The Harry Bosch Novels, Volume 1: The Black Echo / The Black Ice / The Concrete Blonde

Harry Bosch #1-3

by Michael Connelly

The Black Echo:
For Harry Bosch - hero, loner, nighthawk - the body stuffed in a drainpipe off Mulholland Drive isn't just another statistic. This one is personal. Billy Meadows was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat," fighting the VC and the fear they used to call the Black Echo. Harry let Meadows down once. He won't do it again.

The Black Ice:
The corpse in the hotel room seems to be that of a missing LAPD narcotics officer. Rumors abound that the cop had crossed over - selling a new drug called Black ice. Now Harry's making some dangerous connections, leading from the cop to a string of bloody murders, and from Hollywood Boulevard's drug bazaar to Mexico's dusty back alleys. In this lethal game, Harry is likely to be the next victim.

The Concrete Blonde:
When Harry Bosch shot and killed Norman Church, the police were convinced it marked the end of the hunt for the Dollmaker - L.A.'s most bizarre serial killer. But now Church's widow is accusing Harry of killing the wrong man - a charge that rings terrifyingly true when a new victim is discovered with the Dollmaker's macabre signature. For the second time, Harry must hunt the murderer down, before he strikes again.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime, Detective, Suspense

794 pages, Hardcover

First published October 22, 2001

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

My overall rating of these three books is 3 stars. I gave each book a standalone rating that you can see further below. My overall summary of these three books is that Harry Bosch is flawed and acts like an asshole most of the time. He seems to have a good brain, but his ability to use people (the ends justify the means) turned me off pretty much in book #2, and in book #3 I was bored senseless of him and his issues. I started reading these books because I love the Bosch tv series. All of the characters I started to watch and love are totally different in these books. So if you start reading these books expecting a total match-up of the tv series you are going to be disappointed.

THE BLACK ECHO (4 stars)
The first book in the Harry Bosch series. This one takes a while to get moving, but once it does, boy does the whole story hum. It takes a while for readers to figure out what's going on. Prior to the events in this book, Bosch was in a different division until he made a mistake and shot a serial killer who he thought was reaching for a gun (The Dollmaker). Because of that, he is busted down to the Hollywood division and is partnered with someone who is more interested in selling houses, than solving crimes (J. Edgar). Called into a scene where it looks like an accidental overdose leads Bosch into his past and linking a present day crime with events that took place back in Vietnam.

Bosch is angry and bitter in this one, but also vulnerable (only around women he is interested in it seems). Being knocked down to a division that he hates, he still comes into work but seems to look his nose down on a heck of a lot of people. Frankly I wonder why he even wanted to be a cop in this one since his main purpose seems to be annoying the ever loving life out of all around him.

This book introduces Irving, J. Edgar, and Eleanor Wish (working at the FBI). Harry ends up partnering with Eleanor Wish in this one, and man oh man, the lovelorn act that Harry was doing was terrible. I agree with Moonlight Reader who said that most detective novels are pretty much the male version of romance novels (wish fulfillment) especially because I can't see what in the world attracted Eleanor to Harry. And due to the ending you realize it would have been smarter to not get involved at all.

I thought the writing in this one was really a bit too technical. I had the same issue while reading the first Lincoln Rhymes book. Some things, not all flew a bit over my head. It's pretty apparent that Michael Connelly did a great deal of research. The description of the L.A. that Harry inhabits gives the whole book a very noir feel to it. I honestly gave this book 4 stars though because some of the language and outdated thinking regarding women and gay men was off-putting. At one point when Bosch meets Eleanor Wish, he remarks how rare it is to see a woman armed with her weapon, unlike female detectives who carried their guns in their purses.

I did think the flow could have been a bit improved.

I really did rate this book so high because once Bosch realizes what is going on you think that he is going to be able to put a stop to what is going to happen. But we get a crazy ending that I definitely did not see coming.

THE BLACK ICE (3 stars)
After the events in book #1, Bosch is back at work. Angry because he wasn't called into a scene of a probable missing cop's suicide (and seriously, angry Bosch is a bit tiresome, he's always ticked at something) Bosch ends up digging into whether it really was suicide or not.

I have to say that Bosch in this one was damn near insufferable. I say damn near because I of course read book #3 after this one and man he was tiresome and insufferable in that one. There is no real reason for Bosch to even stick his nose into this case except he feels like it. He is asked to call on the dead cop's estranged wife to let her know that he's dead and than pretty much has insta-love when he first sees her.

