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Harry Bosch #18
The Crossing
Detective Harry Bosch has retired from the LAPD, but his half-brother, defense attorney Mickey Haller, needs his help. A woman has been brutally murdered in her bed and all evidence points to Haller's client, a former gang member turned family man. Though the murder rap seems ironclad, Mickey is sure it's a setup.
Bosch doesn't want anything to do with crossing the aisle to work for the defense. He feels it will undo all the good he's done in his thirty years as a homicide cop. But Mickey promises to let the chips fall where they may. If Harry proves that his client did it, under the rules of discovery, they are obliged to turn over the evidence to the prosecution.
Though it goes against all his instincts, Bosch reluctantly takes the case. The prosecution's file just has too many holes and he has to find out for himself: if Haller's client didn't do it, then who did? With the secret help of his former LAPD partner Lucy Soto, Harry starts digging. Soon his investigation leads him inside the police department, where he realizes that the killer he's been tracking has also been tracking him.
Bosch doesn't want anything to do with crossing the aisle to work for the defense. He feels it will undo all the good he's done in his thirty years as a homicide cop. But Mickey promises to let the chips fall where they may. If Harry proves that his client did it, under the rules of discovery, they are obliged to turn over the evidence to the prosecution.
Though it goes against all his instincts, Bosch reluctantly takes the case. The prosecution's file just has too many holes and he has to find out for himself: if Haller's client didn't do it, then who did? With the secret help of his former LAPD partner Lucy Soto, Harry starts digging. Soon his investigation leads him inside the police department, where he realizes that the killer he's been tracking has also been tracking him.
388 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
About the author
Michael Connelly
435 books27.9k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,863 reviews
February 24, 2020
The twenty-third entry in this excellent series is among the very best, and that's saying quite a lot. As an L.A.P.D. homicide detective, Harry Bosch has pretty much always gone his own way, often alienating his bosses, partners and others, but almost always producing results in the end that no one else could have achieved. Finally, though, he goes a step too far and, although he solves a particularly complex case, his methods give his snarky boss a chance to finally get rid of him. Harry pulls the pin and takes retirement before that can happen and he then sues the department for its actions against him.
Harry is now off the job and rebuilding a vintage motorcycle, when his half-brother, Mickey Haller--the "Lincoln Lawyer"-- tries to hire him. Mickey has a client who's about to go on trial for a particularly viscous rape and murder. Haller insists that his client is innocent, even though the evidence against him seems a lock.
Haller wants Harry to join the defense team and investigate the case in an effort to save his client. To do so goes against the grain of everything Bosch has stood for in his career and he has no interest in helping his brother get a guilty man off on a technicality because of something he might discover. Harry thus refuses, but Mickey convinces him to at least take a look at the Murder Book--the log of the investigation that the police have turned over to the defense. Reading the material, Harry notes a number of minor inconsistencies in the evidence, and once he does, he's hooked. Against his better judgement, he agrees to investigate the case and the deeper he gets, the more complex and dangerous things will become.
This is a very well-written and well-plotted novel. Nobody does police procedural as well as Connelly, and it's a lot of fun watching Harry attempt to pursue the case from outside the police department. It's a standard trope in this sort of novel that the P.I. always has a "friend" in the P.D. who looks things up in the computer and who does other favors for him. There's always another "friend" in the phone company and so on and so forth, enabling the P.I. to gain access to information that no other outsider could get.
Connelly doesn't cheat that way. Harry asks one favor of his old partner who gets him some inside info, but otherwise Harry is on is own and is hugely inventive in developing ways to get the material he needs. He basically starts by pulling at one small loose thread and then follows where it leads him. Watching Bosch work is always a lot of fun, but watching him do so with these limitations is even more so.
The plot is gripping and moves like the proverbial runaway train, and it's interesting to see Harry Bosch working at odds against the institution he has served for his entire life. It's also very intriguing to see the two half brothers at work and to watch Harry struggle with his conscience throughout the book. All Mickey really needs is for Harry to find something that will raise a reasonable doubt with the prosecution's case. But Bosch will never forgive himself if that's all he does. If Mickey's client isn't guilty, then someone else is, and Harry Bosch won't rest until he finds him. A great read.
Harry is now off the job and rebuilding a vintage motorcycle, when his half-brother, Mickey Haller--the "Lincoln Lawyer"-- tries to hire him. Mickey has a client who's about to go on trial for a particularly viscous rape and murder. Haller insists that his client is innocent, even though the evidence against him seems a lock.
Haller wants Harry to join the defense team and investigate the case in an effort to save his client. To do so goes against the grain of everything Bosch has stood for in his career and he has no interest in helping his brother get a guilty man off on a technicality because of something he might discover. Harry thus refuses, but Mickey convinces him to at least take a look at the Murder Book--the log of the investigation that the police have turned over to the defense. Reading the material, Harry notes a number of minor inconsistencies in the evidence, and once he does, he's hooked. Against his better judgement, he agrees to investigate the case and the deeper he gets, the more complex and dangerous things will become.
This is a very well-written and well-plotted novel. Nobody does police procedural as well as Connelly, and it's a lot of fun watching Harry attempt to pursue the case from outside the police department. It's a standard trope in this sort of novel that the P.I. always has a "friend" in the P.D. who looks things up in the computer and who does other favors for him. There's always another "friend" in the phone company and so on and so forth, enabling the P.I. to gain access to information that no other outsider could get.
Connelly doesn't cheat that way. Harry asks one favor of his old partner who gets him some inside info, but otherwise Harry is on is own and is hugely inventive in developing ways to get the material he needs. He basically starts by pulling at one small loose thread and then follows where it leads him. Watching Bosch work is always a lot of fun, but watching him do so with these limitations is even more so.
The plot is gripping and moves like the proverbial runaway train, and it's interesting to see Harry Bosch working at odds against the institution he has served for his entire life. It's also very intriguing to see the two half brothers at work and to watch Harry struggle with his conscience throughout the book. All Mickey really needs is for Harry to find something that will raise a reasonable doubt with the prosecution's case. But Bosch will never forgive himself if that's all he does. If Mickey's client isn't guilty, then someone else is, and Harry Bosch won't rest until he finds him. A great read.
May 6, 2022
Michael Connelly is a class act and in Harry Bosch he’s created one of the best crime stoppers in contemporary fiction – fact! Connelly has also demonstrated an ability to branch off and develop additional compelling characters, like Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer). He’s previously brought Bosch and Haller together and established a link but here, for the first time, he pairs them up to work in unison on a case.
The idea of working with Haller to defend a man accused of a brutal murder is initially repellent to Bosch: it goes against the grain and he’s worried about the reaction it will prompt from his ex-colleagues in the LAPD. Suffice to say he sets about satisfying himself that there is justification in committing to this course of action and then jumps right in, neck deep. The plot is as taut as a botoxed forehead and I was riveted throughout as I absorbed the audio version in two long sessions.
Bosch is certainly the main act here, with Haller very much in a supporting role. And that’s fine with me. I can think of only a couple of other fictional flatfoots that can compare: James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux and Lawrence Block’s Matt Scudder. I'd quite happily spend a whole reading year working through the novels of this trinity.
The only pity is that I guess I've now got to wait another year for another offering from Connelly. Or maybe I should start from the beginning and work my way through them all again...
The idea of working with Haller to defend a man accused of a brutal murder is initially repellent to Bosch: it goes against the grain and he’s worried about the reaction it will prompt from his ex-colleagues in the LAPD. Suffice to say he sets about satisfying himself that there is justification in committing to this course of action and then jumps right in, neck deep. The plot is as taut as a botoxed forehead and I was riveted throughout as I absorbed the audio version in two long sessions.
Bosch is certainly the main act here, with Haller very much in a supporting role. And that’s fine with me. I can think of only a couple of other fictional flatfoots that can compare: James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux and Lawrence Block’s Matt Scudder. I'd quite happily spend a whole reading year working through the novels of this trinity.
