Reviews

Trunk Music by Michael Connelly

Only show reviews with written explanations

topdragon's review against another edition

5.0

I’ve just completed my watching of the 5th season of the excellent “Bosch” television show and really started to feel like I needed to get back to reading the actual series it’s based on. This fifth book in the series picks up a few months after the previous book, [b:The Last Coyote|49353|The Last Coyote (Harry Bosch, #4; Harry Bosch Universe, #4)|Michael Connelly|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1170358620s/49353.jpg|449477]. Because of the events of in that book, Harry starts this one just coming off administrative leave and is anxious to get back on a case. When a body is found in the trunk of a Rolls-Royce with two bullets to the back of the head, all signs point to a mob hit. Thus the term ‘Trunk Music’. Bosch and team doggedly pursue the case which takes them to Las Vegas and back to LA several times, involves the FBI, casinos, and yes, the mob.

This one definitely deserves the sub-genre title of ‘police procedural’. All the Bosch books I’ve read so far are that way but this one really packs in a lot of ol’ fashioned pound-the-pavement/knock-on-doors approach to solving a case. Just when the team thinks they have it nailed down, a twist crops up and it’s back to square one. This is an important entry in the series as it introduces Lt Billets (the new homicide division leader) as well as Harry’s old flame, Eleanor Wish and detective Kizman “Kiz” Rider. All are important characters as the series unfolds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and have made a promise to myself to not let so much time lapse before grabbing the next one.

kingcashew's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

laurenjcarter28's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

3.5

lesserjoke's review against another edition

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3.0

Like the other titles in its series, this is a reasonably solid procedural crime thriller -- albeit a little heavy on coincidences, such as the protagonist encountering an old flame / new potential suspect while pursuing a lead in a different city or later spotting another person of interest while on vacation somewhere else again. As with a lot of the 'copaganda' genre, it's also far too charitable towards police misconduct, most egregiously here in the detectives ignoring arrestees asking for their lawyers and joking that the problem in the Rodney King brutality case was the presence of a camera. Even Bosch himself takes part in some of this, and his response to the homophobia, sexism, and racism (including slurs) in the department around him is similarly disappointing, generally confined to looking vaguely disapproving but offering no outward comment. It may be realistic, and as timely now as upon publication in 1997, but I want better from my fictional heroes.

The plot, which stems from the investigation of a corpse discovered in the trunk of an abandoned car, has a few twists to it, although I think I'm mostly surprised to discover that the TV adaptation of this storyline turns a minor figure from the novel into the ultimate culprit and vice versa. But it's fine even without that wrinkle, and while it may not be the best showcase for the setting or the characters overall, readers this deep in the franchise should know what to expect and will probably leave satisfied. There's enough development in Harry's personal life to suggest not skipping this one, too.

[Content warning for gun violence and mention of child rape.]

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twotoes's review against another edition

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dark mysterious

3.25

jenna_lamers's review against another edition

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4.0

Detective Harry Bosch is back in the LAPD homicide division after being on a mandated leave. A case is assigned instantly. A man is found shit dead in the trunk of his Rolls Royce. It looks instantly like a mob hit and like the homicide division wont be handling the case but the organized crime unit would be. That is until they pass on the case.
Harry and his team start to investigate his death and there are so many angles its looking impossible to solve. The IRS is investigating the victim, his wife isn’t phased by his death, he is having an affair with a dancer in Vegas, and somehow makes a lot of money making really bad movies. Things aren’t adding up and everyone seems to have a motive.
The investigation continues and a trail of corruption, organized crime, and love triangles are uncovered.
Harry then is yanked off the case and finds himself being investigated for planting evidence which is just untrue.
This speed bump doesn’t stop Harry from searching for the truth because as he says “everyone counts or nobody counts”.