JDCMustReadBooks

By Michael Connelly

Narrator: Titus Welliver

ASIN: B014JXQZ4S

Series: Harry Bosch #20

Publisher:  Hachette Audio

Publication Date: 11/3/2015 

Format: Audio 

My Rating:  5 Stars  

F A N T A S T I C !

Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch, Titus Welliver, and Michael Connelly fans will devour THE CROSSING, (Harry Bosch, #20) expertly crafted by the "King" of Crime Thrillers.

Who is using whom?

Detective Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch, a literary character created by Connelly in 1992 novel The Black Echo, and a veteran police homicide detective with the LAPD. Bosch was named after the 15th century Dutch artist, Hieronymus Bosch.

Defense attorney Michael "Mickey" Haller, Jr. Lincoln Lawyer is Harry Bosch’s half-brother. He needs his help. Harry also needs Mickey’s assistance. They bond in other ways, with daughters the same age--heading off to college soon, as roommates.

At the conclusion of The Burning Room, Bosch was suspended from the LAPD on a trumped-up complaint. He knew this would take time; no money coming in and his daughter about go to off to college--he decided to take early retirement. (Yes, once again). Of course all he has in mind is the restoration of a 1950 Harley, and not much else. However, he needs Haller’s help with his lawsuit against the LAPD.

On the other hand, Haller needs Bosch’s help even more. He is involved in an upcoming murder trial. He has nothing. Cisco, is laid up after a motorcycle accident, so he cannot help. The trial is coming up in six weeks. Haller says his client is innocent; however, he needs Bosch’s expertise. However, Bosch is not interested. No way, he can cross to the other side. He has always been on the other side of the law.

Lexi Parks, a city employee married to a police officer, was raped and beaten to death in her own bed, so viciously--her husband found the body when he came home from work. His client has no alibi –except in his studio painting. A brutal murder. A sex crime, DNA, a setup, a fix—how did DNA get inside the victim? No motive. Has the killer got enough to set up an innocent man? Sex is motive enough. Taint the evidence? His gut tells him something is wrong.

However, Haller is keeping secrets of his own, in order to get Bosch on board, a homicide investigator. In or out?

Bosch wants no part of this case. A cop for nearly 30 years, working for the defense-- is a line he cannot cross. However, if Haller is right, and his client is innocent, there could be a guilty party out there who goes free. Maybe he will take a look. It begins and ends with the book (the murder book).He finally says if nothing jumps out, he is not in. He is about "the killer."

Da'Quan Foster, a reformed gang member who did prison time for drugs years earlier but has since found success as a self-taught artist and arts educator. He's a husband and father. He has no apparent connection to Parks. But he has been charged with her murder. He does not know her. The husband was cleared. Something does not add up.

Bosch sees the guy as a criminal. He is unimpressed at first. Bosch knows every trick in the book to planning misdirection—a pro at causing nightmares when turning discovery process for a defense attorney. He knows all the tactics of a police investigation. If you know Bosch, you know there will be no stone left, unturned. Now he is looking for cop screw ups.

With the help of his former LAPD partner, Lucia Soto, The Burning Room he turns the investigation inside to the police department—however, the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the danger. A clue. A watch. A complex plot of blackmail, murder, and corruption. The inside cop procedures are juicy good!

As we have found in previous books, Bosch is sharp, he has investigative skills like no other. However, here he does not have all the resources available to him, as with the LAPD.

Even though we all love Haller and his courtroom tactics, Connelly allows Bosch to take center stage in THE CROSSING,so as not compete with one another. A perfect mix, and as always Connelly never ceases to amaze.

"Bosch," Amazon Prime's series starring Titus Welliver, is brilliant--to have him as narrator, of the audiobook, really sets the mood--what is better than Connelly, Bosch, Haller, and Welliver in one collaboration? You feel as though you are watching season 2.

Titus Welliver is a perfect Harry-- Amazon Studios "Bosch"Season 2 will debut early in 2016 can’t wait—in the meantime watch Season 1. – A great match, as is Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) Lincoln Lawyer, and Terry McCaleb (Clint Eastwood) Blood Work.

When I finished THE CROSSING, was inspired to head back to Amazon and catch up with a few episodes to remind me how this character started (been so long ago since I read the first in the series). Connelly just keeps getting better! 

“CROSSING” has many meanings in the novel:

• Crossing into retirement; the adjustment
• Bridging the gap; while trying to settle his own case
• Paths of victim and killer; (predator/prey)
• Crossing into the defense side of law
• A Jane Fonda (Crossing sides), a line he cannot cross
• Crossing from former LAPD, to citizen, to investigator
• From putting away criminals; to trying to save them
• Prosecution versus defense
• Crossing a line to expose the truth
• A a new career-reinvention
• To gain trust; to convince-crossing a line

Sure there are many more . . Being at "this age" without the LAPD, Bosch is just as intriguing, and sexy as ever. Enjoy seeing a man’s journey, at this age (as a woman the same age), he has too much to offer to sit on the sidelines. Connelly has taken this character, throughout this series—making each fresh, with even more room to go --the possibilities are endless and exciting. Hope we continue to see more of both.

Can’t wait to see which direction Connelly takes with the next installment—a possible love connection? Will he really retire? Let’s hope not. I am all about reinvention . . A new career as a private investigator? YES!

Curious to see if Grisham will take Rogue Lawyer, star Sebastian Rudd, renegade lawyer (similar to Mickey Haller) as far as Connelly has with Haller/Bosch? Only time will tell.