The only pity is that I guess I've now got to wait another year for another offering from Connelly. Or maybe I should start from the beginning and work my way through them all again...
November 14, 2015
Connelly writes some of the best police procedurals around. Pairing Bosch, with Heller was pure genius. Never one to settle for easy answers, Bosch pursues justice wherever it takes him. He needs to understand how everything is pieced together, find out who is guilty and what they had to gain. Haller, is a master in the courtroom, can use the tiniest bit of information to create doubt and free his client. In this case, thanks to Bosch, temporarily, well maybe, working for the dark side. No longer a detective will he now pursue justice from the other side? Or will he be able to return to his former job? New love interest, maybe?
Solid writing, brilliant characters and a great mixing of a legal thriller with a very good police procedure. What's not to like?
Solid writing, brilliant characters and a great mixing of a legal thriller with a very good police procedure. What's not to like?
October 29, 2021
In this 18th book in the 'Harry Bosch' series, the homicide detective reluctantly agrees to help his half-brother Mickey Haller defend an alleged murderer. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Harry Bosch has lost his job as a homicide detective for the LAPD (again) and is at loose ends. At the same time Harry's half-brother, attorney Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer), is defending former gang member Da'Quan Foster, who's accused of raping and murdering assistant city manager Lexi Park.
Mickey is convinced his client was set up and asks Harry to look into the case. Harry refuses because the idea of 'crossing' from catching criminals to helping them get off is abhorrent to him. Nevertheless, Harry takes a look at the LAPD's murder book and gets an inkling that Da'Quan might actually be innocent. The clue that intrigues Harry most is Lexi's expensive watch, which is missing.
Meanwhile, two LAPD detectives have an inordinate interest in the Lexi Park case. They spy on Mickey and Harry, stop Mickey for a bogus DUI so they can search his car, and track the half-brothers with GPS devices. Then, when Harry starts to investigate the missing watch, more people are murdered. It's clear that something is rotten in the LAPD.
The book moves along at a steady clip as Harry uncovers one clue after another, and builds to a satisfying climax. Full disclosure: I did get a tad impatient with a couple of sections about LAPD parking lots and gangs surveilling them, but this is a minor quibble.
The secondary characters add interest to the book, including Harry's daughter Maddie - who's preparing for college, Harry's former partner Lucia - who secretly lends him a hand, and an Internal Affairs investigator that Harry has sparks with.
The last part of the book has some juicy courtroom scenes (courtesy of Mickey Haller), which is icing on the cake of a good detective novel. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to mystery lovers - especially fans of Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
December 31, 2019
Today is the last day of 2019 and I have just finished reading The Crossing. I'm officially a Michael Connelly fan. Big time.
The Crossing is the eighteenth book in the Harry Bosch series but it was the book that introduced me to this author. You don't have to have read any of the previous books to read this one.
The Crossing starts with us being introduced to Harry Bosch, an ex cop who was forced to retire from the LAPD and is suing the department with the help of his half-brother—also known as the Lincoln Lawyer—Mickey Haller (This character has a separate series dedicated to him as well). Haller, who is a defense attorney and who would have been on the other side of the aisle had Harry still been with the LAPD, requests Harry to investigate a case for him: a popular and well-liked city official has been murdered and the man who has been arrested for the crime is someone Mickey believes to be innocent. Harry refuses to do so, believing that it would be equivalent to betraying his department by working for the defense. But when he starts to study the case, he realizes that there is more to it than meets the eye. He agrees to investigate with the sole purpose of finding the true killer. His investigation leads him to another murder case—that of a male prostitute. In his attempt to piece everything together; to find the crossing that might explain where the murderer met his victim, Bosch has to keep up as the killer continues to leave a trail of bodies.
I really loved this one. The main characters were likeable and incredibly smart. It wasn't one of those books where you find yourself doubting a character's competence—each of the characters is terrific at their job. The book is fast paced, so much so that the action begins on page one. I liked the fact that the case was the main focus of the book, leaving very little room for anything else (By this I mean that there was no unnecessary romance that could steal the spotlight and make the story seem dragging). Also, there isn't much suspense regarding the identity of the murderer as much as there is about figuring out what the motive was and how seemingly unconnected events were all linked together. The author wraps up the ending in an extremely satisfying manner.
Michael Connelly is a terrific writer and I am really glad I decided to end this year with one of his works. The fact that there are so many books that I haven't read in Harry Bosch's universe makes me thrilled! I can't wait!
The Crossing is the eighteenth book in the Harry Bosch series but it was the book that introduced me to this author. You don't have to have read any of the previous books to read this one.
The Crossing starts with us being introduced to Harry Bosch, an ex cop who was forced to retire from the LAPD and is suing the department with the help of his half-brother—also known as the Lincoln Lawyer—Mickey Haller (This character has a separate series dedicated to him as well). Haller, who is a defense attorney and who would have been on the other side of the aisle had Harry still been with the LAPD, requests Harry to investigate a case for him: a popular and well-liked city official has been murdered and the man who has been arrested for the crime is someone Mickey believes to be innocent. Harry refuses to do so, believing that it would be equivalent to betraying his department by working for the defense. But when he starts to study the case, he realizes that there is more to it than meets the eye. He agrees to investigate with the sole purpose of finding the true killer. His investigation leads him to another murder case—that of a male prostitute. In his attempt to piece everything together; to find the crossing that might explain where the murderer met his victim, Bosch has to keep up as the killer continues to leave a trail of bodies.
I really loved this one. The main characters were likeable and incredibly smart. It wasn't one of those books where you find yourself doubting a character's competence—each of the characters is terrific at their job. The book is fast paced, so much so that the action begins on page one. I liked the fact that the case was the main focus of the book, leaving very little room for anything else (By this I mean that there was no unnecessary romance that could steal the spotlight and make the story seem dragging). Also, there isn't much suspense regarding the identity of the murderer as much as there is about figuring out what the motive was and how seemingly unconnected events were all linked together. The author wraps up the ending in an extremely satisfying manner.
Michael Connelly is a terrific writer and I am really glad I decided to end this year with one of his works. The fact that there are so many books that I haven't read in Harry Bosch's universe makes me thrilled! I can't wait!
December 5, 2016
Another well done Harry Bosch novel. This time, Harry is playing for the opposing side, helping his half brother Micky Haller. He struggles for a long time with the whole idea of crossing over to the dark side, as he thinks of the defense.
As always, this is a convoluted tale with lots of twists and turns. Even though you know who the bad guys are, it's the means by which Harry unravels the clues that provides the intrigue.
I listened to the audio book and the narrator does a good job. He even sounds like I would expect Harry to sound. It's not that he attempts to create a different voice for each character. It's just that his voice mirrors how I envision Harry's.
As always, this is a convoluted tale with lots of twists and turns. Even though you know who the bad guys are, it's the means by which Harry unravels the clues that provides the intrigue.
I listened to the audio book and the narrator does a good job. He even sounds like I would expect Harry to sound. It's not that he attempts to create a different voice for each character. It's just that his voice mirrors how I envision Harry's.
March 12, 2017
I really enjoy reading Michael Connelly's books. This is a 5 star read. You learn early on who the bad guys are but all the various threads in the plot come together gradually in a very satisfying conclusion. Harry Bosch is asked by his half brother, Mickey Haller, a lawyer, to become his new investigator. Haller's previous investigator, Cisco, was badly injured when a car cut off his motorcycle in traffic. Haller is convinced his client, Da'Quan Foster is innocent of the murder that he is accused of.
Harry doesn't want to become a defense investigator, viewing it as crossing to the dark side, but agrees to look at the murder book as a favor to Mickey. When he reads the murder book, he finds discrepancies and leads not followed up. How he unravels this case makes a well written thriller, so much so that I read the last 180 pages in one day.
