Another one of my favorite authors is Michael Connelly. I've read just about all of the books that he has written. I've got a couple that I missed along the way, but I plan to read them. I've finished reading his two latest books recently, so I thought I would share some thoughts.
The Drop is the latest in the Harry Bosch series. The title refers to the Deferred Retirement Option Program, with the clock ticking until Harry Bosch's retirement date. Harry is still working in the open unsolved division of the LAPD when he is assigned a cold case with an unusual DNA match. Before even getting started on the cold case he is pulled in to investigate the suicide of his nemesis's son and to determine if it was murder or suicide.
Over the course of the book Bosch balances both cases, the politics of the police department, and being a single parent raising a teenage daughter who wants to follow in his footsteps.
I really like the Harry Bosch series, and was slightly disappointed by the past couple books in the series. I didn't like the direction that 9 Dragons went with the travels to Hong Kong, or care for his new partner in the book. Every series reaches that point where it seems to go on too long, but I felt that The Drop turned things around nicely and I really enjoyed it.
The Fifth Witness is the other side of the "Law and Order" equation, featuring lawyer Mickey Haller, who is Harry Bosch's half-brother. I'm not sure how I missed the release of this book until very recently. In fact I just finished reading this over the weekend, but I would say that I enjoy the Haller series even better than the Harry Bosch series. The first novel in the series, The Lincoln Lawyer was turned into a movie, which I haven't watched yet. I always am conflicted when I book that I like is turned into a movie - I want to see it, but I don't because I usually end up being disappointed.
But if you enjoy legal novels, I'd recommend the Haller series, but wouldn't recommend starting with The Fifth Witness. The Fifth Witness tells the story of Lisa Trammel, who is accused of murder and hires Haller for a lawyer.
If The Drop was one of my favorite Connelly novels, Fifth Witness would be one of my least favorites. It's not a bad book, it's just not what I've come to expect from Connelly. There were parts I liked - the beginning, the surprise ending, and I'm a fan of the courtroom scenes as well. It just felt like something was missing.
I would also say that Lisa Trammel was kind of a boring defendant. I honestly didn't care one way or another whether she was found guilty or innocent.
I've read that 2012 will only bring a new Harry Bosch novel, so hopefully the next Mickey Haller novel will be worth the wait.
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