The Wrong Side of Goodbye (A Harry Bosch Novel, 19) Mass Market Paperback – October 31, 2017

The Wrong Side of Goodbye (the title is clarified at the end of the novel) is one of MC’s very best. It begins auspiciously. Harry is no longer with the LAPD; he is an unpaid, part-time detective with the San Fernando PD and he is working as a licensed PI. In his latter capacity he is contacted by a security company. One of their most serious (multi-billionaire) clients wants to secure Harry’s services. Harry is called to Pasadena to meet with an elderly, wealthy person with concerns about his ‘family’. He feels that he may have an heir to his estate and he wants Harry to find that person, if indeed that person exists. The person will have Latina/Latino connections. Thus, right away, we have some serious homage both to The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye, Chandler’s best known and, perhaps, his best novel.There are two plots—the PI search for the industrialist’s heir and the SFPD search for a serial rapist in the east valley. Dubbed the ‘screen cutter’, Harry spends part of his time finding one person (in a crimes-against-persons case of nasty violence) and his PI time trying to find a person (in a complex, procedural investigation) who may or may not evoke a violent reaction from those in the industrialist’s corporation who will not want to see any interloper scarfing up their cash.Both cases are fascinating and provide Harry the opportunity to show his technical chops as well as his street-smarts cop chops. They also enable Michael Connelly to show his imposing skills as a novelist. The procedural details are the most interesting to me. How does one go through birth records, death records, military records and DNA links in a very brief period of time? What offices are available? Who do you call? Who do you grease? In what form are the records? How do you deal with microfilm when records have not been computerized? How do you persuade individuals to disclose information that is usually off-limits?The novel is thus a play on two very different themes and it moves from a street-crime ethos to a legal/corporate one. This means that Harry will be calling on Mickey Haller to help him. (Mickey has his own problems; his current driver, e.g., may be working against him, disclosing private information.) Both are exceptionally strong characters. This is Harry’s novel, but Mickey’s role goes well beyond a simple cameo appearance. The chemistry between them is always a strong plot element.Some have been concerned about the ending. I am fascinated by the fact that novel readers (unlike theatre audiences) know that the plot is coming to an end because they see their place in the novel. Many novelists turn this fact into a crescendo; Jonathan Kellerman, e.g., will signal the coming ending, while the reader holds another 100 pages in his hands. Buckle your seatbelt . . . . In The Wrong Side of Goodbye, however, MC introduces a significant new plot point when there are only 40 pages remaining. The reader fears that a deus ex machina ending is coming, but not to worry. The ending is plausible and satisfying, with some nice twists and reversals (not jawdropping ones at the Jeffery Deaver level) at the end.Don’t miss this one (and allocate sufficient time to read it through; you won’t want to stop once you begin).

First Sentence: They charged from the cover of the elephant grass toward the LZ, five of them swarming the slick on both sides, one among them yelling, “Go! Go! Go!”—as if each man needed to be prodded and reminded that these were the most dangerous seconds of their lives.”Harry Bosch is on leave from the LAPD but has been taken on as a volunteer reserve officer investigating the cold case of a serial rapist for the San Fernando PD. However, working as a private investigator, Bosch has been hired by an elderly billionaire to find any heirs he may have from when he was a college student. The man’s company very much wants Harry to fail.It is interesting that we open with a reminder of the terrible cost of war. Any war. All wars.Connelly has such a clear and distinctive voice, part of which is the ever-present sarcastic humour—“You can come back now.” “Good. Any longer and I was going to jump.” She didn’t smile. …”It’s impact-resistant glass,” she said. “It can take the force of a category-five hurricane.” “Good to know,” Bosch said. “And I was only joking.”It’s good that we learn the backstory of Bosch’s situation with the LAPD. One thing one never needs worry about is learning the history and/or backstory of people and places. Connelly is very good and providing those, often with an interesting perspective—“Working cold cases had made Bosch proficient in time travel.” However, one does rather wonder what is the normal rate of an officer clearing murder cases.Another of Connelly’s many skills is outlining police procedures, and describing the impact budget reductions has on solving crimes. This is not only informative but adds a strong element of realism. Even so, Bosch is a character who likes to do things very much his own way.It is nice to have Bosch’s half-brother, Mickey Haller, brought into the story. However, there are a lot of coincidences, and the interactions with Bosch’s daughter seemed random and didn’t really add anything to the story. Another rather irritating factor is the constant relating of driving directions. It is rather as if listing to a GPS. It doesn't really provide a true sense of place and feels like filler.The plot is well done. Connelly balances the two story threads very well. There are good twists, red herrings, and “ah-ha!” moments. The buildup of suspense nicely done, as is the exposure of the killer.“The Wrong Side of Goodbye” is classic Connelly. It’s a satisfying read fans will enjoy.THE WRONG SIDE OF GOODBYE (Pol Proc-Bosch/Haller-LA-Contemp) – Good Connelly, Michael – 19th in series Little, Brown and Company – Nov, 2016

All ofConnelly,s books are terrific. They are hard to put down. And I read them too fast! it. I am anxiously waiting for.the next one

This is the best book I have read in several years. I loved the story as told by Harry Bosch. I liked the details he included in his description of various situations.I found it very hard to Put this book down.

Good story teller , lots of action and different cases at same time .i am fond of this author

What a fantastic read, it was extremely gripping from start to finish. The duel investigations were both ingenious and very well written and the outcome not what you expected.

I love Connelly’s books. This one is no exception, fast paced, could not stop reading. The characters, plot and writing are superb

As a Federal Prosecutor I admire Harry Bosh. A descent cop that goes by the book, never loosing the grip of a great detective. Great thing is Bosch ages through the several books, just like the rest of us. You just can not stop reading. Real good fiction.

泣けます。著者の天才的な文章に何度もグッときます。テレビ版のボッシュレガシーシーズン1とほぼ同じストーリーなので、先に本を読んだほうがより本を楽しめるかなと思いました。ただしタイタウンレイピストのくだりは全く違うのでこの本の中でのオリジナルを楽しめます。