Rating: 
Summary: Too much of everything--too little of everything.
Review: Michael Connelly has written several outstanding crime novels and several more good ones. His earlier Harry Bosch novels have depth and are very well written. The Last Coyote is particularly good--certainly should have one the Edgar for that year. Void Moon is his best novel (not a Harry Bosch work), predictably underappreciated. The Poet, to which The Narrows is a kind of sequel, is also extremely well done--plot, suspense, characterization, details etc. Chasing the Dime is also excellent because Connelly takes some risks by mixing disparate elements of life so effectively--the novel doesn't completely work, but is still better than 99% of crime fiction being written today. BEFORE reading The Narrows the reader really must read Blood Work, The Poet, and couple of early Harry Bosch novels
The Narrows simply tries to do too many things without developing the differing strands with enough thought, imagination or depth. The portions of the book on the poet himself simply lack the necessary character and plot development necessary to develop suspense. Just touches here and there are not enough. The way that the poet finds his victims just isn't plausible the way it is presented. Certainly, someone would have traced at least one of the men to Clear--even a layman detective wife. I also found Walling to be unattractive, which is fine (my liking a character isn't a prerequesite to a good novel), but Walling is underdeveloped and just plain yucky. By the way, why do the other FBI agents stop following her when she hooks up with Bosch---no reason except whole episode in poet's killing field would have been botched up (a grievous plot flaw from a writer given so many accolades as Connelly). M.C. references to Eastwood and Pelecanos are cloying. The plot intertwining with McCaleb works fairly well--the parts of the book touching on McCaleb's life, death, wife, friend are by far the best, because they are actually developed with some care. The sex scene was ludicrous ("B" movie junk) The shots at the FBI were repeats from Lost Light. I'm glad Connelly has a daughter, but is creating a daughter for Bosch so he can write about his own daughter is self-indulgent mush. The "suspenseful" ending is good at the bookstore, but forced and factitious when Walling and Bosch get back to the Valley and the L.A. River.
My feeling is that Connelly knows he can write books that will sell and he also know that readers like me realize he's the best we've got in the U.S., no matter what he turns out. What saddens me is that his novels have steadily declined (Chasing the Dime excepted)since Void Moon. Unlike Brits, Reginald Hill and Ruth Rendell (my favorite "mystery" novelists, along with S. Kaminsky) Connelly has actually sold out--the big paycheck no matter what he writes. Seriously, should he happen upon this review, I suggest he read Rendell's Going Wrong, The Crocodile Bird and The Bridesmaid to see how a writer refuses to rest on her proverbial laurels. Same with R. Hill; read a few of his earlier series novels and then read On Beulah Heights, or, especially Dialogues of the Dead (Dialogues, along with Thomas Cook's Breakheart Hill, is the finest suspense novel of all time: the test, you can read these two books more than once with deepening pleasure and imaginative elan.) The Narrows reads fast because it's basically a "beach" or "airplane" book, ala Grafton, Kellerman, Cornwall ad nauseam. Actually, Connelly only need reread a couple of his earlier books, The Concrete Blonde or Void Moon. and compare them to what he is churning out now. A major disappointment that he doesn't take his writing seriously now that he is a success. And the Narrows is a soup with too many ingredients splashed into a pot and left to boil without even a casual glance at what is happening to this terribly, underdeveloped, over-hyped, novelistic mush. Sad.
