The Harry Bosch franchise has quite a loyal fanbase, my dad included. Before I could even finish offering to loan him my copy of THE OVERLOOK, he had snatched it up and had delved into the first chapter. Truth be told, after reading ECHO PARK and becoming a Bosch fan myself, I was just as eager to read it. For the uninitiated, Hieronymus Bosch is Michael Connelly’s fictional, no-nonsense LAPD homicide detective – and sometime rogue – who seems to always get his man, policy and procedure be damned.
Originally released as a 16-part serialThe New York Times, THE OVERLOOK was reworked and released as Connelly’s follow-up novel to ECHO PARK. At a slim 240 pages with a bigger-than-normal font, this is the perfect summertime beach read, but don’t let the size fool you. Good things sometimes come in small packages.
Our story begins with Bosch being awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night. A patrol officer cruising through a local make-out spot has discovered a guy shot to death in his car. Bosch has been assigned a new partner after his previous one in ECHO PARK failed to take care of business when the shit hit the fan and subsequently was put behind a desk.
Bosch doesn’t seem to take well to his new rookie partner, Ignacio Ferras, who insists on being called Iggy, but Bosch refuses. He’s obviously not ready to get too comfortable with the new guy, preferring to keep him at arm’s length. Throughout the book, he keeps Iggy in the office doing what can only be described as busy work.
When he arrives at the scene of the crime, he learns that some dicks from the prestigious Hollywood Division are trying to poach the case. Even worse, Bosch’s old love interest and recurring character, FBI agent Rachel Walling, is also working the case. “Why,” you ask? It seems this isn’t a run-of-the-mill killing.
Our vic is Dr. Stanley Kent, who uses radioactive material in the treatment of cancer patients. A substantial amount of it turns up missing from the hospital, which not only gives Bosch a possible motive for murder, but also makes this a case of national security. The FBI, Homeland Security and a host of other federal agencies are sticking their noses in Bosch’s murder case and he doesn’t like it one bit.
The other agencies are more interested in chasing down the Cesium-137 than solving the murder, which rubs Bosch the wrong way. “Solve the murder and you’ll find the Cesium,” he tells Walling. Each agency wants credit for cracking the big case and is reluctant to share leads and info, so Bosch sets out on his own to solve it on his own.
He eventually tracks down and questions a potential perp, who turns out to not be the killer, but as a straight-as-they-come detective, I cringed when Bosch continued the interrogation even after the suspect “lawyered up.” Did I mention he doesn’t care much for policy and procedure, or a person’s constitutional rights? But hey, neither does Jack Bauer, and everyone loves Bauer.
And just like a Jack Bauer crisis, this novel plays out in a day’s time. And as on Bauer’s 24, the book plays on the fear of another act of terrorism which successfully elevates THE OUTLOOK from a typical murder mystery to a narrative of catastrophic potential. Better described as a novella than a novel, die-hard Connelly fans may be disappointed that the joyride doesn’t last very long. But considering the climactic twist ending, most will forgive him. –Ken Davis
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• CRIME BEAT: A DECADE OF COVERING COPS & KILLERS by Michael Connelly
• ECHO PARK by Michael Connelly
• MURDER IN VEGAS: NEW CRIME TALES OF GAMBLING AND DESPERATION edited by Michael Connelly
