Reviews

The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

willyearamirez's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed it

philantrop's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

»“I didn’t know, Sylvia,” he said. “I hoped.”«

I didn’t know either but had hoped for a good Bosch novel and got even more than I expected.

In Michael Connelly’s “The Concrete Blonde” we’re revisiting Harry’s “white whale” case, which is, of course, “The Dollmaker”’s. Harry shot that guy in self-defence four years ago but it left an ugly stain on his already rather grey vest. Harry was de facto demoted and at the time of the “Concrete Blonde” he’s being sued over that shooting when another body is found that has all the marks of a Dollmaker victim…

What ensues from this point on is part courtroom drama but, to a much larger extent, a very suspenseful, exciting and smart police procedural which managed to fool me at every turn. As always, Harry investigates this at high stakes and takes great risk and, thus, we sometimes cross over into the realm of thrillers which is a very welcome aspect here.

As implied by the opening quote (which is the final sentence of the novel), we get to know Bosch a lot better yet: His budding relationship with Sylvia from the last novel goes to full bloom here - and keeps evolving. It’s unusual to read this much personal information in a non-”cosy” police procedural but it’s just one more way in which this novel works brilliantly: By not only showing Harry’s professional rough cop side but also his convictions and ethical values, he becomes much more of a believable, sensitive person.

»The anchor christened the killer the Dollmaker. After that, the killer was called that by everybody, even the cops.
But Bosch always hated that name. It said something about the victims as well as the killer. It depersonalized them, made it easier for the Dollmaker stories that were broadcast to be entertaining instead of horrifying.«

Harry even knows his Nietzsche and sees and recognises the danger he’s in of becoming as bad - or worse - than the people he’s hunting. 

»‘Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you….’«

That Harry is aware of this danger, though, as well as his “moral compass” prevent him from becoming a monster.

»Bosch drove over to Central Division and found an open parking space at the front curb. For a while, he sat in his car looking at two trustees from the lockup washing the painted enamel mural that stretched along the front wall of the bunkerlike station. It was a depiction of a nirvana where black and white and brown children played together and smiled at friendly police officers. It was a depiction of a place where the children still had hope. In angry black spray paint along the bottom of the mural someone had written, “This is a damnable lie!”
Bosch wondered whether someone from the neighborhood or a cop had done it.«

Everyone keeps growing in this one - even Irving, now promoted, comes around and grows a personality beyond just gnashing his teeth to cow his detectives. He even starts respecting Bosch both as a cop and a human being. Shockingly, Irving even has a sense of humour…

»“Somebody put a cigarette butt in my pot,” he said. “That yours, Harry?”«

Some fresh blood, Hans “Hans Off” Rollenberger, is also around and Honey “Money” Chandler makes an appearance as one of Bosch’s adversary’s (albeit cut short by an event I wasn’t prepared for after seeing the TV show…).

Ultimately, I very much enjoyed this novel and will undoubtedly read on in this series.

Five out of five stars.

»Bosch drove over to Central Division and found an open parking space at the front curb. For a while, he sat in his car looking at two trustees from the lockup washing the painted enamel mural that stretched along the front wall of the bunkerlike station. It was a depiction of a nirvana where black and white and brown children played together and smiled at friendly police officers. It was a depiction of a place where the children still had hope. In angry black spray paint along the bottom of the mural someone had written, “This is a damnable lie!”\
Bosch wondered whether someone from the neighborhood or a cop had done it.«

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marco5599's review against another edition

3.5

Raises the question which world is the dirtiest; L.A.'s porn scene or its judicial system. Harry Bosch would probably pick the latter. Book 3; a courtroom drama and serial killer mystery with a touch of psychology. About monsters, how some become one and how to recognize them. Quite the guessing game, all that profiling. 

Result? Another captivating trip through different layers of L.A. with two seedy cases that make your coffee get cold and a detective made out of relatable strengths and weaknesses. Harry Bosch once again is awesome. Two other characters are noteworthy too. The enthusiastic Professor Locke, who provides some, eh, thoughtful insights about sexual predators, and Honey Chandler, a snake-like attorney. They both add flavor to an already tasty meal.

Can't say I was evenly pleased with how things turn out with the final victim and the perp. Perhaps a jaw dropper in the nineties, but by now I've read too many of those endings. One of the reasons why me and serial killer thrillers don't get along so well anymore. Me and Harry are still doing great though, so onto the next!

d_audy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

amiew's review against another edition

dark mysterious

2.0

disastrouspenguin's review against another edition

4.0

My favorite of the first three novels, probably at least partially because Harry acts like less of a sexist pig, and the female characters are more believable.

ashconklin's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

thatthomas's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.75

lori_loves_reading's review against another edition

4.0

Solid legal thriller. Good to get more insight into Harry

sashshearman's review against another edition

3.0

Having recently finished The Drop, it was interesting going right back almost to the beginning of the Bosch series with The Concrete Blonde. The most striking differences were those of investigative techniques. The novel was published in 1994, before mobile phones and DNA, and before computers were routinely used. The story begins when Harry shoots and kills a suspected serial killer, dubbed the Dollmaker. The killer's widow sues Bosch some years later and the book follows the progress of the civil claim in court. On the day the case starts an anonymous author sends Harry a note, telling him the hiding place of a body. The note and and the injuries inflicted on the victims bear all the hallmarks of the Dollmaker.

I enjoyed this story. Connelly is a consistently pleasing writer of crime fiction and Harry Bosch is a likable character. he hasn't changed much since 1994, except he doesn't swear as much now and he listens to more music.