Harry doesn't want to become a defense investigator, viewing it as crossing to the dark side, but agrees to look at the murder book as a favor to Mickey. When he reads the murder book, he finds discrepancies and leads not followed up. How he unravels this case makes a well written thriller, so much so that I read the last 180 pages in one day.
January 6, 2018
Harry Bosch is officially retired from the LAPD after having been forced out for (of course) political agendas. He’s not going out quietly and has hired brother Mickey Haller to represent him in his suit against the city. When Mickey asks him to serve as his investigator for a client he’s certain is innocent, obviously Harry is reluctant to play on the team for the “other side” but agrees to look into it for him. The more he probes, the more he’s convinced that Mickey’s client was set up to cover up something much more sinister.
When I learned that Harry and Mickey would be teamed for this story I set my expectations pretty high and they were surpassed. This was skilled writing because the Haller stories have a much different vibe from the Bosch ones but Connelly effectively integrated the two. The case was intricate, not one where you could easily make the connections. Typical Harry pulls a seemingly innocuous thread, doggedly pursuing it until the case breaks open.
But, the highlight of this story was seeing how Harry and Mickey’s styles connect and clash. It was a big risk for Harry to agree to work with him because he’ll be forever persona non grata with his brothers in law enforcement, no matter the outcome. Welliver delivers a fine performance in his narration, continuing to nail Bosch. I really loved this story and am anxious for what’s next for Harry.
When I learned that Harry and Mickey would be teamed for this story I set my expectations pretty high and they were surpassed. This was skilled writing because the Haller stories have a much different vibe from the Bosch ones but Connelly effectively integrated the two. The case was intricate, not one where you could easily make the connections. Typical Harry pulls a seemingly innocuous thread, doggedly pursuing it until the case breaks open.
But, the highlight of this story was seeing how Harry and Mickey’s styles connect and clash. It was a big risk for Harry to agree to work with him because he’ll be forever persona non grata with his brothers in law enforcement, no matter the outcome. Welliver delivers a fine performance in his narration, continuing to nail Bosch. I really loved this story and am anxious for what’s next for Harry.
November 28, 2015
Superb, as always. A few political glitches that maybe half or less of readers will notice. Beyond that, Connelly doesn't waste a clue and develops Bosch even further when he crosses (double meaning in the title) to defense work to catch a killer.
Wonderful pacing and, as always, I like the southern California setting. Bosch is a master.
Wonderful pacing and, as always, I like the southern California setting. Bosch is a master.
December 23, 2015
There is an elegance to this police procedural, but an emotional flatness had me rating it as average among the many great ones in the series. Harry Bosch’s pursuit of small clues slowly begin to open doors on a tough case, and as he gets closer more murders help convince him he is in the right track. But he better put it together fast and good because he is liable to become a target too. He may still be the “Lone Coyote” but his teenaged daughter needs him, so he better take care.
The brutal rapes and murder of a fashion queen leads to the arrest of a black man who has reformed his life from gang activity in his youth. His DNA from semen is identified at the scene, and his alibi is weak. Harry’s half-brother Mickey Haller (aka “The Lincoln Lawyer”) is defending this suspect and persuades Harry to consider serving as his investigator on the case. Harry has time on his hands due to a forced retirement, but working for a defense case would ruin his reputation and hurt his chance to get back into the department. Such crossing the line to the dark side is the basis of the book’s title. But the term applies in other clever ways in the investigation. Such as when the victim and perpetrator first cross paths. And when the bad guys first compromise a secondary victim to cross the line into playing ball with their corrupt sceme.
The bad guys in this case are vice squad cops, which we soon learn by the narrative technique of showing some of their activities out of Harry’s purview. The story lies not in a “who done it” but in watching how the detective in action puts it together while we watch the danger he is inexorably coming into. It’s great to see how Harry’s mind works. I just wanted more of a window into his soul. Often corruption among the police brings out a lot of angst and paranoia that undercuts a detective’s hold on life and figures into the classic noir aspect of such tales. Harry is in some cerebral plane above all that, so it was hard to get emotionally engaged in his condition. Still, it was a great story which came to an exciting and surprising crescendo. We don’t get a lot on what matters in Harry’s life, so the little windows such as texting with his daughter at camp, playing a certain jazz record, or small elements of dialog with police members he respects have to serve as minimalist clues to my detective work on that score as a reader.
The brutal rapes and murder of a fashion queen leads to the arrest of a black man who has reformed his life from gang activity in his youth. His DNA from semen is identified at the scene, and his alibi is weak. Harry’s half-brother Mickey Haller (aka “The Lincoln Lawyer”) is defending this suspect and persuades Harry to consider serving as his investigator on the case. Harry has time on his hands due to a forced retirement, but working for a defense case would ruin his reputation and hurt his chance to get back into the department. Such crossing the line to the dark side is the basis of the book’s title. But the term applies in other clever ways in the investigation. Such as when the victim and perpetrator first cross paths. And when the bad guys first compromise a secondary victim to cross the line into playing ball with their corrupt sceme.
The bad guys in this case are vice squad cops, which we soon learn by the narrative technique of showing some of their activities out of Harry’s purview. The story lies not in a “who done it” but in watching how the detective in action puts it together while we watch the danger he is inexorably coming into. It’s great to see how Harry’s mind works. I just wanted more of a window into his soul. Often corruption among the police brings out a lot of angst and paranoia that undercuts a detective’s hold on life and figures into the classic noir aspect of such tales. Harry is in some cerebral plane above all that, so it was hard to get emotionally engaged in his condition. Still, it was a great story which came to an exciting and surprising crescendo. We don’t get a lot on what matters in Harry’s life, so the little windows such as texting with his daughter at camp, playing a certain jazz record, or small elements of dialog with police members he respects have to serve as minimalist clues to my detective work on that score as a reader.
July 1, 2016
Michael Connelly, IMO, writes the best legal mysteries out there, and this is no exception. An excellent plot, smoothly written, with interesting characters. Bosch & Haller together is a winning combination. Bosch on the defense side is terrific.
January 23, 2016
Well, now. If you are a Michael Connelly follower, this is like being served breakfast in bed. The coffee is steaming hot and the eggs are as light as an angel's wings. It's deeply satisfying.
Connelly brings our two favorites together in a storyline that sparks like a tragic tango on a Saturday night. It's all in the foot placement. Harry Bosch, forcibly retired from the LAPD, is still licking deep wounds when he is approached by his half-brother, Mickey Haller, the famous/infamous Lincoln Lawyer. Haller tries to rope Bosch into using his stellar investigative skills to prove or disprove the guilt of Haller's client. It's rape and it's murder and there's vibrating DNA involved.
The title of the book is filled with characters crossing back and forth into both light and dark, certainty and uncertainty. The storyline showcases more of Bosch's brilliance while Haller drifts in on cue. Connelly is a master of analysis and investigative art. The Crossing delivers. Bravo, Michael Connelly!
Connelly brings our two favorites together in a storyline that sparks like a tragic tango on a Saturday night. It's all in the foot placement. Harry Bosch, forcibly retired from the LAPD, is still licking deep wounds when he is approached by his half-brother, Mickey Haller, the famous/infamous Lincoln Lawyer. Haller tries to rope Bosch into using his stellar investigative skills to prove or disprove the guilt of Haller's client. It's rape and it's murder and there's vibrating DNA involved.
The title of the book is filled with characters crossing back and forth into both light and dark, certainty and uncertainty. The storyline showcases more of Bosch's brilliance while Haller drifts in on cue. Connelly is a master of analysis and investigative art. The Crossing delivers. Bravo, Michael Connelly!
November 24, 2015
Okay, I must be honest and admit that I was a bit apprehensive where Harry Bosch would go next after the last book, The Burning Room. Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch Series is one of my favorite crime series and I always eagerly wait for the next installment.
