The Poet
by Michael Connelly (Goodreads author!)published
2002
by Warner Books
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binding
Paperback, 608 pages
literary awards
Anthony Award for Best Novel (1997)
isbn
0446690457
(isbn13: 9780446690454)
description
Jack McEvoy is a Denver crime reporter with the stickiest assignment of his career. His twin brother, homicide detective Sean McEvoy, was found dead ...more
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Read in May, 2004
"The Poet" is Michael Connelly's 5th book, and proved to be something of a departure for him - it was his first book not to feature Harry Bosch. Instead of Bosch, the central character is Jack McEvoy, a journalist based in Denver. He works for the "Rocky Mountain News", covering virtually whatever murder he chooses. As the book opens, he's just been told of his twin brother's suicide.
Sean, his twin, was a cop in Denver. He worked in the "Crimes Against Persons"...more
Sean, his twin, was a cop in Denver. He worked in the "Crimes Against Persons"...more
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Read in December, 2007
When reporter Jack McEvoy learns his twin brother, a police detective, has committed suicide, he starts to notice some "hoaky" details. Those details soon lead him to discover that Sean's death was only made to look like a suicide - in reality it was murder, part of a nation-wide serial spree by a Poe-quoting killer. Jack sets off to find his brother's killer and the story of a lifetime.
I was convinced that Connelly was going to let me down on this book. It was getting to the en...more
I was convinced that Connelly was going to let me down on this book. It was getting to the en...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
thriller / crime lovers
There are a lot lot of serial killer novels out there. Michael Connelly's "The Poet" rests a cut above much of the slasher genre. "Poet" tells the story of Jack McEvoy, a crime reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, in Denver. His twin brother Sean, a homicide detective for the Denver police has just committed suicide, despondent over his inability to solve a grisly murder.
Connelly crafts his story with quiet force - in the hearse traveling to the funeral with Sean's ...more
Connelly crafts his story with quiet force - in the hearse traveling to the funeral with Sean's ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
mystery lovers
This review is for the abridged audio cassette version of the book. You don't need another description of the plot, because you can find it in multiple reviews already.
This was a good read (listen). Abridging the novel to approx. 3 hours was a bit severe - there were quite a few jumps in "detection" that were probably explained more believably in the book.
I can see how this has the potential to be pretty creepy in its full figure.
The reader was not intrusive - I didn'...more
This was a good read (listen). Abridging the novel to approx. 3 hours was a bit severe - there were quite a few jumps in "detection" that were probably explained more believably in the book.
I can see how this has the potential to be pretty creepy in its full figure.
The reader was not intrusive - I didn'...more
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Read in January, 2005
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in January, 1996
For years I've been following Susan Dennis' mystery reviews website.
It was through there that I had first heard of Michael Connelly. His Heironymous Bosch series is excellent and I urge you to read them, starting with Black Echo.
Now, The Poet is a departure from this series, this time the lead character is a crime reporter (Connelly's profession; write what you know, right?). This novel is about a killer who leaves clues referring to Edgar Allan Poe. There's also an extremely creepy pedophil...more
It was through there that I had first heard of Michael Connelly. His Heironymous Bosch series is excellent and I urge you to read them, starting with Black Echo.
Now, The Poet is a departure from this series, this time the lead character is a crime reporter (Connelly's profession; write what you know, right?). This novel is about a killer who leaves clues referring to Edgar Allan Poe. There's also an extremely creepy pedophil...more
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He's my favorite mystery/thriller writer. His most featured protagonist, Harry Bosch, is the most human of lead characters in this genre; less video-game like mow-'em-down violence, more cerebral of an approach.
This is a compelling drama: the search is on for a vicious killer who leaves poetic clues behind. A lot of twists and turns. High energy unfolding.
I won't give away anything. The only caveat I have, which I have with a lot in this genre, is that endings can have too many twists an...more
This is a compelling drama: the search is on for a vicious killer who leaves poetic clues behind. A lot of twists and turns. High energy unfolding.
I won't give away anything. The only caveat I have, which I have with a lot in this genre, is that endings can have too many twists an...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Money1443 by:
Tawnia
This is a murder/mystery book. It's good as the main character, a reporter, uncovers a serial killer is on the loose after his brother commits suicide. Following his trail as he helps uncover it was very fun. It becomes a large scale, nation wide event including several other characters. You watch him struggle emotionally with how his story unfolds. A great ending also. This is a good summer read and it kept me interested and motivated.
