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Harry Bosch #6
Angels Flight
ISBN10: 0752815415 ISBN13: 9780752815411
Michael Connelly, whose novel The Poet won the 1997 Anthony Award for Best Mystery, is already recognized as one of the smartest and most vivid scribes of the hard-boiled police procedural. Now, with his much-anticipated sixth Harry Bosch novel, Angels Flight, Connelly offers one of the finest pieces of mystery writing to appear in 1998. Bosch is awakened in the middle of the night and, out of rotation, he is assigned to the murder investigation of the high-profile African American attorney Howard Elias. When Bosch arrives at the scene, it seems that almost the entire LAPD is present, including the IAD (the Internal Affairs Division). Elias, who made a career out of suing the police, was sadistically gunned down on the Angels Flight tram just as he was beginning a case that would have struck the core of the department; not surprisingly, L.A.'s men and women in blue become the center of the investigation. Haunted by the ghost of the L.A. riots, plagued by incessant media attention, and facing turmoil at home, Bosch suddenly finds himself questioning friends and associates while working side by side with some longtime enemies.
Michael Connelly, whose novel The Poet won the 1997 Anthony Award for Best Mystery, is already recognized as one of the smartest and most vivid scribes of the hard-boiled police procedural. Now, with his much-anticipated sixth Harry Bosch novel, Angels Flight, Connelly offers one of the finest pieces of mystery writing to appear in 1998. Bosch is awakened in the middle of the night and, out of rotation, he is assigned to the murder investigation of the high-profile African American attorney Howard Elias. When Bosch arrives at the scene, it seems that almost the entire LAPD is present, including the IAD (the Internal Affairs Division). Elias, who made a career out of suing the police, was sadistically gunned down on the Angels Flight tram just as he was beginning a case that would have struck the core of the department; not surprisingly, L.A.'s men and women in blue become the center of the investigation. Haunted by the ghost of the L.A. riots, plagued by incessant media attention, and facing turmoil at home, Bosch suddenly finds himself questioning friends and associates while working side by side with some longtime enemies.
Angels Flight is a detective's nightmare scenario and is disturbingly relevant to the racially tense last decade of the 20th century. Amidst the twists and turns of his complex narrative, Connelly affirms his rightful place among the masters of contemporary mystery fiction. --Patrick O'Kelley
341 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1999
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About the author
Michael Connelly
381 books34.8k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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August 17, 2017
This is another very good entry in Michael Connelly's series featuring L.A. homicide detective Harry Bosch. The case opens in the middle of the night when Harry's team is called out to the scene of a double homicide. A man and a woman have been shot to death on a trolley called Angels Flight. Harry cannot figure out why he has been called since his team is out of the rotation that night.
He arrives at the scene to find that one of the victims is an African American attorney named Howard Elias. Elias has made a career and a name for himself by suing the L.A.P.D. in cases where Elias charges police abuse of the city's minority citizens. Elias is in the midst of preparing an explosive new case against several police detectives.
Obviously, this will be a high profile case, and Harry isn't certain whether he's been assigned to the case because of his excellent record or because he's being set up as the fall guy if the case isn't solved. The cynic in Harry speculates that he's been given the case because the other two members of his team are black and the department hopes that this will help tamp down the furor that is bound to explode in the black community when the victim's names are announced.
Given the way the shooting occurred, Harry quickly concludes that Elias was the principal target and that the poor female victim was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The real difficulty in the case is that the most obvious suspects are the cops that Elias had sued or was in the process of suing.
Harry's team must thus navigate very treacherous waters. Lots of cops make it clear that they just want the crime written off as a robbery gone bad and swept under the rug. The black community wants "justice" which in their vew apparently means that they won't be satisfied until a cop is indicted and convicted for the killings. And, of course, Harry's bosses in the department seem more concerned about protecting the department's reputation than they do in seeking the real truth.
Harry being Harry, he is determined to solve the crime and let the chips fall where they may. The department throws all sorts of obstacles in the way of his investigation, and the black community is seething. Any spark could touch off a major riot. If all of this weren't bad enough, Harry is working through marital problems. The question is, can he push through all of this and solve the crime before the city explodes?
Connelly has written here a complex story with a number of flawed and well-drawn characters, principal among them Harry Bosch. He demonstrates once again his intimate knowledge of L.A., a city he obviously cares about deeply. Angels Flight makes an even stronger argument that no one is writing better police procedurals these days than Michael Connelly.
He arrives at the scene to find that one of the victims is an African American attorney named Howard Elias. Elias has made a career and a name for himself by suing the L.A.P.D. in cases where Elias charges police abuse of the city's minority citizens. Elias is in the midst of preparing an explosive new case against several police detectives.
Obviously, this will be a high profile case, and Harry isn't certain whether he's been assigned to the case because of his excellent record or because he's being set up as the fall guy if the case isn't solved. The cynic in Harry speculates that he's been given the case because the other two members of his team are black and the department hopes that this will help tamp down the furor that is bound to explode in the black community when the victim's names are announced.
Given the way the shooting occurred, Harry quickly concludes that Elias was the principal target and that the poor female victim was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The real difficulty in the case is that the most obvious suspects are the cops that Elias had sued or was in the process of suing.
Harry's team must thus navigate very treacherous waters. Lots of cops make it clear that they just want the crime written off as a robbery gone bad and swept under the rug. The black community wants "justice" which in their vew apparently means that they won't be satisfied until a cop is indicted and convicted for the killings. And, of course, Harry's bosses in the department seem more concerned about protecting the department's reputation than they do in seeking the real truth.
Harry being Harry, he is determined to solve the crime and let the chips fall where they may. The department throws all sorts of obstacles in the way of his investigation, and the black community is seething. Any spark could touch off a major riot. If all of this weren't bad enough, Harry is working through marital problems. The question is, can he push through all of this and solve the crime before the city explodes?
Connelly has written here a complex story with a number of flawed and well-drawn characters, principal among them Harry Bosch. He demonstrates once again his intimate knowledge of L.A., a city he obviously cares about deeply. Angels Flight makes an even stronger argument that no one is writing better police procedurals these days than Michael Connelly.
June 27, 2021
As research for a novel I'm writing I'm reading detective fiction and stealing everything of value. My story takes place in L.A. of the early '90s and burgling Michael Connelly turned out to be a bonanza. Not only has Connelly written 23 Harry Bosch novels--basis for the Amazon series Bosch, which in its sixth season, combines one or more books, updated to present day, per season--but the literary Harry Bosch, LAPD homicide detective, began in Los Angeles of the early '90s. Proceeding in chronological order with the books that sound appealing, next up is Angels Flight.
Publish date: December 1998
Story: Expecting a phone call from his wife Eleanor Wish to reconcile their marriage, Det. Harry Bosch is summoned to Bunker Hill by the deputy chief. The crime scene at the inclined railroad Angels Flight is well outside the jurisdiction of Hollywood division, but for reasons he can't figure, Bosch and his partners Jerry Edgar and Kizmin Rider are tasked with investigating the shooting deaths of star attorney Howard Elias and a cleaning woman. The black lawyer was preparing a high profile civil case against the elite Robbery-Homicide Division for the alleged torture of a black ex-con suspected but later acquitted of kidnapping a 12-year-old white girl.
With most of the department a suspect in Elias' murder, Bosch's team is paired with three IAD detectives. Despite assurances from the deputy chief that he wants the killer brought to justice, Bosch concludes that the brass hope Bosch's team and the Internal Affairs guys will be so dysfunctional together that the case will go unsolved. Operating by his code "Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts," Bosch vows not to let that happen, whether it's good for his career, his marriage or Los Angeles, which only five years after the L.A. Riots, is primed to explode again whether the killer is found to be a cop or isn't.
L.A. scenery: Built in 1901 and used as a location in movies like La La Land, the inclined railroad cars of Angels Flight in Bunker Hill makes an effective murder scene at Connelly's hands. The setting allows a high profile attorney who lives up the hill and a cleaning woman coming down the hill to be in the right place at the wrong time. Howard Elias' family lives in Baldwin Bills, a neighborhood known as the black Beverly Hills, and has an office in the Bradbury Building, which was used supremely well as a location in films from Double Indemnity to Blade Runner and many in between. Connelly gets much atmosphere out of both.
1990s nostalgia: Harry Bosch has quit smoking and carries a mobile phone in his briefcase, so in a way, he's come out of the 20th century and is moving into the 21st. Computer crime plays a pivotal role in the story and Connelly, using Bosch as a reader surrogate who in 1998 knew barely anything about PCs or the Internet, has Det. Rider explain to him what a "website" or a "server" are. It's quite quaint.
Opening paragraph: The word sounded alien in his mouth, as if spoken by someone else. There was an urgency in his own voice that Bosch didn't recognize. The simple hello he had whispered into the telephone was full of hope, almost desperation. But the voice that came back to him was not the one he needed to hear.
Title in text: Irving hung up without waiting for a reply. Bosch stood with the phone still at his ear for a few moments, wondering what was going on. Angels Flight was the short inclined railroad that carried people up Bunker Hill in downtown--far outside the boundaries of the Hollywood Division homicide table. If Irving had a body down there at Angels Flight the investigation would fall under the jurisdiction of Central Division. If Central detectives couldn't handle it because of caseload or personnel problems, or if the case was deemed too important or media sensitive for them, then it would be bumped to the bulls, the Robbery-Homicide Division. The fact that a deputy chief of police was involved in the case before dawn on a Saturday suggested the latter possibility. The fact that he was calling Bosch and his team in instead of the RHD bulls was the puzzle. Whatever it was that Irving had working at Angels Flight didn't make sense.
