Title: The Black Box
Author: Michael Connelly
First published November 26, 2012
403 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316069434 (ISBN10: 0316069434)
Rating: 4.14
Overview
In Michael Connelly’s The Black Box, Harry Bosch is confronted with a case that has gone unsolved for over 20 years. As he pieces together the evidence, Bosch discovers a link between a recent crime and a file from 1992, leading him to investigate the killing of a young female photographer during the L.A. riots.
Despite the case being handed off to the Riot Crimes Task Force, Bosch’s ballistics match indicates that her death was not random violence, but something more personal and connected to a deeper intrigue. Determined to find the missing piece of the puzzle, Bosch scours the wreckage of the past, searching for the elusive “black box” that will finally bring justice to the victim and closure to the case.
About the Author
Michael Connelly’s passion for writing was sparked by the works of Raymond Chandler, which he discovered while studying at the University of Florida. He pursued a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing, with novelist Harry Crews as one of his teachers.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly began his career as a crime reporter for newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the height of the cocaine wars. His work covering police and crime landed him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country.
This move brought him to the city where his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly wrote his first novel, The Black Echo, featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. Published in 1992, the book won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America.
Since then, he has written over 30 more novels.
Connelly’s books have sold over 80 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 45 languages. He has won numerous awards, including the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, and Audie Award.
He was also the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004.
Aside from his literary work, Connelly is also a producer and writer for the TV show “Bosch,” which can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. He currently resides with his family in both Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Editoral Review
The Black Box by Michael Connelly is a gripping crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Connelly is a master of the genre, having written 35 novels featuring his most famous character, Harry Bosch.
The Black Box was first published on November 26, 2012, and it’s an excellent addition to the series. The novel is set ten years after the infamous riots that erupted in Los Angeles in 1992.
Detective Harry Bosch is tasked with reopening a cold case from that tumultuous time, the murder of a female Danish journalist who was covering the riots. Bosch works to solve the case by revisiting old evidence and uncovering new leads, while also dealing with the politics and bureaucracy of the LAPD.
Connelly tells the story with his signature style of sharp, concise prose and a driving pace that propels the reader through the twists and turns of the plot. The characters are well-drawn and complex, with Bosch once again proving to be a compelling protagonist.
The setting of Los Angeles is also vividly portrayed, with Connelly painting a portrait of a city still reeling from the effects of the riots. One of the strengths of the novel is how Connelly weaves in real historical events and cultural issues into the story.
The riots and their aftermath are an important part of the plot, and Connelly explores the tensions between the police and the African American community during that time. The novel also touches on the aftermath of the Cold War, with Bosch discovering that the journalist’s murder might be linked to a spy ring operating during that time.
The Black Box is not without its flaws, however. Some readers might find the resolution of the case to be somewhat predictable, and there are moments where the pacing slows down.
Additionally, some of the secondary characters are not as fully developed as they could be. Despite these minor criticisms, The Black Box is an excellent crime novel that will satisfy both longtime fans of the series and new readers alike.
Connelly’s writing is top-notch, and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you hooked until the end. This is a book that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted detective story with a touch of historical context.
Overall, I would give The Black Box a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a solid addition to Connelly’s oeuvre, and it’s a book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.
Connelly is a master of the genre, and The Black Box is another reminder of why he’s one of the best crime writers working today.