Early Bosch/Connelly tale shows off great skill of author in fine suspense thriller!

We have been catching up on this interesting author's mystery thriller booklist, about half of which comprise LAPD homicide cop Harry Bosch novels. Connelly has a knack for writing suspenseful tales which usually take quite a few turns before being resolved. Much of the tension arises from Bosch's intellectual yet irascible and persistent pursuit of the real perpetrator - Harry is tough to satisfy as he discards one great looking suspect after another!

"Blonde" follows a similar pattern, although the hunt for a murderer is preceded by a court case as suspenseful as the mystery. Bosch is on trial in a civil suit for excessive force (in the extreme!) for the fatal shooting of a serial murderer dubbed the "Dollmaker" from the killer's habit of applying makeup to the dead bodies of his female victims. The attorney for the dead man's wife is the stunning Honey Chandler, who has made a reputation for getting cops who went too far. Things look bad for Bosch when another killing occurs during the trial, seemingly the work of the Dollmaker. Obviously this development casts doubt on the guilt of the man Bosch shot, adding fuel to the fire already burning since Bosch shot the naked guy while he was reaching under a pillow for a toupee, not a gun! In the end, suspicion is cast upon fellow cops, consultants working the case, and various other hangers-on. Does Bosch get his man and be found innocent?

Connelly is an accomplished writer who has again crafted an entertaining mystery. He adds to the interest of the book by revealing a getting-very-serious romance between Harry and girlfriend Sylvia to temper the pace and action for the main story as well as expose some of Bosch's background and "softer" side. All in all, "Blonde" is a great addition to this author's bibliography, and makes a very enjoyable read!