paperdaisy123's review against another edition
2.0
First off, let me say that this was the abridged audio version of the book. I did not realize it was the abridged version until I was about halfway through or I probably would not have read it. The story was okay, although I found it extremely hard to believe that they linked Harry Bosch to the crimes simply because he had the same name as a famous painter. This was my lowest rating for any of the Michael Connelly books, but the unabridged version might have included details I did not get in this version.
terrik_409's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Didn't enjoy as much as the other Bosch books. The introduction of Terry was too distracting and I just wasn't interested.
marbles66's review against another edition
4.0
Terry McCaleb, the retired FBI agent who starred in the bestseller "Blood Work," is asked by the LAPD to help them investigate aseries of murders that have them baffled. They are the kind of ritualized killings McCaleb specialized in solving with the FBI, and he is reluctantly drawn from his peaceful new life back into the horror and excitement of tracking down a terrifying homicidal maniac. More horrifying still, the suspect who seems to fit the profile that McCaleb develops is someone he has known and worked with in the past: LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Bosch, as a man, grows ever deeper and darker!
When the LAPD run into a brick wall solving a bizarre murder, sheriff's detective, Jay Winston, asks her friend Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI agent recently recovered from a heart transplant, to help them out by polishing up his psychological profiling skills and putting them back to work on their stalled case. Edward Gunn, a small-time LA hood involved with the murder of a prostitute was himself found tied, gagged and strangled. McCaleb is convinced that the key to finding Gunn's murderer rests with two bizarre clues - the statue of an owl found in the room with Gunn and the inscription on the tape binding his mouth, "Cave Cave Deus Videt" or "Beware, Beware, God Sees" translated from a version of Latin spoken around the time of the Renaissance.
McCaleb started his search for details on Gunn's murder with an interview of detective Harry Bosch. Bosch, who had been assigned the case of the prostitute's murder and was certain that Gunn had been the killer, was apparently one of the last people to see Gunn alive. But Bosch can only find time to give McCaleb the most cursory of interviews. His time and his mind are fully occupied as the star witness in the very high profile prosecution of David Storey. Storey, a fabulously wealthy Hollywood producer, is on trial for the sex slaying of a young actress. He's alleged to have strangled her during a bout of rough sex and then staged the scene to make her death look like a case of accidental auto-erotic asphyxia.
It's that bizarre owl that's the centerpiece of McCaleb's investigative efforts. Author Connelly leads McCaleb (and this fascinated reader) on a magnificent journey through "A Garden of Earthly Delights", as it were - a fabulously informative sidebar on the paintings of sixteenth century Dutch Renaissance painter, Hieronymus Bosch. It isn't long before McCaleb and Winston have Harry Bosch in their sights as their sole suspect in Gunn's murder. They've got it figured as Bosch meting out frontier justice because he couldn't corral Gunn within the framework of the legitimate legal system.
A Darkness More Than Night is unquestionably the darkest and most complex story yet in the ever growing Harry Bosch canon. Connelly skillfully weaves the story of Gunn's murder into the tale of David Storey's trial for murder and brings both stories to a superb conclusion. But for all the complexity and brilliance of the plot that Connelly has devised, it is really the growing, ever deepening and ever darkening character of Harry Bosch that takes centre stage in this particular play. From his earliest appearance in The Black Echo as a shell-shocked Vietnam War tunnel rat returning to an ungrateful country to his suspension for pushing his supervisor through the glass window of his office, Connelly continues to make Bosch an ever-deepening mystery. Maverick, loner, cowboy, sinner, saint, psycho ... all of the above? How are we to know?
A superb addition to the Harry Bosch series. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
When the LAPD run into a brick wall solving a bizarre murder, sheriff's detective, Jay Winston, asks her friend Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI agent recently recovered from a heart transplant, to help them out by polishing up his psychological profiling skills and putting them back to work on their stalled case. Edward Gunn, a small-time LA hood involved with the murder of a prostitute was himself found tied, gagged and strangled. McCaleb is convinced that the key to finding Gunn's murderer rests with two bizarre clues - the statue of an owl found in the room with Gunn and the inscription on the tape binding his mouth, "Cave Cave Deus Videt" or "Beware, Beware, God Sees" translated from a version of Latin spoken around the time of the Renaissance.
McCaleb started his search for details on Gunn's murder with an interview of detective Harry Bosch. Bosch, who had been assigned the case of the prostitute's murder and was certain that Gunn had been the killer, was apparently one of the last people to see Gunn alive. But Bosch can only find time to give McCaleb the most cursory of interviews. His time and his mind are fully occupied as the star witness in the very high profile prosecution of David Storey. Storey, a fabulously wealthy Hollywood producer, is on trial for the sex slaying of a young actress. He's alleged to have strangled her during a bout of rough sex and then staged the scene to make her death look like a case of accidental auto-erotic asphyxia.
