The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 14 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Detective Harry Bosch was sure he'd shot the serial killer responsible for a string of murders in LA...but now, a new crime makes him question his convictions.

The Dollmaker was the name of the serial killer who had stalked Los Angeles ruthlessly, leaving grisly calling cards on the faces of his female victims. Now with a single faultless shot, Detective Harry Bosch thinks he has ended the city's nightmare.

But the dead man's widow is suing Harry and the LAPD for killing the wrong man - an accusation that rings terrifyingly true when a new victim is discovered with the Dollmaker's macabre signature.

So for the second time, Harry must hunt down a death-dealer who is very much alive, before he strikes again. It's a blood-tracked quest that will take Harry from the hard edges of the L.A. night to the last place he ever wanted to go - the darkness of his own heart.

With The Concrete Blonde, Edgar Award-winning author Michael Connelly has hit a whole new level in his career, creating a breathtaking thriller that thrusts you into a blistering courtroom battle - and a desperate search for a sadistic killer. 

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

©1994 Michael Connelly (P)1994 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Wow! Excellent Bosch thriller!

I've listened to several Michael Connelly audiobooks, and love the Harry Bosch series. I was excited to see several more recently become available on Audible.
The Concrete Blonde is my current favorite Bosch book, topping my previous favorite: Echo Park.
It's an outstanding mix of courtroom thriller and serial killer hunt/police procedural. It moves along quickly, even the courtroom scenes are fast paced.
Characters are very well developed, not just Bosch, but all the supporting characters, and I like the plot: Bosch is sued for unlawful killing of a serial killer suspect, while at the same time a copycat killer is out there and more bodies begin to show up.
Just when you think you have it all figured out, there will be a couple twists at the end to keep you guessing. An excellent whodunnit. I highly recommend this book, even if it is your first Harry Bosch mystery.

Excellent!

I don't know how I missed this book until now. I like the Harry Bosch series and this certainly did not dissapoint me. I loved it. Dick Hill's narration was terrific. This has everything one could want in a murder mystery.

Good combo of courtroom and detective drama

I've started reading the Bosch series in chronological order and was much happier with this offering than I was with The Black Ice. Both the courtroom scenes (don't know why a previous reviewer was tortured by them) and the "whodonit" trail made it difficult to shut off my iPod. Bosch even starts to get likable in this book. Dick Hill's narration was excellent and I had to chuckle at the hint of Jack Nicholson that worked its way into his portrayal of the reporter, Bremer. I had heard Hill use this voice before. The book had lots of twists, turns and misdirection. An enjoyable listen. Can't wait to start on The Last Coyote on my ride to work today.

Connelly Fan

I was so happy when Audible added these earlier Connelly / Bosch books!

I guess the only reason I didn't give this one a 5-star rating is that I am using the first "The Black Echo" as a benchmark.

This is a good book, but the first one was Terriffic!

Dick Hill, the narrator, did a good job as usual(although he does kind of butcher female voices and weepy scenes on occasion)

If you're a Connelly fan you'll really like this book.

Definitely Recommended!!

Calvin P. Yeen and Da Bears

I like the later Harry Bosch novels, but this one evinces a Connelly initially trying to find his way to a good story that's also plausible. The Concrete Blonde is as realistic, from the standpoint of the centerpiece lawsuit, as a Calvin P Yeen on a Cowboy helmet in downtown Dallas.

Dick Hill's thick Chicago accent grates the whole way through, especially when he attempts the female voices and even moreso when he puts his hand over the mike to try to give the effect of someone speaking from the other end of a phone call. Think, Mike Ditka narrating it to you in the passenger seat while he munches a super-size bag of Doritos.

Quintessential American Police Procedural

This is one of the first Bosch novels and one I'd read many years ago. Fortunately the only things I tend to remember are interdepartmental and personal relationships about Bosch so the mystery was new to me. It's a great one.

If this was a new release I'd give the review more time. One key aspect is the excellent performance of Dick Hill. More than one of the narrators of this series read like its a documentary. Hill brings the best out in Bosch!

One of the best Harry Bosch

Very good story and well performed. I've read quite a few of the others in the series, both before and after, and this also fills in a lot of holes in the story line.

One of Connelly's Best

Would you listen to The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3 again? Why?

Yes, it has twists and turns that keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. Performance by Dick Hill is excellent. I think he is the best narrator for Connelly's Bosch novels. I've listen to other Connelly books and Hill's voice is the best even tho I liked Grupper's voice in the Lincoln Lawyer. He sounds like Haller should sound!

