Reviews

I'm reading the Harry Bosch universe books in order as best I can, and so we come to the first Terry McCaleb entry. McCaleb's backstory is very intriguing: a former FBI agent whose specialty is serial murders but two years ago he suffered a heart attack and was in need of a heart transplant. Unfortunately his blood type is very rare so the chances were slim. The novel opens, however, only eight weeks after his successful transplant, a donor having been found. It's a pretty cool protagonist to follow, given his physical limitations at this point.

But the plot really kicks off when he is approached by a young woman who wants him to find the guy who killed her sister in a convenience store robbery. No can do, he responds...he's retired now. But wait, she says. My dead sister turns out to be your heart donor so you're only alive now due to her death. Well that's enough for him to at least check into the current investigation being conducted by the LAPD. Turns out they've done a respectable job but have no solid leads and it's turning into a cold case. One thing leads to another, and McCaleb becomes more and more engaged in the effort.

I liked the protagonist and the setup and I always like Connelly's writing style, so I expected this to be a solid read. But the further unfolding of the plot really kept me glued to the page and resulted in something truly special. It's a complex solution, and turns out to be a whole lot bigger than just convenience store robbery violence. McCaleb's post-transplant status plays a major role in his life and also in how he attempts to solve the case. There is a nice balance between methodical case solving techniques and edge-of-your-seat action. Betrayal, heartache, eureka moments, and a budding romance are all part of the story. I continue to be very impressed with Michael Connelly's work and when I look at the vast library of his books that I still have ahead of me, it makes me happy.

lesserjoke's review against another edition

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3.0

This 1998 novel is one of those Michael Connelly crime thrillers that's not technically a Harry Bosch story, but still takes place in that same L.A. setting with a few shared characters. It also introduces protagonist Terry McCaleb, a former FBI agent who later features in the detective's adventures proper. Here he's drawn back from medically-mandated retirement after a heart transplant to look into the murder of the woman whose organ he received, and to whom he thus literally owes his life. It's a solid procedural mystery, especially following an interesting development in the second half of the text.

On the other hand, the hero makes a few frustrating decisions that guarantee his off-the-books investigation won't be able to aid in an actual criminal prosecution, as well as a few leaps of intuition that feel less grounded in fact than his early work on the case. The limitations of his post-surgical care seem to vanish as the plot goes on too, and a would-be dramatic climax ultimately comes off as a bit rote. These issues don't sink the book, which is largely fine overall, but they keep it from achieving the classic status it might appear headed for at one point.

[Content warning for gun violence, incest, and rape.]

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grantf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

readymadereader's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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