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lesserjoke's review against another edition
4.0
This 2020 novel is the third title to center on reporter Jack McEvoy, an otherwise peripheral figure in author Michael Connelly's broad Harry Bosch / Mickey Haller franchise. He's always an interesting change of pace from those more frequent protagonists, and I pictured them yelling at the character along with me at the beginning of this story, when he voluntarily talks to the police and gives them a sample of his DNA after learning he's a suspect in a recent murder. (One of the minor antagonists even turns out to be an employee at a tech lab who has previously falsified criminal evidence, so I was fully expecting this rash decision to come back and bite the hero, though it weirdly never does. Still: don't talk to the cops without a lawyer present, and don't let them search your property or take your DNA without a warrant.)
While Jack knows he's innocent and is less concerned about being arrested and convicted anyway than I would be in his position, the information that he's a person of interest -- he had a one-night stand with the victim a year ago -- prompts him to look into the matter, eventually discovering it's the work of a heretofore-unknown serial killer. The justification for the ensuing investigation is a little wonky, since the journalist's beat is consumer protection and the women were apparently targeted by someone who accessed the personal data they submitted to a genealogical research company like 23andMe, but the taut cat-and-mouse thriller that develops is creepy and unpredictable in all the best ways. McEvoy's limitations as a civilian with no law enforcement training or instincts further distinguish the affair, as they have for his previous outings, and the result is a definite page-turner. As a reader who's found the Bosch series to be growing somewhat stale of late, I've really enjoyed this one.
[Content warning for incel sexism, suicide, gore, pedophilia, and rape.]
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While Jack knows he's innocent and is less concerned about being arrested and convicted anyway than I would be in his position, the information that he's a person of interest -- he had a one-night stand with the victim a year ago -- prompts him to look into the matter, eventually discovering it's the work of a heretofore-unknown serial killer. The justification for the ensuing investigation is a little wonky, since the journalist's beat is consumer protection and the women were apparently targeted by someone who accessed the personal data they submitted to a genealogical research company like 23andMe, but the taut cat-and-mouse thriller that develops is creepy and unpredictable in all the best ways. McEvoy's limitations as a civilian with no law enforcement training or instincts further distinguish the affair, as they have for his previous outings, and the result is a definite page-turner. As a reader who's found the Bosch series to be growing somewhat stale of late, I've really enjoyed this one.
[Content warning for incel sexism, suicide, gore, pedophilia, and rape.]
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6288479-joe-kessler
--Or click here to browse through all my previous reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
jacks623's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tsalagitiffany's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a big Michael Connelly fan, and this is one of the best books I've read by him.
geeknb's review against another edition
5.0
Very enjoyable. First read of this character's series.
* mystery
* thriller
* serial killer
* journalist
* multiple povs
* mystery
* thriller
* serial killer
* journalist
* multiple povs
jackiecromarty62's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
paws42's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
peter_gagne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
cerisecarrot's review against another edition
5.0
Haven’t read a Michael Connelly in a while and had forgotten how good they are.
missyjohnson's review against another edition
4.0
fast read that kept me interested. Jack McEvoy is a reporter for a consumer protection news site. Very interesting info as to how unregulated the DNA research area is at this time. Even with future regulations, DNA profiles floating around the world is a scary prospect. I had not thought of all the ways that DNA could be used in the future and how much of myself is revealed in just a little bit of saliva. I enjoyed "learning" how quickly a news story may get written and how protective the author can become. I wonder how long it will be before Jack, Harry and Micky get together for a case.
pluginsteadman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5