Closing paragraph: He thought about Chastain and his final scream, a wail so loud and horrible as to be almost inhuman. It was the sound of fallen angels in their flight to hell. Bosch knew he could never allow himself to forget it.
Thoughts: It's hard to imagine Michael Connelly writing a better novel than Angels Flight. There's how seamless the architecture, history and institutions of Los Angeles are woven into the story. There's the no-win scenario Bosch finds himself in, seeking justice for a man he despised and whose murder puts Bosch's code to a real test. Connelly suggests that while Bosch has personal flaws (he has sources more so than friends) and fails a lot (his marriage is going going gone this time around) he's willing to sacrifice much of himself in order to find the truth. Everything else is secondary. I also really felt how torn Bosch was over Eleanor, who loves him but is pulling away because she can't love him as much as he loves her. And of course, I wanted to keep reading to know how everyone's secrets related to the murder Bosch was thanklessly given to investigate.
Word count: 161,562 words
Publish date: December 1998
Story: Expecting a phone call from his wife Eleanor Wish to reconcile their marriage, Det. Harry Bosch is summoned to Bunker Hill by the deputy chief. The crime scene at the inclined railroad Angels Flight is well outside the jurisdiction of Hollywood division, but for reasons he can't figure, Bosch and his partners Jerry Edgar and Kizmin Rider are tasked with investigating the shooting deaths of star attorney Howard Elias and a cleaning woman. The black lawyer was preparing a high profile civil case against the elite Robbery-Homicide Division for the alleged torture of a black ex-con suspected but later acquitted of kidnapping a 12-year-old white girl.
With most of the department a suspect in Elias' murder, Bosch's team is paired with three IAD detectives. Despite assurances from the deputy chief that he wants the killer brought to justice, Bosch concludes that the brass hope Bosch's team and the Internal Affairs guys will be so dysfunctional together that the case will go unsolved. Operating by his code "Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts," Bosch vows not to let that happen, whether it's good for his career, his marriage or Los Angeles, which only five years after the L.A. Riots, is primed to explode again whether the killer is found to be a cop or isn't.
L.A. scenery: Built in 1901 and used as a location in movies like La La Land, the inclined railroad cars of Angels Flight in Bunker Hill makes an effective murder scene at Connelly's hands. The setting allows a high profile attorney who lives up the hill and a cleaning woman coming down the hill to be in the right place at the wrong time. Howard Elias' family lives in Baldwin Bills, a neighborhood known as the black Beverly Hills, and has an office in the Bradbury Building, which was used supremely well as a location in films from Double Indemnity to Blade Runner and many in between. Connelly gets much atmosphere out of both.
1990s nostalgia: Harry Bosch has quit smoking and carries a mobile phone in his briefcase, so in a way, he's come out of the 20th century and is moving into the 21st. Computer crime plays a pivotal role in the story and Connelly, using Bosch as a reader surrogate who in 1998 knew barely anything about PCs or the Internet, has Det. Rider explain to him what a "website" or a "server" are. It's quite quaint.
Opening paragraph: The word sounded alien in his mouth, as if spoken by someone else. There was an urgency in his own voice that Bosch didn't recognize. The simple hello he had whispered into the telephone was full of hope, almost desperation. But the voice that came back to him was not the one he needed to hear.
Title in text: Irving hung up without waiting for a reply. Bosch stood with the phone still at his ear for a few moments, wondering what was going on. Angels Flight was the short inclined railroad that carried people up Bunker Hill in downtown--far outside the boundaries of the Hollywood Division homicide table. If Irving had a body down there at Angels Flight the investigation would fall under the jurisdiction of Central Division. If Central detectives couldn't handle it because of caseload or personnel problems, or if the case was deemed too important or media sensitive for them, then it would be bumped to the bulls, the Robbery-Homicide Division. The fact that a deputy chief of police was involved in the case before dawn on a Saturday suggested the latter possibility. The fact that he was calling Bosch and his team in instead of the RHD bulls was the puzzle. Whatever it was that Irving had working at Angels Flight didn't make sense.
Closing paragraph: He thought about Chastain and his final scream, a wail so loud and horrible as to be almost inhuman. It was the sound of fallen angels in their flight to hell. Bosch knew he could never allow himself to forget it.
Thoughts: It's hard to imagine Michael Connelly writing a better novel than Angels Flight. There's how seamless the architecture, history and institutions of Los Angeles are woven into the story. There's the no-win scenario Bosch finds himself in, seeking justice for a man he despised and whose murder puts Bosch's code to a real test. Connelly suggests that while Bosch has personal flaws (he has sources more so than friends) and fails a lot (his marriage is going going gone this time around) he's willing to sacrifice much of himself in order to find the truth. Everything else is secondary. I also really felt how torn Bosch was over Eleanor, who loves him but is pulling away because she can't love him as much as he loves her. And of course, I wanted to keep reading to know how everyone's secrets related to the murder Bosch was thanklessly given to investigate.
Word count: 161,562 words
April 27, 2024
Harry Bosch #6, Bosch Universe #7: Angels Flight in LA., the 'world's shortest railway' becomes a crime scene when two passengers' murdered corpse are found. It turns out that one of the victims is a prominent African-American lawyer who already beaten the LAPD in court many times was about to nail them again for the torture of black criminal when he was thought to have been involved with a paedophilic kidnap! With the police themselves as suspects the powers that be need someone who looks independent, the recently married Bosch. They never learn, Bosh and his two Black detectives turn over stones that the LAPD don't want turning over. As the city is on the brink of city wide rioting Bosch and co. race to show justice will be served!
This series really does well at tracing an LAPD's detective (Bosch's) career to the backdrop of real events like Rodney King and the corrupt workings of the LAPD. This one's pretty good, portraying the post-Rodney King LA in a realistic and seemingly starkly honest way. Six books in. the complex and at times difficult to work out Bosch, is really humming now, with the writer comfortable with his take on LA and his great maverick cop; maverick, because he genuinely wants to protect and serve! 8 ou to f12 for this insightful look at 1990s Los Angeles.
2024 read
This series really does well at tracing an LAPD's detective (Bosch's) career to the backdrop of real events like Rodney King and the corrupt workings of the LAPD. This one's pretty good, portraying the post-Rodney King LA in a realistic and seemingly starkly honest way. Six books in. the complex and at times difficult to work out Bosch, is really humming now, with the writer comfortable with his take on LA and his great maverick cop; maverick, because he genuinely wants to protect and serve! 8 ou to f12 for this insightful look at 1990s Los Angeles.
2024 read
November 13, 2024
5★
“To these detractors he was the scum of the legal system, a courtroom magician who could reach into the deck at any place and still pull out the race card.”
This magician/scum was Howard Elias, a notorious civil rights attorney, who was brilliant at gaming the system and keeping the Los Angeles Police Department on its toes. He was smart, he was influential, and he was black.
“Many in the city’s south neighborhoods credited Elias with single-handedly keeping the LAPD from behaving as an occupying army. Howard Elias was one of the few people in the city who could be absolutely hated and fervently celebrated in different quarters at the same time.”
I can’t recall if I’ve shared this before, because I’m pretty sure Connelly has mentioned it in a previous book. It’s the clever ruse Elias has been using to make money at the taxpayers’ expense while seeming to be saving them from paying damages. I’m going to quote the whole thing because I’d love to know if this is still federal law.
“In the dog bite lawsuit, which became Elias’s signature case, the jury found that the rights of the plaintiff had been violated. But since that plaintiff was a burglar with a long track record of prior arrests and convictions, the jury awarded him only one dollar in damages. Their intent was clear, to send a message to the police department rather than to make a criminal wealthy. But that didn’t matter to Elias. A win was a win. Under the federal guidelines he then submitted a bill to the city for $340,000 in legal fees. The city screamed and audited it, but still ended up paying more than half. In effect, the jury — and the many before and since — believed they were delivering a rebuke to the LAPD, but they were also paying for Elias’s half-hour late-night infomercials on Channel 9, his Porsche and his Italian courtroom suits, his opulent home up in Baldwin Hills.”
But I digress. The real issue is that the LA cops are still raw from the terrible riots in 1992, and the murder only a few year later of a prominent black civil rights lawyer is just the kindling needed to set the next event on fire. The public wants – demands – that a cop be found guilty, and fast. Of course it’s a cop. Everyone knows it must be.
Except Bosch. He knows the history, but he wants proof and details and is going to stay awake for days on end if he has to (which he pretty much does). To make things harder, he’s trying to quit smoking and Eleanor wasn’t home when he woke up to answer the call. So where has she gone?
It’s another fraught investigation with Harry bumping heads with the higher-ups and the FBI and another unit, all supposedly “working together” – ASIF. He’s in charge, nominally, but he has to grit his teeth at press conferences while his superiors tell lies to the cameras and do everything possible to discredit his findings.
I enjoy his loyalty to his old mates and his growing respect for some new ones. He isn’t infallible and is seriously distressed when he finds a good friend had lied to him about an old investigation. It really rocks him.
Harry feels real, but I keep wishing he would get some sleep. I suspect he’ll be back on the smokes before long, too.
On to #7. Below are my reviews of the first five books.
(#1) My review of The Black Echo
(#2) My review of The Black Ice
(#3) My review of The Concrete Blonde
(#4) My review of The Last Coyote
“To these detractors he was the scum of the legal system, a courtroom magician who could reach into the deck at any place and still pull out the race card.”
This magician/scum was Howard Elias, a notorious civil rights attorney, who was brilliant at gaming the system and keeping the Los Angeles Police Department on its toes. He was smart, he was influential, and he was black.
