“The Burning Room” (Little, Brown and Co.), by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch and his rookie partner tackle a cold case with present-day ramifications in Michael Connelly’s latest novel, “The Burning Room.”
Ten years ago, a man was shot and paralyzed. The bullet couldn’t be removed. When the man dies, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch and Detective Lucy Soto are assigned to track down the shooter. Filtering through the cranks and legitimate calls proves to be challenging, but what they uncover leads to the possibility that the victim might not have been the target, and the shooting might tie into the mayoral election all those years ago.
While on this case, Detective Soto quietly works on a cold case of her own. She wants to solve a crime that has eluded her for a long time: an arson fire and the death of several people. The solution holds a personal interest because she was one of the survivors of that night. When she persuades Bosch to help, he puts his reputation and job on the line to find the answers to mysteries the men responsible would prefer remain secret.
Connelly is one of the best crime writers in the business, and he continues to tell compelling character-driven tales.
The authentic police work and slow burn of the narrative turns this potentially ordinary crime story into something much more. Connelly has the magic touch, and “The Burning Room” is sure to be another best-seller that fans and newcomers alike will enjoy.
Jeff Ayers, AP
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