The Black Box by Michael Connelly


This is something like the fifteenth book in Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series. One could argue that there was a slight sag in the middle volumes, but the later entries are the strongest yet. I guess it's not surprising that a dedicated writer gets better with years of experience. 

After gallivanting to Hong Kong in a recent entry, Harry is back in California, traveling from his Los Angeles hometown to the agricultural center of the state. He's still in the cold cases unit, and he has a new supervisor to lock horns with. Harry's working post-retirement on a contract, and his new boss, who would like to move Harry on into post-post retirement, does his best to make that happen. Harry, of course is not having it, but his adversary remains standing at the end, so no doubt their quarrel will continue.

The novel begins with a flashback to the LA riots. Harry and his then partner, Edgar, are called out in the midst of the chaos to a murder victim that turns out to be a European journalist. She is not, it becomes clear, collateral damage on a day of violence. She was a threat to certain powerful people from the middle of California, and pays the price for it. 

This book was released on the twentieth anniversary of the series. How many series have kept going and kept it fresh for that long? (As far as I can tell, Connelly is not done yet.)

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