“Many in the city’s south neighborhoods credited Elias with single-handedly keeping the LAPD from behaving as an occupying army. Howard Elias was one of the few people in the city who could be absolutely hated and fervently celebrated in different quarters at the same time.”
I can’t recall if I’ve shared this before, because I’m pretty sure Connelly has mentioned it in a previous book. It’s the clever ruse Elias has been using to make money at the taxpayers’ expense while seeming to be saving them from paying damages. I’m going to quote the whole thing because I’d love to know if this is still federal law.
“In the dog bite lawsuit, which became Elias’s signature case, the jury found that the rights of the plaintiff had been violated. But since that plaintiff was a burglar with a long track record of prior arrests and convictions, the jury awarded him only one dollar in damages. Their intent was clear, to send a message to the police department rather than to make a criminal wealthy. But that didn’t matter to Elias. A win was a win. Under the federal guidelines he then submitted a bill to the city for $340,000 in legal fees. The city screamed and audited it, but still ended up paying more than half. In effect, the jury — and the many before and since — believed they were delivering a rebuke to the LAPD, but they were also paying for Elias’s half-hour late-night infomercials on Channel 9, his Porsche and his Italian courtroom suits, his opulent home up in Baldwin Hills.”
But I digress. The real issue is that the LA cops are still raw from the terrible riots in 1992, and the murder only a few year later of a prominent black civil rights lawyer is just the kindling needed to set the next event on fire. The public wants – demands – that a cop be found guilty, and fast. Of course it’s a cop. Everyone knows it must be.
Except Bosch. He knows the history, but he wants proof and details and is going to stay awake for days on end if he has to (which he pretty much does). To make things harder, he’s trying to quit smoking and Eleanor wasn’t home when he woke up to answer the call. So where has she gone?
It’s another fraught investigation with Harry bumping heads with the higher-ups and the FBI and another unit, all supposedly “working together” – ASIF. He’s in charge, nominally, but he has to grit his teeth at press conferences while his superiors tell lies to the cameras and do everything possible to discredit his findings.
I enjoy his loyalty to his old mates and his growing respect for some new ones. He isn’t infallible and is seriously distressed when he finds a good friend had lied to him about an old investigation. It really rocks him.
Harry feels real, but I keep wishing he would get some sleep. I suspect he’ll be back on the smokes before long, too.
On to #7. Below are my reviews of the first five books.
(#1) My review of The Black Echo
(#2) My review of The Black Ice
(#3) My review of The Concrete Blonde
(#4) My review of The Last CoyoteDecember 18, 2023
That’s the trouble with a Connelly and especially a Harry Bosch. Every page turn brings you closer to an end you want to delay…for the story to go on and on.
This is my 33rd by the Author all read out of order of course. I remember this story from a Bosch tv programme but it was definitely different in parts. An outstanding story of the murder of two people on the Angel Flight Funicular. Precipitating race riots.
In this book I learned new things about Harry. His marriage breakdown with Eleanor Wish. That he doesn’t like rain…it brings sadness. At this stage he doesn’t have a daughter. That I can’t see Bosch or Irving outside their character portrayals on tv - bit like seeing Reacher on tv (not the film portrayal).
But still great writing. His dialogue is witty and acerbic.
‘So what’s the weather like outside? I don’t have no windows in here.’
‘The weather? It’s partly cloudy with a chance of riots.’
Happy is the man who finds refuge in himself.
Harry finds this in the match cover when he breaks his smoking hiatus. But it really sums up Harry Bosch. Luckily I have more books to see as well as the new Bosch Legacy to watch.
Also Pisces51 tipped me off in Bloodwork review that Clint Eastwood in film of book. Blow me in this book Harry sees a film poster for the film and comments that he knew the FBI Agent.
This is my 33rd by the Author all read out of order of course. I remember this story from a Bosch tv programme but it was definitely different in parts. An outstanding story of the murder of two people on the Angel Flight Funicular. Precipitating race riots.
In this book I learned new things about Harry. His marriage breakdown with Eleanor Wish. That he doesn’t like rain…it brings sadness. At this stage he doesn’t have a daughter. That I can’t see Bosch or Irving outside their character portrayals on tv - bit like seeing Reacher on tv (not the film portrayal).
But still great writing. His dialogue is witty and acerbic.
‘So what’s the weather like outside? I don’t have no windows in here.’
‘The weather? It’s partly cloudy with a chance of riots.’
Happy is the man who finds refuge in himself.
Harry finds this in the match cover when he breaks his smoking hiatus. But it really sums up Harry Bosch. Luckily I have more books to see as well as the new Bosch Legacy to watch.
Also Pisces51 tipped me off in Bloodwork review that Clint Eastwood in film of book. Blow me in this book Harry sees a film poster for the film and comments that he knew the FBI Agent.
February 27, 2022
3/5 Estrellas
Parece que los tiempos están cambiando y nuestro detective Harry Bosch no solo ha dejado de fumar (dejémoslo en que está intentándolo), sino que llegando al nuevo milenio, asistimos al desembarco de las tecnologías digitales, con todo lo que supone en cuanto a nuevas formas de delinquir y al desarrollo de nuevos métodos policiales para detectar estos nuevos delitos: Internet ha llegado y, aunque nuestro detective no es muy competente en estas herramientas, todo llegará, supongo, porque sino se quedará atrás.
Dicho esto nos enfrentamos a un nuevo caso en el que la corrupción y la violencia policial como detonante de disturbios raciales en la inestable ciudad de Los Ángeles, es el centro de toda la trama. Los periódicos escándalos que sacudieron la ciudad en los 90, relacionados con la Policía de Los Ángeles (caso Rodney King-1992, caso O. J. Simpson-que comenzó en 1994), en los que la sombra de la violencia policial, la manipulación de pruebas y el racismo, desembocó en terribles disturbios sociales, sirve de espejo para presentarnos un caso que presenta todos estos mimbres y en el que nuestro detective tendrá que hilar muy fino enfrentándose a sus propios compañeros del cuerpo y sufriendo todo tipo de presiones. Además las circunstancias del caso serán seguidas por lupa por toda una comunidad de desheredados, que sólo esperan un detonante para saltar sobre los poderes establecidos que visualizan como corruptos y opresores, siendo su brazo ejecutor la propia Policía.
Suena confuso y denso ¿no? pues así es el libro, denso, complejo, avanzando un poco a trompicones, no me ha resultado verdaderamente interesante hasta el último tercio, donde ya empieza a vislumbrarse por donde van los tiros. Una trama secundaria, que tampoco se sabe muy bien adonde lleva y que, eso si, es necesaria para la resolución del caso.
Entre que la trama ni es tan brillante como en casos precedentes, entre el hartazgo sobre el tema de la corrupción policial, asuntos internos,, el tema judicial y de abogados, que tiene su peso y que se me hace cuesta arriba y la justicia divina o social del final, ha hecho que en este caso no pase de las tres estrellas.
Esto no quita que, por supuesto, siga con la serie. Pasito a pasito, ya estamos en los años 2000, aunque a partir de aquí el prolífico de Connelly va casi a libro por año.....aunque espero que afloje un poco con el tema de la corrupción y de la violencia policial porque, aunque entiendo que a nivel interno de EEUU es un factor social muy importante y fuente de importantes convulsiones raciales, reconozco que a mi me está saturando.
A por el siguiente
Parece que los tiempos están cambiando y nuestro detective Harry Bosch no solo ha dejado de fumar (dejémoslo en que está intentándolo), sino que llegando al nuevo milenio, asistimos al desembarco de las tecnologías digitales, con todo lo que supone en cuanto a nuevas formas de delinquir y al desarrollo de nuevos métodos policiales para detectar estos nuevos delitos: Internet ha llegado y, aunque nuestro detective no es muy competente en estas herramientas, todo llegará, supongo, porque sino se quedará atrás.
Dicho esto nos enfrentamos a un nuevo caso en el que la corrupción y la violencia policial como detonante de disturbios raciales en la inestable ciudad de Los Ángeles, es el centro de toda la trama. Los periódicos escándalos que sacudieron la ciudad en los 90, relacionados con la Policía de Los Ángeles (caso Rodney King-1992, caso O. J. Simpson-que comenzó en 1994), en los que la sombra de la violencia policial, la manipulación de pruebas y el racismo, desembocó en terribles disturbios sociales, sirve de espejo para presentarnos un caso que presenta todos estos mimbres y en el que nuestro detective tendrá que hilar muy fino enfrentándose a sus propios compañeros del cuerpo y sufriendo todo tipo de presiones. Además las circunstancias del caso serán seguidas por lupa por toda una comunidad de desheredados, que sólo esperan un detonante para saltar sobre los poderes establecidos que visualizan como corruptos y opresores, siendo su brazo ejecutor la propia Policía.
Suena confuso y denso ¿no? pues así es el libro, denso, complejo, avanzando un poco a trompicones, no me ha resultado verdaderamente interesante hasta el último tercio, donde ya empieza a vislumbrarse por donde van los tiros. Una trama secundaria, que tampoco se sabe muy bien adonde lleva y que, eso si, es necesaria para la resolución del caso.
Entre que la trama ni es tan brillante como en casos precedentes, entre el hartazgo sobre el tema de la corrupción policial, asuntos internos,, el tema judicial y de abogados, que tiene su peso y que se me hace cuesta arriba y la justicia divina o social del final, ha hecho que en este caso no pase de las tres estrellas.
Esto no quita que, por supuesto, siga con la serie. Pasito a pasito, ya estamos en los años 2000, aunque a partir de aquí el prolífico de Connelly va casi a libro por año.....aunque espero que afloje un poco con el tema de la corrupción y de la violencia policial porque, aunque entiendo que a nivel interno de EEUU es un factor social muy importante y fuente de importantes convulsiones raciales, reconozco que a mi me está saturando.
