The Black Echo: A gripping debut. (Michael Connelly in general)

Name: mohan

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Product:	Michael Connelly in general
Date:	03/10/00 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gripping mystery

Disadvantages: none

In this Edgar award winning debut novel, Michael Connelly effortlessly establishes himself as one of the leading exponents of the police procedural/ mystery thriller genre. In Hieronymous 'Harry' Bosch we have the flawed maverick, the loner, the Vietnam Vet, the cop who doesnt mind bending the rules but never lets sight of Justice.

He may be your Mel Gibson and Dirty Harry all roled into one, but Bosch is cliche free, angst ridden and very very likeable. Connelly has established a series character worth following.

The Black Echo unfolds from the discovery of a body found in a pipe near Mulholland Dam in LA. Harry gets called out- almost as if fate intends him to, and discovers that it is a bit more than a dead junkie curled up in the pipe. It is the body of someone Harry knows, someone who still inhabits his haunting Vietnam memories.

Despite interference from FBI ( in the form the nbeautiful Eleanor wish- with whom Harry falls in love), his superiors and mysterious forces, Harry doggedly unravels the elegantly convoluted plot involving the Vietnam tunnel rats, a hidden cache of diamonds and murders galore. In doing so he pissess off a lot of the hierarchy, but Harr is not someone who cares about authority, he cares about finding the truth.

Connelly's strength is in his prose. A remarkably atmospheric, gripping and polished effort. He draws you into the plot and never lets go till the story is told. The mystery is more than satisfying but also emotionally fullfilling. He adds nice little touches to the story, the smoggy dawns of LA, the house on the stilts, the memories of Vietnam, everything adds to the story well. I especially like his choice of Edward Hopper's 'Nighthawks', one of my favourite prints.

There is nothing bad about this book. It is eminently readable.

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