Book #171 of 2021:
City of Bones by Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch #8)
I wouldn’t say this Harry Bosch novel is bad per se, but it’s probably my least favorite of the series yet. There’s a lot of attention placed on the reckless rookie cop that the detective is dating, coupled with a brusque rejection of the department rules that rightly flag such a relationship between a superior and a junior member of the force as problematic — a behavior in line with the protagonist’s continued disdain for Internal Affairs and the squad who investigate all officer-involved shootings to find or rule out police corruption. If the main plot at hand were more interesting, all that might matter less, but the twists of its cold case are fairly telegraphed and I’m frustrated by how Bosch seems equally certain about each of his incorrect conclusions on the way to finally identifying the true culprit. Author Michael Connelly is generally capable of producing solid workmanlike procedurals, and this particular story is no exception, but he offers little to elevate the material here above a typical episode of something like Law & Order.
[Content warning for gun violence, suicide, domestic abuse, death of a child, and pedophilia.]
★★★☆☆
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