Mysteries Galore.com

Reviewed by Caryn St. Clair

After a couple of books away from Harry Bosch as the main character, Connelly returns with The Drop, a book where Harry is at his best. Harry and Chou have two cases to investigate and as things seem to be resolved in each case, the cases take unsettling turns. Questions arise that may pop up again down the road.

The Cold Case Unit of the LAPD routinely selects cases at random to be reviewed to see if using the latest DNA testing there are any new leads in the case. Harry Bosch, now a member of this unit, catches a case from 1989. When the evidence is reviewed, there is a hit on the blood that was found at the scene-only the blood belongs to a guy who would have been only eight years old at the time the crime was committed. Before Harry and his partner Chou can really get started working the case, Harry long time nemesis, Councilman Irvin Irving asks that Harry be assigned to investigate the death of the Councilman’s son.

As readers ride along with Harry and is partner, it’s like catching up with old friends. Readers find Harry and his daughter settled into a comfortable routine after the death of Harry’s ex-wife and Maddy’s mother. Harry and his new partner have a not surprisingly unbalanced relationship with Harry wanting only to give orders while not sharing information. Kiz Rider, Harry’s old partner, has moved up the ladder in the police department and while it is sometimes helpful for Harry there is a definite shift in their relationship during this book-a shift leaving Harry feeling the loss. But the best is the return of Irvin Irving. In The Drop, the Councilman and Harry are supposed to be on the same side on this case, but can Harry and the Councilman ever be in agreement? Their relationship also takes an unusual twist by the end of The Drop.

Connelly has skillfully used characters from Harry’s past while giving him two very different cases to test Harry’s working creed of “everyone counts or no one counts.” What readers find in this book is a more contemplative Harry, who ways retirement and time with his daughter against his love of his job. As things unfold near the end, Harry is again left to wonder if his efforts are worth it.

While the book stands perfectly well on it’s own, to really appreciate the various relationships in the book, a reader really needs to have read at least some of the previous Harry Bosch books. This is a fast paced book with some unexpected turns that is very difficult to put down until the very end.