A por el siguiente
July 23, 2025
Michael Connelly, in the sixth book in his series featuring LA homicide detective Harry Bosch, "Angels Flight", tackles the absurdity and surrealism of racial politics in post-Rodney King/LA riots-era Los Angeles. In lesser hands, the novel probably would have devolved into either an anti-LAPD or anti-black people tirade. Thankfully, Connelly handles the topic deftly and tactfully. His interest is in telling a compelling story, not to use the book as a soapbox. This is not to say some people on either side of the argument won't find something offensive in the book, but, in my humble opinion, Connelly remains fairly objective throughout.
The title of the novel comes from the name of one of several historical trolley cars still in public use in LA. When two bodies are found one morning on the trolley Angels Flight, Bosch and his team are called in. Bosch immediately knows something is up when the chief specifically calls him to take the case. One of the bodies is that of Howard Elias.
Elias is an extremely well-known attorney in LA, known for his activism against the LAPD. Since the Rodney King trial, lawyers like Elias have made a living on suing the police department for wrongful arrests, mistreatment of suspects, and police shootings. Elias just happened to be extremely successful at it, having an almost perfect record of case wins. Needless to say, many cops hated Elias and one of them, possibly, enough to kill him.
Bosch realizes that has been put on the case because he has experience working high-profile sensitive cases. He also knows that he is being used because two of the three members of his team are black. Everything's political, a fact that he hates but knows that there is nothing he can do about it. All he can do is do the best job he can do.
Unfortunately, racism and politics have tainted the investigation long before Bosch and his team get started. When their every step and action is questioned by higher-ups, Bosch is beginning to wonder whether it's even possible for the truth to come out.
"Angels Flight" is the best Bosch novel yet, with an elaborately constructed plot that twists and turns into surprising and completely unexpected places.
****(A word of warning, though: one of those places deals with pedophelia, a subject matter that may be uncomfortable for some readers. I hate giving spoilers, but I know plenty of readers who don't like to read about certain subjects, pedophelia and child abuse being one of them, so be forewarned.)
The title of the novel comes from the name of one of several historical trolley cars still in public use in LA. When two bodies are found one morning on the trolley Angels Flight, Bosch and his team are called in. Bosch immediately knows something is up when the chief specifically calls him to take the case. One of the bodies is that of Howard Elias.
Elias is an extremely well-known attorney in LA, known for his activism against the LAPD. Since the Rodney King trial, lawyers like Elias have made a living on suing the police department for wrongful arrests, mistreatment of suspects, and police shootings. Elias just happened to be extremely successful at it, having an almost perfect record of case wins. Needless to say, many cops hated Elias and one of them, possibly, enough to kill him.
Bosch realizes that has been put on the case because he has experience working high-profile sensitive cases. He also knows that he is being used because two of the three members of his team are black. Everything's political, a fact that he hates but knows that there is nothing he can do about it. All he can do is do the best job he can do.
Unfortunately, racism and politics have tainted the investigation long before Bosch and his team get started. When their every step and action is questioned by higher-ups, Bosch is beginning to wonder whether it's even possible for the truth to come out.
"Angels Flight" is the best Bosch novel yet, with an elaborately constructed plot that twists and turns into surprising and completely unexpected places.
****(A word of warning, though: one of those places deals with pedophelia, a subject matter that may be uncomfortable for some readers. I hate giving spoilers, but I know plenty of readers who don't like to read about certain subjects, pedophelia and child abuse being one of them, so be forewarned.)
October 9, 2019
It’s tough to write a review about Michael Connelly’s 2000 Harry Bosch novel Angels Flight without introducing spoilers.
I want to tell about his brilliant use of multiple famous crimes and his ability to weave together multiple police investigations and then tie them all together and wrap up his story with a heaping second helping of poetic justice.
But I’d give it all away and Connelly has produced in Angels Flight a detective mystery gem.
Describing the murder of an influential and controversial Los Angeles civil rights attorney, Connelly is able to channel the racial divide of the city that experienced numerous race riots over decades into a steaming race against time as the city is set to boil over. Howard Elias had made a fortune suing the LAPD by representing predominantly black clients alleging (and winning) police brutality cases. The natural first guess for suspects is the police force itself. Veteran detective Harry Bosch must navigate a field of landmines in the form of marital troubles, political considerations, internal affairs, mounting racial tensions – all that and solve the crime(s).
And still look cool.
Connelly’s Bosch is a tough guy’s tough guy who manages to be believable, smart, and resilient without slipping into a Dirty Harry caricature of a hard nosed inspector.
Angels Flight is excellent in a lot of ways, a highly recommended good read.
I want to tell about his brilliant use of multiple famous crimes and his ability to weave together multiple police investigations and then tie them all together and wrap up his story with a heaping second helping of poetic justice.
But I’d give it all away and Connelly has produced in Angels Flight a detective mystery gem.
Describing the murder of an influential and controversial Los Angeles civil rights attorney, Connelly is able to channel the racial divide of the city that experienced numerous race riots over decades into a steaming race against time as the city is set to boil over. Howard Elias had made a fortune suing the LAPD by representing predominantly black clients alleging (and winning) police brutality cases. The natural first guess for suspects is the police force itself. Veteran detective Harry Bosch must navigate a field of landmines in the form of marital troubles, political considerations, internal affairs, mounting racial tensions – all that and solve the crime(s).
And still look cool.
Connelly’s Bosch is a tough guy’s tough guy who manages to be believable, smart, and resilient without slipping into a Dirty Harry caricature of a hard nosed inspector.
Angels Flight is excellent in a lot of ways, a highly recommended good read.
September 4, 2015
A black civil rights attorney is murdered. The lawyer was about to go to trial with a high profile case against the LAPD for police abuse against a murder suspect. The suspect was black, the police were white. Harry Bosch is assigned to the case and told to solve the murder as quickly as possible in order to avoid potential civic unrest.
This is the first Harry Bosch novel I’ve read. Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer, about defense attorney Mickey Haller, was a fun, fast-paced, suspense-laden thriller. This one gets mired down in sub-plots involving Bosch’s crumbling marriage, the political in-games Bosch has to play to get anything done, and some of the creepiest stuff I’ve read in a while.
Bosch has to be able to see the forest for the trees in a case that quickly zigs and zags in some fairly dark and unexpected places, yet ultimately, the focus of the case is personal. It’s always personal and the clues are laid out for you in a ham-fisted way. Still, I like Bosch and will probably check out another in the series.
The ending, I’m guessing, was a backhand tribute to Nathaniel West's The Day of the Locust.
This book was published in 2000 and yet sadly, the overarching reality of justice and race shown here has changed little in this country.
This is the first Harry Bosch novel I’ve read. Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer, about defense attorney Mickey Haller, was a fun, fast-paced, suspense-laden thriller. This one gets mired down in sub-plots involving Bosch’s crumbling marriage, the political in-games Bosch has to play to get anything done, and some of the creepiest stuff I’ve read in a while.
Bosch has to be able to see the forest for the trees in a case that quickly zigs and zags in some fairly dark and unexpected places, yet ultimately, the focus of the case is personal. It’s always personal and the clues are laid out for you in a ham-fisted way. Still, I like Bosch and will probably check out another in the series.
The ending, I’m guessing, was a backhand tribute to Nathaniel West's The Day of the Locust.
This book was published in 2000 and yet sadly, the overarching reality of justice and race shown here has changed little in this country.
December 17, 2014
My first ever Harry Bosch novel and I really enjoyed it. Harry is a wonderful character and I am so glad he is not an alcoholic like so many of the main characters in these kinds of books. I can cope with the fact that he is trying to give up smoking and that he is bad at relationships. Those things just make him more real. The story line in this book is excellent and full of twists and turns. The book starts off steadily and then rapidly becomes a page turner designed to keep the reader up late at night! And the ending is just perfect although quite a surprise. So now I have to go back and read the first Harry Bosch novel which I believe is the start of a series of about nineteen books. Lovely.
April 9, 2025
Another deep notch in Connelly's belt!
Howard Elias is part of the Los Angeles upper crust. As a very high profile African-American attorney and racial activist, his lucrative practice consists in large part of suing the LAPD for real, perceived or imagined civil rights infractions against the black community in LA. When he is murdered in a particularly vindictive fashion on the very eve of an important trial against four white officers, the administration of the LAPD recognizes that it has no choice but to investigate its own members and let the chips fall where they may. The case is assigned to Harry Bosch and his Hollywood homicide squad, rookie black female officer, Kiz Rider and a senior detective, Jerry Edgar, also a black officer in good standing. The political considerations behind the choice of this team to investigate the case are obvious. Bosch, Rider and Edgar, probably more through good luck than good management, have never been sued by Elias. That the squad has two black members obviously makes the choice even more politically palatable.
Michael Connelly has stepped up to the plate once again and treated us to an exciting police procedural that will thrill Harry Bosch fans to their very toes. Los Angeles is graphically portrayed as a tinder box ready to explode into a reprise of the Watts riots that took place in the aftermath of the Rodney King trial. As we've come to expect, Bosch continues to be a come-what-may investigator whose only pursuit is the truth. As Bosch's former partner, Frank Sheehan, comes under suspicion for the murder, Bosch's friendship, his loyalty and the steadfastness of his principles are tested to their limits.
