance here (in more ways than one). The story is tight and very noir. This is not happy story for either bosch or terry. It probes motive and explores the pysches of both burdened men. It has the usual brillant touches--a paragraph where Bosch sees Thelma from Void Moon going back to work--and a note about selling the TV and Movie rights to Blood Work. Jack McEvoy is here and still a bit sleazy (although his sleaze factor is no where near that of earlier reporters in this series). A bit outlandish at times, but overall a wonderful book that explores motives and behaviors of the good guys.
Rating:
Summary: Frightening
Review: This seventh installment in the Harry Bosch series includes a character from one of his out-of-series books. An excellent character from an excellent book (they made a movie out of Blood Work with Clint Eastwood). In this book, the character collides with Harry Bosch, with extremely unpleasant results. Don't get me wrong, this is a terrific read. But I did not enjoy seeing two "good guy" characters duke it out. Each character was great within their own stories, and I would have preferred a collaboration rather than a collision in a cross-over book like this. Oh well.
Still, this is a great read; I recommend it to any fan of the genre.
| 
