The Black Ice: Harry Bosch Series, Book 2

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

When an LAPD narcotics officer is found with a fatal bullet wound and a suicide note, Detective Harry Bosch follows a bloody trail of drug murders across the Mexico border.

Working on the case, LAPD detective Harry Bosch is reminded of the primal police rule he learned long ago: Don't look for the facts, but the glue that holds them together. Soon Harry's making some very dangerous connections, starting with a dead cop and leading to a bloody string of murders that wind from Hollywood Boulevard to the back alleys south of the border. Now this battle-scarred veteran will find himself in the center of a complex and deadly game - one in which he may be the next and likeliest victim.

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

©1993 by Michael Connelly. (P)1993 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Good Listen

I'm a Michael Connelly fan so I couldn't wait to listen to these first Bosch novels recently added to the Audible Library.

The first book, The Black Echo, was TERIFFIC!

This one is good, but definitely not as good as the first.

Like the first novel, there were a lot of complexities in this story, and Connelly somehow managed to tie them up nicely.

But this story simply didn't grab me like the first book and other Bosch novels.

I would rank this one in the bottom half of Connelly novels I've listened to, but the below average Connelly novel is still above average compared to other offerings.

The story is still "can't put down" at times - and a recommended listen.

This Is What Hooks You On Harry Bosch and Connelly

I've read and/or listened to all of Connely's work. Until the recent influx of Northern European authors, he was easily my favorite novelist. It dawned on me that I could not remember all of the earlier Bosch novels so I picked up Black Ice through the Whisper Sync phenomenon that allows you to purchase the audible version so cheaply.

Black Ice is essential to the Bosch series because it is truly a great procedural on its on. In the first chapter Connelly introduces his hero as the hard nosed outsider on the detective squad who never lets politics or personal gain interfere with his work.

When the author came to Greensboro to promote The Overlook, (that mystery begins in Greensboro), he was asked about Harry's love for jazz. Connelly explained that when writing, jazz instrumentals are not the distraction that blues and rock, his first loves, are. In Black Ice we are introduced to Harry's love for the saxophone in particular. So I found the Coleman Hawkins & Ben Webster channel on Pandora. It's been remarkable background music while listening and working!

Dick Hill is a huge improvement over Len Cariou, who is the narrator in some of the later books.

As for the story itself, it's a great mystery with a great twist I never saw coming.
Highly recommended!

Bosch is on the case, harder than ever!

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

Yes, not the best Bosch, but still well worth the effort

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

Got a bit slow in places but once I got into it, I got the usual Bosch rush.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

Dick Hill is Bosch, listened to others try but dick Hill just nails Harry, bet he even looks like him!

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

No, I needed a break here and there, didn't grip me like some of the other Bosch novels, still worth the listen..

An average book

This is the third Bosch book that I've listened to and I still have two awaiting me in my library. This story played like a chess game with Bosch and the bad guy(s) anticipating how each would react to situations and then making decisions accordingly. It's difficult for me to precisely explain exactly what made this book very "underwhelming" for me. Perhaps it was the outrageous premises that were revealed as the story progressed. Harry's character is not very upbeat and when the story slows the tedium is aggravated. I'm a fan of this genre, so even three star books hold my interest. And having Dick Hill doing the narration certainly doesn't hurt.

A Great Harry Bosch

What made the experience of listening to The Black Ice: Harry Bosch Series, Book 2 the most enjoyable?

Two things need to come together to make a great audio book - A great story and a great narrator. I'd say this audiobook has it both.

The story here, though not perfect, is very entertaining and even teaches you a thing or two. Dick Hill is really great narrator and out of all the books I've heard to date he is my absolute favorite. In fact, I'm going to get some of his other books just to enjoy his performance.

In short, if you like detective stories, I highly recommend this one.

Mixed Emotions

In the end I liked it. The story came around very nicely. But, I guess I'm not a Dick Hill fan. Sorry Dick. Your one of the greats, but there's something about the style that doesn't always work for me. Perhaps it's because he's done so many books, that his distinctive style blurs the characters for me. Not sure about that, but I'm sure I'll be listening to this duo again.

An early Harry Bosch Book

This is book 2 in the series. I have read some of the later books and am now going back and reading the early books. This shows a typical Bosch unable to follow orders, he is told the case of the dead cop was not his but he investigates anyway. Was interesting the information of the Med-fly and the release of the sterile flies. Guess this was just after the straying. I lived thorough all this but had forgotten about it. Nice thing about books that include items and current events in the story writing, because eventually the story becomes a brief history lesson. This book also introduces Harry to his father. Dick Hill does a great job narrating the story.

Enjoyable but not the best...

I enjoy winding down at bedtime with a M. Connelly listen... I enjoyed this one, but not as much as some of the others. The climax was a little too deus ex machina for my tastes. That said, I'm using my new credit on another Connelly, so I'm still a huge fan!

Men will probably like it; women be aware.

I am a woman. Over the years I have come to realize that as a woman, my tastes in fiction *really are* different from men's. The male cliche I am complaining about in this case is the constant put-downs that are so prevalent in modern crime fiction. It is as if many male writers of crime fiction feel that they have to constantly put others down (presumably to prop themselves up).

I liked this book enough that I am downloading the next one at this very moment, but in both this book and the previous one in the series, there is not a single character--other than the protagonist--who is not either stupid or in some way less than admirable. He goes on and on about how stupidly Bosch's bosses on the force act. I kept wondering how so many stupid people could get promoted to such high positions. Don't they have to pass some kind of a test? But there are many other ways to crash and burn in this book: One cop is too pitiless. One likes to brag about how he got his scar. One is a coward and a drunk. Way too many people are willing to do the wrong thing if it will advance their careers. Bosch simply doesn't like others. There was actually one woman in this story that comes off more or less unsullied, but I could feel Connelly questing for a way to put her down. I have no doubt that if she is mentioned in any future book, she will be found to have some major flaw.

I'm not saying Connelly is a bad writer. In fact, although I've only read two of his books so far, I think he is probably a very good writer. But he seems (so far) to be a very *male* writer. So you women out there, if you prefer even your crime fiction to have people who are admirable try someone else. Try Laurie R. King, Dorothy Sayers, Mary Stewart, Ellis Peters.

I couldn't finish this

There were parts of the book that were quite exciting. However, there was a lot of tedium to wade through, and too many stereotypical bad guys. I just could not finish it. I was a bit too bored.