So, The Crossing, the 20th book in the series takes us on Harry Bosch, the maverick cop now forced with early retirement from the LAPD…new career move.
Unable to bear with nothing to do in his life, he decides to take on an investigation for his half-brother, Mickey Haller, the slick and not your typical defense lawyer. Harry has doubts about doing anything for defense lawyers as he believes that he’s betraying the side he has always believed in…i.e. the police force.
Mickey Haller is convinced his client has been framed for a murder he did not commit and he asks Harry to do a bit of investigation into the case. Harry begins to see some discrepancies that worry him.
The more he finds out about the case, the more he’s convinced that there may be corrupt cops involved in setting up Mickey’s client.
I enjoyed seeing Harry work through the clues and information and how he follows the trails leading to some unexpected discoveries. He may now be retired but his skills at looking at every little piece of evidence are still top notch.
His daughter lives with him and their relationship is a bit strained at the moment. His love life is in a bit of a limbo after the breakup of the relationship he’s been in for a while….hopefully we get him to see more of someone he meets up with again.
Naturally, he’s still listening to jazz!!! And still living in his amazing house in the hills.
This is the new and reinvented iconic Harry Bosch and still, after all these years, bringing magic to his fans.
Just a mention that I loved the TV Harry Bosch series Season 1 and hopefully we will get more in the future.
So, The Crossing, the 20th book in the series takes us on Harry Bosch, the maverick cop now forced with early retirement from the LAPD…new career move.
Unable to bear with nothing to do in his life, he decides to take on an investigation for his half-brother, Mickey Haller, the slick and not your typical defense lawyer. Harry has doubts about doing anything for defense lawyers as he believes that he’s betraying the side he has always believed in…i.e. the police force.
Mickey Haller is convinced his client has been framed for a murder he did not commit and he asks Harry to do a bit of investigation into the case. Harry begins to see some discrepancies that worry him.
The more he finds out about the case, the more he’s convinced that there may be corrupt cops involved in setting up Mickey’s client.
I enjoyed seeing Harry work through the clues and information and how he follows the trails leading to some unexpected discoveries. He may now be retired but his skills at looking at every little piece of evidence are still top notch.
His daughter lives with him and their relationship is a bit strained at the moment. His love life is in a bit of a limbo after the breakup of the relationship he’s been in for a while….hopefully we get him to see more of someone he meets up with again.
Naturally, he’s still listening to jazz!!! And still living in his amazing house in the hills.
This is the new and reinvented iconic Harry Bosch and still, after all these years, bringing magic to his fans.
Just a mention that I loved the TV Harry Bosch series Season 1 and hopefully we will get more in the future.
September 11, 2020
Another amazing Harry Bosch novel by Michael Connelly. If a series can be read as a collection of stand-alone novels then I tend not to care about the order I read them in. So this is my first Harry Bosch novel I have read since he "retired" (meaning was forced out) from the LAPD. Harry, in an earlier novel, hired his half- brother, the Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller to sue the LAPD over the terms of his dismissal.
In The Crossing Bosch is asked by Haller to help out on one of his cases as a private detective. Bosch is finding large holes in his life since he left the force and would normally jump at such an opportunity, only there is a problem. To join with Haller will mean Harry is fighting for the defence - the complete opposite to what he has done all of his life and in complete contrast to the crew he used to work with at the LAPD, some of which he still counts as friends.
The Crossing is the term the police use when the circle of the victim's life intersects the circle of the criminal's life, be it two gangs or an innocent meeting in a supermarket that leads to something else.
As per usual, I loved this Bosch novel. Connelly has such a magic way of letting you feel like you are with him by describing procedures he is obviously well aware of but quickly without bogging the story down. He continues to write detailed crime thrillers without ever going over the same ground and boring the reader.
In The Crossing Bosch is asked by Haller to help out on one of his cases as a private detective. Bosch is finding large holes in his life since he left the force and would normally jump at such an opportunity, only there is a problem. To join with Haller will mean Harry is fighting for the defence - the complete opposite to what he has done all of his life and in complete contrast to the crew he used to work with at the LAPD, some of which he still counts as friends.
The Crossing is the term the police use when the circle of the victim's life intersects the circle of the criminal's life, be it two gangs or an innocent meeting in a supermarket that leads to something else.
As per usual, I loved this Bosch novel. Connelly has such a magic way of letting you feel like you are with him by describing procedures he is obviously well aware of but quickly without bogging the story down. He continues to write detailed crime thrillers without ever going over the same ground and boring the reader.
May 9, 2019
What a great read, again!
Harry Bosch, like a good wine, just gets better with age.
Harry now retired from the LAPD and with his life on hold whilst he is suing the LAPD for forcing him into retirement. His attorney in this endeavour is no other than his brother, Mickey Haller.
Mickey has a client that Mickey is convinced is innocent of the murder he has been charged with. Mickey’s own investigator has been involved in a serious motor bike accident and is now sidelined for the foreseeable future. With nowhere else to go Mickey asks Harry to take over the investigation. Harry’s immediate response is a resounding “NO way brother”. This would be tantamount, in police parlance, to crossing over to the dark side. Any respect that Harry had left in the LAPD would be gone for ever. But Mickey does what Mickey does best he talks Harry into having a look see. It takes a while for Harry to see the light but when he does he becomes the proverbial blood hound.
The villains of the piece are revealed within the first paragraph of the book which just fuels your animosity towards them. These are not nice people.
On top of all that Harry’s daughter, Maddie, is being a teenager. In the real world is there anything more frightening that a teenage daughter? I ask this from a fathers prospective.
This is a terrific read and well worth the 4 stars I gave it.
Harry Bosch, like a good wine, just gets better with age.
Harry now retired from the LAPD and with his life on hold whilst he is suing the LAPD for forcing him into retirement. His attorney in this endeavour is no other than his brother, Mickey Haller.
Mickey has a client that Mickey is convinced is innocent of the murder he has been charged with. Mickey’s own investigator has been involved in a serious motor bike accident and is now sidelined for the foreseeable future. With nowhere else to go Mickey asks Harry to take over the investigation. Harry’s immediate response is a resounding “NO way brother”. This would be tantamount, in police parlance, to crossing over to the dark side. Any respect that Harry had left in the LAPD would be gone for ever. But Mickey does what Mickey does best he talks Harry into having a look see. It takes a while for Harry to see the light but when he does he becomes the proverbial blood hound.
The villains of the piece are revealed within the first paragraph of the book which just fuels your animosity towards them. These are not nice people.
On top of all that Harry’s daughter, Maddie, is being a teenager. In the real world is there anything more frightening that a teenage daughter? I ask this from a fathers prospective.
This is a terrific read and well worth the 4 stars I gave it.
November 6, 2015
The 20th book in the Harry Bosch series by the talented Michael Connelly.
Having read and enjoyed virtually everything this author has ever written I always felt that I was going to enjoy this book. I am so familiar and comfortable with this character I could enjoy reading his shopping list but don't worry this book has a decent plot as well.
Having finished with the Police, Harry Bosch joins forces with the Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller to defend Leland Foster, from being convicted of a brutal murder. Harry Bosch is in great form ably assisted by Mickey as he leads the fight to clear Leland Foster's name. These books can be read as stand alone's but work far better reading them in order to build up the bond with the main characters and keep up with the sub plots as the characters develop.
Although I appreciate the Alex Cross series by James Patterson, this series cannot be seriously compared. While Patterson books are always full of action, Connelly offers so much more, realistic plots, strong characters and to be honest the books are far better written.
If you have enjoyed reading other books in this series I am sure you will enjoy this one as well. As for me I am completely sold on both this series and Michael Connelly books in general.