The woman's name is Sylvia Moore so be prepared to read it a lot in this book. He keeps thinking about her, her face, her eyes that seem to see so much of him (gag, double gag) and feels at home with this woman for no reason that is shown to the reader. It's random and odd. What makes it also somewhat gross (at least to me) is that you find out that Harry is having an off and on thing with someone in the Medical Examiner's office (Teresa Corazon) who he uses for information and leaks it, even though he knows that she's trying for a promotion (there's that unrepentant asshole thing).

We have reappearances of Irving and J.Edgar, but honestly J.Edgar was barely even in this one besides Harry calling him up now and then.

The story moves to Mexico and Bosch finally finds out what corruption really looks like in the police forces.

The writing and flow in this one was not that great due to a lot of repetitiveness. And I really think it makes absolutely no sense for the bad guy in this one to even draw Bosch in like he did. And there were a lot of plot contrivances (all of a sudden three cases Bosch is looking into are tied together).

I have to say that I totally called the ending on this one. The author seemed to have Harry so focused on seeing the main villain that I knew that it can only be leading to one thing.

THE CONCRETE BLONDE (2 stars)
Harry is going on civil trial for shooting and killing Norman Church (the Dollmaker serial killer) that we have heard about in books #1 and #2. Church's widow is bringing a civil lawsuit against Harry saying that Norman was not the serial killer, and Bosch shot and killed the wrong person. Due to similar crimes which fit the Dollmaker's MO popping up around L.A., Harry and others are trying to figure out if there's a copycat or if the Dollmaker is still out there.

This one was so tedious and boring. Who knew reading about a trial and investigation going on at the same time could put one to sleep. I finished this up yesterday afternoon/last night and I could feel my brain slowing down.

There is also a lot of angst going on in this book. Bosch is now dating Sylvia Moore (it's been about a year since the events in the last book) and Bosch is having trouble opening up to her. They keep discussing the issues he has with opening up, he keeps saying he has secrets and she keeps saying she knows he has secrets. I hated both of them so much while reading this. I also kept saying please oh please break up.

We have the usual characters in this one, along with a psychologist and the trial attorney, Honey Chandler (gah her first name) is out to get Bosch.

I have to say that the overall book didn't work. They should have either focused on the trial or the copycat, not both. And can I just call BS on the whole this is who the murderer is reveal? It didn't make a lot of sense, and then we had a bad guy monologue scene.

The book limps along to the ending, and I guess we have to wait to see what book #4 has in store for Bosch and Sylvia. More angst I assume.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the Harry Bosch series is one of the best of the entire thirteen currently available (yes, I've read them all). This entry has everything. Hard boiled Harry is the defendant in a civil trial, the plaintiff the widow of a suspected serial killer, "The Dollmaker", whom Harry shot to death four years ago. The plaintiff's attorney is a star, Honey "Money" Chandler, whose trial record is legendary and who is characterizing Harry as a coldblooded rogue cop. Harry is stuck with the unimaginative LA hack provided by the city. Just as the trial begins, a note appears in the police station taunting him with the claim that The Dollmaker is alive and well, and to prove it, provides directions to the grave of one of his victims.

The harrowing trial itself, along with Harry's attempts to discover the truth - did he shoot the wrong man? - form the plot of this novel, which is tautly organized and full of mis-steps and surprises. Harry's colleagues come under suspicion, and it's likely that someone within the department is acting as a snitch. One of the most suspenseful sequences in the book is the account of an illegal search that he conducts in a suspect's home. Another is the lengthy passage when he fears that his lady friend, whom he is coming to love, has been targeted by the psycho. The outcomes of both trial and investigation are truly unforeseen.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three Harry Bosch novels. The first one, The Black Echo, introduces us to Bosch after his killing of a serial killer dubbed the Dollmaker. Because he didn't follow procedure, he was given unpaid leave and demoted from the elite Robbery-Homicide squad and sent to Hollywood division. But evidence found at the scene of the killing of the suspect provides sufficient evidence to identify him as the Dollmaker. The Black Echo begins with the discovery of what looks like a drug overdose but eventually ties in to a more complicated case. The second novel, The Black Ice, is a couple of years later, though there are occasional references to the Dollmaker. This one begins with the apparent suicide of a police officer, but the complications escalate quickly. The third novel, The Concrete Blonde, puts Harry in court. He is being sued by the Dollmaker's widow for wrongful death. Just before the trial begins, a note appears in the police station leading to another body that appears to have been the work of the Dollmaker. All three are taut, well-told stories with believable characters. I'm planning to read through all the Harry Bosch novels this year.