Rating: 
Summary: (4.5) Harry Bosch Meets Rachel Walling on the Road to Zzyzx
Review: In THE NARROWS Michael Connelly ties together the themes and characters from several of his previous novels while returning to the loose end of the unresolved fate of Robert Backus at the conclusion of THE POET. Those readers familiar with the world of Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch know that it is the centered in LA - "a sunny place for shady people"- and that Harry's character and Connelly's style have both evolved in reaction to the events which they have experienced. This book continues Connelly's recent adoption of the first person narrative by Harry Bosch interspersed with third person narrative for the other main characters in the book, primarily FBI profiler Rachel Walling and Backus, the former FBI agent who had for years used his knowledge of police procedures to escape detection as a serial killer. As is always the case in the author's work, this book is as much about the development of the characters and providing the reader with great depth of insight concerning the impact upon them of the events described as it about bringing the case to a conclusion.Rachel Walling is recalled from her exile FBI posting in Rapid City, S.D. by a mysterious message sent to the FBI that unambiguously indicates that the serial killer identified as THE POET has reemerged. The nature of the communication also clearly indicates his desire that his former pupil and associate Rachel should be a member of the investigatory team despite her marginalization with the Bureau as a result the outcome of their previous encounters. Simultaneously, Harry Bosch is hired by Graciela McCaleb to investigate evidence she has inadvertently uncovered that the cause of the death of her husband Terry was not simply the failure of his transplanted heart that occurred during a charter aboard his fishing boat. (As a result of the book BLOODWORK being made into a movie both directed by and also starring Clint Eastwood, Terry McCaleb may be Connelly's most widely recognized character. In a wonderful twist, as the story proceeds we learn that Clint Eastwood attended Terry's funeral.) The threads of the two cases become intertwined in a complex story of evil that involves several very intriguing elements. As might be expected, these include the tension betwen the FBI investigators with their agenda of controlling the impact upon the Bureau of any potentially devasting political blowback often coming into conflict with Rachel's and Harry's views of the best procedural steps to follow. Thus, unsurprisingly, an uneasy alliance is gradually forged between Rachel and Harry which concludes in their investigation nearly resulting in disastrous consequences. There are several other elements woven into the plot, including Harry's old LAPD associate Kiz Rider convincing Harry to consider rejoining the Cold Case Unit of the Department under a policy actually adopted by Chief Bratton to encourage the return of recent retirees. Finally, while I won't reveal the role that it plays in the plot, for those readers unaware of the location of the road to Zzyzx, it is on US 15 halfway betwen LA and Las Vegas. (In a wonderful line that both captures the macabre poetry of Connelly's work and is reminiscent of a recent book, it is "a CITY OF BONES at the end of the alphabet.") As readers of LOST LIGHT have undoubtedly surmised, the necessity for Harry to travel to Las Vegas in pursuit of the truth regarding Terry's death means that he can visit Maddie (his five year old daughter who only recently entered his life) and will undoubtedly continue to joust with his former wife (and former FBI agent) Eleanor Wish about the propriety of Maddie growing up in Las Vegas while her mother earns her living during the late night hours of a professional poker player. Providing further meaningful details of this story would almost certainly involve spoilers which would only detract from the reader's enjoyment of the book. They are also unnecessary, since any fan of Connelly undoubtedly knows that no summary can do justice to the richness of the picture which he draws. (He has stated that his goal in his writing is "to paint to all four corners of the canvas {of his story} and fill in the holes.) Like most detective stories, this one is largely about unraveling the past and understanding its impact on the present. But at the same time is does also present a glimpse of fleeting hope for the future despite the evil which Harry has to confront. The reason why I subtracted a half point from my rating was my less than total satisfaction with two aspects of the conclusion. It was action packed and very clever, and certainly tied in completely with Harry's introductory comments that set the tone of the story. But it semed to me somewhat contrived and overly dramatic; more in keeping with the visual impact of a movie than the understated and nuanced nature of Harry's world. But this is still a wonderful story, both for long time Harry Bosch fans and first time readers who want a good psychological detective tale in the tradition of Philip Marlowe. NOTE: If you also obtain a copy of the complimentary DVD - BLUE NEON LIGHT - subtitled MICHAEL CONNELLY'S LOS ANGELES, with commentary by Connelly and excerpts from his work narrated by William Petersen (CSI), be sure to take the time to view it. It is wonderfully produced and provides great background and insights about Connelly's development as a writer and the themes that tie together his novels. Tucker Andersen
Rating:
Summary: This may well be Connelly's best work to date!
Review: There has been a great deal of prepublication hype concerning THE NARROWS, Michael Connelly's new Harry Bosch novel. Most of it centers on the fact that it is a sequel to THE POET, Connelly's tale from some years ago about Robert Backus, an FBI profiler who himself turns into a serial killer. While sequels usually disappoint in direct proportion to the degree of their public anticipation, THE NARROWS is a welcome exception. It may well be Connelly's best work to date. What has not been noted about THE NARROWS is that it is also a sequel of sorts to BLOOD WORK. BLOOD WORK is perhaps Connelly's best-known novel due in large part to its film adaptation by Clint Eastwood. The movie, interestingly enough, is mentioned in THE NARROWS. Connelly in fact breaks on through to the other side at several points during THE NARROWS, bringing an immediacy and reality to the tale that is quite refreshing. Always a masterful storyteller, Connelly continues to improve as a writer. He switches quite effortlessly in perspective back