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

Yes. It kept me listening with only a break for sleeping.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

Hill performs each character very well, however I guess I like Harvey "98" Pounds the best of all the recurring characters in the Bosch series

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

Yes... but couldn't.

Any additional comments?

I like the Harry Bosch series because Bosch is human. He is a tough cop who makes mistakes and get things wrong yet he is compassionate, kind and considerate.

Strains credibility

Connelly's typically solid work. Great texture, a fascinating and evolving lead character, tightly constructed plot. My only problem with this one was that I never believed the central premise, the fact that Bosch could realistically be found guilty in the court case at the center of the story. To me this part of the book seemed to be manipulated in a way which undermined its credibility. As a result, it was necessary to suspend my disbelief in order to really enjoy the book.

Dick Hill's narration, as always, was right on target. A pleasure to listen to.

ZOWIE! Everything you'll want in a thriller!!!

Whoa! This novel is clever. The way it combines courtroom AND police procedural simultaneously... no flashbacks... no foreshadowing... SIMULTANEOUSLY... is like getting your imagination caught in twin gears that just screw you in and in and in...

It is the highest craft of cop/legal drama. Plus the plotting is hair-triggered. It's everything you can want in a hard-boiled-noir story. Absolutely terrific ... 4.9 stars. And Dick Hill is magnificent. I'm going to post this review, look up Dick Hill readings... AND BUY SOME!

Excellent detective thriller

I am a great fan of Michael Connelly and have read all his books. He has managed to maintain a high standard right through his career, unlike some of his contemporaries such as Patricia D Cornwell. That said I like his earlier books the most and "Concrete Blonde" is one of the best. Well written and expertly plotted, the pace and tension never slacken, and his hero Harry Bosch is always likeable and very human. Great stuff.

Narration is first class, and the sound quality is excellent.

Strongly recommended for anyone who likes a good thriller.

A great story - edge of seat stuff.

One of those stories that makes you look forward to driving the long way home so you can keep on listening to it in the car. Or finding a reason to take the dog out for another walk, just to find out what happens next - certainly going to look to see if there are any more of these gems waiting to be listened to!

Excellent story, well read

This was the second Michael Connelly book that I listened to. It was of the same consistently high quality as the first. The plot was satisfyingly complicated, with twists and turns and dead ends. The story was well plotted and easily followed. There were sufficient characters and they had their own voices; they were believable, and fairly well rounded without being too stereotyped. The dialogue flowed well and was engaging. The location was well described and it enhanced the story. Finally, the narrator did a very good job by giving the characters their own consistent and appropriate voices. If you like thrillers and 'who done it's' then this is a good choice.

Love the Bosch series

Would you listen to The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3 again? Why?

Yes. I will listen again as I will books 1 to 5 again. I just love the character Harry Bosch and how he just doesn't conform with the authorities and always gets his man or woman.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3?

When Bosch at last works out who did it.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He lives the characters

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

Yes

Awesome

Great story with twists and turns. Very hard to stop listening. Loving the Harry Bosch series. Well written and great author

Awesome

I love the Bosch stories and Dick Hill narration pull you into the story. I'm going to download the next boom now.

Great!

Love the narrator. Nice little touches like where the dialogue is down a phone line, uses sound effects to make his voice sound like it's on a phone. Cool.

Concrete Blonde - love the old fashioned & no nonsense detective

Concrete Blonde - love the old fashioned & no nonsense detective
No political correctness in this book
Great narration.

The Concrete Blonde

Still being fairly new to the Harry Bosch series I had listened to the first two books and really enjoyed them. For me this was by far the best so far! The courtroom drama alongside the main crimes had me gripped and not wanting to get out of my car when I had reached my destination. I really enjoy Dick Hill's narration and characters. I think when I move through the series further and the narrator changes that I will struggle to adapt. Any fan of the Harry Bosch series that has not already read or listened to this I strongly recommend it. In fact anyone that is a fan of crime drama I would recommend this to. On to the next!

Bosch at his best!

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

I love the Bosch books and this didn't disappoint. Mr C tells a great tale, makes his characters human and believable and draws the listener in, seemingly without any effort.

What other book might you compare The Concrete Blonde: Harry Bosch Series, Book 3 to, and why?

Books 1, and 2? I'm really not into this comparison thing, I'd rather look at the book on its own merits.

What about Dick Hill’s performance did you like?

His style is easy to listen to and isn't forced.