This might not be the best novel that Connelly ever wrote. But I still haven't encountered the entry in the growing Harry Bosch canon that doesn't keep me flipping pages at a torrid pace. Internal departmental politics and race take centre stage in ANGEL'S FLIGHT as Bosch butts heads with the senior levels of the department, the FBI, Internal Affairs and even his own partners. Readers who have followed Bosch from the very start will also be interested in the side plot about his new wife, former FBI agent, Eleanor Wish.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Howard Elias is part of the Los Angeles upper crust. As a very high profile African-American attorney and racial activist, his lucrative practice consists in large part of suing the LAPD for real, perceived or imagined civil rights infractions against the black community in LA. When he is murdered in a particularly vindictive fashion on the very eve of an important trial against four white officers, the administration of the LAPD recognizes that it has no choice but to investigate its own members and let the chips fall where they may. The case is assigned to Harry Bosch and his Hollywood homicide squad, rookie black female officer, Kiz Rider and a senior detective, Jerry Edgar, also a black officer in good standing. The political considerations behind the choice of this team to investigate the case are obvious. Bosch, Rider and Edgar, probably more through good luck than good management, have never been sued by Elias. That the squad has two black members obviously makes the choice even more politically palatable.
Michael Connelly has stepped up to the plate once again and treated us to an exciting police procedural that will thrill Harry Bosch fans to their very toes. Los Angeles is graphically portrayed as a tinder box ready to explode into a reprise of the Watts riots that took place in the aftermath of the Rodney King trial. As we've come to expect, Bosch continues to be a come-what-may investigator whose only pursuit is the truth. As Bosch's former partner, Frank Sheehan, comes under suspicion for the murder, Bosch's friendship, his loyalty and the steadfastness of his principles are tested to their limits.
This might not be the best novel that Connelly ever wrote. But I still haven't encountered the entry in the growing Harry Bosch canon that doesn't keep me flipping pages at a torrid pace. Internal departmental politics and race take centre stage in ANGEL'S FLIGHT as Bosch butts heads with the senior levels of the department, the FBI, Internal Affairs and even his own partners. Readers who have followed Bosch from the very start will also be interested in the side plot about his new wife, former FBI agent, Eleanor Wish.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
September 16, 2018
Holy moly... this was a convoluted one. And I say that in the most complimentary way possible. Harry is once again brought in to solve a case that threatens disaster no matter the outcome, and all the suspects keep ending up dead - which leads to convenient assumption type answers that Harry just doesn't eff with. This case was a riddle inside an enigma spritzed with a little dusting of mystery, and more layered than an onion... and I loved it, while at the same time kind of waiting for the disaster to strike every other sentence.
I have come to realize that this series is now my go to for when I don't know what I want to read, because I know that there's gonna be an interesting case (or two or three) and that Harry's situation is going to be tenuous at best, but despite it all, he's gonna do his damndest to get to the bottom of it... even if it doesn't quite work out the way that all the TV shows imply that it should - with the bad guys being outed and the truth being told, and the good guys winning the day. This series is grim as fuck like that - because the reader knows the truth by the end, but it never really feels like we get closure from it. Realism, I guess.
One thing that made this book particularly difficult to read was the social repercussions of the main plot murder and subsequent investigation. It's no secret that we have some pretty fucked up race relations in the US, and that has not gotten better no matter how many people claim that we're living in post-racism America. (Stop saying this, people. It's just ignorant. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.)
This book was written in 1999, and references the Rodney King beating and subsequent rioting when the cops got off of the charges completely, as well as the OJ Simpson trial. In a way, these two major trials are used as something of a crutch for the attitudes that Harry displays. And, don't get me wrong, I love Harry Bosch - he's one of my favorite detectives, but he's not very... woke. Harry has lived through his own trials and tribulations, but he's still white, and male, and a cop, and as such, has a somewhat more predictable perspective on certain things than what someone else would have. But, to his credit, he is essentially, mostly neutral. He isn't ACTIVELY racist, or sexist, or otherwise shitty... he just acknowledges things based on his own experiences, and if offered a different view of something, doesn't necessarily reject it out of hand, even if he doesn't necessarily understand it. Really, Bosch is open to info, even if it's not what he expects, and that, along with his ethical desire for truth and accountability, is what makes him a great detective and a great character.
But still, this was a difficult book to read knowing that in the nearly 20 years since this was written, and close to 27 years since Rodney King... very, very little has changed. Black people are still being beaten, choked, tazed, and shot and killed by cops (and People "Standing Their Ground" Against Scary Teenagers), and the cop almost never faces any repercussions for it. It's essentially a "We investigated ourselves, and we found that we didn't do anything wrong." situation... again and again and again. It's a problem. One that, as a nation, we need to fix, but apparently would just rather ignore or deflect from.
An example: Just last week a white female officer entered into an apartment in her building that she THOUGHT was hers, but wasn't, and shot and killed the unarmed black male who did live there. She wasn't arrested for 3 days. THREE DAYS... to just go about her life after entering the wrong apartment, pulling her service weapon and murdering the man who lived there. And now info was released that the victim had weed in his apartment, as though that makes it OK for him to be murdered in his own home by a cop who "forgot" where she lived. Absolutely sickening. I'm sure that there's a lot more to this story, but what I've seen so far, a delayed arrest and then what seems to be an attempt to smear the reputation of the victim, does not bode well for justice. :(
Anyway... seeing this from the other perspective - the desire to, at least on the surface, remain transparent and accurately hold a the responsible party accountable (even if the killer turned out to be a cop) in an effort to avoid civil unrest was interesting. It was definitely a political tight-rope walk, especially in LA where, as mentioned, they'd had rioting resulting from a mishandled police accountability case not all that long ago (when this was written). Public perception is key, as well as trust. And... that trust is easily lost, which makes the Police Chief's job of reassuring the public all the harder.
But that brings me to my next point. One of the things that I love about this series is that we get to know the cops that Harry gets to know, and despite Harry's clear as crystal opinions of them, I never really know if I completely trust his views. Meaning that, he may not trust someone, but I'm not convinced that he's always right about them. Harry is unreliable in that way. He behaves and reacts to things in a way that are completely foreign to me, sometimes in purely petty ways, and I find myself wondering why he takes the risks he does when there's next to nothing to gain from it. If he was just to hold his cards a bit, he could actually make a play that matters, but he's always showing his hand. Then, on the flip side, when I think he'd benefit from calling out something that he knows, he sits on it. (HARRY, let's get on the same page here! Why you gotta be so difficult?? Ahh, whatever. You're you, and that's all you can be, and I am down with it.)
But, for instance, I found myself really unsure how to feel about three cops that we've seen throughout the series, and that I would ordinarily be inclined to trust... each for different reasons, DESPITE their repeated... interactions... with Harry, some of which are most definitely Harry's own fault. Harry doesn't share my inclination and suspects them, which I can understand his reasoning for doing, given their history, but needed more than just "Harry says so" to go along with.
I liked how Harry's personal life was tied in, though... it felt a bit like an afterthought and really nothing more than a distraction for Harry. But... as little as there was of Harry's relationship, it actually worked to make me curious about what is going on there. How did things go so far off the rails in such a short time? What's going on with Eleanor? Inquiring minds want to know!
I really do love this series though. I enjoy that each book is interesting on multiple levels, but is also just really enjoyable reading. It is what it is, and can bring up serious social issues without being preachy or annoying about it. I like that.
I have come to realize that this series is now my go to for when I don't know what I want to read, because I know that there's gonna be an interesting case (or two or three) and that Harry's situation is going to be tenuous at best, but despite it all, he's gonna do his damndest to get to the bottom of it... even if it doesn't quite work out the way that all the TV shows imply that it should - with the bad guys being outed and the truth being told, and the good guys winning the day. This series is grim as fuck like that - because the reader knows the truth by the end, but it never really feels like we get closure from it. Realism, I guess.
One thing that made this book particularly difficult to read was the social repercussions of the main plot murder and subsequent investigation. It's no secret that we have some pretty fucked up race relations in the US, and that has not gotten better no matter how many people claim that we're living in post-racism America. (Stop saying this, people. It's just ignorant. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.)
This book was written in 1999, and references the Rodney King beating and subsequent rioting when the cops got off of the charges completely, as well as the OJ Simpson trial. In a way, these two major trials are used as something of a crutch for the attitudes that Harry displays. And, don't get me wrong, I love Harry Bosch - he's one of my favorite detectives, but he's not very... woke. Harry has lived through his own trials and tribulations, but he's still white, and male, and a cop, and as such, has a somewhat more predictable perspective on certain things than what someone else would have. But, to his credit, he is essentially, mostly neutral. He isn't ACTIVELY racist, or sexist, or otherwise shitty... he just acknowledges things based on his own experiences, and if offered a different view of something, doesn't necessarily reject it out of hand, even if he doesn't necessarily understand it. Really, Bosch is open to info, even if it's not what he expects, and that, along with his ethical desire for truth and accountability, is what makes him a great detective and a great character.
But still, this was a difficult book to read knowing that in the nearly 20 years since this was written, and close to 27 years since Rodney King... very, very little has changed. Black people are still being beaten, choked, tazed, and shot and killed by cops (and People "Standing Their Ground" Against Scary Teenagers), and the cop almost never faces any repercussions for it. It's essentially a "We investigated ourselves, and we found that we didn't do anything wrong." situation... again and again and again. It's a problem. One that, as a nation, we need to fix, but apparently would just rather ignore or deflect from.
