Wow! Excellent Bosch thriller!

I've listened to several Michael Connelly audiobooks, and love the Harry Bosch series. I was excited to see several more recently become available on Audible.
The Concrete Blonde is my current favorite Bosch book, topping my previous favorite: Echo Park.
It's an outstanding mix of courtroom thriller and serial killer hunt/police procedural. It moves along quickly, even the courtroom scenes are fast paced.
Characters are very well developed, not just Bosch, but all the supporting characters, and I like the plot: Bosch is sued for unlawful killing of a serial killer suspect, while at the same time a copycat killer is out there and more bodies begin to show up.
Just when you think you have it all figured out, there will be a couple twists at the end to keep you guessing. An excellent whodunnit. I highly recommend this book, even if it is your first Harry Bosch mystery.

103 people found this helpful

Excellent!

I don't know how I missed this book until now. I like the Harry Bosch series and this certainly did not dissapoint me. I loved it. Dick Hill's narration was terrific. This has everything one could want in a murder mystery.

33 people found this helpful

Good combo of courtroom and detective drama

I've started reading the Bosch series in chronological order and was much happier with this offering than I was with The Black Ice. Both the courtroom scenes (don't know why a previous reviewer was tortured by them) and the "whodonit" trail made it difficult to shut off my iPod. Bosch even starts to get likable in this book. Dick Hill's narration was excellent and I had to chuckle at the hint of Jack Nicholson that worked its way into his portrayal of the reporter, Bremer. I had heard Hill use this voice before. The book had lots of twists, turns and misdirection. An enjoyable listen. Can't wait to start on The Last Coyote on my ride to work today.

32 people found this helpful

Connelly Fan

I was so happy when Audible added these earlier Connelly / Bosch books!

I guess the only reason I didn't give this one a 5-star rating is that I am using the first "The Black Echo" as a benchmark.

This is a good book, but the first one was Terriffic!

Dick Hill, the narrator, did a good job as usual(although he does kind of butcher female voices and weepy scenes on occasion)

If you're a Connelly fan you'll really like this book.

Definitely Recommended!!

29 people found this helpful

Calvin P. Yeen and Da Bears

I like the later Harry Bosch novels, but this one evinces a Connelly initially trying to find his way to a good story that's also plausible. The Concrete Blonde is as realistic, from the standpoint of the centerpiece lawsuit, as a Calvin P Yeen on a Cowboy helmet in downtown Dallas.

Dick Hill's thick Chicago accent grates the whole way through, especially when he attempts the female voices and even moreso when he puts his hand over the mike to try to give the effect of someone speaking from the other end of a phone call. Think, Mike Ditka narrating it to you in the passenger seat while he munches a super-size bag of Doritos.

26 people found this helpful

Quintessential American Police Procedural

This is one of the first Bosch novels and one I'd read many years ago. Fortunately the only things I tend to remember are interdepartmental and personal relationships about Bosch so the mystery was new to me. It's a great one.

If this was a new release I'd give the review more time. One key aspect is the excellent performance of Dick Hill. More than one of the narrators of this series read like its a documentary. Hill brings the best out in Bosch!

18 people found this helpful

One of the best Harry Bosch

Very good story and well performed. I've read quite a few of the others in the series, both before and after, and this also fills in a lot of holes in the story line.

17 people found this helpful

One of Connelly's Best

Would you listen to The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3 again? Why?

Yes, it has twists and turns that keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. Performance by Dick Hill is excellent. I think he is the best narrator for Connelly's Bosch novels. I've listen to other Connelly books and Hill's voice is the best even tho I liked Grupper's voice in the Lincoln Lawyer. He sounds like Haller should sound!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. It kept me listening with only a break for sleeping.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

Hill performs each character very well, however I guess I like Harvey "98" Pounds the best of all the recurring characters in the Bosch series

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes... but couldn't.

Any additional comments?

I like the Harry Bosch series because Bosch is human. He is a tough cop who makes mistakes and get things wrong yet he is compassionate, kind and considerate.

14 people found this helpful

Strains credibility

Connelly's typically solid work. Great texture, a fascinating and evolving lead character, tightly constructed plot. My only problem with this one was that I never believed the central premise, the fact that Bosch could realistically be found guilty in the court case at the center of the story. To me this part of the book seemed to be manipulated in a way which undermined its credibility. As a result, it was necessary to suspend my disbelief in order to really enjoy the book.

Dick Hill's narration, as always, was right on target. A pleasure to listen to.

13 people found this helpful

ZOWIE! Everything you'll want in a thriller!!!

Whoa! This novel is clever. The way it combines courtroom AND police procedural simultaneously... no flashbacks... no foreshadowing... SIMULTANEOUSLY... is like getting your imagination caught in twin gears that just screw you in and in and in...

It is the highest craft of cop/legal drama. Plus the plotting is hair-triggered. It's everything you can want in a hard-boiled-noir story. Absolutely terrific ... 4.9 stars. And Dick Hill is magnificent. I'm going to post this review, look up Dick Hill readings... AND BUY SOME!

12 people found this helpful