(From michaelconnelly.com)
Harry Bosch is struggling with his conscience again.
LA’s crime fighter that comes from the mind of Michael Connelly is deep into finding out if somebody did or did not commit the murder in The Crossing. Once again, the man whose familiar handle shortens his given name only the more sophisticated in his circles realize comes from famous but long-forgotten painter Hieronynmus Bosch — a fact Connelly drops into every Bosch novel — painstakingly pieces together his clues by pounding the pavement his way. Old-school style.
But this time around, Bosch is no longer a badge-carrying detective. In fact, he’s suing the LA force after some legal shenanigans forcing him to retire to get at his pension funds because his beloved daughter Maddie is a senior accepted into LA’s Chapman College. She’ll attend and room with her cousin, daughter of Harry’s half-brother, Lincoln Lawyer hero himself, Mickey Haller.
Haller’s a player in this one, too, asking Harry to become his investigator after the attorney’s own man is injured when his motorcycle is forced into incoming traffic.
Harry thinks long and hard before accepting to investigate whether or not the man in jail without bond really did murder the wife of a county sheriff, or if he’s undoubtedly being framed, as Mickey maintains.
The longtime detective never thought he’d be on the dark side, as he calls it.
Connelly os a former newsroom guy who crossed over the line to become one of America’s most popular crime fiction writers. He covered cops for the LA Times. He knows a thing or two about police work and writing.
The way he puts Bosch’s mind to work again, in this 20th Bosch novel is a thing of beauty.
Logic will prevail. Order is a must. Every player has a part, every piece has place, every result has a reason. It’s Harry’s job to mesh it all together from clues far and wide, even without the official help of any partners in retirement, and with the scorn of the force because he’s working for a defense attorney. Really, Bosch logic would be a good blueprint for any writer to fall back upon when piecing together a big project of any sort when things seem to be in disarray and the feeling is hopeless.
Of course, with all of that worrying, Harry’s instincts usually seem to work out OK for him in the long run, too.
Who’s your favorite novelist, and why? Do you prefer the Law side, or the Defense side, and why? Are you more logic or more instinct, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
I used to be an avid fiction reader but I am sorry to say that is no longer true. I read one Harry Bosch novel and really liked it, mostly because of the setting in LA and the way Connelly described the various areas of the city the story was set in. So when Amazon made the pilot for a series, I voted for it. I really enjoyed the first season and thought the actor Titus Welliver was a good pick to bring Bosch to life based on my admittedly very limited knowledge of the character. Looking forward to Season 2 although I realize watching the TV show is a poor substitute for reading a book.
LikeLike
I haven’t watched, Ros, not being an Amazon subscriber. Someday, maybe. For now, Bosch remains in my mind.
LikeLike
Linda Barnes, Harlen Coben, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Nelson DeMille, Carol O’Connell, John Sandford, Donald Westlake, and of course the classics, like John D. MacDonald. But I barely read anything for a while now, and when I do, it’s usually non-fiction.
LikeLike
Nelson DeMille comes from Long Island, so I always pick up the novel’s from my compadre from down there, Babe. Nice list, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mark.
LikeLike
I have read all of Michael Connelly’s books. Harry Bosch is my favorite character even more than Haller or the FBI agent Terry McCaleb. Although “Blood Work” was a good movie. I like it when Harry teams up with a female detective, like Rachel Walling or Kizmin Rider. I pre-ordered The Crossing and have read it. I hope Harry Bosch can keep going for many more books.
LikeLike
Yes, Rachel/ was his best female pairing, Deborah. And she gave our Harry that lasting gift, right? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, but I think I must have mixed her up with another agent. Because there was a woman FBI agent that lived that I liked too.
LikeLike
Ok. I researched it. Eleanor Wish was the mother of Harry’s daughter. Rachel Walling is a FBI agent he worked with a few times. I don’t think they had a relationship but not sure. I hoped they would but I don’t think they did.
LikeLike
Yes, you are right that Eleanor is the mother. Rachel and Harry did have a relationship, though. I was wrong about her bearing Harry’s child. Thanks, Deborah!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read all of the Harry Bosch books and now I forget some of the plots. I think Harry needs to have a strong woman character come back into his life again. I noticed that there is a new book coming out next year so maybe…..
LikeLike
Connelly is prolific, yes, Deborah. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A director once hired me to rewrite a script, and he asked me to read a Harry Bosch book first because that was the feel he wanted in the screenplay. I’ve read several in the series now, and the Lincoln Lawyer ones…
LikeLike
I hope the director liked your Harry Bosch feel in your script rewrite, Austin. Great model, Connelly is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, I got paid, and that’s all that really matters in the end. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, do the job and cash the check, Austin. Hollywood!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!
LikeLike
You made me think about how I don’t read as much fiction as I used to, Mark. Something about keeping up with blogger’s posts ?? ☺
LikeLike
It’s hard to fit so much reading in, Van. Yup. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
my favs are ann patchett and pat conroy, but i love to visit many books by many writers. for the record – i’m all instinct, not much in the logic corner.
LikeLike
You have really good instincts, Beth. 🙂
LikeLike
Love Michael Connelly.
LikeLike
Yes, he’s one of our best, Martha, at putting the story together, most certainly.
LikeLike
My favorite novelist is Anne Tyler, because of the delicate and intuitive way she observes and communicates about our shared humanity and about Baltimore. I try not to prefer sides. I am logic, instinct and so much more. I hope your weekend continues to be wonderful, Mark.
LikeLike
I also read every Anne Tyler novel, Ann, for many of the same reasons. It’s been a great weekend here so far, and I hope the same holds true for you in Boston, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person