The Narrows: Harry Bosch Series, Book 10

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Len Cariou

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

FBI agent Rachel Walling finally gets the call she's dreaded for years: the one that tells her the Poet has returned. Years ago she worked on the famous case, tracking down the serial killer who wove lines of poetry into his hideous crimes. Rachel has never forgotten Robert Backus, the killer who called himself the Poet, and apparently he has not forgotten her either.

Harry Bosch gets a call, too. The former LAPD detective hears from the wife of an old friend who has recently died. The death appeared natural, but this man's ties to the hunt for the Poet make Harry dig deep, and lead him into a terrifying, bewildering situation.

So begins the most compelling, frightening, and masterful novel Michael Connelly has ever written. The Narrows places Harry Bosch in league with Rachel Walling, at odds with the FBI and squarely in the path of the most ruthless and ingenious murderer in Los Angeles' history. What follows is a taut and tantalizing mystery that has Harry Bosch racing from the hostile vistas of the Nevada desert to the glittering Las Vegas strip to the dark corners of Los Angeles.

Through it all, Bosch works at his newfound life as father to a young daughter, balancing the deepest love he has ever felt with his own sense of mission and his profound awareness of evil.

Don't miss Detective Harry Bosch on the case in these Michael Connelly crime fiction novels.

©2004 Time Warner AudioBooks (P)2004 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"Michael Connelly's best crime novel since City of Bones." (The New York Times)

"A dynamite plot, fully flowered characters, and a meticulous attention to the details of investigative procedure....Connelly is a master and this novel is yet another of his masterpieces." (Publishers Weekly)

A Lot Going on Here

I really enjoyed this story. Knowing Terry McCaleb from Bloodwork and Bosch was helpful. I enjoyed the story being told from different viewpoints, Bosch, the female FBI agent and the killer. fun fun fun

Is he back?

Bosch funds himself drawn into the death of a retired FBI agent he had worked with, and liked. It takes him to pursuing a thought long dead serial killer. One with an intimate knowledge of law enforcement, could it be the unthinkable, a cop? Bosch finds himself working with a female FBI agent from his past. One he was found of, and with a stile much luck his own. One that labeled her as an outcast from the Bureau. Her reputation with the Bureau had gotten her assigned to the Dokatas. Not a place an agent wants to be. Then out of the blue she gets a temporary assignment to the Los Vegas field office. Could she be being used as the Bureau's bait to catch a killer.
So many twists and turns.

Love the Harry Bosch series

great narration and storyline. Love the twists and unexpected turns. Characters are well developed and deep.

Best Connelly So Far

Great new story about an old villain. Nice balance among story line, character development, action, mystery, suspense, and violence. Varied settings include Vegas, California coast, LA, and the desert. I've read lots of Connelly and this is the best so far. Buy it.

The good guy finally wins!

What did you love best about The Narrows: Harry Bosch Series, Book 10?

Bosch's ability to perceive the hidden things is amazing. When another piece of the puzzle comes into view, he instinctively knows what to do next.

I like that the author humanized Bosch in revealing that he finally has a young daughter. Prior to this he seems so detached and unable to bond in a normal relationship.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bosch rocks. He just keeps getting back up.

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

I do like this narrator. He is one of the better readers and is able to portray Bosch well. There was a couple of times when switching between characters was not as pronounced as it needed to be, but the author filled in the needed information for the listener to get the right idea of what was happening.

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

The serial killer was really scary. Wow...an FBI agent who got along well with Ted Bundy, trained other agents and went over the edge.

I like how the FBI was onto what Terry really did. That he didn't want to leave his family without provision and that he planned to die on his boat while out at sea. They did nothing to reverse the life insurance for his surviving widow. That was good.

One of Connelly's Best

Love this book! One of the best Bosch novels.
The reader's performance of Bosch was spot-on, but the other characters "voices" were just annoying.

From a Michael Connelly Fan

What made the experience of listening to The Narrows: Harry Bosch Series, Book 10 the most enjoyable?

I love the narrators of all the Connelly books, and the storyline and Bosch character development are great. There is always a twist at the end usually one that I don't see coming. I am sad that I have finished the series. Need suggestions on a new series to try, I love following the characters and story lines through more than one book. .

Decent sequel to the Poet

Advice: Read The Poet before reading the Narrows. I love reading Connelly's stories, but I get frustrated when references to previous story lines (that I have not read) or occurences are made in stories that I am currently reading. For example I read the Narrows before reading the Poet. It was a spoiler for me. But it helped to review as this is my second listening of this story. The Narrows make more sense after listening to/reading the The Poet. The end of the Poet story did leave some unfinished business. The twisting plot and clues continue to make this an exciting story. The setting is 4 years after the Poet was shot by Rachel. As the publisher's review indicates, the Poet has re-surfaced. He has revenge on his mind and he seems more mad, insane in the Narrows.

The Narrows provide a good opportunity to follow up with Rachel and Backus. While I missed the Jack McEvoy character, the news reporter it was good to have Harry Bosch included in the story. HIs storyline is also intriguing. I am going to have to find the story that explains what happened to marriage, when was his daughter born and what happened to (his ex-wife, former FBI agent) Eleanor's career.

In addition, I also am going to find and listen to the second sequel--The Scarecrow. Maybe all of the characters will be included. I will be curious to find out who will be Rachel's next lover. The continuity among the various stories would be easier to follow if there was available a list of the titles in the order written or order to read. Good series to follow because of the involvement of different law enforcement agencies, money, travel, romance, and good old fashion police work. I am hooked.

Details

Excellent read. The detail puts you in the story as if you are fly on the wall, watching everything unfold.

Another Great Bosch

I'm hooked on the Harry Bosch series and have been enjoying them in the order they were
written. In this case I'm so glad that I read the review suggesting that I read The Poet first and I do echo that suggestion. Michael Connelly's writing is always unique and riveting. The Poet offers background and character development that doubled my pleasure in The Narrows.
Len Cariou is always an outstanding narrator.
I'm off to begin number eleven!