Rating: 
Summary: Try again, Michael.
Review: It isn't that there aren't interesting elements in Chasing the Dime-- there are. I wasn't bored, and I finished the book. I don't think that anything can make Connelly less than a strong writer. That said, the plot Connelly uses in Chasing the Dime really stretches credibility. He chose to anchor the book in an idea about human predictability and planning that seems as convoluted as a game of Mousetrap. My enjoyment of the book was hurt because I just didn't buy it. Didn't buy the main character's actions at the beginning of the book and didn't buy it when the truth was revealed at the end. While I enjoyed the tip o the hat to the Bosch novels, it could have used more of the Bosch quality. Connelly novices shouldn't start here (try Black Ice). For Connelly initiates, you'll still find it above average as an airplane book, but that's about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Techno-Thriller
Review: I have read all of Michael Connoley's books. I consider him to be an excellent mystery writer. One of the things that stands out is his intricate plot twists and turns, something that is unfortunately missing from many of our current generation of mystery writers. I considered this to be, surprisingly, one of his best books! It cleverly weaves technology into a well-done mystery plot. The main character is likable, especially if you have any "dot.com" friends in real life. The action takes off right away and the tone is rather "Alfred Hitchcockian". Excellent choice for reading and you'll learn to be more careful on your computer and telephone!
Rating:
Summary: Thin as a dime
Review: I've read a number of Connelly's books and have enjoyed most of them enough to keep reading. That is to say, he's a fun read and I've learned about some rather interesting subjects from his research (almost everything I know about heart transplants I learned from Blood Work) but I've just finished Chasing the Dime, and I only learned one thing: I'm going to have to think twice before reading more of Michael Connelly. The protagonist,Henry Pierce, is a techno-genius of the chemical and computer varieties. However, that doesn't protect him from being sucked into a crime by the simplest of means. On his first day with a new telephone number Henry begins receiving calls for an escort named Lilly. Thinking that he can correct the mix-up by contacting the woman directly (why he doesn't immediately contact the phone company is a mystery in itself) he begins to rub up against memories from his sad childhood as Connelly provides both "psychological insight" into Henry's motivations and a nod to a previous novel. You see, Henry's sister ran away from home and was later killed by "The Dollmaker" who targeted her because she was a prostitute. And then... well, then a lot of things happen which drag Henry further and further into what was Lilly's life and steadily appears to be Lilly's death. Who dunnit? That's not really the question. It's more along the lines of who would ever do all that? Of course, Henry's genius mode seems to be a little streaky since he can't see how he's being manipulated for two hundred pages and then suddenly figures it all out, gathers evidence against the real criminals and captures the bad guys all while securing the real target of the crime simultaneously and all within thirty or forty pages. The novel is a little like a roller coaster ride that goes slowly and then speeds up except its not as thrilling and you sort of want your money back when the ride is over.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous, fabulous
Review: Connelly does it, once again. Another winner!!! All through the book you want to strangle Dr. Pierce because he does succcchhh stupid things, and makes such stupid, non-Dr.-like decisions, BUTTTTT, if you're adventuresome and have found yourself delving tooooo deeply into matters that do not, or should not, concern you, you'll love this. I read it in audtio driving to/fro work, and I found it difficult to stop the car and wait until 5:00 to begin reading it again.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: After hearing so much that was negative about this book, i was expecting not to like it at all. I thought i would be looking at another "Void Moon" debacle, but no! This here's one excellent high-tech thriller. And its not even as if the high-tech-ness has loads to do with it, so dont be put off by that! It's a really cracking story. Great concept...that your new phone number could previously have belonged to someone who is obviously now in great peril... This book has a cracking pace. It moves really quickly, i finished it in ust a couple of sittings. The writing is great, again, as well expect from Connelly. The research is Deaver-esque and impeccable, and Connelly delivers his little scientiic tidbits in small doses and in a way that makes it all very very interesting to read about as a short break from the main plot. The characters are good, but most of them aren't developed brilliantly well...the only character with any real depth is the marvellous Henry Pierce, our lead character, who i'd love to spend more time with in a future novel. He's not quite Harry Bosch, but he's human, and is much more easily likeable at first glance than Bosch is...Indeed, he grows to be an incredibly likeable character all around. Overall, i'd HIGHLY reccomend this. I raced through, found it really interesting, and in the end satisfying. Plus, i don't really understand how people seem to think that Pierce's motivations for trying to track the mysterious escort apparently in danger weren't understandable...to me, they were entirely believeable. But then, i guess this is a book you have to read and judge for yourself... But, personally, i'd say this was first class.
