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THE OVERLOOK
by Michael Connelly
Little, Brown, May 2007
240 pages
$21.99
ISBN: 0316018953


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Harry Bosch has a new job in the LAPD Homicide Special Unit. This unit takes crime scenes away from other units within the department when the situation is less than straightforward or has a political angle.

As to be expected this transition is rough. Bosch still has his problems with authority as well as working as part of a team. In addition, the special unit is not well liked in the department as they step in and take cases from those on the scene. The fact that Bosch's partner is a rookie does not help matters either.

Bosch is called to the scene of a crime. The victim is Dr Stanley Kent and he was murdered near his car on an overlook. Before Bosch is able to begin his investigation, the FBI, in the shape of Rachel Walling, appear on the scene. Homeland Security was monitoring Dr Kent as he has access to radioactive materials that can be used to make dirty bombs. The FBI are worried that Kent handed over radioactive materials before being killed and that terrorists can now build a bomb.

The investigation moves quickly as they attempt to trace the wife and the chemicals. Bosch believes that finding the killer is more important and the killer will lead to the radioactive materials; the FBI are more concerned with finding the bomb materials. Even though the FBI squeezes Bosch out, Bosch will not let anything stand in his way as he races towards the killer.

THE OVERLOOK was originally serialized in the New York Times and this is obvious. While the story has been expanded to become a novel, it is still weak. While this book is a high-speed action thriller, it is not as well written or engaging as Michael Connelly's books normally are. A typical Connelly book combines action, adventure and crime-solving with vivid details, character development and growth and character introspection. This combination of standard thriller characteristics with unexpected depth and supplementary details makes Connelly's books stand out from the pack. THE OVERLOOK lacks these extra details.

I enjoyed the opportunity to read about Harry Bosch and follow him in another action-packed adventure, but THE OVERLOOK ultimately disappointed me. As mentioned in the above paragraph, I like the depth that Connelly normally provides his subjects; hence, its exclusion from this book makes THE OVERLOOK weaker than the other books in the Harry Bosch series. Hopefully the next book from Connelly will meet the standards set by his previous books and THE OVERLOOK is a fluke rather than a sign of things to come.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, May 2007

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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