Trunk Music [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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Michael Connelly does something unusual in Trunk Music: He makes Harry Bosch fallible in his work as well as in his private life. The result is that Harry has setbacks that go beyond his usual run-ins with LAPD authority. The result is entertaining and convoluted, providing novelty to this excellent series.

This isn't my favorite in the series by a long shot. The noir aspects just aren't as dark as in Connelly's best efforts.

Gallows humor saves the book, beginning with finding a corpse in a car trunk where the crime scene can be seen from the audience at the Hollywood Bowl. Even Harry knows that he's got to avoid messing up the concert. The show must go on!

The Las Vegas parts of the story open up many new threads for future tales, including a meeting in this book with an old friend from The Black Echo.

"Trunk Music" was Michael Connelly's sixth book, his fifth to feature Harry Bosch and was first published in 1997. Although Harry remains a cigarette-smoking, beer-swilling, coffee-drinking jazz-fan, his life has seen a few changes since "The Last Coyote". It's been about eight months since Harry returned to the Hollywood Division from involuntary stress leave, but roughly eighteen since he 'officially' investigated a homicide case. Bosch has spent the previous eight months working the burglary table - officially, this was to ease him back into detective work. In reality, however, it was a slap on the wrist for his 'unofficial' investigation outlined in "The Last Coyote" - while he was his involuntary stress leave. He's also spending much of his free time redecorating his house - condemned after an earthquake, it's been demolished and now rebuilt.

The Hollywood Division is now under the command of a new Lieutenant, Grace Billets. In turn, she has decided that all homicides should be investigated by three detectives. Harry is the team leader of Squad One : his partners are Jerry Edgar, who he'd worked with previously, and Kizmin Rider. Rider transferred in around the same time as Billets, both from the LAPD's Pacific Division. "Trunk Music" covers Harry's first case back at the homicide table under these new arrangements. A body has been found in the trunk of a Rolls Royce along Hollywood Drive, overlooking the Hollywood Bowl. Certain factors seem to indicate the victim - Tony Aliso - was killed by the Mob. As such, the case should be turned over to the Organized Crime Intelligence Unit. However, when notified, OCID take a pass - although Harry's happy he hasn't lost his case, he still finds that decision a little strange. To complicate matters, it later appears the officer Harry contacted - a man called Carbone - is taking a 'casual' interest in the case. Harry believes there's more to this than meets the eye, but knows he'll have to be careful. While OCID are supposed to concentrate on organized crime, it is widely believed they hold thick files on many - including the Police Chief and the Mayor. In other words, they're not afraid to play dirty to get what they want.

Aliso, although a small-time player in the movie business, still made a healthy living from it. Married to one of his former actresses, he took regular trips to Vegas. The length of these trips would vary, depending on his luck at the poker tables - however, his wife suspected he did more in Vegas than just gamble. He was returning from one of these trips when he was apparently intercepted and killed. Realising the killer may have followed Aliso from Vegas, Harry takes a trip there to try and retrace his steps. The trip, however, throws up one or two surprises - and it wouldn't be a Harry Bosch novel if he didn't find himself in serious trouble.

Connelly has written another excellent book, and has also introduced two very likeable characters - Billets and Rider. Billets, unlike Harry's previous boss, seems to care about clearing cases - rather than fiddling statistics to make the department look good. Rider, meanwhile, is considered an excellent detective and is tipped to go right to the top. It would probably be a slight advantage to have read at least a couple of the previous Bosch novels- for example, there are certain slight references to some of the events from "The Black Echo" and "The Last Coyote". While it's not entirely necessary, I would recommend reading them first - they are both excellent books, and knowing the "full story" will add to the enjoyment of this instalment.

This is the 5th book of the Harry Bosch series. I've read every one. Michael Connelly has developed a character who is real. Harry loves being a cop. He has his flaws but he continually tries to improve himself. I love the way Connelly ties in characters and story lines from book to book. You definately have to start from the first of the series (Black Echo). I highly recommend this series.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Good enough to keep reading, yet disappointing
Reading this book, I kept reading to find out whodunnit of course. What I didn't realize was that my suspicions of whodunnit were right from the very beginning. Read more

Published on Mar 6 2004 by Chris Eigsti

5.0 out of 5 stars hardcover 1st edition published 1997- a pleasurable read...
After a leave of absence, LAPD detective Harry Bosch comes forward via request to investigate the circle of circumstances involving the death of Anthony Aliso, whose body is found... Read more

Published on Jan 6 2004 by Josephine Kaszuba Locke

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Harry Bosch Novel
TRUNK MUSIC finds Harry investigating an apparent mafia hit on a small-time movie producer. The victim has been found in the truck of his car with two bullets in his head. Read more

Published on Dec 30 2003 by AntiochAndy

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites so far
This is one of my favorites of the Harry Bosch books so far! This book had it all, the suspense, action, drama and even a little love story for Harry.

Published on Oct 10 2003 by Theresa W

5.0 out of 5 stars One turn after another
This book makes so many turns that you will never imagine how is going to end, when you think everything is solved it gets another turn and believe me, you wouldn't be able to... Read more

Published on Jun 26 2003 by Jorge Frid

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
This was the first Harry Bosch novel that I read and I found it to be quite enjoyable. The characters were terrific and there was never a dull moment. Read more

Published on Dec 8 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars MORE TROUBLE WITH HARRY
If I were Harry Bosch, I think I'd get a job as a bouncer or something...the poor guy, he's at it again and he's up against more internal affairs investigations. Read more

Published on Oct 4 2002 by Michael Butts

4.0 out of 5 stars Altogether average
This is quite good...but at times i had to work hard to convince myself that parts of it weren't a bit dull. Read more

Published on July 7 2002 by RachelWalker

4.0 out of 5 stars Rises well above genre
This is the first Michael Connelly book I read (am currently reading the third). I was interested in reading one that just came out in paperback, but decided to read earlier... Read more

Published on May 30 2002 by Neal C. Reynolds

1.0 out of 5 stars Blah
Normal detective plot: Tough guy detective, sexy babe female detective, a little chemistrym, a few problems, and a bad guy to run down. Read more

Published on April 4 2002 by Dr.||\\//||

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