An example: Just last week a white female officer entered into an apartment in her building that she THOUGHT was hers, but wasn't, and shot and killed the unarmed black male who did live there. She wasn't arrested for 3 days. THREE DAYS... to just go about her life after entering the wrong apartment, pulling her service weapon and murdering the man who lived there. And now info was released that the victim had weed in his apartment, as though that makes it OK for him to be murdered in his own home by a cop who "forgot" where she lived. Absolutely sickening. I'm sure that there's a lot more to this story, but what I've seen so far, a delayed arrest and then what seems to be an attempt to smear the reputation of the victim, does not bode well for justice. :(
Anyway... seeing this from the other perspective - the desire to, at least on the surface, remain transparent and accurately hold a the responsible party accountable (even if the killer turned out to be a cop) in an effort to avoid civil unrest was interesting. It was definitely a political tight-rope walk, especially in LA where, as mentioned, they'd had rioting resulting from a mishandled police accountability case not all that long ago (when this was written). Public perception is key, as well as trust. And... that trust is easily lost, which makes the Police Chief's job of reassuring the public all the harder.
But that brings me to my next point. One of the things that I love about this series is that we get to know the cops that Harry gets to know, and despite Harry's clear as crystal opinions of them, I never really know if I completely trust his views. Meaning that, he may not trust someone, but I'm not convinced that he's always right about them. Harry is unreliable in that way. He behaves and reacts to things in a way that are completely foreign to me, sometimes in purely petty ways, and I find myself wondering why he takes the risks he does when there's next to nothing to gain from it. If he was just to hold his cards a bit, he could actually make a play that matters, but he's always showing his hand. Then, on the flip side, when I think he'd benefit from calling out something that he knows, he sits on it. (HARRY, let's get on the same page here! Why you gotta be so difficult?? Ahh, whatever. You're you, and that's all you can be, and I am down with it.)
But, for instance, I found myself really unsure how to feel about three cops that we've seen throughout the series, and that I would ordinarily be inclined to trust... each for different reasons, DESPITE their repeated... interactions... with Harry, some of which are most definitely Harry's own fault. Harry doesn't share my inclination and suspects them, which I can understand his reasoning for doing, given their history, but needed more than just "Harry says so" to go along with.
I liked how Harry's personal life was tied in, though... it felt a bit like an afterthought and really nothing more than a distraction for Harry. But... as little as there was of Harry's relationship, it actually worked to make me curious about what is going on there. How did things go so far off the rails in such a short time? What's going on with Eleanor? Inquiring minds want to know!
I really do love this series though. I enjoy that each book is interesting on multiple levels, but is also just really enjoyable reading. It is what it is, and can bring up serious social issues without being preachy or annoying about it. I like that.
November 23, 2021
This is part of a series but it can be read as a stand alone. In this one Harry is given a case where a prominent lawyer has been killed. This lawyer is known for suing the police department and the belief is that the murder was done by a policeman. There is more on the line than just a simple murder.
I am reading this series in order and I have yet come upon a bad one. These books are very gritty and this one is no exception. This one could be the darkest one I have read of this series as it contains child rape and suicide. One of the aspects I enjoyed about this book is the importance of the investigation. It wasn't just finding the culprit but what it meant to the city itself. I was so impressed that this was written years ago and it is still relevant today. The investigation process was very clever as we follow Harry throughout as he inches closer to finding the truth. The ending is extremely clever. I wish I could say more about the ending but it would give it away.
Up to this point in the series this might be the most clever book concerning the nature of the investigation. That itself deserves five stars. The only flaw in this book was Harry's personal life. I don't mind these new developments but in this book they seemed like they were tacked on. It felt like the author knew he needed some character exploration for the main character and not just be a police procedural book. I didn't feel the connection to those scenes and why I could not give this book five stars. That being said this is once again a great Harry Bosch novel.
I am reading this series in order and I have yet come upon a bad one. These books are very gritty and this one is no exception. This one could be the darkest one I have read of this series as it contains child rape and suicide. One of the aspects I enjoyed about this book is the importance of the investigation. It wasn't just finding the culprit but what it meant to the city itself. I was so impressed that this was written years ago and it is still relevant today. The investigation process was very clever as we follow Harry throughout as he inches closer to finding the truth. The ending is extremely clever. I wish I could say more about the ending but it would give it away.
Up to this point in the series this might be the most clever book concerning the nature of the investigation. That itself deserves five stars. The only flaw in this book was Harry's personal life. I don't mind these new developments but in this book they seemed like they were tacked on. It felt like the author knew he needed some character exploration for the main character and not just be a police procedural book. I didn't feel the connection to those scenes and why I could not give this book five stars. That being said this is once again a great Harry Bosch novel.
June 26, 2025
Поредният отличен роман от серията за Хари Бош!
Застрелян е Хауърд Елайъс - известен адвокат, съдил и осъдил безброй ченгета и яростен противник на полицията в ЛА. Бош, Едгар и Киз са привикани спешно от началник Ървинг и им е възложено разследването на убийството.
Но дали началниците на полицията искат това престъпление да бъде разкрито?
Заплетената криминална интрига държи читателя в напрежение до самия си край!
Застрелян е Хауърд Елайъс - известен адвокат, съдил и осъдил безброй ченгета и яростен противник на полицията в ЛА. Бош, Едгар и Киз са привикани спешно от началник Ървинг и им е възложено разследването на убийството.
Но дали началниците на полицията искат това престъпление да бъде разкрито?
Заплетената криминална интрига държи читателя в напрежение до самия си край!
October 1, 2017
A complex and satisfying Bosch mystery. I do believe that Harry is becoming far more politically adept as he ages, but at a cost.
Angels Flight takes place in April 1999, so it appears that Harry and Eleanor have been married almost three years by this point.
Sadly, in this book we see Eleanor and Harry's marriage break down. This is well-portrayed in several scenes throughout the book, very poignant, and without rancour.
* Note that despite what you might read in the Harry Bosch Wikia, their daughter, Madeline, has not been born yet.
The mystery itself is complex with a large cast. The issues of race and police corruption are prevalent throughout, but well-presented, believable and sadly a reflection of the realities of the day.
There is an additional theme of in the book, but it's not overwrought, and you can skim past the nastiest parts.
The final whodunit is a surprise, although some elements leading to the culmination of events I managed to guess in advance.
Blistering pace, as usual. Top Marks.
Update news flash: Season 4 of Amazon TV's Bosch will include this story.
Michael Connelly explains....
Angels Flight takes place in April 1999, so it appears that Harry and Eleanor have been married almost three years by this point.
Sadly, in this book we see Eleanor and Harry's marriage break down. This is well-portrayed in several scenes throughout the book, very poignant, and without rancour.
* Note that despite what you might read in the Harry Bosch Wikia, their daughter, Madeline, has not been born yet.
The mystery itself is complex with a large cast. The issues of race and police corruption are prevalent throughout, but well-presented, believable and sadly a reflection of the realities of the day.
There is an additional theme of in the book, but it's not overwrought, and you can skim past the nastiest parts.
The final whodunit is a surprise, although some elements leading to the culmination of events I managed to guess in advance.
Blistering pace, as usual. Top Marks.
Update news flash: Season 4 of Amazon TV's Bosch will include this story.
Michael Connelly explains....
July 11, 2025
One of the best books I have ever read! Michael Connelly is amazing. That ending 😬😬
June 11, 2023
Harry's marriage is falling apart but he doesn't have time to dwell on it. There's been a murder of a prominent defense attorney. The dead man's got a lot of enemies in the LAPD. Bosch's team is forced to work along with IAD and others he's not comfortable with. Tense and nicely paced thriller.
October 16, 2014
When the phone rang in the early hours of the morning, Detective Harry Bosch wasn’t in bed where the caller expected him to be – he had in fact been pacing the house in the darkness, willing the phone to ring – but the voice at the other end of the line wasn’t the voice he wanted to hear. He felt the desolation hit him again; but the call out by Deputy Chief Irving was another shock – out of their area, out of their district, and into an explosive case that would change lives, and in a violent and permanent way..
Angels Flight was a combination of two trolley cars which ran from top to bottom of one of the steep inclines of LA – the motor to run the cars was at the top and operated by a driver. The two cars would pass each other in the centre; it made Angels Flight a great tourist attraction. And it was also a good way for workers to move quickly and easily from one section of the city to the other. But that night, with Bosch and his partners, Kiz Ryder and Jerry Edgar arriving around 2.45am, the area was filled to capacity with cops. Bosch couldn’t work out why they had been called in – but it was soon to become clear to him.
With the race on to forestall rioting, Bosch had the services of the IAD (Internal Affairs Division) thrust upon him. Detective Chastain and Bosch were sworn enemies; how on earth was he to work with him? But it seemed they had no choice. With the possibility of a rogue cop out there, the investigation took a sinister turn. And with a large number of the LAPD all having reason to want the victim dead, Bosch knew he could trust no-one; he would do this his way and find the killer, hopefully before anyone else became a victim.
Another brilliant instalment in this series! Harry Bosch is a fabulous character. The depth and intrigue in this one was intense, the different and varied layers all melded to create one spellbinding and thrilling novel. The finale was stunning! I have no hesitation in recommending this one highly.
Angels Flight was a combination of two trolley cars which ran from top to bottom of one of the steep inclines of LA – the motor to run the cars was at the top and operated by a driver. The two cars would pass each other in the centre; it made Angels Flight a great tourist attraction. And it was also a good way for workers to move quickly and easily from one section of the city to the other. But that night, with Bosch and his partners, Kiz Ryder and Jerry Edgar arriving around 2.45am, the area was filled to capacity with cops. Bosch couldn’t work out why they had been called in – but it was soon to become clear to him.
With the race on to forestall rioting, Bosch had the services of the IAD (Internal Affairs Division) thrust upon him. Detective Chastain and Bosch were sworn enemies; how on earth was he to work with him? But it seemed they had no choice. With the possibility of a rogue cop out there, the investigation took a sinister turn. And with a large number of the LAPD all having reason to want the victim dead, Bosch knew he could trust no-one; he would do this his way and find the killer, hopefully before anyone else became a victim.
