Trunk Music

Rating:
Summary: Yes! Bosh is back!
Review: "Trunk Music" is the best Bosh novel since the first;"The Black Echo". Connelly writes so good, that the only sad about this book, is that it should be so much longer. It's fast read, very much like Sandford's books about Davenport. This is a "read-to-the-end" at once book. Great!

Rating:
Summary: Topnotch! They don't get any better!
Review: Before you read this book, it is imperative that you read the Black Echo, Connelly's first book. You will be disappointed if you don't. The plots don't interweave, but there is a very important character, other than Harry Bosch, of course who appears in both books. This is a great love story in addition to being an unbelievably good police novel.

Rating:
Summary: An eye-opening look into Vegas & Hollywood via a mystery.
Review: I'm following the Michael Connelly canon backwards. "Trunk Music" is the first book of his I read and it spurred me on to the others. Mystery writers seem to have difficulty maintaining their "zone". Often their efforts fall into an easily discernable pattern and the reader wonders whether or not they draw up a plot outline and just keep writing books around it. Connelly has great flexibility and creativity and, as he showed in "The Poet", the ability to create a whole new character and make him interesting. I loved this book and the excitement it created during the many plot twists. Attention Patricia Cromwell: This is how it is done

Rating:
Summary: What a Disappointment!!
Review: I've been waiting a long time to see where Harry would land this time. The brief detour for the POET was wonderful and only served to heighten my anticipation. What a letdown!! While the plot is still top quality, a Connelly stongpoint, the writing style leaves a lot to be desired. If I didn't know better, I'd say that this was his first effort. The prose is stiff, stilted and amateurish. Taking a paragraph to explain "code 3"-- Please!!. Many places with awkward dialogue and misplaced discriptive paragraphs. Luckily, I got it from the library and didn't have to pay for it. I'll be back for more, it only to see if it gets better. I hope this is a fluke

Rating:
Summary: Another 10 for Connelly.
Review: Simply another intelligent, fast-moving, well-developed, tightly-plotted novel by the best in the business today. Really hate it when the last page is turned on a Connelly novel. What I wouldn't give to sit down for a talk and a beer with Harry Bosch

Rating:
Summary: Tough, endearing, sometimes childlike loveable Harry Bosch..
Review: Harry shakes down 'Vegas as no other detective does and gets more than he bargained for in Connelly's latest page turner. Don't plan on turning out the light tonight til 3am if you're reading "Trunk Music." If there's a better writer in America in this genre than Michael Connelly, come out, come out, where ever you are.

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK NOW!! Another winner by Connelly....
Review: I keep thinking he can't get better -- but he does. Harry's interesting and humane -- a rare combo in the hard-boiled genre -- and the plotting is always superb. Connolly's one of the few mystery authors that I buy -- and will continue to buy - in hardcover. The entire Harry Bosch series is worth reading (and keeping) -- not a dud in the series. Though not part of the series, The Poet is a great read & definitely worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: Tops "The Poet" for unexpected plot twists and turns
Review: Didn't think Connelly could do better than " The Poet"
Can't recommend it more highly...If you like a good
detective story, don't miss this one.

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: 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.