and forth between Bosch and FBI Agent Rachel Walling, whose career took a disastrous reverse due to the events chronicled in THE POET. A lesser craftsman would have ultimately made a mess of things, but Connelly keeps things moving smartly and coherently with nary a misstep. THE NARROWS begins with Harry Bosch investigating the death of his old friend, Terry McCaleb, at the request of McCaleb's widow. McCaleb, who was the subject of BLOOD WORK, has succumbed to an apparent heart attack. His widow, however, has found that someone had in fact tampered with McCaleb's heart medication, leading to his death. During the course of the investigation Bosch learns that McCaleb, while freelancing as a consulting investigator, may have stumbled across The Poet, who appears to be responsible for McCaleb's death. McCaleb's file notes also indicate that he has a theory regarding the fates of six men who mysteriously disappeared while visiting Las Vegas. Bosch begins to follow the trail created by McCaleb's theory, a trail that leads to an FBI investigation of a series of burials in the Nevada desert --- an investigation that commenced with a mysterious message from The Poet, directed to Rachel Walling. Walling is begrudgingly brought into the FBI investigation as an observer, and when Bosch interjects himself into the proceedings the two of them become an unlikely and unofficial, but highly effective, team. While they are tracking Backus, he is also tracking them, along a trail of his own devise and choosing. Backus has unfinished business from the past that he fully intends to complete, and he wants to do it right under the noses of his pursuers. All business and trails end at THE NARROWS. While THE NARROWS is a dark and grim book in many ways, Connelly occasionally gives a wink and a nod to savvy readers as an indication that he is not taking himself too seriously. In addition to the references to the Blood Work film, Connelly name checks several mystery writers --- there is a George Pelecanos reference that is subtly hilarious --- and uses Bosch's new knowledge of his fatherhood to pay tribute to a popular television cartoon character whose demeanor is totally at odds with the grim goings-on in THE NARROWS. Alert readers will also catch fleeting allusions to some of Connelly's past books besides BLOOD WORK and THE POET. Ultimately, THE NARROWS is a novel that on many different levels lives up to its hype and surpasses it. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Rating:
Summary: The Return of the Poet
Review: Some years ago, I read a pair of novels by Michael Connelly, back when pretty much no one knew who he was. The Black Ice and Black Echo were pretty good detective novels, but they were also pretty formulaic. The character was the typical slob loner, obsessed with catching bad guys and unable to form a meaningful relationship with a woman unless she was in the department and the relationship itself was work-related. I've followed Connelly's career from there, and worked my way through his books as they've come out (with the exception of Lost Light, which I have but haven't read yet). He's grown tremendously as a writer, adding layers to his characters, his prose style, and his plots. Several of those plots (notably Blood Work, the Poet, Angel's Flight, and the Concrete Blonde) are standouts in detective fiction, so cleverly written that the mystery's just wonderful, and adds layers to the story. Here, the plot is more straightforward. Terry McCaleb, the protagonist of Blood Work, has been killed. Though he and Harry Bosch (Connelly's main character in most of his books) didn't really get along well in life, McCaleb's widow, Graciela, is concerned that his killing wasn't the heart attack it seems, and asks Harry to look into it. Meanwhile, Rachel Walling, the heroine of The Poet, is called out of exile from South Dakota. The FBI HQ in Quantico has recieved a strange package, addressed to her, which leads them to a stretch of desert on the road between LA and Las Vegas, where they discover ten bodies buried in the ground, and strange indications that it might be the same Poet. Their stories merge partway through the book. This is one of the most satisfying books I've read in recent years. I will admit that Connelly's choice to jump between first person narration (with Bosch doing the talking) and third person (mostly following Rachel) was a bit jarring at first, but I got used to it. There are most of the Connelly touches: an enigmatic character who just fades in and out in one scene, but will be recognizable to Connelly fans as Cassie Black, the thief heroine of Void Moon, and of course Connelly's almost encyclopedic knowledge of Southern California. He even gets things like the place to hold a large retirement party right. I like Michael Connelly, and I especially liked this book. I would highly recommend it, though people who haven't read other of his books might want to look into a few others, first.
Rating: 
Summary: Past Back to Haunt Him
Review: Great to be back with Harry Bosch even though I didn't think the book was as good as some of the previous outings. Robert Backus, the serial killer who prowled through the pages of "The Poet" is back with revenge on his mind, and it's up to Harry and FBI agent Rachel Walling to trap him. Past characters resurface and the tension mounts as the story builds to what I felt what a bit of a let down climax from what is otherwise an entertaining and tightly plotted read.
Rating:
Summary: Harry, Rachel, Terry, the POET and a cameo by Cassie. WOW!
Review: "Murder in the murderer is no such ruinous thought as poets and romancers will have it; it does not unsettle him, or fright him from his ordinary notice of trifles: it is an act quite easy to be contemplated, but in its sequel, it turns out to be a horrible jangle and confounding of all relations." Ralph Waldo Emerson. The POET Returns! And what a JANGLE of relationships he has created in bringing together Harry Bosch, Rachel Walling and Terry McCaleb with the diabolical POET. Even Cassie Black is referenced here as Harry's motel neighbor. Not one to leave happy endings from previous novels alone, Connelly has created a vortex of murder & revenge that none of the protagonists can avoid and as each are drawn in by their own needs they know they will emerge changed, if they even survive. I look forward to see where the future takes these wonderfully realized characters. Even his throw away comments about the screen treatment of Blood Work, I found refreshing: 'When you take the money, don't complain.' Michael Connelly is at the top of his craft with this excellent novel!