Having read and enjoyed virtually everything this author has ever written I always felt that I was going to enjoy this book. I am so familiar and comfortable with this character I could enjoy reading his shopping list but don't worry this book has a decent plot as well.
Having finished with the Police, Harry Bosch joins forces with the Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller to defend Leland Foster, from being convicted of a brutal murder. Harry Bosch is in great form ably assisted by Mickey as he leads the fight to clear Leland Foster's name. These books can be read as stand alone's but work far better reading them in order to build up the bond with the main characters and keep up with the sub plots as the characters develop.
Although I appreciate the Alex Cross series by James Patterson, this series cannot be seriously compared. While Patterson books are always full of action, Connelly offers so much more, realistic plots, strong characters and to be honest the books are far better written.
If you have enjoyed reading other books in this series I am sure you will enjoy this one as well. As for me I am completely sold on both this series and Michael Connelly books in general.
November 12, 2015
I knew that Harry had retired from LAPD and was curious how that was going to work out in this book. Connelly found a way! The title is very symbolic: Harry crossing to the "dark side," perp and victim crossing paths, cops crossing lines. It remains to be seen if Harry wins his lawsuit, and I have no idea where Connelly is headed with Harry next.
The one irritant for me in this book is Maddy. I really don't like her attitude. I find it hard to have sympathy for her.
I laughed out loud at Chapter 12!! I'm not saying more. You'll have to read it.
The one irritant for me in this book is Maddy. I really don't like her attitude. I find it hard to have sympathy for her.
I laughed out loud at Chapter 12!! I'm not saying more. You'll have to read it.
September 27, 2018
4.5★s
When Harry Bosch’s half-brother, Mickey Haller asked him to assist in proving a client innocent, Harry immediately said no. His retirement from the LAPD six months prior still rankled, but he didn’t want to work for the defence, which would mean he had crossed over to the other side. No respect would be garnered there. But the more he discovered about the case, the more he realized that Haller was probably right – and that meant there was still a killer out there. That’s what Harry did best; although retired, it felt good to be hunting for a killer again.
But in doing what he was doing, Harry immediately put a target on his own back. Would he achieve what he set out to do, or would the crossing be the last thing he did?
The Crossing is another excellent police procedural in a great series by Michael Connelly. #18 for Harry Bosch, the combination of him and Mickey Haller (series #6) is a good fit. Plenty of twists, along with Harry’s home life with his daughter Maddie which gives us the softer side of Harry. Plus his intense concentration when he’s working a case. Excellent stuff! Highly recommended.
When Harry Bosch’s half-brother, Mickey Haller asked him to assist in proving a client innocent, Harry immediately said no. His retirement from the LAPD six months prior still rankled, but he didn’t want to work for the defence, which would mean he had crossed over to the other side. No respect would be garnered there. But the more he discovered about the case, the more he realized that Haller was probably right – and that meant there was still a killer out there. That’s what Harry did best; although retired, it felt good to be hunting for a killer again.
But in doing what he was doing, Harry immediately put a target on his own back. Would he achieve what he set out to do, or would the crossing be the last thing he did?
The Crossing is another excellent police procedural in a great series by Michael Connelly. #18 for Harry Bosch, the combination of him and Mickey Haller (series #6) is a good fit. Plenty of twists, along with Harry’s home life with his daughter Maddie which gives us the softer side of Harry. Plus his intense concentration when he’s working a case. Excellent stuff! Highly recommended.
December 6, 2015
Such a treat to get to read another one of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books. I have read every book in the series, and The Crossing is another strong addition. In this latest one, Bosch has been fired from the LAPD for things that happened in the last instalment of the series, and he crosses over to help investigate a case his half brother defence lawyer Mickey Haller is working on. Haller's client is accused of a brutal murder that is based on DNA evidence. Haller is convinced that his client didn't do it, and he hires Bosch to find out who did. Bosch is reluctant to cross the line to work on the defence side, but he comes round when he becomes convinced that Haller's client didn't do it and then gets into full cop mode to figure out who did. It's not really a mystery from the reader's perspective because from early on Connelly introduces a parallel narrative from the perspective of the murderers. As the book progresses, we see the back and forth between what's really going on and what Bosch figures out. Connelly is in his usual fine form. He keeps the series fresh by putting Bosch in a different situation, and it really works. Bosch struggles with his role of investigating for the defence. He also forgets himself a few time, acting more like a cop than a PI. It's a great concept, a complex story and as usual delivered with a keen eye on what makes people do what they do -- good, bad and ugly, delivered with pretty much no romance.
August 31, 2018
All My Friends are Heathens, Take it Slow
Connelly still has the magic touch with Harry Bosch. To be sure, Connelly takes shortcuts and makes a couple of turns of story that seem a bit implausible. Yet, Bosch is such an intriguing, cool and quick-witted character, so damaged he seems real and you care what happens.
I find the Bosch books like comfort or soul food; no matter how the story is wrapped, you'll revel as you binge, not stopping (if you can help it) 'til you're finished.
This, the latest Harry Bosch novel, considerably betters the prior in the series, The Burning Room. Here, Bosch, a retired LAPD detective, steps in to take on a job as PI to help his attorney half-brother Mickey Haller defend a client against a murder charge. After an initial review of the "murder book," Bosch takes the job, but very reluctantly because he doesn't want to offend his former comrades in the force or his "cop principles" by "crossing" over to the other side. Ultimately though, Bosch self-rationalizes that if the client didn't commit the murder, he wants to bring to justice the murderer, who must still be on the loose.
As always, Connelly keeps the current of electric suspense flowing for most of the book, and even throws in a little over-the-hill romance to boot. A guilty pleasure.
Connelly still has the magic touch with Harry Bosch. To be sure, Connelly takes shortcuts and makes a couple of turns of story that seem a bit implausible. Yet, Bosch is such an intriguing, cool and quick-witted character, so damaged he seems real and you care what happens.
I find the Bosch books like comfort or soul food; no matter how the story is wrapped, you'll revel as you binge, not stopping (if you can help it) 'til you're finished.
This, the latest Harry Bosch novel, considerably betters the prior in the series, The Burning Room. Here, Bosch, a retired LAPD detective, steps in to take on a job as PI to help his attorney half-brother Mickey Haller defend a client against a murder charge. After an initial review of the "murder book," Bosch takes the job, but very reluctantly because he doesn't want to offend his former comrades in the force or his "cop principles" by "crossing" over to the other side. Ultimately though, Bosch self-rationalizes that if the client didn't commit the murder, he wants to bring to justice the murderer, who must still be on the loose.
As always, Connelly keeps the current of electric suspense flowing for most of the book, and even throws in a little over-the-hill romance to boot. A guilty pleasure.
October 9, 2022
কনেলি এবং হ্যারি বশ কম্বিনেশন, আর কি লাগে একটা বই ভালো লাগার জন্য? কনেলির বইগুলো নিয়ে সবসময় এক্সপেকটেশন অনেক বেশি থাকে, এবং এই বইটা সেই এক্সপেকটেশন এর পুরোটাই উসুল করে দিয়েছে। বইটা শুরু করার পর প্রথমদিকে আহামরি কিছু লাগেনি, ভেবেছিলাম এই বইটা ভালো লাগলেও আহামরি কিছু লাগবেনা কিন্তু যতই সামনের দিকে এগিয়েছি, ততই বইটা বেশি ভালো লেগেছে। এবং শেষ পর্যন্ত পরিপূর্ণ প্যাকেজ কোন বই ভালো লাগার। অনুবাদ নিয়েও নতুন কিছু বলার নেই, ইশরাক অর্ণব বরাবরের মতই প্রাঞ্জল অনুবাদ উপহার দিয়েছেন বইটিতে। শিরোনাম প্রকাশনীর প্রথম বই ছিল দ্য ক্রসিং, প্রথম বই হিসেবে অনেক ভালো একটি বই উপহার দিয়েছেন পাঠকদের। বইয়ের প্রডাকশন কোয়ালিটি ভালো লেগেছে৷ নতুন প্রকাশনীর জন্য শুভ কামনা। শিরোনাম প্রকাশনী+ কনেলি এবং ইশরাক অর্ণবের একসাথে নতুন বইয়ের অপেক্ষায় থাকব।
November 11, 2015
This whipped by in nothing flat. Connelly, at the top of his – and anybody else’s – game. It’s both a Bosch (the 20th) and a Haller (6th), presumably to pull in both readerships.