Another brilliant instalment in this series! Harry Bosch is a fabulous character. The depth and intrigue in this one was intense, the different and varied layers all melded to create one spellbinding and thrilling novel. The finale was stunning! I have no hesitation in recommending this one highly.
January 22, 2019
This was an excellent book with lots of twists and turns. Connelly pulls you into the story immediately and keeps you interested the whole way through the story.
June 20, 2016
Harry and his team (Kizmin Rider & Harry Edgar) are called to a murder scene at Angels Flight. They soon find they've been assigned the worst of cases as the victim is a high profile civil rights attorney who is in the middle of a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the LAPD. As with many of his cases, Harry's just drawn a really thorny, short stick.
I literally could not stop listening to this story with its many layers, twists, turns and ugliness. Harry has to look internally for suspects and it's not pretty as the city is poised to erupt into violence over this murder. This isn't an easy story and my original hunch (which I abandoned) turned out to be dead on, which was pretty exciting. The ending was almost poetic.
The change in narrators was a fairly seamless transition, though I miss Dick Hill's version of Jerry Edgar. I know there will be another change but, for now, I'm satisfied with the performance.
Still wild about Harry and this series.
I literally could not stop listening to this story with its many layers, twists, turns and ugliness. Harry has to look internally for suspects and it's not pretty as the city is poised to erupt into violence over this murder. This isn't an easy story and my original hunch (which I abandoned) turned out to be dead on, which was pretty exciting. The ending was almost poetic.
The change in narrators was a fairly seamless transition, though I miss Dick Hill's version of Jerry Edgar. I know there will be another change but, for now, I'm satisfied with the performance.
Still wild about Harry and this series.
May 4, 2024
While I’m writing this, it’s the 4th of May 2024. It still feels weird to live in a world without Paul Auster in it. When I went to bed on the 30th of April, he was still there. On the morning of the 1st of May, when I opened the New York Times app on my phone, a black-and-white picture of Paul Auster gave it away.
I had known he was fighting cancer but I thought he had time… Time for more novels - after all, his novels have been present in my life for decades, most of my life. Auster’s novels were never easy to read but they were worth the effort.
Why am I prefacing a review of “Angels Flight” with that? First and foremost, I’m writing these reviews for myself. They add to my enjoyment of the novel discussed and they also serve as a reminder of them, and who I was when I read them. Of course, I’m also writing them for you, dear reader, and I love it when you like them (so, hit that button right now, what are you waiting for?) but that’s a bonus.
When looking for my next read, I first reached for a novel by Auster but I quickly realised, in my state of mind, I couldn’t enjoy it. So I decided to continue my Harry Bosch binge-reading and that turned out to be an excellent idea because it put me into a reading frenzy!
This time, Harry is called in to investigate the murder of a hotshot civil rights lawyer who was suing the LAPD for extreme police brutality against his client. Harry quickly discovers that the lawyer was right and his client completely innocent. Harry’s own colleagues, though, among them his former partner and old friend, Frankie Sheehan, as well as his nemesis, John Chastain of the Internal Affairs Division (IAD), feature prominently among the cast of this absolute page turner.
»[Bosch] “What? What am I doing?”
[Chastain] “You’re thinning us out. That way you have better control.”
He waited for Bosch to reply but only got silence.
“But eventually, if we’re going to do this thing right, you are going to have to trust us.”
After a pause, Bosch said, “I know that.”«
Teamed up with Chastain and his entourage at first, later joined by Roy Lindell of the FBI (and the previous novel), Bosch is the same old “hard-boiled” detective he always was, but - also as always - with a spin. Bosch is still willing to learn and to adapt. He’s alienated by computers at best but in contrast to many of his colleagues, he’s not only willing to learn but he’s not shy to ask for help:
»Rider came around the desk and looked down at the printout.
“It’s a web page.”
“Right. So how do we get to it and take a look?”
“Let me get in there.”«
(Kizmin Rider is a female colleague of Harry’s.)
Sadly, as good as the novel is in almost every aspect, the author’s fledgling grasp of the then-emerging web technology is embarrassingly rendered. What Connelly writes about web pages, cookies, and other stuff is probably the worst technobabble I’ve ever read. Highly annoying if one knows better but good enough for everyone else.
As usual, Connelly’s other writing is smooth and wonderfully readable. The story itself is very engaging and represents a clear step-up from the previous novel, easily becoming one of the most suspenseful Bosch novels so far.
Unfortunately, the ending came unexpectedly quickly: The story was fully wrapped-up but the way it ends is satisfying in its consequences, but it feels rushed with chances to redeem a major character lost, and a few threads not loose, but at least not neatly tied up as in every other Bosch novel so far.
Nevertheless, I read till I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and - very uncharacteristically for me - I started reading again almost immediately after waking up without even checking in on my computer.
A clear winner that garners 4.5 stars out of five from me, rounded up to five.
P.S.: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6eG0lyAgR-/
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
I had known he was fighting cancer but I thought he had time… Time for more novels - after all, his novels have been present in my life for decades, most of my life. Auster’s novels were never easy to read but they were worth the effort.
Why am I prefacing a review of “Angels Flight” with that? First and foremost, I’m writing these reviews for myself. They add to my enjoyment of the novel discussed and they also serve as a reminder of them, and who I was when I read them. Of course, I’m also writing them for you, dear reader, and I love it when you like them (so, hit that button right now, what are you waiting for?) but that’s a bonus.
When looking for my next read, I first reached for a novel by Auster but I quickly realised, in my state of mind, I couldn’t enjoy it. So I decided to continue my Harry Bosch binge-reading and that turned out to be an excellent idea because it put me into a reading frenzy!
This time, Harry is called in to investigate the murder of a hotshot civil rights lawyer who was suing the LAPD for extreme police brutality against his client. Harry quickly discovers that the lawyer was right and his client completely innocent. Harry’s own colleagues, though, among them his former partner and old friend, Frankie Sheehan, as well as his nemesis, John Chastain of the Internal Affairs Division (IAD), feature prominently among the cast of this absolute page turner.
»[Bosch] “What? What am I doing?”
[Chastain] “You’re thinning us out. That way you have better control.”
He waited for Bosch to reply but only got silence.
“But eventually, if we’re going to do this thing right, you are going to have to trust us.”
After a pause, Bosch said, “I know that.”«
Teamed up with Chastain and his entourage at first, later joined by Roy Lindell of the FBI (and the previous novel), Bosch is the same old “hard-boiled” detective he always was, but - also as always - with a spin. Bosch is still willing to learn and to adapt. He’s alienated by computers at best but in contrast to many of his colleagues, he’s not only willing to learn but he’s not shy to ask for help:
»Rider came around the desk and looked down at the printout.
“It’s a web page.”
“Right. So how do we get to it and take a look?”
“Let me get in there.”«
(Kizmin Rider is a female colleague of Harry’s.)
Sadly, as good as the novel is in almost every aspect, the author’s fledgling grasp of the then-emerging web technology is embarrassingly rendered. What Connelly writes about web pages, cookies, and other stuff is probably the worst technobabble I’ve ever read. Highly annoying if one knows better but good enough for everyone else.
As usual, Connelly’s other writing is smooth and wonderfully readable. The story itself is very engaging and represents a clear step-up from the previous novel, easily becoming one of the most suspenseful Bosch novels so far.
Unfortunately, the ending came unexpectedly quickly: The story was fully wrapped-up but the way it ends is satisfying in its consequences, but it feels rushed with chances to redeem a major character lost, and a few threads not loose, but at least not neatly tied up as in every other Bosch novel so far.
Nevertheless, I read till I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and - very uncharacteristically for me - I started reading again almost immediately after waking up without even checking in on my computer.
A clear winner that garners 4.5 stars out of five from me, rounded up to five.
P.S.: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6eG0lyAgR-/
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Pinterest | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
July 23, 2015
8/10
Another solid entry by Michael Connolly, this man is one of those authors that I can call upon when I need a good solid mystery. Bosch as a character has truly developed since his first outing and is quite a unique character overall. He has his flaws but they’re not the typical drunken down and out type but more the complex character who gets his man with solid police work whilst fighting the internal politics. Well, maybe some tropes but not the normal overused ones at least...
The mystery here is a lawyer who prosecutes police officers is killed in cold blood and it looks like it could be a job undertaken by someone who works on the force. Unfortunately for Harry, the top brass think he is the perfect choice to hunt out the perpetrator and reveal them to the world wherever the chips lay. Harry is probably chosen due to his run in’s with the chiefs in previous novels making this a novel that is better appreciated knowing the back story. It could be read as a standalone but I think more would be gained with a bit of back knowledge.
One thing that irked me though was the ending. There were many red herrings, as expected in this sort of novel, but it was made pretty clear who the killer was likely to be from early on (especially with hindsight now on my side). But that wasn’t the issue, how everything was tied up just seemed a little strange especially .
Overall, not the best in the series but a well written crime mystery set in a turbulent time in LA during the 90’s with a few stand out scenes. Bosch is well worth a read to anyone who hasn’t tried him and I look forward to continuing this series hoping for more of the same.
If you like this try: “Knots & Crosses” by Ian Rankin
Another solid entry by Michael Connolly, this man is one of those authors that I can call upon when I need a good solid mystery. Bosch as a character has truly developed since his first outing and is quite a unique character overall. He has his flaws but they’re not the typical drunken down and out type but more the complex character who gets his man with solid police work whilst fighting the internal politics. Well, maybe some tropes but not the normal overused ones at least...