Rating:
Summary: Can he get any better?
Review: THE CONQUEROR WORM by Edgar Allan Poe Lo! 't is a gala night
Within the lonesome latter years!
An angel throng, bewinged, bedight
In veils, and drowned in tears,
Sit in a theatre, to see
A play of hopes and fears,
While the orchestra breathes fitfully
The music of the spheres. Mimes, in the form of God on high,
Mutter and mumble low,
And hither and thither fly -
Mere puppets they, who come and go
At bidding of vast formless things
That shift the scenery to and fro,
Flapping from out their Condor wings
Invisible wo! That motley drama - oh, be sure
It shall not be forgot!
With its phantom chased for evermore,
By a crowd that seize it not,
Through a circle that ever returneth in
To the self-same spot,
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot. But see, amid the mimic rout
A crawling shape intrude! A blood-red thing that writhes from out
The scenic solitude!
It writhes! - it writhes! - with mortal pangs
The mimes become its food,
And seraphs sob at vermin fangs
In human gore imbued. This poem by Poe is one of his best. Imagine the narrows, with huge snake laying in wait for its dinner. Connelly describes the narrows in his novel. The Poet returns!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Bosch Rules!
Review: I REALLY liked this book! It met all of my expectations. I was introduced to Michael Connelly several months ago and have already read all of his books. Without question, Connelly has hit the jackpot with the character of Harry Bosch. The Bosch novels are a cut above the other Connelly novels. I am already anxiously awaiting the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back Backus
Review: In The Narrows, Michael Connelly brings back his most vicious and original killer to date, an ex-FBI agent named Backus aka The Poet. And in the process, Connelly invites his favourite character, Harry Bosch, to investigate the killer. Some old faces, like Terry McCaleb and Rachel from The Poet are also brought back to put an end to the Poet's vicious crimes. Although The Narrows is far from achieving the levels of suspense found in The Poet, the book is still a very tense and very entertaining read. And I think Connelly is getting softer with time (a quality that might do his novels a lot of good); while The Poet was drowning in gruesome murders, the deaths in The Narrows happen off the page. Actually, there are very few deaths that happen during the course of The Narrows and yet, Connelly creates great suspense and a lot of mystery for the reader. The finaly 50 pages are a breathless thrill ride that will make you bite your nails down to the flesh. I loved the fact that Connelly chose to tell the story both in the first person (for Bosch, a technique he began using with last year's Lost Light) and in the third person (for Rachel and Backus). The novel begins as Bosch is asked by the wife of the recently-deceased McCaleb to investigate his death. Little does he know that his investigation will bring him to The Poet. He eventually teams up with Rachel even though the FBI doesn't want Bosch on the investigation. His search brings him to Las Vegas where The Poet has left his latest string of victims buried in the middle of the desert. But eventually, Bosch returns to his home turf of LA to try and put an end to the Poet's reing. Filled with great suspense, compelling and interesting characters and a very orignal premise, The Narrows is everything a Michael Connelly novel should be. This isn't and doesn't feel like a tired sequel. Instead, its a completely new adventure that has enough twists and turns to keep you reading well past the wee hours of the morning. Even after all these books, Bosch is still a fresh and very distinct characters. Connelly really is this generation's great suspense writer.
Rating:
Summary: The Poet comes back to haunt again!
Review: Harry Bosch seems to find more time in retirement than most do on the job. In this thrilling novel, he is on the trail of the murderer of colleague Terry McCaleb. The story is intertwined with The Poet and the prime suspect is this very serial killer. The Poet (or Bob Backus as he is called) is no typical serial killer, rather a highly trained FBI agent and mentor of another leading character in the book, Rachel Walling. As the story unravels, The Poet has made McCaleb one of his many victims and soon sets sights on Walling. Walling is the one helping Bosch in his investigation. It turns out that McCaleb, the lead character from another Connelly book titled "Blood Work", was working solo in pursuit of The Poet. Promising leads lead to his ultimate death. The book is every bit as exciting and action packed with flair of the dark, intimidating atmosphere that Connelly's novels have become synonym with. In this book, Harry Bosch is as cynical and intelligent as ever. The action-paced story itself is a page-turner that will keep you glued until the very end, and then have you begging for more. Highly recommended reading.
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