Bosch is retired/forced to resign from LAPD and reluctantly “crosses” over to the defense side for one of Haller’s cases, a murder. The client and Haller say he’s innocent. Bosch soothes his conscience by telling himself if the client is really innocent someone else is guilty and Bosch needs to take him off the street. That doesn’t quite wash with Bosch’s daughter. He had told her that he would never work for the dark side. So, Bosch has to find the “real” killer but Haller just has to show that his client didn’t do it. Those two things don’t always keep them on the same page. Because they are working against the coldest and smartest of killers it’s a real race to see if Bosch and Haller even survive long enough to win.
I just wish Connelly put a book out every month instead of every year.
Bosch is retired/forced to resign from LAPD and reluctantly “crosses” over to the defense side for one of Haller’s cases, a murder. The client and Haller say he’s innocent. Bosch soothes his conscience by telling himself if the client is really innocent someone else is guilty and Bosch needs to take him off the street. That doesn’t quite wash with Bosch’s daughter. He had told her that he would never work for the dark side. So, Bosch has to find the “real” killer but Haller just has to show that his client didn’t do it. Those two things don’t always keep them on the same page. Because they are working against the coldest and smartest of killers it’s a real race to see if Bosch and Haller even survive long enough to win.
I just wish Connelly put a book out every month instead of every year.
January 25, 2016
Wallowing in boredom, involuntarily retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch is asked by his half-brother, defense attorney, Mickey Haller, to help prove the innocence of his client Da'Quan Foster, in the vicious beating death of Alexandra Parks, an assistant city manger for West Hollywood. Harry has to deal with self-recrimination as he has always prosecuted criminals; the notion of defending a criminal and invoking the wrath of his brothers in blue is abhorrent. However, he has few friends on the force, and his moral compass allows him to seek the truth, even if it damns the defendant. Determination and skill are Harry's great weapons and some minor things, especially the victim's missing Audemars Piguet watch, pique his interest. An excellent addition to the series. Highly recommended.
January 20, 2018
Solid Bosch, mostly Bosch, mostly The Mission.
Some scenes between Bosch and Haller are a bit clumsy, but mostly this is Harry's show. Thankfully.
Not too much courtroom, which I find is ponderous, especially in the modern world. No more Perry Mason..
* sighs *
One thing this story lacks, which other Bosch books don't, is the often deep insight into Harry's soul and the human condition.
Still, this is good, solid and entertaining Harry.
Some scenes between Bosch and Haller are a bit clumsy, but mostly this is Harry's show. Thankfully.
Not too much courtroom, which I find is ponderous, especially in the modern world. No more Perry Mason..
* sighs *
One thing this story lacks, which other Bosch books don't, is the often deep insight into Harry's soul and the human condition.
Still, this is good, solid and entertaining Harry.
February 26, 2021
(4.5) Bosch & Haller (so Connelly really!) are truly in a league all their own! I came upon this book as #5.5 of the Haller series, as opposed to Bosch #18.. So as my first primarily Bosch book, it was a lot of fun getting such a huge glimpse in to his “style.” Still, I do I have to admit that although he is absolutely a class act, my favorite parts were unsurprisingly (to me anyway) Haller in the courtroom. That being said it was a smart, quick moving story, & I would LOVE another crossover!
September 7, 2015
This is my new favorite Michael Connelly book. Okay, yes, I will fully admit that his Bosch novels are my favorites (I love his Mickey Haller ones, too, but nowhere near as much as the Bosch ones) so I was already essentially guaranteed to love it.
But The Crossing is different than the others. Obviously, since Harry's now retired, it's not going to be a police procedural like the others. But arguably an even bigger change is that he's helping Mickey (his half-brother) on a case...which is a huge shock. (It's not even something he swore he'd never do because it never occurred to him that he'd ever even consider working for a defense attorney.) But when Mickey swore that his client was innocent, that the real killer is still out there...well, that gets Harry Bosch interested.
Even so---and even when he agrees that DaQuan didn't do it---Harry almost hates himself for helping the defense.
That alone makes this a must-read...except that it's not just that; this has everything you'd expect from a Michael Connelly novel going for it. The story is fantastic and good luck putting it down.
Highly recommended.
But The Crossing is different than the others. Obviously, since Harry's now retired, it's not going to be a police procedural like the others. But arguably an even bigger change is that he's helping Mickey (his half-brother) on a case...which is a huge shock. (It's not even something he swore he'd never do because it never occurred to him that he'd ever even consider working for a defense attorney.) But when Mickey swore that his client was innocent, that the real killer is still out there...well, that gets Harry Bosch interested.
Even so---and even when he agrees that DaQuan didn't do it---Harry almost hates himself for helping the defense.
That alone makes this a must-read...except that it's not just that; this has everything you'd expect from a Michael Connelly novel going for it. The story is fantastic and good luck putting it down.
Highly recommended.
November 20, 2015
THE BEST BOSCH YET!!!
My View:
This book…the big question now that I have read The Crossing is can this series get any better???
Yes I know I am a passionate fan of the Harry Bosch series, yes I have read every one of the twenty books in this series and yes book number nineteen was great ( and I loved the first few book in the series and pretty much loved al the rest of them) …but this book…just AMAZINGLY GOOD!
Now that fervour of admiration has been shared let’s have a closer less emotional look at the book. The settings- as always – visual and realistic; easy to picture in your mind’s eye the Harry’s house, the bars, the stations, the cheap hotel…the scene of the body drop... The characters – our protagonists Harry and Mickey – empathetic, likeable, with strong moral compasses, the antagonists – the mirror opposites. The narrative – well written, with twisty and knotty plots.
The most gruesome scene – p81 – “a shadowed recess beside a pedestrian entrance to a public parking garage…as he moved in the shadows he nearly tipped over something. There was a rustling sound followed by a groan and a complaint…There was a man clawing his way out of a dirty sleeping bag, his belongings in plastic bags lined against the wall…He turned back to the homeless man and made decision. He kicked the man in the ribs as he moved on all fours. Ellis felt the impact of the kick through his whole leg and knew he had broken a bone…before he could scream, Ellis stomped down hard on the man’s throat with all his weight, crushing the air passage. He then backed off and came right back with a heel to the bridge of the man’s nose. The man was silent and unmoving after that.” This blatant disregard for another human being is uncomfortable reading and perfectly reflects the character of Ellis – evil, thoughtless, emotionless and most likely a narcissist. With just a few clinical sentences Connelly has managed to strip Ellis of humanity. Brilliant writing.
This is an excellent series that just get better and better.
My View:
This book…the big question now that I have read The Crossing is can this series get any better???
Yes I know I am a passionate fan of the Harry Bosch series, yes I have read every one of the twenty books in this series and yes book number nineteen was great ( and I loved the first few book in the series and pretty much loved al the rest of them) …but this book…just AMAZINGLY GOOD!
Now that fervour of admiration has been shared let’s have a closer less emotional look at the book. The settings- as always – visual and realistic; easy to picture in your mind’s eye the Harry’s house, the bars, the stations, the cheap hotel…the scene of the body drop... The characters – our protagonists Harry and Mickey – empathetic, likeable, with strong moral compasses, the antagonists – the mirror opposites. The narrative – well written, with twisty and knotty plots.
