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

Please get a new narrator!

I absolutely love the Harry Bosch series, and this book is no exception from a plot/story perspective. However, this narrator was terrible. There was no performance; it was fairly monotone throughout. The female voices were irritating. And, most annoying of all, the narrator kept mispronouncing Manteca. This mispronunciation made sense, at first, because Bosch wouldn't have been familiar with the Northern California town, which is pronounced Man-tee-ca, not Man-teh-ca (this is the proper Spanish pronunciation, but the town does not use that), but once he got to the town (or sooner!), someone would have corrected him.

Another great Harry Bosch mystery

I always enjoy Michael Connelly's books and this is no exception. My only complaint was the irritating mispronunciation of Manteca, a central location.

A good procedural

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

about the middle 40% or so.

What other book might you compare The Black Box to and why?

The Sandford Prey series. Like the Prey series, this series focuses on one cop, and one set of methods.

What about Michael McConnohie’s performance did you like?

I feel like he knows and understand's Bosch.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Cold cases can burn you too...

Any additional comments?

The only thing I didn't like is the fact that the female character in the book never has her motivation explained. Other than that, it was terrific.

Love Harry Bosch

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

Michael Connolly did another great job entertaining me throughout the book. Listening to the series, you begin to feel like you personally know Harry and his daughter. I love to hear how their lives progress through each of the books in the series. The mystery and adventure is fun and the personalities entertain.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is a mixture of suspense, adventure and real life issues. I enjoy the flow of the book and the interplay with the politics and the real police work..... just like real life!

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

yes and enjoy them all....

Another Solid Bosch Novel

This is another solid entry in the Harry Bosch series. I always look forward to these books. I think Connelly is a brilliant crime writer and I love the way he does the one thing that I feel many series crime writers fail to do: he lets Harry grow and change emotionally. The Harry Bosch in book 18 is way different than the Harry Bosch of book 1. And I love Harry.

But Hachette Audio did through me for a loop here. They changed narrators on me and I so loved Len Cariou so I was not happy with the narrator change at first. But, turns out, Michael McConnohie is pretty good. I ended up being just fine with the narrator.

If you're looking for a good crime series, I suggest giving these books a try.

Narrator lends authenticity to this rogue cop stor

Despite some strong criticisms, I really like Michael McConnohie's narration. Harry Bosch sounds as if he's from LA, not some indefinable eastern city. Harry's kickbutt style is definitely back, and even his politically incorrect dealings with his daughter are a welcome return. People who enjoy the series will find some fresh stuff to enjoy here.

Excellent!

I really liked the narrator. I am very particular with Bosch narrators and narrators in general. Michael McConnohie nailed Bosch! Connelly also wrote an excellent story as always.

Really enjoyed Black box even with new narrator

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

Up to expectation!

What did you like best about this story?

How Bosch is still irrepressible but has somehow mellowed in how he deals with others on a personal level. I mean, Bosch is still hard as nails when it comes to justice and the system. However, over the course of these books and as Bosch ages in real time, he has learned how to better deal with his peers. Bosch seems to be enjoying himself more on some levels in how he interacts with his peers (not the bad guys.) Guess the best way to describe it is that he more appreciates what he has as a detective. He seems to enjoy himself more while dealing with peers via humor ect. Not to say he's not the same guy.

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

Just blew out all of Bosch's 18 books with audible and Mickey Haller's five ( two or three of which were combined.) Great fun... couldn't get enough. Just sad now that this is the last Bosch book at this time and now having to wait a year or two for the author to provide the next installment.

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

Would have loved to listen to it in one sitting. But busy, so broke it up into 3 or 4 listening times.

Any additional comments?

I have a problem with the complaints about the latest narrator. I've listened to the entire series with Dick Hill, Len Cariou and several others peppered throughout. Yes, Dick and Len were the best. However, this last book, Black Box, featured a brand new narrator who seems to have gotten a lot of criticism which I feel is unfair after hearing the entire narration. I mean, those complaints were so bad that I had put off listening to this book for a while. Well, after hearing the book, I have to say the complaints I read were unfounded. The latest narrater did a pretty good job. Sure I favor Dick Hill and Len Cariou anytime.... but to be fair, this narrator did a good job. That and this was a good book/installment. Anyone who loves the Bosch series will enjoy this book too as far as quality. I think much of the recent criticism has to do with the sudden shift to a new/current narrator. Yes, the difference is jarring at first but hang on, after a while the listener should realize the narrator does a god job and is no where near as horrible as the current reviews says. After a short while I grew to accept the latest narrator's style and really enjoyed his reading. My only complaint now is that I now have to wait (in real time) for the author to write the next Bosch book. Guess I was spoiled having 18 previous books to discover until now. So my only complaint is that I want more after 18 books. :-) And those who complained about the most recent narrator... grow up! He was actually pretty good after a while.

Latest book and not disappointed !

What did you love best about The Black Box?

The story line and the length of the book is great, enough time to develop the characters.

Which character – as performed by Michael McConnohie – was your favorite?

No doubt, Bosch!

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

Detective Bosch would never give up on his victim and he always remembers his cases that he had to give up at the moment.

Any additional comments?

Great story line and cannot help but finishing the whole book at once.

Harry Bosch at his best.

Any additional comments?

I've read them all, and can only think of one or two that I may have liked more than this one. If you're a Bosch fan, you need this one in your collection.