[Daniel Sevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been binge watching the Amazon show with Titus Welliver, so wondered whether I should add the books to the list of series that I keep up with. Doing the first three in a omnibus is a pretty kill or cure way of finding out if I want to move forwards with these characters... and I'm on the fence, which probably translates as, I'm unconvinced. It's solid LA detective fiction. Bosch has a solid background story and he's solidly a bit of an a-hole. None of the characters are as likeable or as interesting as their TV equivalents. Maybe Connelly gets there later in the books, but I'm not sure if I have the patience to find out.

[John Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Concrete Blond was fantastic

[Bram Macgregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compendium of the first three Harry Bosch novels, I have reviews for each of them elsewhere.

[Phil Schaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read Michael Connelly and I am very happy that I did. This collection contains the first three books in the what is called the Harry Bosch series. The author delves deep into the development of Bosch's character and motivations for the things he does.

Bosch is a Homicide Detective in the Hollywood branch of the LAPD. He is essentially a loner, having antagonized most of the department brass but is very effective at his job. The author also spends many pages describing the various locations in and around LA. It is interesting to read of actual places that I've visited or at least heard of.

Harry Bosch is a very compelling and complex character with as many flaws as redeeming qualities. I plan to read the rest of Connelly's Harry Bosch novels in the future and would recommend them to anyone who likes a good, character driven murder-mystery.

[Arleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing the movie The Lincoln Lawyer, I decided to delve into Michael Connelly books. I have not been disappointed.

The Black Echo features LAPD detective Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch. Bosch discovers that a dead body found in a drainage pipe is a one-time Vietnam comrade and a complex plot begins!

The Black Ice is the second in a series that continues to follow LAPD detective Hieronymous Bosch. There's turns in the plot, and plenty of action, describing life in Los Angeles and Mexican border towns.
(Appropriate to today's drug cartel subject).

The Concrete Blonde keeps the Bosch character alive and on trial in a wrongful death civil suit. The reader is able to understand Bosch more easily as he alternates between court scenes and a related investigation. Connelly weaves a great mystery!

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1992, The Black Echo is the first of many Harry Bosch novels. Harry is called to a scene of what appears to be a routine OD. But he recognizes this man as someone he served with in Vietnam, a tunnel rat. Is his death linked to other crimes? And is there someone on the inside of either the LAPD or the FBI who is enabling the crimes? Because it was published 30 years ago, Bosch has a pager and cops use public telephones, but it is still an intense thriller—and it’s interesting to read that Harry was always a truth seeking loner hoping for justice.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Concrete Blonde is a tough, dark, edgy procedural that only Michael Connelly could write. This twisty, tale draws the reader into the seamier, dangerous side of life in L.A. and grips you until the final words. Enjoy the ride!

[Susan Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for The Concrete Blonde. I have read the other Bosch novels, The Black Echo and The Black Ice and have already reviewed them. I LOVED this third novel, The Concrete Blonde. Again, I so enjoy Connelly's wonderful descriptions of LA, the freeways, Hollywood, the grit of the city and the events of the early 90's. In this novel we find out more about the case that brought about Harry's current troubles as he finally goes to trial. Loved it! I am a fan and look forward to the next!

[Linda Hugues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating and Intense

This was very well written, the characters were nuanced and interesting. It gave a detailed account of the work and lives of Bosch and his fellow officers, which brought the city to life. There was a lot of violence and disturbing descriptions of LA's sex trade, which I found hard to read.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this trilogy of books by Michael Connelly. Bill and I both like the Harry Bosch novels. These three are in somewhat in order although each book will stand on its own. My favorite of the three was the last one, The Concrete Blonde. Good reading, well written, keeps you guessing!