The most gruesome scene – p81 – “a shadowed recess beside a pedestrian entrance to a public parking garage…as he moved in the shadows he nearly tipped over something. There was a rustling sound followed by a groan and a complaint…There was a man clawing his way out of a dirty sleeping bag, his belongings in plastic bags lined against the wall…He turned back to the homeless man and made decision. He kicked the man in the ribs as he moved on all fours. Ellis felt the impact of the kick through his whole leg and knew he had broken a bone…before he could scream, Ellis stomped down hard on the man’s throat with all his weight, crushing the air passage. He then backed off and came right back with a heel to the bridge of the man’s nose. The man was silent and unmoving after that.” This blatant disregard for another human being is uncomfortable reading and perfectly reflects the character of Ellis – evil, thoughtless, emotionless and most likely a narcissist. With just a few clinical sentences Connelly has managed to strip Ellis of humanity. Brilliant writing.
This is an excellent series that just get better and better.
August 30, 2020
The Crossing is the 18th book in Connelly’s fantastic Harry Bosch series, published in 2015, so I am slowly catching up - and also features his other main hero, the Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller, who happens to be Harry’s half-brother. I’m in awe of the author’s ability to keep coming up with such varied, spellbinding and clever plots - I tore through this in one sitting!
Set about a year after the events of The Burning Room, and a lot has changed for Harry - suspended without pay for a minor infraction in the course of solving his last case, and so forced into retirement, he’s sued the department with Mickey’s help, and is now trying to keep occupied by restoring an old Harley. When Mickey asks him to help in the defence of a client charged with a brutal murder, Harry refuses as he sees it as going over to the dark side - but faced with inconsistent evidence reports, cannot help his compulsion to catch a killer, putting him in the sights of the real culprits.
As with several of his others, the title here has several meanings - referring to retired homicide detectives crossing over to lucrative defence work, but also to the moment in the case history that brought the victim to the killer’s attention. There’s also the lines that Bosch will and won’t cross in his pursuit of justice.
This plot was different to the usual murder mysteries in that we know from the start that it’s two corrupt police officers behind the crime - the suspense is in what exactly they’re up to and how far they’ll go. Normally in Detective pairings there’s a good cop and a bad cop... well here we have a bad cop and a really really bad cop, who’ll casually take out anyone who gets in his way.
I did work it all out a few chapters before the reveal but this took nothing away from my enjoyment of watching Harry do his thing - in a new way, now he’s not shackled by procedure. This is still mostly a Bosch book but there’s enough Mickey Haller to keep his fans happy - including the inevitably dramatic courtroom scene. I do hope there will be further crossovers as I do love the uneasy bond between the brothers - so different and yet similarly driven.
One of the best yet!
Set about a year after the events of The Burning Room, and a lot has changed for Harry - suspended without pay for a minor infraction in the course of solving his last case, and so forced into retirement, he’s sued the department with Mickey’s help, and is now trying to keep occupied by restoring an old Harley. When Mickey asks him to help in the defence of a client charged with a brutal murder, Harry refuses as he sees it as going over to the dark side - but faced with inconsistent evidence reports, cannot help his compulsion to catch a killer, putting him in the sights of the real culprits.
As with several of his others, the title here has several meanings - referring to retired homicide detectives crossing over to lucrative defence work, but also to the moment in the case history that brought the victim to the killer’s attention. There’s also the lines that Bosch will and won’t cross in his pursuit of justice.
This plot was different to the usual murder mysteries in that we know from the start that it’s two corrupt police officers behind the crime - the suspense is in what exactly they’re up to and how far they’ll go. Normally in Detective pairings there’s a good cop and a bad cop... well here we have a bad cop and a really really bad cop, who’ll casually take out anyone who gets in his way.
I did work it all out a few chapters before the reveal but this took nothing away from my enjoyment of watching Harry do his thing - in a new way, now he’s not shackled by procedure. This is still mostly a Bosch book but there’s enough Mickey Haller to keep his fans happy - including the inevitably dramatic courtroom scene. I do hope there will be further crossovers as I do love the uneasy bond between the brothers - so different and yet similarly driven.
One of the best yet!
March 28, 2020
This is a great addition to this long standing, consistently good, crime series.
In this book Harry is really pressed to see the law and the crime from a different perspective. He has always been so staunch in his belief that defense lawyers are the enemy and defendants are scum. In this story he is forced to re-think that stance as his sense of honor and commitment to the truth takes him down a different path. As always, I admire the characters Connelly has created and like seeing Harry and his brother get to know each other better as well as seeing Harry really make an effort in the parenting arena.
I listened to the audiobook and read some of the ebook in turn. As usual, Titus Welliver does a good job on the narration.
In this book Harry is really pressed to see the law and the crime from a different perspective. He has always been so staunch in his belief that defense lawyers are the enemy and defendants are scum. In this story he is forced to re-think that stance as his sense of honor and commitment to the truth takes him down a different path. As always, I admire the characters Connelly has created and like seeing Harry and his brother get to know each other better as well as seeing Harry really make an effort in the parenting arena.
I listened to the audiobook and read some of the ebook in turn. As usual, Titus Welliver does a good job on the narration.
December 17, 2015
Top 50 Books of 2015 " Best Audiobook (tie), Best Collaboration: Haller/ Bosch and Welliver /Connelly. "
F A N T A S T I C !
Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch, Titus Welliver, and Michael Connelly fans will devour THE CROSSING, (Harry Bosch, #20) expertly crafted by the "King" of Crime Thrillers.
Who is using whom?
Detective Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch, a literary character created by Connelly in 1992 novel The Black Echo, and a veteran police homicide detective with the LAPD. Bosch was named after the 15th century Dutch artist, Hieronymus Bosch.
Defense attorney Michael "Mickey" Haller, Jr. Lincoln Lawyer is Harry Bosch’s half-brother. He needs his help. Harry also needs Mickey’s assistance. They bond in other ways, with daughters the same age--heading off to college soon, as roommates.
At the conclusion of The Burning Room, Bosch was suspended from the LAPD on a trumped-up complaint. He knew this would take time; no money coming in and his daughter about go to off to college--he decided to take early retirement. (Yes, once again). Of course all he has in mind is the restoration of a 1950 Harley, and not much else. However, he needs Haller’s help with his lawsuit against the LAPD.
On the other hand, Haller needs Bosch’s help even more. He is involved in an upcoming murder trial. He has nothing. Cisco, is laid up after a motorcycle accident, so he cannot help. The trial is coming up in six weeks. Haller says his client is innocent; however, he needs Bosch’s expertise. However, Bosch is not interested. No way, he can cross to the other side. He has always been on the other side of the law.
Lexi Parks, a city employee married to a police officer, was raped and beaten to death in her own bed, so viciously--her husband found the body when he came home from work. His client has no alibi –except in his studio painting. A brutal murder. A sex crime, DNA, a setup, a fix—how did DNA get inside the victim? No motive. Has the killer got enough to set up an innocent man? Sex is motive enough. Taint the evidence? His gut tells him something is wrong.
However, Haller is keeping secrets of his own, in order to get Bosch on board, a homicide investigator. In or out?
Bosch wants no part of this case. A cop for nearly 30 years, working for the defense-- is a line he cannot cross. However, if Haller is right, and his client is innocent, there could be a guilty party out there who goes free. Maybe he will take a look. It begins and ends with the book (the murder book).He finally says if nothing jumps out, he is not in. He is about "the killer."
Da'Quan Foster, a reformed gang member who did prison time for drugs years earlier but has since found success as a self-taught artist and arts educator. He's a husband and father. He has no apparent connection to Parks. But he has been charged with her murder. He does not know her. The husband was cleared. Something does not add up.
Bosch sees the guy as a criminal. He is unimpressed at first. Bosch knows every trick in the book to planning misdirection—a pro at causing nightmares when turning discovery process for a defense attorney. He knows all the tactics of a police investigation. If you know Bosch, you know there will be no stone left, unturned. Now he is looking for cop screw ups.
