Kirkus Style Review: The Black Echo

Category: Fiction

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 544

A veteran LAPD detective investigates the murder of a fellow Vietnam veteran and uncovers corruption in the FBI.

In Michael Connelly’s first title of the Harry Bosch detective series we are introduced to Hieronymus (Harry) Bosch a detective exiled to the Hollywood division of the LAPD. Bosch is a sympathetic solitary character whose vigilante tendencies and impetuous nature make him the perpetual outsider. Sunday, May 20, 1990, as the on call homicide detectives, Harry and his partner are called out to investigate a seemingly standard overdose in a retaining pipe near the Mulholland Dam. Bosch recognizes the victim as Billy Meadows a “tunnel rat” he served with in Vietnam. Vietnam is a theme that permeates the work; corruption, psychological scars, addiction, and the fine line between “making it” and failure are touched upon. While those around Bosch believe that Billy’s death was an accidental overdose he is convinced otherwise and is proven correct. When Billy’s murder is linked to a bank robbery Bosch forcefully approaches the FBI, threatening to go to the press with embarrassing information if they don’t work with him. Bosch gets his way and is assigned to work with beautiful Special Agent Eleanor Wish, but his bull in a china shop approach gives his LAPD enemies a welcome opening to pursue him. This leads to Bosch being harassed and followed by stereotypical buffoonish villains, Internal Affairs investigators Lewis and Clarke. Bosch’s relationship with Agent Wish quickly becomes intimate, but there is always a level of edgy tension and lack of trust. The story climaxes a violent bank robbery leading to the deaths of the internal affairs villains Lewis and Clarke, the exposure of a dirty FBI agent, and Bosch being seriously wounded. This is followed up with the surprise revelation that feels a bit disappointing.

A fast paced story with a complex plot and ample detective / police technical details this title is recommended to those who enjoy hard-boiled detective, thriller, or mystery titles.