The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

An LAPD homicide detective must choose between justice and vengeance as he teams up with the FBI in the first novel of the "thrilling" Harry Bosch series (New York Times Book Review).

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.

Impressed? Ace detective Harry Bosch is also on the case in other exciting Michael Connelly crime-fiction novels.

©1992 by Michael Connelly. (P)1992 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Sound quality is not good

The story is great but whenever female characters speak it is almost impossible to make out what they are saying. Having to adjust the volume constantly is a pain.

wonderful

I loved this book and the performance had me glued to every word. loved, loved, loved it.

Loved it

Absolutely loved the book!! Keep me on my toes and wanting more throughout the whole thing!!

hmmm

I found myself not really enjoying this read. maybe it was just this read. I am willing to listen to something else from this author.

Great narration

The narrater did a great job personifying the various characters. It made me realize what a skill it is to be capable of jumping between characters as you read. The detail-oriented story and the detail-oriented reader was just a real pleasure to experience.

A good first book for Connelly

Where does The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would say that The Black Echo ranks in the upper third of the audiobooks to which I have listened thus far.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The protagonist, Harry Bosch, was my favorite character. The other characters were either not sympathetic or were underdeveloped.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dick Hill is a strong and competent narrator and generally enjoy his performances. This one was particularly well done.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A couple of moments in the book were particularly good, but I will not get into them as they are spoilers.

Any additional comments?

My first Michael Connelly book left me generally pleased and a fan of Harry Bosch. However, some of the writing did leave me with some minor, nagging issues. First the good: The plot and characters are well done and it is easy to quickly get behind the protagonist and pull for him. Bosch does have some depth and dimension, but with some fairly stereotypical characteristics of the gritty, cynical detective. Some of the relationships developed in a predictable way. The book does have its share of plot twists and surprises that were not telegraphed early on. And I didn't find the story formulaic or banal. I did get annoyed at what I viewed as aged dialogue for the setting of the book. Some of the character dialogue was 30 to 40 years old, trite, cliched and overused. Further, I always wrinkle my nose at authors whose technical knowledge of law enforcement and military terminology and capability is limited and inaccurate. For example, the author doesn't know the difference between an ammunition clip and a magazine. I look forward to reading Black Ice, the next installment in the Bosch series.

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Look Out! Here Comes Harry!!!

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

Yes and I have. I just loved it, full of excitement. A great read if you like detective stories.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I could not predict what was going to happen next. That is a great sign of a good book.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

Harry

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Billy Meadow's funeral. Especially after you find out who Billy really was, (his past)

Any additional comments?

No

Good enough to try book two.

This was my first Harry Bosch novel. Story was decent. Performance was good enough to want to try book two.

Bosch much more than a supermarket detective novel

Where does The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This lies in-between a guilty pleasure detective novel and a good piece of literature. Absolutely perfect on a commute. Not so dense as to require your full attention, but well written and well read enough to keep you engaged.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Black Echo: Harry Bosch Series, Book 1?

There is an excellent twist at the end that you'll have to hear for yourself.

Have you listened to any of Dick Hill’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is a typically good read from Dick Hill.

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

This book has some depth in character development, but it is not extremely emotional.