The mystery here is a lawyer who prosecutes police officers is killed in cold blood and it looks like it could be a job undertaken by someone who works on the force. Unfortunately for Harry, the top brass think he is the perfect choice to hunt out the perpetrator and reveal them to the world wherever the chips lay. Harry is probably chosen due to his run in’s with the chiefs in previous novels making this a novel that is better appreciated knowing the back story. It could be read as a standalone but I think more would be gained with a bit of back knowledge.
One thing that irked me though was the ending. There were many red herrings, as expected in this sort of novel, but it was made pretty clear who the killer was likely to be from early on (especially with hindsight now on my side). But that wasn’t the issue, how everything was tied up just seemed a little strange especially .
Overall, not the best in the series but a well written crime mystery set in a turbulent time in LA during the 90’s with a few stand out scenes. Bosch is well worth a read to anyone who hasn’t tried him and I look forward to continuing this series hoping for more of the same.
If you like this try: “Knots & Crosses” by Ian Rankin
September 8, 2022
Mike Connelly speaking for Angels Flight & season 4 (0:18)
Goodreads - Best Police Detective - #7 as of 8/1/2019
Howard Elias, a black LA Civil attorney, LAPD officers hate him, always threatened to lose their “badge”.
Vote on Goodread’s Best Police Procedural List - Angel Flight (this book) is #7 as of 12/1/2018 on the list
Howard Elias, a black LA Civil attorney, LAPD officers hate him, always threatened to lose their “badge”.
“Angels Flight” is 2 public train cars, 1 goes up & 1 down at the same time. Catalina Perez (random woman) & Elias are murdered. (A Video - only shows Elias). His landmark case - “Black Warrior” started.
LAPD’s “Black Warrior” case - Micheal Harris (black kid) accused of killing of a 10 year old white girl. The 4th day girl’s body found & he’s released innocent. RHD (Robbery Homicide Division) sued for 3 days of racial mistreatments - $10 million dollars.
After many Detectives killed, Chief of Police closes the case. But Bosch knowns better?
It took time to link the characters for me.
March 29, 2019 - FYI Update: Micheal Connelly - Police & FBI Acronyms
1. Bosch Season 4 Trailer (2018) on Prime Video
2. Mentions Angels Flight & 9 Dragons - are Season 4
Goodreads - Best Police Detective - #7 as of 8/1/2019
Howard Elias, a black LA Civil attorney, LAPD officers hate him, always threatened to lose their “badge”.
Vote on Goodread’s Best Police Procedural List - Angel Flight (this book) is #7 as of 12/1/2018 on the list
Howard Elias, a black LA Civil attorney, LAPD officers hate him, always threatened to lose their “badge”.
“Angels Flight” is 2 public train cars, 1 goes up & 1 down at the same time. Catalina Perez (random woman) & Elias are murdered. (A Video - only shows Elias). His landmark case - “Black Warrior” started.
LAPD’s “Black Warrior” case - Micheal Harris (black kid) accused of killing of a 10 year old white girl. The 4th day girl’s body found & he’s released innocent. RHD (Robbery Homicide Division) sued for 3 days of racial mistreatments - $10 million dollars.
After many Detectives killed, Chief of Police closes the case. But Bosch knowns better?
It took time to link the characters for me.
LA’s Angels Flight® Railway
March 29, 2019 - FYI Update: Micheal Connelly - Police & FBI Acronyms
1. Bosch Season 4 Trailer (2018) on Prime Video
2. Mentions Angels Flight & 9 Dragons - are Season 4
November 11, 2018
This is only my second book about Harry Bosch, the first one was The Concrete Blonde. And I have to admit that I liked this one even more than the previous one.
Bosch is given the case of the murder of two people on the historic tram line. It immediately turns out that one of the victims is the lawyer most hated by all policemen. The list of people who wanted his death is extended and there are some Harry's colleagues on it. The evidence disappears very quickly and false trails are created even for no reason. Meanwhile, it seems that Bosch's supervisors does not care too much to find a murderer but rather to stop any possible riots in the city.
I found this book very interesting and suspenseful. There are lots of twists and turns. It is also quite somber at some time (). Harry Bosch is a great hero, it’s nice to follow his investigation. I wish his personal life is less complicated.
This is definitely not my last book about Harry Bosch.
April 7, 2013
Another great Bosch novel! Enjoyed this one because it wasn't very predictable. The end was one of these where I was actually asking, "Who the heck is the killer?" I thought I had the whole mess figured out, only to be very wrong. That's a plus because some novels in the past I have figured out much too early who/what/where, etc. Entertaining, good, classic Connelly.
September 7, 2021
An oldie by Michael Connelly which I remember seeing on Prime with the missus, albeit somewhat redacted towards the TV show, the book however is far rawer than the TV show.
Bosch gets asked (told effectively) to lead the investigations into the killing of high profile lawyer Howard Elias, which occurred on the eve of a major trail. Bosch soon learns that there was no way this lawyer was going to lose this case and that the LAPD would come out looking bad.
At the same time the loss of the lawyer might also lead to rioting which had happened before and the LAPD was also taking steps to prevent this.
Bosch quickly realizes that the truth about what really happened is not the answer people want to hear, and that politics might be far more important than the lives lost and the truth about what really happened.
Once again a really well written novel in which Bosch is confronted by some truths in a job he really loves.
A great book by the very often excellent writer John Connelly.
Bosch gets asked (told effectively) to lead the investigations into the killing of high profile lawyer Howard Elias, which occurred on the eve of a major trail. Bosch soon learns that there was no way this lawyer was going to lose this case and that the LAPD would come out looking bad.
At the same time the loss of the lawyer might also lead to rioting which had happened before and the LAPD was also taking steps to prevent this.
Bosch quickly realizes that the truth about what really happened is not the answer people want to hear, and that politics might be far more important than the lives lost and the truth about what really happened.
Once again a really well written novel in which Bosch is confronted by some truths in a job he really loves.
A great book by the very often excellent writer John Connelly.
August 21, 2021
Happiness never lasts long for Detective Bosch and in completing book number six of this series it is safe to say that his melancholy streak remains unbroken. But said Detective knows how to push those troublesome feelings and emotions waaaay DEEP down inside so he can continue to get his hands all muddy cracking crazy cases like this one right here wide open.
Atta Peppa!!!!!
Three Slightly Shimmering Stars
Atta Peppa!!!!!
Three Slightly Shimmering Stars
January 13, 2023
This is one great series with authentic characters and interesting storylines. Enough action while also engaging my intellect and emotions.
Quotes that made me think or feel:
"The mural was one of the little things that made him like the downtown so much. Just like the Bradbury and Angels Flight. Little pieces of grace were everywhere if you looked."
"He knew the real shelter of a home was inside yourself."
Quotes that made me think or feel:
"The mural was one of the little things that made him like the downtown so much. Just like the Bradbury and Angels Flight. Little pieces of grace were everywhere if you looked."
"He knew the real shelter of a home was inside yourself."
February 20, 2023
I’m so glad I decided to make my way through this reliable series this year. It has been a rough year, to date, and I don’t need any more bad surprises.
In Angel’s Flight we have Harry Bosch, married for one year to Eleanor Wish. He adores her. Their marriage is crumbling, because she wants out, and it’s not easy to witness this vulnerability in Harry.
But Harry being Harry, he lives for justice and can’t let his marital problems distract him from his mission. “Everybody counts or nobody counts” is his motto.
In this novel, a high profile black attorney known for bringing cases against the LAPD is found murdered. It’s just a few years after Rodney King and the L.A. riots. Everyone thinks it must be a cop. Every cop had a motive.
The black community is demanding that a cop pay for this crime. The reality of the murder is much more complicated and Connelly masterfully uncovers the truth, piece by piece.
It was very interesting how Connelly worked in issues of police corruption or at least “interference” of higher ranked officers in high profile cases. Realistic and well done.
This novel is a work of art. Recommended for Harry Bosch fans and fans of police procedurals, in general.
In Angel’s Flight we have Harry Bosch, married for one year to Eleanor Wish. He adores her. Their marriage is crumbling, because she wants out, and it’s not easy to witness this vulnerability in Harry.
But Harry being Harry, he lives for justice and can’t let his marital problems distract him from his mission. “Everybody counts or nobody counts” is his motto.
In this novel, a high profile black attorney known for bringing cases against the LAPD is found murdered. It’s just a few years after Rodney King and the L.A. riots. Everyone thinks it must be a cop. Every cop had a motive.
The black community is demanding that a cop pay for this crime. The reality of the murder is much more complicated and Connelly masterfully uncovers the truth, piece by piece.
It was very interesting how Connelly worked in issues of police corruption or at least “interference” of higher ranked officers in high profile cases. Realistic and well done.
This novel is a work of art. Recommended for Harry Bosch fans and fans of police procedurals, in general.
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November 10, 2024
3.0-Stars for Harry Bosch 06 - Angels Flight
I have listened to five of the "Harry Bosch" series in the past three or so weeks and now I will take a rest from Harry, his colleagues and those who run the LAPD.
I don't remember having read a print version of this book prior to hearing the audio. This is most likely due to the fact that I struggled, personally, with the vile crimes committed by the criminals portrayed.
However, Michael Connelly's writing and Dick Hill's narration make the project worthy of a 3-Stars rating, with the following trigger warnings: paedophilia and vile, unimaginable sexual abuse against children.
I have listened to five of the "Harry Bosch" series in the past three or so weeks and now I will take a rest from Harry, his colleagues and those who run the LAPD.
I don't remember having read a print version of this book prior to hearing the audio. This is most likely due to the fact that I struggled, personally, with the vile crimes committed by the criminals portrayed.
However, Michael Connelly's writing and Dick Hill's narration make the project worthy of a 3-Stars rating, with the following trigger warnings: paedophilia and vile, unimaginable sexual abuse against children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,793 reviews