A review by laurenjodi
Angels Flight by Michael Connelly
4.0
Angels Flight
4 Stars
When a civil rights lawyer about to begin a controversial case on police brutality is found murdered, Detective Harry Bosch and his team are assigned to investigate. Soon Harry finds himself caught between the wall of blue determined to protect itself and a city on the brink of violence if the truth is covered up.
An improvement on the last book.
The theme of police brutality is always fraught with tension and emotion, and when cops cross ethical lines they become akin to the monsters that they hunt. This is further compounded by the fact that Harry must investigate officers that he knows personally and must confront the knowledge that he too "stares into the abyss" at times.
The twists and turns of the case are compelling and the ultimate revelation of the culprit is a surprise although the clues are all there in retrospect. The climax and resolution are action packed, and justice, when it comes, is very poetic.
The character development takes a back seat to the investigation, but there are some interesting updates. Harry's marriage comes to an end, although this is not unexpected as it never really got going in the first place. One rather disappointing element is the regression of Chief Irving's character. He seemed to be making progress in the last couple of books, but he has returned to square one - a man who will do anything, however unethical, to protect the department.
All in all, a solid addition to the series.
4 Stars
When a civil rights lawyer about to begin a controversial case on police brutality is found murdered, Detective Harry Bosch and his team are assigned to investigate. Soon Harry finds himself caught between the wall of blue determined to protect itself and a city on the brink of violence if the truth is covered up.
An improvement on the last book.
The theme of police brutality is always fraught with tension and emotion, and when cops cross ethical lines they become akin to the monsters that they hunt. This is further compounded by the fact that Harry must investigate officers that he knows personally and must confront the knowledge that he too "stares into the abyss" at times.
The twists and turns of the case are compelling and the ultimate revelation of the culprit is a surprise although the clues are all there in retrospect. The climax and resolution are action packed, and justice, when it comes, is very poetic.
The character development takes a back seat to the investigation, but there are some interesting updates. Harry's marriage comes to an end, although this is not unexpected as it never really got going in the first place. One rather disappointing element is the regression of Chief Irving's character. He seemed to be making progress in the last couple of books, but he has returned to square one - a man who will do anything, however unethical, to protect the department.
All in all, a solid addition to the series.