2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Terry McCaleb, the retired FBI agent who starred in the bestseller "Blood Work," is asked by the LAPD to help them investigate aseries of murders that have them baffled. They are the kind of ritualized killings McCaleb specialized in solving with the FBI, and he is reluctantly drawn from his peaceful new life back into the horror and excitement of tracking down a terrifying homicidal maniac. More horrifying still, the suspect who seems to fit the profile that McCaleb develops is someone he has known and worked with in the past: LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch.

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Harry Bosch: Connelly's two series merge when his best known character, Harry Bosch, becomes a suspect in one of McCaleb's cases
Terry McCaleb: Retired FBI Agent and criminal profiler. A friend of Harry Bosch.
Jaye Winston: Sheriff's detective who Terry worked cases with in the past. She needs his help with the Gunn murder case.
Graciela McCaleb: Terry's wife and mother of their infant daughter.
Cielo Azul McCaleb: Terry and Graciela's 4-month old daughter.
Raymond McCaleb: Terry and Graciela's son (Graciela's murdered sister's son who they adopted).
Edward Gunn: Murder victim who Harry had previously tried to arrest for the murder of a prostitute.
Buddy Lockridge: Terry's boat neighbor who does odd jobs for a living. They now run a charter service together.
Janis Langwiser: Deputy District Attorney for LA with the Special Crimes Unit. She's prosecuting David Storey.
David Storey: Movie director accused of killing Jody Krementz.
Jack McEvoy: Reporter.
Jody Krementz: Murder victim who Davic Storey is accused of killing.
Judge Houghton: Judge in the David Storey case.
Annabelle Crowe: Witness in the David Storey case.
Leigh Alasdair Scott: Associate Curator of Paintings at the Getty Museum.
Jamal Hendricks: Works for Lighthouse Security.
Rudy Tafero: PI for David Storey. Former LAPD.
J. Reason Fowkkes: Lead defense attorney for David Storey.
Jerry Edgar: Bosch's partner when they arrested Gunn for murder.
Kizmin Rider: Harry's former partner; now works at Parker Center.
Marcus Friedman: FBI agent.
Zucker: LAPD sergeant who facilitated the bail release of Edward Gunn.
Jane Gilley: Shared an apartment with Jody Krementz.
Hitchens:
Miranda:
Mr. Preechnar: Boss at the post office.
Jerome Van Aiken: Painter also known as Heronyius Bosch.
Mr. Fleer:
Cameron Riddell:
Betilda Lockett: David Storey's assistant.
Mr. Wiggan:
Alice Short: Chief Deputy D.A. dealiing with major crimes.
Mr. Rohrshak: Building manager where Edward Gunn lived.
Jesse Tafero: Rudy Tafero's younger brother.
Kurt Mintz: Jaye Winston's partner.
Ed Thomas:
Dr. Teresa Corazón: Chief of the medical examiners office.
Brasilia (Brass) Doran: FBI profiler in Quantico with whom McCaleb worked before his retirement.
Charlie: Marina manager.
Hagen:
Albert Said:
Donald Twilley:
Lubbert Das:
Mr. Lucas:
Dr. Derek Vosskuhler: Restoration expert at the Getty Museum.
Penelope Fitzgerald: Curatorial Assistant at the Getty Museum.
Maggie Griffin: FBI.
Alicia Lopez: Murder victim whose case is similar to the murder for which David Story is being tried.
Frankie Sheehan:
Roger Kretzler: Deputy District Attorney for LA with the Special Crimes Unit.
Victor Seguin:
Ross Shuler:
Van Atta:
Dr. Guyot:
Irvin Irving: L.A. Deputy Chief of Police.
Glanville:
Rampone:
THELMA:
Burstin:
Drummond:
Rufus Coleman:
Hank Zinn:
Eddie Vaughn:
Delwyn:
Dowler:
Anneke Jespersen:
Walter Regis:
Robleto:
(hide spoiler)]

Reserved it at the library - three people ahead of me. I really hope that I'll get it by the end of August.

Jonetta, I defer to your expertise here but I think there may be a problem with the Harry Bosch Universe reading order.

The Poet is listed as book #11 but McCaleb mentions the case in Blood Work and McEvoy is a character in this book.

I deferred to others as to where to place The Poet in the series. It probably should have been placed earlier but according to Connelly's site, he only has a small part here. He also has a small part in The Brass Verdict, which is #17.

I'm not sure at this stage if it makes a difference. Again, I'm being guided by others who are further along in the series and Connelly's site. Also, it's closer to the release date of his second book. It's certainly not inconsistent with Connelly referring to a case in an earlier book and then going back and elaborating.

What do you think?

The mention of the case is very slight with no details and it has no bearing on the story. Moreover, if McEvoy's role is small as Connelly says then The Poet plot shouldn't come into play in A Darkness More Than Night. So I say leave it as is :0)

I've got this one on hold at the local library; looking forward to seeing how these two characters relate.

Lauren wrote: "The mention of the case is very slight with no details and it has no bearing on the story. Moreover, if McEvoy's role is small as Connelly says then The Poet plot shouldn't come into p..."

Thanks, Lauren. When we've finished the series, I'll check in with Connelly about the list as a whole. Right now, I'm reluctant to mess with it.

Great idea.

It will not be spoilt for you if you read A Darkness More Than Night before The Poet.

Thanks for weighing in!

Thanks Tracey!

I was wondering about that too. As both books kept mentioning it. My OCD feels safe in your hands guys!

Apologies for the delay in getting the discussion topics posted. Had a grueling road trip and should get them done by tomorrow.