[Bill Hooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I continue to expand the horizon on the action/adventure genre, with series of books about one individual. I am about halfway through with the Jack Reacher series, all the published Logan Dodge, completed Will Robie and John Puller; and now I have started Lucas Davenport, Kay Scarpetta, Stone Barrington -- and now I have added the first 3 books in the Harry Bosch series. Found two volumes at the local thrift store, that had the first 6 stories (and bought them immediately). I have been a while working through this, as I would read one Bosch story, and then read something else, and then go back to Bosch, etc. My first impressions are that I am going to like Harry Bosch -- he is a loner, that can be cantankerous, and has a feel for figuring out what happened. Like most of these kinds of "heroic" characters, he just seems to have a way of getting himself in all kind of trouble -- and then the fun begins! One thing that I know, I am going to have to watch some of the Bosch series on Amazon Prime now.
There are three books in this one volume: "The Black Echo," "The Black Ice," and "The Concrete Blonde." I enjoyed all three stories, but probably liked "The Concrete Blonde" the best.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are like old friends from 20–30 years ago; I’m happy to see them again.
Except…”The Black Ice”! We never found that at any library—Ever! I read all Connelly’s books, my mom, an aunt, & my brother. I talked to them about it once and all had never read, The Black Ice. There are several errors in my copy, too—it’s an e-book today, and it’s like when you send an emoji from an iPhone to an Android device (or some similar combination; all I know is I have seen this error) it come up as just a series of random characters, ampersand +letters or #.) one error was that—I bet it meant the old sign for “paragraph”. It came out &5220 or something close to that. I caught a spelling or wrong word error, too. :-)
It will not detract from my enjoyment.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I've started the Bosch novels in sequence after loving the TV series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, but #3 was even better. Connelly fooled me twice on the perp, which is a tribute. The story has enough twists and turns for any thriller fan and the conclusion is satisfying even as it paves the way for the sequels to come. A top notch story by a master of the genre.

[Rogue Wallaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you watched the tv series and loved it, the books are so much better.

I was completely engulfed in the first two books; The Black Echo and The Black Ice. The Concrete Blonde took a bit more to grab my attention in the beginning but ended really well. Connelly has a way of keeping you guessing until the very end!

Looking forward to reading more of Michael Connelly’s books, especially the Harry Bosch novels, I wish I had known about them sooner.

[Rhonda Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about the name Harry. Whether it's Harry Potter, Harry Dresden or this Harry Bosch, I never met a Harry I didn't like.

I put Connelly up there with Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code, Digital Fortress). These three books have all the elements of your classic whodunit, yet, each one remained fresh even though I read one after the other. Can't wait to read the next three.

[Lori Fidler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Occasional awkward metaphors aside, I enjoyed this L.A. noir with tales just complex enough to be interesting without taxing the brain too much and characters who make excellent company for the journeys.

[Bala Ganeshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Connelly novel

Fast paced, very easy to read. And as always, great mystery about whodonit. I had read this book a while back but had forgotten the twist at the end! So it was fun reading it again.

[Chris Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be fair, I only read The Black Echo and The Concrete Blonde, having read The Black Ice previously. I like Bosch. He is fallible and very human. It was weird reading this after having watched the TV series though. Some of the characters are different and have very different fates.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went to beginning of the series after enjoying the more recent releases. Loved the first two books, really interesting character development. Third book was more court case based and I didn't enjoy that aspect as much, but I stress easily hehe

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was tricky. I had the right 'wrong' guy for most of the book, and the actual guy was on my list too, but I couldn't get the details right. (I only read The Concrete Blonde in this volume, having read the others previously).

[Michael Dale Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting Over

I’m starting over after reading all the Bosch books, some twice already, I’m starting at the beginning and rereading them all. Do yourself a favor, read them all then watch the series, you will never be sorry!!

[Gavin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic read

Loved it. Love the LA setting - kept looking up locations on Google maps. Gripping stories that turn the commute into one of the best bits of the day. I also think it's probably worth reading Bosch in order.

[Mark Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great trio of stories

All three stories were great. The Bosch character is central to these stories and keeps you engaged from beginning to end.

[Brian Kolda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Connelly writes; you can't wait to find out the next twist. I'll be reading a lot of his!

[Cynthia Lowell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mystery box club book Jan 2019

Do you think that some Vietnam people really brought numerous gold bars to the US. after the war?

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to get to know Harry Bosch

The Black Echo is an amazing first book. The first three Bosch books are great to read and learn all the background on Harry Bosch.

[Clive Barnes]

L