57. - 689.) The Black Box by
Michael Connelly – It is a brilliant title involving a play on the black boxes
used on airplanes that are often the source for an explanation of an airplane
disaster. Harry Bosch, recounting a former partner Frankie Sheehan, says:
Frankie said it was the same with
a murder scene or a murder case. There will be one thing that brings it all
together and makes sense of things. You find it and you’re gold. It’s like
finding the black box.”
In 1992 Bosch is called into investigating homicides that
took place during the riots in South Central Los Angeles after four L.A.
Bosch is directed to an alley where there is a young white
woman shot through the eye. Members of the California National Guard have found
the body. To his frustration Bosch has no time for more than a cursory
inspection of the crime scene, some photos and quick conversations with the
Guardsmen before being called to another homicide. He does manage to find the
ejected shell casing.
The victim, Anneke Jespersen, is a Danish freelance photo
journalist covering the riots. Memorably she is dubbed Snow White.
When the riot ends other detectives are unsuccessful in
solving the murder.
Twenty years later, a forensic review of evidence in open
cases determines that the gun used to kill Jesperson was used in two other
murders. Bosch in the Open-Unsolved Unit is given another chance to find the
killer.
He travels to San Quentin to interview Rufus Coleman who has
been convicted of a different murder with the same gun. Skilfully leveraging two
letters to the Parole Board, one supporting and the other opposing, Bosch
learns from Coleman the name of the gang member who gave Coleman the gun.
However, Trumont Storey is dead.
Still Bosch has a thread to the murder. He starts a gun walk
looking to find and trace the gun.
At the O-U Unit Lieutenant Cliff O’Toole has just taken over
commnd. He is an officious officer focused on statistics clearing crimes. With
Bosch practising the principle, everybody matters, rather than statistical police
work there is immediate friction. With Bosch’s insolence to superiors ingrained
he is soon in trouble. The Professional Standards Bureau, the former Internal
Affairs, begins investigating a complaint arising from Bosch’s trip to San
Quentin.
At home Maddie is 16. Bosch has a good relationship with his
daughter but, because of his obsessive work habits, continues to struggle with
managing his time so he can be a full time parent. He is finding it a challenge
dealing with Maddie’s determination, as a young woman, to have more control
over her life.
Connelly smoothly draws the reader through the investigation
and Bosch’s personal life. Bosch conducts his usual tenacious investigation.
In his last book, The
Drop, I lamented the one dimensional character of the bad guy. It is not a
problem in this book.
I do regret the way in which Connelly chose to end The Black Box. It has too much the
flavour of Hollywood
The ending turned a great book into a good book for me.
(Dec. 30/12)
****
Happy New Year around the world to readers and fellow
bloggers! May all the crimes you encounter in 2013 be between the pages or on
the screen!
****
My other reviews of Connelly are:Connelly, Michael – (2000) - Void Moon; (2001) - A Darkness More than Night; (2001) - The Concrete Blonde (Third best fiction of 2001); (2002) - Blood Work (The Best); (2002) - City of Bones; (2003) - Lost Light; (2004) - The Narrows; (2005) - The Closers (Tied for 3rd best fiction of 2005); (2005) - The Lincoln Lawyer; (2007) - Echo Park; (2007) - The Overlook; (2008) - The Brass Verdict; (2009) – The Scarecrow; (2009) – Nine Dragons; (2011) - The Reversal; (2011) - The Fifth Witness; (2012) - The Drop; (2012) - Black Echo; (2012) - Harry Bosch: The First 20 Years; Hardcover
Bill - Thanks for a thoughtful and well-written review. I do have to say I like the way Connelly is developing the relationship between Maddie and her father. I'll be very interested to see how that goes.
ReplyDeleteHave a very healthy, happy and peaceful New Year!
Bill I have only skimmed through your blogpost since I'm currently reading The Black Box but I'll revert to you.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. It does seem that the relationship of Harry and Maddie is going to be an ever more important feature in the series.
ReplyDeleteJose Ignacio: Thanks for the comment. I look forward to your review. I also just skim reviews of books I have not read but expect to read.
ReplyDeleteFully agree with your view about the ending, Bill. I also sensed that it has too much the flavour of Hollywood to me. Moreover when he is able to have written a better conclusion.
ReplyDeleteJose Ignacio: Thanks for the comment. I hope for a better ending in the next book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed The Black Box, and, as always, with Connelly's writing, could not put the book down until I turned the last page.
ReplyDeleteYes. I, too, was aggravated by the shoot-em-up, ultra-dramatic ending. It could have continued in the same vein and tone as the story, uncovering the criminals and and nabbing them without a helicopter chase, lots of gunshots in the house -- and, surprisingly, the reappearance of a higher-up.
It was too Hollywood, and too best-sellerish, and too made for the displays at airports. It could have been lower key as well as brilliant.
The plot uncovered was brilliant, layered, the evidence unpeeled like an onion. But the ending was over the top.
It also didn't fit Harry's personality. He's not a Jack Reacher kind of guy. Hope Connelly rethinks this; of course, the publisher and promoter may strongly push for this type of ending.
Kathy D.: Thanks for a comment that pulls no punches. Connelly writes far better than the ending of this book.
ReplyDeleteI equally agree that it did not fit Harry's character especially now that Maddie is living with him. To me he would not be carrying out this "cowboy" solo investigation with a teenage daughter at home who has already lost her mother.