The Closers: Harry Bosch Series, Book 11

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Len Cariou

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

In Los Angeles in 1988, a 16-year-old girl disappeared from her home and was later found dead of a gunshot wound to the chest. The death appeared at first to be a suicide, but some of the evidence contradicted that scenario, and detectives came to believe this was in fact a murder. Despite a by-the-book investigation, no one was ever charged.

Now Detective Harry Bosch is back with the LAPD with the sole mission of closing unsolved cases, and this girl's death is the first he's given. A DNA match makes the case very much alive again, and it turns out to be anything but cold. The ripples from this death have destroyed at least two other lives, and everywhere he probes, Bosch finds hot grief, hot rage, and a bottomless well of betrayal and malice.

And it's not just the girl's family and friends whose lives Bosch is stirring up afresh. With each new development, Harry Bosch finds increasing resistance from within the police force itself. Old enemies are close at hand. Even as he pushes relentlessly to find the truth, Bosch has to wonder if this assignment was intended to be his last. Digging up the past may heal old wounds, or it may expose new, searing ones.

From the mind of the man GQ has called "the best mystery writer in the world", The Closers is a masterpiece of thriller writing that is as sharp and immediate as the greatest fiction.

©2005 Hieronymus, Inc. (P)2005 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic Reviews

"In Connelly/Bosch's world, character, context, and procedure are what count, and once again the author proves a master at all....Connelly comes as close as anyone to being today's Dostoyevsky of crime literature, and this is one of his finest novels to date." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Harry sticks to his knitting and delivers a sharp, straightforward police procedural." ( The New York Times)

Thoroughly enjoyable.....

This listen was completely enjoyable. Narration by Len Cariou was perfect. This is my first Michael Connelly novel and consequently my first detective Harry Bosch story. The writing is excellent - great plot, nice twists and turns, great characters. I thought I needed a lot more action (violence?) to hold my attention and maintain suspense. Connelly has proven that that is not necessary. Good suspense does not mandate a lot of shooting, car chases and staccato dialogue. Just good writing.

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Any Harry is better than no Harry...

I did not like the end of this book. I read it all the way thinking that surely, something would happen. It never did, and that is the one thing that sperates this H.B. novel from the others.

I am glad I read it. Any novel by M.C. is better than no novel by him. He is a complete writer and this book stands alone.

It is just that... well, if anyone else had written this, it would be just great. But with M.C. you expect more. Where was the tension? Where was the stress? Where was that 'what Harry does' going to make a difference? How does the interplay between him and the new Chief make us care what happens? And at the final scene, why didn't M.C. do his usual series of visions behind a sanded glass wall? It was all too apparent.

And for the first time, when the book was finished, I didn't care what's going to happen to Harry next. Sorry.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Connelly Just Keeps Getting Better

THE CLOSERS is the best yet from Michael Connelly, which makes it the best of the best. I realize that mere superlatives don't make for a very "helpful" review, but what can I say? Each entry in the series of mysteries featuring Harry Bosch is better than the last -- and it started out pretty strong (with THE BLACK ECHO, 1992). If you liked CITY OF BONES and LOST LIGHT, then you'll like THE CLOSERS.

53 of 59 people found this review helpful

Great Story

I enjoyed the story very much. Bosch is up to his usual self with his "one of a kind" detective work, but I had a hard time adjusting to narrator's voice... He didn't vary his voice enough. Everybody sounded too much alike. Like I've said before, Dick Hill is the voice of Harry Bosch and he can vary his voice enough so you know who's speaking. I think this might be the last of the Bosch novels that I will purchase. I think this narrator's age is showing in his voice. His voice sounds like he has to spit and that not a nice sound when you are wearing earphones!!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Addiction

I was absolutely addicted to this book. I never took it out of my ears until it was done. I slept with it, walked with it, folded laundry with it, played with the dogs with it. The plot is excellent, the information on police procedures was enlightening, and the narration was very good. I had not read Connelly before, but after listening to this one, I went to my local library and checked out three more of his titles. I also downloaded his new one, The Lincoln Lawyer, from Audible just the other day.

If you like Wambaugh, the Scarpetta books, or Robert Parker, you will absolutely love this book. Just as LeCarre makes me believe that George Smiley is a real and living person, Connelly brings the same definition to Harry Bosch.

Download it!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Favorite Harry Bosch story.

I have listened to all of the Michael Connelly stories thus far and this one is by far my favorite. The author gives just enough clues to keep the reader enticed. I couldn't stop listening. The narrator does an excellent job of keeping up with voices and he is easy to listen to. Great choice for a listen.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Clear writing, real characters, believable plot

This is the first book I've read (or listened to) by Michael Connelly. I loved it for the following reasons. First, regarding the plot and characters, Connelly writes with absolute clarity. This is a rare quality in novels (and movies) nowadays. Second, Connelly conveys a wonderful sense of verisimilitude. If a police investigation is not run exactly as described in "The Closers" (including the unintentional mistakes and political coverups), I'm not sure why not. Third, the characters are all sympathetic, but Bosch (I hope I'm spelling this right) is a standout as a completely developed human being - fallible, guilt-ridden, and utterly heroic. Finally, the narrator seemed just right for Bosch's voice. (Note to publisher: please, no music. Let the story stand on its own.)

28 of 32 people found this review helpful

over-rated

I bought the book based on the reviews. The book was good, but did not live up to the hype. The best part was observing Bosch uncover minute details that others missed. The plot was so-so. The author takes you down a few very different avenues on the way, and the ending is much less interesting that those.... I wish he followed it through.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great Story - Great Narrator + Extras!

Reading Michael Connelly is like reading Frederick Forsyth. They don't have any "bad" books, just books with differing degrees of "Great".

This is my 5th or 6th Connelly read, and this ranks as one of his best. As others have stated, Harry Bosch is a very "real" character in a very believable situation. The story is great and keeps your interest. I couldn't wait for my morning commute to see what was going to happen next - even went for a walk one night when my commute ended at an important plot twist.

As always, the ending was unexpected and satisfying - even the two small stories after the case is solved.

On top of a great book are a few extras - First the nice jazz music at the beginning of each disk (as opposed to the cheesy music on many other books), Second a great narrator, and Third the conversation with Connelly after the book.

This is a real winner!! Right up there with "Blood Work".

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Bosch bust

This one was a slow read. I found this story to drag on and on. The reference to the corrupt cops was weak and the storyline did not support the inference. Connelly is usually better than this.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Harry Bosch is getting old!

I like Harry Bosch and generally anything written by Michael Connelly. I thought this was a good book but not as good as some of the other Harry Bosch stories. Having said that I like the narrator and this is still worth listening to.

As always I will be getting the next book in the series. I believe there are still another 8 in the series, but how long can Harry continue! Surely he'll be on a zimmer frame by the end. Only kidding Mr Connelly keep up the good work!

Rob

Another very entertaining episode of Harry Bosch

This is another very entertaining episode of the career of LA murder detective Harry Bosch. Michael Connelly stands out as one of the best authors in this genre, and I recommend this book. However, it is not my favourite in the series, possibly because I guessed who the killer was too soon, in spite of the red herrings. Still a very good book and very well read.