|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
My last outing with Harry Bosch was in NINE DRAGONS, nearly two years ago, but time has moved on and David Chu, formerly of the Asian Gang Unit is now Harry's partner in the Open-Unsolved Unit, devoted to the investigation of cold cases. Harry is also responsible for a teenage daughter and has to juggle the dual obligations of father and cop. There is definitely an air of time having moved on in THE DROP. Harry has clearly settled into the role of a single parent and appears to have a comfortable and refreshingly uncomplicated relationship with his daughter and she adds a nice dimension to the story without proving to be a distraction. As the title suggests, Harry is now facing a ticking clock so far as his career is concerned. He's awaiting the result of his Deferred Retirement Option Plan and isn't happy when he discovers that the approval is retroactive, giving him no more than three extra years, instead of the five he'd been hoping for. Harry lands two cases in quick succession. The first, an investigation into a murder dating back to 1989 looks set to cause some concern as DNA evidence has come to light pointing to a convicted rapist. There's just one problem: he was only eight at the time of the murder. Harry's bosses are concerned that a mix-up in the labs might through other convictions into doubt, so Harry is told to give the case priority. Almost immediately, something else comes along, in the shape of a more recent death. A Councilman's son has fallen from the balcony of a hotel and his father, Harry's old antagonist, Irvin Irving, the man responsible for losing a lot of policemen a lot of overtime payments, wants Harry on the case. But why Harry can't understand is why. Two unconnected strands in a book can often end up being little more than a distraction from each other, but in this instance, Connelly weaves the two stories together in a way that interests rather than irritates and I found myself equally intrigued by both elements of the plot. Harry Bosch is a straight cop in a twisted world and THE DROP showcases that admirably. In Harry's mantra, everyone matters or no one matters, and it was fascinating to watch his reactions to convicted rapist Clayton Pell, a man irreparably damaged in childhood who then went on to damage others. Harry hovers between pity and disgust, questioning his own reactions as he tries to uncover the truth about what happened to make Pell the man he has become, and in so doing uncovers an even greater evil at work. At the same time, Connelly skilfully unfolds a parallel story of corruption and influence at the heart of his investigation into the death of Irving's son and provides a fascinating insight into the much-criticized restraint techniques formerly practised by the LAPD. There were times when I wondered if Connelly was contemplating pensioning Harry off without too much of a fight, but by the end of the book I was left with a very different impression. The series clearly has a lot of mileage left if THE DROP is anything to go by. I really must remember to go steady with Harry instead of just flirting with him. He deserves better than that. § Linda Wilson is a writer, and retired solicitor, with an interest in archaeology and cave art, who now divides her time between England and France.
Reviewed by Linda Wilson, January 2012
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
