Buddy Read - The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

[Jonetta]

For maverick LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal...because the murdered man was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who had fought side by side with him in a hellish underground war. Now Bosch is about to relive the horror of Nam.

From a dangerous maze of blind alleys to a daring criminal heist beneath the city, his survival instincts will once again be tested to their limit. Pitted against enemies inside his own department and forced to make the agonizing choice between justice and vengeance, Bosch goes on the hunt for a killer whose true face will shock him.

[Jonetta]

Several are reading this book this month. Use the spoiler feature (see How to do things on Goodreads for instructions) until those reading decide it can become a spoiler zone.

[Jorran]

Is this series a spinoff of another? I have this thought pinging around in my head that it is and I have this blurry image of his name mentioned in a book blurb.

(view spoiler)[The way the Dollmaker case was mentioned as the reason why the AID was investigating Harry (hide spoiler)] just seem like a continuation to me.

[Jonetta]

I remember thinking similarly until I read the next book. This writing style was similar to some of the detective writers of old where the backstory is told in reverse over time.

[Jorran]

Ok, I better start the next book then. I hate unanswered questions.

I remember where I saw his name in a blurb. It was on one of the Micky Haller books. I must check out them too.

[Jonetta]

The Mickey Haller series follows this one. They intersect later but I'd advise not reading any of the book blurbs going forward, except the one you're getting ready to read. There will be spoilers.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

Yeah I read Blood Work and Lincoln Lawyer but did not read next book in the series because they are later books in Harry Bosch. Now I'm starting with Bosch.

[Jonetta]

Good decision!

[Jorran]

While reading the book, I realized that I don't know anything about the Vietnamese war and why the US was involved. I need to read up on this.

[Jonetta]

Jorran wrote: "While reading the book, I realized that I don't know anything about the Vietnamese war and why the US was involved. I need to read up on this."

My Dad served so it's pretty vivid for me. It's a fascinating history, a war we never had any intention of staying in but was politically complicated by Kennedy's assassination. If he hadn't died, he would have extricated us versus Johnson's decision to escalate.

Enjoy researching! It's a tough period in our history.

[Jorran]

Jonetta wrote: "The Mickey Haller series follows this one. They intersect later but I'd advise not reading any of the book blurbs going forward, except the one you're getting ready to read. There will be spoilers."

Ok. I'll just check if I have them on my Kindle and where the fall in the series so I can prepare.

[Jorran]

Kris wrote: "Yeah I read Blood Work and Lincoln Lawyer but did not read next book in the series because they are later books in Harry Bosch. Now I'm starting with Bosch."

Were they good?

[Jonetta]

From Michael Connelly's website:

http://www.michaelconnelly.com/extras...

[Jorran]

Jonetta wrote: "Jorran wrote: "While reading the book, I realized that I don't know anything about the Vietnamese war and why the US was involved. I need to read up on this."

My Dad served so it's pretty vivid fo..."

I hope your dad wasn't as adversely affected. It seems that almost all the portrayals in books and movies are extremely bad.

[Jonetta]

I also did a feature on Connelly two years ago, including his bibliography. This should also be helpful.

Author of the Week - Michael Connelly

[Jonetta]

Jorran wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "Jorran wrote: "While reading the book, I realized that I don't know anything about the Vietnamese war and why the US was involved. I need to read up on this."

My Dad served so it's..."

He was defintely adversely affected. Different from today, he returned home to a country that didn't appreciate his service to his country, having to come in at night to Dulles Airport. You have no idea how cruelly our men in military service were treated back then. He died a young man, age 52, of heart failure, partly from some of the debilitating effects of that war.

[Jorran]

Sorry to hear that Jonetta.

Thanks for the feature. It's pretty interesting.

Found 8 of the Micky Baller books on my kindle.

[Jonetta]

Yay! You're all set.

[Dawn]

My brother served from 1969-1974 and has never recovered from The Vietnam War...which by the way was never designated as a war, but as a Police Action. He has flashbacks...you never want to touch him in his sleep, etc. and we, as a nation, treated the returning servicemen horribly. Even more interesting is the little known fact that The Korean War has never ended. We are still at war with them.

[Jonetta]

Dawn wrote: "My brother served from 1969-1974 and has never recovered from The Vietnam War...which by the way was never designated as a war, but as a Police Action. He has flashbacks...you never want to touch h..."

My father was the same way when he first returned but with help, improved. He wasn't in a combat role but the stress of the war permanently damaged him.

Did not know that about the Korean War.

[Lauren]

As someone who comes from a country were military service for men and women is compulsory and almost everyone serves, I've never been able to understand the reactions to the returning Vietnam vets. These men like your father, Jonetta, and your brother, Dawn, gave of themselves for their country and were treated like dirt upon their return. The soldiers are never to blame for the politicians idiocy and should be commended for their service and sacrifice!

[Jonetta]

Thanks, Lauren. I'm so happy that our beleaguered men and women now dealing with multiple deployments at least are being treated with dignity and respect for their service. I hope we never, ever again experience what happened to our troops during the Vietnam era. You can hate the war but don't denegrate the men and women obligated to serve at the discretion of our government.

[Lauren]

Is there an official start date for this one or is it begin whenever?

[Jonetta]

Jorran has finished it so it's already started.

[Jorran]

Has anyone ever noticed that IAD investigators are always negatively portrayed (from here in the 1990s to the 2050s in Eve Dallas' time)? What's that all about? Is it a massive conspiracy by all authors(lol)?

[Jonetta]

It's the nature of what they've got to do...go after cops. Most of the time, their not choosing to be assigned to the division and they don't have friends.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: "Jorran has finished it so it's already started."

Thanks Jonetta. I've already started a new audio so I'll listen to this one after that. Probably in a week or so.

[Jonetta]

It does. Hang in there!

[Tracey]

Debbie wrote: "I'm about 10% into the book and it just isn't holding my attention. Does it pick up the pace soon, seems very slow to me."

How did you get on Debbie? It started slowly for me as well and then it took off. I really enjoyed it. It reminds of the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo. I am looking forward to starting The Black Ice and then hopefully I won't be too far behind on the buddy read for Concrete Blonde.

[Jonetta]

I hope you can join us, Tracey. I plan to have discussion topics for that one.

[Tracey]

Jonetta wrote: "I hope you can join us, Tracey. I plan to have discussion topics for that one."

I'll definitely try my best!