Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780312952815
ISBN number: 0312952813
Label: St. Martin's Press
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 374
Printing Date: 1996-06
Publishing house: St. Martin's Press
Sale Popularity Level: 432351
Studio: St. Martin's Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Harry Bosch investigates the slaying of a narcotics officer, one in a series stretching from Hollywood's drug trade to dirt alleys south of the border. By the author of The Black Echo. Reprint. AB. K. PW.
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Rated by buyers 
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Michael Connelly is one of the best mistery writer and this was one of his better efforts.
Rated by buyers -
The Black Ice is Michael Connelly's second book in his series of Harry Bosch novels. What makes his books special is the combination of an interesting and complex main character with fascinating story lines that are complex enough to keep you on your toes, but also fun and engaging.
In this installment, Bosch discovers that a suicide of a narcotics officer might actually be a homicide, and that the officer may have been playing both sides. The story bogs down a bit when Bosch travels to Mexico, and the story started to veer off into 3 star territory, but for me, the ending redeemed this book.
Rated by buyers -
It is Christmas, and Harry Bosch is on standby to take calls for any murders. He has the police scanner on, and hears a report of an incident within his jurisdiction. When he investigates, he becomes involved in a messy case involving a police officer. Things develop from there.
There is a lot about bureaucracy and bean counting in the police department. Increase the number of arrests and increase the percentage of solved cases to make the atatistics look good when the budget request goes in. There are continuing conflicts between Harry and his superiors, but there are some tradeoffs. Not everything is as it seems, but everyone seems to come away with something. Sometimes it's better not to look too close.
Black ice, by the way, is a new form of narcotic - an emerging recreational drug showing up on the scene.
The novel is also available as part of the omnibus collection, "The Harry Bosch Novels."
Rated by buyers -
Be sure you read The Black Echo before this book. The back story and characterizations rely a lot on these books being read in the order they were written.
The Black Ice has many things to recommend it. Harry Bosch is a modern "noir" detective working in LA's underbelly, the sleazy streets of Hollywood, who sees himself as an avenging angel with no room for anything else in his life. That characterization is tested in The Black Ice when Harry is affected to his toes by meeting the widow of a murder victim.
The descriptions of drug manufacture, distribution, and dealing are powerful and memorable. The book has lots of exciting action.
You'll also feel like you've been taken on a well-run tour of Hollywood and Mexicali . . . to see the tawdriest locales.
But the book does go wrong, tarnishing lots of good writing. Michael Connelly inexplicably and unnecessarily uses one of the oldest and least satisfying plot devices in the mystery author's filing cabinet. I won't say more, but you'll know what I mean when the book is over.
The effect of hitting that plot device is like going from a smooth ride in a jet to a kid's soap box derby crate rolling over potholes. The ride just isn't the same. Up until the plot device is triggered, the book is clearly a five-star effort.
But you have better things ahead. The Concrete Blonde, the third Harry Bosch mystery, is a much better and more rewarding book to read.
Rated by buyers -
Just love Harry Bosch. The stories are gritting, complex and well executed with believable characters. What else do you want!?
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