noir

The Late Show by Michael Connelly – Book Review

by
The Late Show by Michael Connelly – Book Cover

Reneé Ballard – The Appointed Successor of Harry Bosch

Good old Harry Bosch, our favorite detective (see The Concrete Blonde), and arguably the lead of the best crime series I’ve ever read, has retired. He’s gotten old, poor guy. Reneé Ballard, the protagonist of The Late Show, seems to be Connelly’s chosen successor for the Hollywood Division.

A quick Google search reveals that in the next Ballard story, the two crimefighters will team up. I don’t know, maybe Bosch, who has always had a soft spot for women, takes Ballard under his wing, or something like that—after all, he’s well into grandpa age now. But let’s leave that as a surprise. (Ah, I’m sure he’ll charm her.)

But fortunately, we won’t be left feeling Bosch’s absence for too long, because Ballard’s approach, dedication, and outsider status remind us a lot of Bosch. Plus, Ballard is pretty sexy too. (Sure, Bosch is sexy too, but just a bit less so.)

We overlook Ballard’s flaws just as we did Bosch’s, or rather, we overlook the author’s obsession with the same basic setup that he couldn’t quite let go of in The Late Show either: the lone wolf who follows their own path, constantly clashing with at least five superiors, with both sides making life difficult for each other at every opportunity.

Read more

Thin Air by Richard Morgan – Book Review

by
Thin Air by Richard Morgan – Book Cover

Genetically Modified Noir on Mars

In 2008, Richard Morgan wrote a book about a genetically modified Martian super-soldier who wins a lottery ticket back to Earth and comes home to do some sleuthing. Ten years later, he wrote another one titled Thin Air, where the protagonist is again a genetically modified super-soldier, but this time he’s investigating the disappearance of the Martian lottery winner – on Mars, several hundred years later.

I’d bet on it, that Morgan captures many of us with his macho protagonist because it’s truly heartwarming to see such a competent, skilled individual at the center of the action, someone who occasionally rips apart those who get in his way during his investigations. But the focus isn’t on the ripping apart, of course – despite a strong emphasis on action, Thin Air is ultimately a crime novel, specifically in the noir sub-genre.

Washed-up protagonist? Check.
Femme fatale? Check.
Nefarious conspiracy in the background? Check.

Read more

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly – Book Review

by
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly book review

Detective Harry Bosch seems to have accidentally shot the wrong serial killer four years ago, taking out the wrong guy instead of the evil Dollmaker. Now, the broken and grieving family of the accidentally shot serial killer is suing Harry, who was only acting with the best of intentions. And just to make things worse, another victim shows up: The Concrete Blonde. Talk about bad luck…

Twisting Police Investigation… and Courtroom Drama

From here on, Connelly’s novel takes two parallel paths: in one, the grieving family’s lawyer is squeezing Harry’s balls in the courtroom, and in the other, the police investigation into the new victim unfolds.

Michael Connelly, a master of the procedural crime novel (focused on the exact police procedures), is no stranger to thrilling twists, having been a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times for years. Both storylines are exciting and full of unexpected turns. For example, it wasn’t until page 209 that I figured out who the killer was, and Harry, a little behind, figured it out just a few pages later. Unfortunately, we were both wrong…

Harry Bosch is an experienced detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. Crime novel fans (and his furious superiors) know him not only for his peculiar methods but also for his relentless pursuit of justice. The Concrete Blonde adds an extra layer to the tension, as the morally steadfast detective begins to doubt himself. The realism (and, of course, the twists) of the courtroom events are guaranteed by Connelly’s other well-known and excellent series centered on Mickey Haller, who just so happens to be a defense attorney.

Draw the Killer in the Trap!

What slightly dampens the overall picture of The Concrete Blonde are the last 50 pages. (But of course, the ending is always the hardest part to nail in a crime novel.) The way Harry Bosch reaches the killer seems, for some reason, not to flow organically from the investigation.

On the other hand, luring the killer into a trap bears quite a resemblance to the TV show The Mentalist, which, let’s face it, is not exactly known for being the most elegant solution. But aside from that, the Harry Bosch series is still probably the best crime series you can read right now. (Especially after the Jack Reacher (see: Past Tense) and Harry Hole series (see: Knife), to put it mildly, have started to take a nosedive.)

If You Want to Read Great Crime Fiction…

In fact, not just recently but in general: for me, the American author has been an all-time favorite for over 15 years, ever since I accidentally picked up City of Bones. Connelly’s Bosch series truly belongs to that rare group of detective stories that are IMPOSSIBLE to put down.

And The Concrete Blonde even features a lovely romantic subplot carried over from the previous book.
(Harry Bosch seems to attract both complex murder cases and women with the same inevitability—as magnets attract paperclips.)

Rating: 8.5/10

The Concrete Blonde (Harry Bosch #3) by Michael Connelly
448 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2014 by Orion
—
You may also like:
Holly by Stephen King
Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston – Book Review

by
The Traitor God by Cameron Johnston - Book Cover

The protagonist of Traitor God, the mage Edrin Walker, returns to his hometown of Setharis after 10 years of exile to avenge the death of his best—and only (!)—friend. It’s fair to say Setharis doesn’t exactly welcome him back with open arms. After all, he did kill a god there. Or so people say. He doesn’t remember doing it. Then again, you’d probably claim the same thing in his shoes, wouldn’t you?

Cameron Johnston’s debut novel features an unusual hero, a unique magic system, and a genre experiment that’s anything but conventional: a blend of dark fantasy, detective noir, and horror-thriller elements.

Edrin Walker is NOT Your Friend

Edrin Walker is the walking embodiment of self-destruction. He’s a drunk, a rule-breaker, and a foul-mouthed, unpleasant jerk who despises himself far more than he could ever despise anyone else. Yet, it quickly becomes clear that Edrin possesses what is arguably the coolest magical ability around. And yet… maybe not.

Being able to peek into other people’s minds? That’s handy, especially if you want to insult them with flair. But invading someone’s mind? That’s a whole other level. Edrin is a telepath who can take complete control over others’ minds. Unfortunately, Setharis has a bit of a history with mind-mages. So, here’s the general consensus:

#1. Blowing someone to bits or peeling their skin off with magic? Fine.
#2. Turning people into mindless puppets? Absolutely not fine.

Read more