With the help of his former LAPD partner, Lucia Soto, The Burning Room he turns the investigation inside to the police department—however, the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the danger. A clue. A watch. A complex plot of blackmail, murder, and corruption. The inside cop procedures are juicy good!
As we have found in previous books, Bosch is sharp, he has investigative skills like no other. However, here he does not have all the resources available to him, as with the LAPD.
Even though we all love Haller and his courtroom tactics, Connelly allows Bosch to take center stage in THE CROSSING, so as not compete with one another. A perfect mix, and as always Connelly never ceases to amaze.
"Bosch," Amazon Prime's series starring Titus Welliver, is brilliant--to have him as narrator, of the audiobook, really sets the mood--what is better than Connelly, Bosch, Haller, and Welliver in one collaboration? You feel as though you are watching season 2.
Titus Welliver is a perfect Harry-- Amazon Studios "Bosch" Season 2 will debut early in 2016 can’t wait—in the meantime watch Season 1. – A great match, as is Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) Lincoln Lawyer, and Terry McCaleb (Clint Eastwood) Blood Work.
When I finished THE CROSSING, was inspired to head back to Amazon and catch up with a few episodes to remind me how this character started (been so long ago since I read the first in the series). Connelly just keeps getting better!
“CROSSING” has many meanings in the novel:
• Crossing into retirement; the adjustment
• Bridging the gap; while trying to settle his own case
• Paths of victim and killer; (predator/prey)
• Crossing into the defense side of law
• A Jane Fonda (Crossing sides), a line he cannot cross
• Crossing from former LAPD, to citizen, to investigator
• From putting away criminals; to trying to save them
• Prosecution versus defense
• Crossing a line to expose the truth
• A new career-reinvention
• To gain trust; to convince-crossing a line
Sure there are many more . . Being at "this age" without the LAPD, Bosch is just as intriguing, and sexy as ever. Enjoy seeing a man’s journey, at this age (as a woman the same age), he has too much to offer to sit on the sidelines. Connelly has taken this character, throughout this series—making each fresh, with even more room to go --the possibilities are endless and exciting. Hope we continue to see more of both.
Can’t wait to see which direction Connelly takes with the next installment—a possible love connection? Will he really retire? Let’s hope not. I am all about reinvention . . A new career as a private investigator? YES!
Curious to see if Grisham will take Rogue Lawyer, star Sebastian Rudd, renegade lawyer (similar to Mickey Haller) as far as Connelly has with Haller/Bosch? Only time will tell.
JDCMustReadBooks
F A N T A S T I C !
Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch, Titus Welliver, and Michael Connelly fans will devour THE CROSSING, (Harry Bosch, #20) expertly crafted by the "King" of Crime Thrillers.
Who is using whom?
Detective Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch, a literary character created by Connelly in 1992 novel The Black Echo, and a veteran police homicide detective with the LAPD. Bosch was named after the 15th century Dutch artist, Hieronymus Bosch.
Defense attorney Michael "Mickey" Haller, Jr. Lincoln Lawyer is Harry Bosch’s half-brother. He needs his help. Harry also needs Mickey’s assistance. They bond in other ways, with daughters the same age--heading off to college soon, as roommates.
At the conclusion of The Burning Room, Bosch was suspended from the LAPD on a trumped-up complaint. He knew this would take time; no money coming in and his daughter about go to off to college--he decided to take early retirement. (Yes, once again). Of course all he has in mind is the restoration of a 1950 Harley, and not much else. However, he needs Haller’s help with his lawsuit against the LAPD.
On the other hand, Haller needs Bosch’s help even more. He is involved in an upcoming murder trial. He has nothing. Cisco, is laid up after a motorcycle accident, so he cannot help. The trial is coming up in six weeks. Haller says his client is innocent; however, he needs Bosch’s expertise. However, Bosch is not interested. No way, he can cross to the other side. He has always been on the other side of the law.
Lexi Parks, a city employee married to a police officer, was raped and beaten to death in her own bed, so viciously--her husband found the body when he came home from work. His client has no alibi –except in his studio painting. A brutal murder. A sex crime, DNA, a setup, a fix—how did DNA get inside the victim? No motive. Has the killer got enough to set up an innocent man? Sex is motive enough. Taint the evidence? His gut tells him something is wrong.
However, Haller is keeping secrets of his own, in order to get Bosch on board, a homicide investigator. In or out?
Bosch wants no part of this case. A cop for nearly 30 years, working for the defense-- is a line he cannot cross. However, if Haller is right, and his client is innocent, there could be a guilty party out there who goes free. Maybe he will take a look. It begins and ends with the book (the murder book).He finally says if nothing jumps out, he is not in. He is about "the killer."
Da'Quan Foster, a reformed gang member who did prison time for drugs years earlier but has since found success as a self-taught artist and arts educator. He's a husband and father. He has no apparent connection to Parks. But he has been charged with her murder. He does not know her. The husband was cleared. Something does not add up.
Bosch sees the guy as a criminal. He is unimpressed at first. Bosch knows every trick in the book to planning misdirection—a pro at causing nightmares when turning discovery process for a defense attorney. He knows all the tactics of a police investigation. If you know Bosch, you know there will be no stone left, unturned. Now he is looking for cop screw ups.
With the help of his former LAPD partner, Lucia Soto, The Burning Room he turns the investigation inside to the police department—however, the closer he gets to the truth, the greater the danger. A clue. A watch. A complex plot of blackmail, murder, and corruption. The inside cop procedures are juicy good!
As we have found in previous books, Bosch is sharp, he has investigative skills like no other. However, here he does not have all the resources available to him, as with the LAPD.
Even though we all love Haller and his courtroom tactics, Connelly allows Bosch to take center stage in THE CROSSING, so as not compete with one another. A perfect mix, and as always Connelly never ceases to amaze.
"Bosch," Amazon Prime's series starring Titus Welliver, is brilliant--to have him as narrator, of the audiobook, really sets the mood--what is better than Connelly, Bosch, Haller, and Welliver in one collaboration? You feel as though you are watching season 2.
Titus Welliver is a perfect Harry-- Amazon Studios "Bosch" Season 2 will debut early in 2016 can’t wait—in the meantime watch Season 1. – A great match, as is Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) Lincoln Lawyer, and Terry McCaleb (Clint Eastwood) Blood Work.
When I finished THE CROSSING, was inspired to head back to Amazon and catch up with a few episodes to remind me how this character started (been so long ago since I read the first in the series). Connelly just keeps getting better!
“CROSSING” has many meanings in the novel:
• Crossing into retirement; the adjustment
• Bridging the gap; while trying to settle his own case
• Paths of victim and killer; (predator/prey)
• Crossing into the defense side of law
• A Jane Fonda (Crossing sides), a line he cannot cross
• Crossing from former LAPD, to citizen, to investigator
• From putting away criminals; to trying to save them
• Prosecution versus defense
• Crossing a line to expose the truth
• A new career-reinvention
• To gain trust; to convince-crossing a line
Sure there are many more . . Being at "this age" without the LAPD, Bosch is just as intriguing, and sexy as ever. Enjoy seeing a man’s journey, at this age (as a woman the same age), he has too much to offer to sit on the sidelines. Connelly has taken this character, throughout this series—making each fresh, with even more room to go --the possibilities are endless and exciting. Hope we continue to see more of both.
Can’t wait to see which direction Connelly takes with the next installment—a possible love connection? Will he really retire? Let’s hope not. I am all about reinvention . . A new career as a private investigator? YES!
Curious to see if Grisham will take Rogue Lawyer, star Sebastian Rudd, renegade lawyer (similar to Mickey Haller) as far as Connelly has with Haller/Bosch? Only time will tell.
JDCMustReadBooks
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