Rating: 
Summary: Harry Hits Vegas
Review: "Trunk Music" was Michael Connelly's sixth book, his fifth to feature Harry Bosch and was first published in 1997. Although Harry remains a cigarette-smoking, beer-swilling, coffee-drinking jazz-fan, his life has seen a few changes since "The Last Coyote". It's been about eight months since Harry returned to the Hollywood Division from involuntary stress leave, but roughly eighteen since he 'officially' investigated a homicide case. Bosch has spent the previous eight months working the burglary table - officially, this was to ease him back into detective work. In reality, however, it was a slap on the wrist for his 'unofficial' investigation outlined in "The Last Coyote" - while he was his involuntary stress leave. He's also spending much of his free time redecorating his house - condemned after an earthquake, it's been demolished and now rebuilt.
The Hollywood Division is now under the command of a new Lieutenant, Grace Billets. In turn, she has decided that all homicides should be investigated by three detectives. Harry is the team leader of Squad One : his partners are Jerry Edgar, who he'd worked with previously, and Kizmin Rider. Rider transferred in around the same time as Billets, both from the LAPD's Pacific Division. "Trunk Music" covers Harry's first case back at the homicide table under these new arrangements. A body has been found in the trunk of a Rolls Royce along Hollywood Drive, overlooking the Hollywood Bowl. Certain factors seem to indicate the victim - Tony Aliso - was killed by the Mob. As such, the case should be turned over to the Organized Crime Intelligence Unit. However, when notified, OCID take a pass - although Harry's happy he hasn't lost his case, he still finds that decision a little strange. To complicate matters, it later appears the officer Harry contacted - a man called Carbone - is taking a 'casual' interest in the case. Harry believes there's more to this than meets the eye, but knows he'll have to be careful. While OCID are supposed to concentrate on organized crime, it is widely believed they hold thick files on many - including the Police Chief and the Mayor. In other words, they're not afraid to play dirty to get what they want.
Aliso, although a small-time player in the movie business, still made a healthy living from it. Married to one of his former actresses, he took regular trips to Vegas. The length of these trips would vary, depending on his luck at the poker tables - however, his wife suspected he did more in Vegas than just gamble. He was returning from one of these trips when he was apparently intercepted and killed. Realising the killer may have followed Aliso from Vegas, Harry takes a trip there to try and retrace his steps. The trip, however, throws up one or two surprises - and it wouldn't be a Harry Bosch novel if he didn't find himself in serious trouble.
Connelly has written another excellent book, and has also introduced two very likeable characters - Billets and Rider. Billets, unlike Harry's previous boss, seems to care about clearing cases - rather than fiddling statistics to make the department look good. Rider, meanwhile, is considered an excellent detective and is tipped to go right to the top. It would probably be a slight advantage to have read at least a couple of the previous Bosch novels- for example, there are certain slight references to some of the events from "The Black Echo" and "The Last Coyote". While it's not entirely necessary, I would recommend reading them first - they are both excellent books, and knowing the "full story" will add to the enjoyment of this instalment.
Rating:
Summary: hardcover 1st edition published 1997- a pleasurable read...
Review: After a leave of absence, LAPD detective Harry Bosch comes forward via request to investigate the circle of circumstances involving the death of Anthony Aliso, whose body is found in the trunk of the victim's car, parked on Mulholland Drive. Author Connelly immediately catches the reader's attention with depth, each "clue" leads to another piece of solving this thriller - such clues as the mysterious substance found around the victim's eyes. Each time Bosch thinks he has the biggest lead to the murder of Aliso, another corner is turned, leading to more information that detours Bosch to trail the killer(s).Is Aliso's wife involved in any way? Are the individuals who Bosch meets in Las Vegas gambling casinos involved? In the process of investigation, Bosch is taken back in time to a former acquaintance, more-than-friend Eleanor Wish. Bosch encounters "enemies" within the LAPD and FBI who "hold" information over him, attempting to deter and dismiss Bosch from the case. With supportive efforts of the investigation team including head of department Billets, and department members Kiz Rider and Edgar, Bosch continues his travails to catch a killer. Connelly spins this mystery like a smooth operating gambling wheel -- each piece of information, each character, each action, fit into a slot making for a pleasurable, entertaining, suspenseful, intricate and clever mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Harry's Back!