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Read in January, 2008
I have decided that 2008 is "The Year Of Mystery" - I am going to completely indulge myself in my new guilty pleasure, mystery novels. The Poet has been recommended to me by many people, and I decided it would be a fitting start to the year. Couldn't have made a better choice, I loved it - fast pace, interesting characters, great twists that kept me guessing until the end. I can't wait to read the sequel!
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Read in September, 2008
I read this book because Miss Sarah read it and gave it 5 stars.
I liked the book, and it totally creeped me out. There is one part where the protagonist says that he couldn't read the Edgar Allen Poe book at night by himself because was it was so creepy. There are parts like that in this book.
I liked the book, and it totally creeped me out. There is one part where the protagonist says that he couldn't read the Edgar Allen Poe book at night by himself because was it was so creepy. There are parts like that in this book.
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Read in March, 2008
I'd mostly read the Bosch & McCaleb books, so it was good to go back & read a different character (one whose life will intersect with them in later books). I like the way that Connelly fleshes out his characters, more than most mystery writers.
In this book, there are plot twists aplenty. A few parts telegraph the outcome before it's revealed, but mostly it was a good read.
In this book, there are plot twists aplenty. A few parts telegraph the outcome before it's revealed, but mostly it was a good read.
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Read in March, 2008
This is a pleasant(if that term can be applied to a serial killer thriller) depature from the Bosch driven police drama in that the main character is a rather vulnerable reporter which gives insight into Connelly's former profession. I was a little disappointed with the denoument as would most Connelly fans who know his reoccurring characters. A great read nontheless!
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Read in January, 2007
My first Connelly. Read some good reviews about his work, detective/crime genre. It's a good book, but not good enough to keep me fascinated all the way through. Had to get through some imo less interesting parts, story went on too long for me with some 'dead parts'. Nevertheless, not bad, might read another Connelly when I'm looking for a crime book.
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Read in June, 2002
I read this after getting "Bloodwork" out of the library. My favorite book written by Connelly, and it's a murder mystery that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. You do feel bad for the two main characters but Connelly never wants happy characters. If you're looking for a fast paced, seat-of-the-pants thriller this one's for you.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
detective/suspense story fans
This book was recommended to me by a good friend. It was the first Michael Connelly book I have read, and will not be the last.
I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. A very easy read with a even but fast moving story line. I thought I had it figured out before the end, but I fell into the author's trap.
I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. A very easy read with a even but fast moving story line. I thought I had it figured out before the end, but I fell into the author's trap.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
beach goers
Just started this book and it's a really great summer read! Very well written and intrigueing. In fact, I think I'll go read a little now!
Just finished and I really liked the writing. Entertaining beach book about a newspaper reporter who tries to solve his brother's murder. I would recommend it.
Just finished and I really liked the writing. Entertaining beach book about a newspaper reporter who tries to solve his brother's murder. I would recommend it.
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I can tell that this author has previous experience as a crime reporter because his books are well written. I enjoyed the plot for this particular novel; it was suspenseful and kept me interested and I liked the fact that the killer turned out to be someone that I never would have guessed!
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Read in October, 2008
First off I want to say that this is an audio book that I did. My firt book by Connelly...and...I loved it the whole thing and it was long! I enjoyed all of it. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was wrong, I felt like I was in the story. Rachel Walling is also great in this book. I wanted to do this as an audio book to see if I liked the author and I was reading another book at the time. It was a sucess. I'm going to read the next three books that have Rachel appearing in ...more
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Read in February, 1997
THE POET - Ex
Connelly, Michael - standalone
The apparent suicide of his policeman brother sets Denver crime reporter Jack McEvoy on edge. Surprise at the circumstances of his brother's death prompts Jack to look into a whole series of police suicides and puts him on the trail of a cop killer whose victims are selected all too carefully. Not only that, but they all leave suicide notes drawn from the poems of writer Edgar Allan Poe in their wake. More frightening still the killer appears to k...more
Connelly, Michael - standalone
The apparent suicide of his policeman brother sets Denver crime reporter Jack McEvoy on edge. Surprise at the circumstances of his brother's death prompts Jack to look into a whole series of police suicides and puts him on the trail of a cop killer whose victims are selected all too carefully. Not only that, but they all leave suicide notes drawn from the poems of writer Edgar Allan Poe in their wake. More frightening still the killer appears to k...more
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This is outside the Bosch series. The main character is a reporter. His brother is killed and he investigates why. Not bad but the Bosch series is still his best. "Jack McEvoy is a Denver crime reporter with the stickiest assignment of his career. His twin brother, homicide detective Sean McEvoy, was found dead in his car from a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head--an Edgar Allen Poe quote smeared on the windshield. Jack is going to write the story. The problem is that Jack doesn't ...more
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