Rating: 
Summary: Chasing the Dime is ironic
Review: This book is a terrible disappointment to all of us who enjoyed Connolly's previous stories. Talk about "chasing the dime," Connolly is certainly doing just that with this formulaic, flat, boring, disaster of a novel. The plot is simplistic and who cares about the nerdy premise? The characters are thin and predictable. Take the protagonist, for example, who's a super-wealthy, science-whizzbang, handsome, dashing fellow with whom all of us are familar from junk novels. Guess who the villian is: A) the hero's old pal ( also brilliant but depraved ), B) the hero's office women's issues snot or C) the hero's newest vavoom babe? Don't read this book. It's a waste of time. But if you've already got the book, give it to someone as stupid as the author thinks the rest of us are. Connolly chased my last dime with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping
Review: Michael Connolly's Chasing the Dime is a gripping, absolutely readable thriller, that, while not perfect, will keep you reading and keep you guessing. Henry Pierce moves to a new apartment and gets a new phone number that apparently belonged to that of a high priced call girl. Harry's efforts to clear up the phone number problem lead to bigger and bigger problems for him. Ultimately when this woman turns up murdered and Harry is a prime suspect. The ending is a bit predictable, but, in a novel like this one, that's OK. Chasing the Dime will keep your interest and keep you reading. Connolly has a terrific talent in giving us flowing, readable prose. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Passing the Time; a nice little read.
Review: This new (Oct 2002) non-Harry Bosch novel by Connelly grabbed my attention from the very first pages. Henry Pierce, the wunderkind owner of a nanotechnology startup is about to hit the big time. His company is bringing a new technology to the market that will revolutionize the computer and pharmaceutical industries and make him immensely rich. He has a whale (a rich investor) ready to land, and work is going great. His personal life though has suffered because of his focus on work. He is just moving into his new apartment in the opening pages, when he starts getting phone calls on his new number from people looking to talk to the ex-owner of the number. Once intrigued, Henry gets to the bottom of what happened to the owner with the same determination that he used to find success in business.
This is a great beach novel. The story is quick moving and the action is pretty believable, although be prepared to mildly (or more) suspend belief in parts. If you've read other novels by Connelly, you will find this one a bit thinner in detail and realism, but don't worry; you'll still have fun. There are the normal Connelly twists, false clues and as always, sub-plots involving the main character's relationship with women.
The book kind of petered out at the end, resolving the plot all of a sudden after boxing Henry in tightly, leaving a couple of loose ends. (This next part won't spoil it for you but it may take away some of the suspense.) Why was such a big deal made about the Company Security officer? What happened to Lucy/Robin after Henry made such a fuss over wanting to help her? And do we care if he gets back with his ex? I've read all of Michael Connelly's other books, and this is a nice, quick read; not his best but still more entertaining then most of the stuff on TV. Try it and have fun.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: An exceptional read, by a master, although this is a departure
from the usual Connelly books. His Harry Bosch series is about
the best, so this latest effort, which has a different approach and feel, seems to fall a little short. This story does not have the sharp edge of tension found in the Bosch novels, and
that is likely because Bosch deals with the very worst of L.A.
criminals, the most depraved, and the most extreme. The very
worst of criminals requires the "worst", i.e., the best, of
detectives, and that is Connelly's Harry Bosch.
But this story seems a little tame only compared to the Bosch
series, and it is a tight, entertaining story.
It's a bit of a stretch to follow the hero, who is a high-powered, successful scientist advancing his own innovative
company, as he suddenly drops interest in his financial and
technical world and takes up the quest of searching for an
unknown prostitute. But Connelly has a plusible explanation
for the hero's sudden change of direction and interest, and once
that is accepted, the story moves along at a nice engrossing
pace.
What man's interest won't be piqued when Henry, the hero,
realizes with a chill that the probable mastermind of his
troubles must be his recently-departed girlfriend? He is properly confounded when he is hit with the fact that no one
knows all the facets of both his business and personal life
to put together the horrible mess he finds himself in. It
has to be her, and he is driven to both confront and defeat
her.
But then he has further doubts, and he scours his mind, trying
to figure out who else has access to all the info to bring him
into mortal legal and physical danger, while causing the collapse of his business enterprise.
Connelly does a very nice job of presenting conflicting enemies
here, but they are all proper L.A. people, both good and bad,
and the reader will have to dash through the book to find out the how and who of this mystery.
Connelly is a master of the twisted story, and everyone will
enjoy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Huge disappointment
Review: I've long been a a fan of Michael Connelly, but "Chasing the Dime" was so implausible and poorly written that I gave it up after reading about one-third of it. The story is about a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur who moves into a new apartment and starts getting phone calls for a prostitute on his new phone number. Instead of calling the phone company and requesting a new number, which is what you'd expect a smart guy to do, he begins to investigate who she is. The obsession over the prostitute is so implausible -- he breaks into her house, calls her mother, and investigates the escort service -- that the story never has any edge to it. Don't waste your time or money on this sorry excuse for a thriller. I sincerely hope that this is a one-time occurence and that Connelly doesn't do a downward spiral like Stuart Woods has done with his Stone Barrington series. I used to automatically buy a Stuart Woods book the minute it went on sale in hardcover; now I'm reluctant to even bother to borrow them from the library.
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