Review: Back on track with the Harry Bosch series, this is a great read! With this one the tension caused by the quick-tempered loose cannon Harry is exhilarating. He brings back a character from his first in the series The Black Echo with great success. The twists and turns are as satisfying as usual. I recommend this to any fan of the genre!
Rating: 
Summary: this was an entertaining read
Review: Bosch comes back to the job after a leave of absence lasting just over a year. His house that was destroyed in a quake is back, as is a flame from an earlier book. But I am not on rehashing plot lines.
This book is quite fun, I read it three days ago however and it is already starting to dissipate from my mind. So beyond entertainment used to divert ones attention or occupy a few hours, this is a light though enjoyable read. As always, Connelly is only a step or two away from creating something quite original with his work. As an author however, Connelly plays it safe and gives us the traditional tried and true plot line. What makes this book and series stick out from the rest is his unique banter and personal peccadilloes between his characters. I wish Connelly would read some of our contemporary literary luminaries stemming from Carvers influence and then turn around and reshape the mystery thriller in a similar fashion to Lawrence Block and his Scudder adventures.
Read this series in order to obtain the maximum enjoyment.
Rating: 
Summary: Good enough to keep reading, yet disappointing
Review: Reading this book, I kept reading to find out whodunnit of course. What I didn't realize was that my suspicions of whodunnit were right from the very beginning. I guess if you read enough murder mysteries, you sort of begin to pick up on the clues that make the story predictable. When things are coincidental, there is probably a reason. When something begins to make sense and fall in place too easily, there is probably a reason. I found the new police characters to be refreshing but tired of the IA inquiry, the boring and rambling dialogues throughout the book and the Harry Bosch greater than thou character. I wouldn't recommend the book. Once you know who the killer(s) really are, the book struggles along and stretches out the story another 75 pages or so that aren't necessary and I felt at the end I should've seen the words, "And they all lived happily ever after".
Rating:
Summary: One turn after another
Review: This book makes so many turns that you will never imagine how is going to end, when you think everything is solved it gets another turn and believe me, you wouldn't be able to close the book until the end.
The must important part of the book is that shows that the police department are men, and as all men of the world, they have their own problems and secrets, their problem is that the life of a policeman is public and everybody knows what happen to them.
The story of Harry and how he work to save his career is almost like superman, but this is a very good reading, if you have this book, just read it.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites so far
Review: This is one of my favorites of the Harry Bosch books so far! This book had it all, the suspense, action, drama and even a little love story for Harry.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best by a long shot...
Review: This is probably Connelly's weakest Bosch novel (I have read the first 5 and the Narrows, so I have 4 more to go)...I loved the end and the geniunely shocking twists and turns (first about 1/2 way through and the second about 15 pages from the end). Billets and Rider are super new characters. However, the plot was meandering and overly complicated. How many IAD investigations/suspensions is Harry going to deal with? And the plot was not overly exciting or engaging. Still, it is Bosch and Connelly is probably the best mystery writer going to day.
Rating:
Summary: I'm falling in love with Harry!
Review: This is the 5th book of the Harry Bosch series. I've read every one. Michael Connelly has developed a character who is real. Harry loves being a cop. He has his flaws but he continually tries to improve himself. I love the way Connelly ties in characters and story lines from book to book. You definately have to start from the first of the series (Black Echo). I highly recommend this series.
Rating:
Summary: I'm falling in love with Harry!
Review: This is the 5th book of the Harry Bosch series. I've read every one. Michael Connelly has developed a character who is real. Harry loves being a cop. He has his flaws but he continually tries to improve himself. I love the way Connelly ties in characters and story lines from book to book. You definately have to start from the first of the series (Black Echo). I highly recommend this series.
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