novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
2016-3.5
3 STARS-2007
"'Blood Work' - that's what Terry McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Eight weeks ago he was a dead man, but now someone else's heart is keeping him alive. Then a newspaper report of his brush with death brings him an unwanted visitor. Graciela Rivers reveals to McCaleb that the anonymous donor of his heart was her murdered sister. Knowing that he lives because of a cold blooded killing, McCaleb takes the moribund investigation on. Nothing about the seemingly random killing makes sense but McCaleb is a tenacious man and little by little he realises that someone is watching his every move - someone who has killed before and will kill again..." (From Amazon)
I think this storyline works better as a book than a movie. I had the killer figured out within 30 minutes. I read the novel years later and it took me a little longer. A good suspense novel.
3 STARS-2007
"'Blood Work' - that's what Terry McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Eight weeks ago he was a dead man, but now someone else's heart is keeping him alive. Then a newspaper report of his brush with death brings him an unwanted visitor. Graciela Rivers reveals to McCaleb that the anonymous donor of his heart was her murdered sister. Knowing that he lives because of a cold blooded killing, McCaleb takes the moribund investigation on. Nothing about the seemingly random killing makes sense but McCaleb is a tenacious man and little by little he realises that someone is watching his every move - someone who has killed before and will kill again..." (From Amazon)
I think this storyline works better as a book than a movie. I had the killer figured out within 30 minutes. I read the novel years later and it took me a little longer. A good suspense novel.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Blood Work
4 Stars
Former FBI profiler, Terry McCaleb is recovering from a heart transplant when he learns that his donor was murdered during a robbery, and the case remains unsolved. McCaleb decides to investigate the crime himself, and soon realizes that a diabolical killer with a disturbing motive is at work.
Series note: This is book #1 in the Terry McCaleb series. Book #2 is a continuation of the Harry Bosch series and slots in after book #7.
Additional note: This book has been made into a movie and seeing the movie prior to reading the book had a significant impact on my perceptions of events in the story. Knowing the identity of the killer from the movie led me astray while reading.
McCaleb is an intelligent, skilled and resourceful investigator, and following along with him as he works through the clues is enjoyable. There is, of course, the inevitable comparison with Connelly's signature character, Harry Bosch, and suffice it to say that McCaleb is far less angsty or prone to deep psychological musings than Harry.
The case is very compelling and the killer's motive and machinations are very intricate yet plausible. Nevertheless, as is always the case with Connelly's writing, there is too much repetition in some of the descriptions of events and evidence.
Overall, a solid police procedural with a likable main character, but it is long winded at times and could have been 50-75 pages shorter.
4 Stars
Former FBI profiler, Terry McCaleb is recovering from a heart transplant when he learns that his donor was murdered during a robbery, and the case remains unsolved. McCaleb decides to investigate the crime himself, and soon realizes that a diabolical killer with a disturbing motive is at work.
Series note: This is book #1 in the Terry McCaleb series. Book #2 is a continuation of the Harry Bosch series and slots in after book #7.
Additional note: This book has been made into a movie and seeing the movie prior to reading the book had a significant impact on my perceptions of events in the story. Knowing the identity of the killer from the movie led me astray while reading.
McCaleb is an intelligent, skilled and resourceful investigator, and following along with him as he works through the clues is enjoyable. There is, of course, the inevitable comparison with Connelly's signature character, Harry Bosch, and suffice it to say that McCaleb is far less angsty or prone to deep psychological musings than Harry.
The case is very compelling and the killer's motive and machinations are very intricate yet plausible. Nevertheless, as is always the case with Connelly's writing, there is too much repetition in some of the descriptions of events and evidence.
Overall, a solid police procedural with a likable main character, but it is long winded at times and could have been 50-75 pages shorter.
spray76's review against another edition
5.0
Michael Connelly has a way of writing his books so that it seems like there are surprises in every chapter. As soon as you thought you knew who the murderer was a new piece of evidence would take you down a different path. But I never thought it would turn out the way it did. Such a shocker!
clayjd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
dmwade's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ronross's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Blood Work is another fine Michael Connelly book. The story seems to meander a bit in the first half but all of the details become important as Connelly masterfully weaves together an ending that builds excitement to the vey end.