It's that bizarre owl that's the centerpiece of McCaleb's investigative efforts. Author Connelly leads McCaleb (and this fascinated reader) on a magnificent journey through "A Garden of Earthly Delights", as it were - a fabulously informative sidebar on the paintings of sixteenth century Dutch Renaissance painter, Hieronymus Bosch. It isn't long before McCaleb and Winston have Harry Bosch in their sights as their sole suspect in Gunn's murder. They've got it figured as Bosch meting out frontier justice because he couldn't corral Gunn within the framework of the legitimate legal system.
A Darkness More Than Night is unquestionably the darkest and most complex story yet in the ever growing Harry Bosch canon. Connelly skillfully weaves the story of Gunn's murder into the tale of David Storey's trial for murder and brings both stories to a superb conclusion. But for all the complexity and brilliance of the plot that Connelly has devised, it is really the growing, ever deepening and ever darkening character of Harry Bosch that takes centre stage in this particular play. From his earliest appearance in The Black Echo as a shell-shocked Vietnam War tunnel rat returning to an ungrateful country to his suspension for pushing his supervisor through the glass window of his office, Connelly continues to make Bosch an ever-deepening mystery. Maverick, loner, cowboy, sinner, saint, psycho ... all of the above? How are we to know?
A superb addition to the Harry Bosch series. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
coach_sean's review against another edition
4.0
Good book. I have to add something to my usual audio book things. The volume on this book is lower than most books. This makes it difficult if you take walks in the wind with it, or ride your bike with it like I do.
cakeman6's review against another edition
2.0
So bad holy shit don't read just skip to city of bones.
cnorbury's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a big fan of the Terry McCaleb series that Connelly has written (as far as I've read them) because McCaleb doesn't strike me as the most likable guy. Not that Bosch is the life of the party either, but McCaleb lacks something Bosch has--a much stronger sense of justice and doing what's right, I guess. Or maybe McCaleb comes across as too bland and morose. Hard to pinpoint my reasons.
The story and plot are fine but not as compelling as some other Connelly gems, such as the predecessor to this book, Angels Flight. Also, McCaleb being a co-protagonist on this one reduces Bosch's relationship with Kiz Rider and Jerry Edgar, his partners, which is a strong point of these early novels.
If possible, I'd rate this 3.5 stars because of my nitpicks mentioned above. I give it a qualified 4 stars but it's still a decent Connelly opus.
The story and plot are fine but not as compelling as some other Connelly gems, such as the predecessor to this book, Angels Flight. Also, McCaleb being a co-protagonist on this one reduces Bosch's relationship with Kiz Rider and Jerry Edgar, his partners, which is a strong point of these early novels.
If possible, I'd rate this 3.5 stars because of my nitpicks mentioned above. I give it a qualified 4 stars but it's still a decent Connelly opus.
latas's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best book I read in the series. Yes, I say this for every MC book that I read. Isn't it nice when the series gets better and better ! MC is a master story teller. There are references to so many of Bosch's cases. But they blend into the main story neatly. It was nice getting re-acquainted with those cases we read earlier in the full length novels or short stories. Though this is a part of the series and there are references to other books and maybe some spoilers as well, this can be read as a stand alone. This is where MC's writing stands out.
I liked how the Storey case unfolded in the court room. All the information on Bosch's paintings is fascinating. The title makes so much sense. The details on symbolism and the background on paintings reminded me of Dan Brown's books. I like learning something new from these fictional books, like Dan Brown, Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Agatha Christie (on human psychology). It has been a long time since I learnt anything significant from the psychological thrillers I have been reading. This book is so welcome.
Bosch is the most popular among all MC characters and there are so many books in the Bosch series. But I like Mikey Haller and McCaleb better. Some of Bosch's actions were questionable, while McCaleb was a dear ! We see excellent detective skills as we see in all the the books. I hated McCovy's character.
I have liked all MC books except Chasing the dime, 9 dragons and black echo (I probably can't stand Eleanor Wish and Maddie, who are the dumbest characters in the series)
I liked how the Storey case unfolded in the court room. All the information on Bosch's paintings is fascinating. The title makes so much sense. The details on symbolism and the background on paintings reminded me of Dan Brown's books. I like learning something new from these fictional books, like Dan Brown, Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Agatha Christie (on human psychology). It has been a long time since I learnt anything significant from the psychological thrillers I have been reading. This book is so welcome.
Bosch is the most popular among all MC characters and there are so many books in the Bosch series. But I like Mikey Haller and McCaleb better. Some of Bosch's actions were questionable, while McCaleb was a dear ! We see excellent detective skills as we see in all the the books. I hated McCovy's character.
I have liked all MC books except Chasing the dime, 9 dragons and black echo (I probably can't stand Eleanor Wish and Maddie, who are the dumbest characters in the series)