Chasing the Dime

This book was recommended to me by a good friend. He was highly complimentary and I've liked most of the Harry Bosch novels so I thought I'd give it a try. The main character in the story makes SO many stupid moves that I started getting so frustrated with him that I couldn't listen to the book for more than 20 minutes without pounding my steering wheel and screaming "NO, You idiot! Don't do that!!" The plot is good, the story is good, the narration is excellent. I give it three stars just for that. If you can handle a character that continually makes idiotic, self destructive decisions then get this book, you won't be disappointed.

I found this book very annoying. Our hero, who is supposed to be a PhD chemist, is a total idiot. He makes mistakes no person of normal intelligence would make, such as entering what is obviously a crime scene and leaving his fingerprints all over it. Would you do that? Me neither. I don't require the hero to be a genius, but I would like him to be at least one step up from a potato.

My first Connelly book. You disappointeds/don't bothers/etc. simply don't understand the mind of a scientist. The wrong number was a fresh challenge, a side-project, if you will to get him through the rather mundane task of finding investors. These things bore scientists, so, with a small grain of salt, I can see why he'd be curious. The scientific underpinning of a nanotechnological 'engine' or energy source (a real scientific challenge to nanotech) was done quite well. Putting your disbelief behind you however, the story was riveting and having listened to probably 100 books on Audible it's the only book I ever sat down at night to finish (versus listening during the commute). I am now a huge Michael Connelly fan. I've now heard Lost Light and am working on the Narrows. Connelly constructs flawless plots that are at once complex and easy to follow. In the end, please save your dissing for Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, if you want to talk about improbable, intellectually suicidal stories.

I have enjoyed all of the Michael Connelly books I have read or listened to in the past; this one was a great disappointment. Pierce's total lack of judgement and very rash approach to the problem isn't consistent with the logical mind of an accomplished scientist. I found myself getting angry and could not finish.

I am a big fan of Michael Connelly's thrillers, and have listened to all of them available on this site. Whereas the others are great, this one is just okay. I agree with other reviews that the main character is just too naive, and the plot is driven by his unbelievable blunders.

If you're new to Michael Connelly, don't start with this one -- get one of the Harry Bosch mysteries instead.

This may have been a best-seller in its analog form but that just goes to show how low-brow popular taste can be. It's an okay thriller, Michael Connelly is an decent writer, but don't go here looking for anything substantial.

In spite of the hype, I found myself struggling to keep listening. The main character is so naive and makes mistake after mistake, the novel is too frustrating. I want my characters to inspire. I dropped out two thirds of the way through. Waste of time.

As always, Connelley doesn't let us down--he tells a great story. The narration is excellent, making it a good all around choice for a long drive or commute.

Interesting novel. You have to wonder what a high tech CEO is doing chasing a recycled telephone number for a call girl. The reading is very good. Just a enjoyable, not to deep, mystery.

Like others, I was frustrated early on by the stupidity of the main character's actions. I stuck it out because I really wanted to learn who done it. About half way through, our hero suddenly becomes a boy genius and things take a more satisfying, rapid pace. In the end, some seemingly worthless early diversions become meaningful. I liked the ending and book overall.