The Black Box

Harry Bosch, Book 16

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Michael McConnohie

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In a case that spans 20 years, Harry Bosch links the bullet from a recent crime to a file from 1992, the killing of a young female photographer during the L.A. riots. Harry originally investigated the murder, but it was then handed off to the Riot Crimes Task Force and never solved.

Now Bosch's ballistics match indicates that her death was not random violence, but something more personal, and connected to a deeper intrigue. Like an investigator combing through the wreckage after a plane crash, Bosch searches for the "black box", the one piece of evidence that will pull the case together.

Riveting and relentlessly paced, The Black Box leads Harry Bosch, "one of the greats of crime fiction" (New York Daily News), into one of his most fraught and perilous cases.

©2012 Michael Connelly (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Good story, horrendous narration

Would you listen to The Black Box again? Why?

No - not w/this narrator. He made me feel like I was back in elementary school, listening to a film strip. This man was NOT the right pick to narrate this book! It was like he was instructing the listener. I almost stopped listening after the first chapter - in fact I did, originally - but then found myself stuck somewhere w/o anything else to listen to. The story was a good, solid Harry Bosch novel - not one of Connelly's best, but still one I'd recommend for another Bosch fan. To read.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael McConnohie?

Almost anyone else...even a woman! (The lady who reads the Sue Grafton's novels?!) Someone who sounds like Harry - kind of gruff but approachable, at the same time. I wish I knew names of narrators I've listened to w/the "right" voices. The narrator should be telling you a story - be a part of the story - not instructing you.

Excellent -- Connelly is a Master writer !!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Black Box to be better than the print version?

This book is one of Harry's best adventrures-- keeps you wondering how he will make the connection !!

Connelly nails it again.

If you could sum up The Black Box in three words, what would they be?

Michael Connelly continues to surprise me with his ability to twist his plots without being obvious.

and yet another winner

Great book from start to finish.....one of my favorites. The plot was woven perfectly, keeping me perpetually in the grasp of the story.

Great Harry Bosch story but narrator was not.

If you could sum up The Black Box in three words, what would they be?

I have listened to all of the Harry Bosch series and they are all EXCELLENT! My husband and I have listened to them and enjoy talking about the story line. I have listened to them all in sequence and just finished The Black Box. The story was great, as usual, but the narrator made it so hard to finish the listen. He wasn't bad but Len Cariou fit Harry Bosch in my mind. This narrator sounded bored and too young for Harrys character at this age.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Black Box?

Harry taking his daughter to the simulated gun range.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Did not like the narrator at all. He just did not fit the Bosch character and sounded bored most of the time.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it just kept my attention to the end.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next Bosch book to come out on audible. Guess I will start reading the short stories and the other Connelly books. He is an excellent writer.

Harry doesn't disappoint

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Character of Harry Bosch continues to be strong and dependable. Am good on this series and have been since reading book or 4 first, discovering it was a series, and proceeding to read everything written to that date. Now I wait to the next liked everone else.

Great story, slow read

A great Harry Bosch story! The reader was slow and monotonous-until I played it at 1.25x speed.

A bit different but good just the same.

What made the experience of listening to The Black Box the most enjoyable?

The story was a little different than the usual Bosch storyline.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the complexity of the present interacting with the past.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I did not feel that the narration was as good on this one as the others in the series. It felt like someone reading me a story instead of being immersed in the story as it unfolded as with others.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily. Better to savor it over time - besides my commute is not that long!

Any additional comments?

I have listened to the entire series save the last one. It has been a wonderful journey!

Harry does it again

Where does The Black Box rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Another good book about Harry. I have read them on. Keep them coming! A great series.

What did you like best about this story?

The procedure to putting the pieces of the crime together. Well laid out.

Wowie Kazowie, He's back!

Another great Harry book, well worth the wait. The narrator was great, I don't see any problem getting used to him, he underplays sometimes, but so did Len Cariou. It took longer to adjust from Dick Hill to Cariou than it will to McConnohie, the quality of the voice is excellent for these books. The energy in his voice and the timbre is right.

This one has lots of twists and turns, although none of them are really dead-ends but seem to be, for a while. Eventually it comes together for him. I'm not so sure we've ever come this close to losing him!

Maddie is growing up and teaching Harry about parenting. He is doing very well, especially for someone who hasn't much experience on either side. I'd like to see a little more contact with Mickey's daughter. I guess there isn't time to hit on everything.