Title: The Last Coyote
Author: Michael Connelly
First published June 1, 1995
400 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780752809441 (ISBN10: 075280944X)
Rating: 4.25
Overview
In Michael Connelly’s gripping novel, The Last Coyote, we meet Harry, a police detective who’s been suspended indefinitely after attacking his commanding officer. Forced to confront his past, Harry delves into a decades-old case involving the brutal murder of his mother, a prostitute.
As he follows the trail of clues, Harry uncovers a web of corruption and cover-ups that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. With each step he takes, Harry puts his job, his life, and his sanity on the line.
The Last Coyote is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
About the Author
Michael Connelly’s passion for writing was ignited when he stumbled upon Raymond Chandler’s books while studying at the University of Florida. He then pursued a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing, with novelist Harry Crews as one of his instructors.
Upon graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, specializing in crime reporting. In Fort Lauderdale, he covered the height of the murder and violence wave that hit South Florida during the “cocaine wars.” In 1986, he and two other reporters wrote a magazine story on a major airline crash and its survivors, which was later shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing.
This piece propelled Connelly into the upper echelons of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country and the city where his literary hero, Chandler, had once written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly started writing his first novel, featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The Black Echo, published in 1992, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America.
Since then, he has published 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.
Connelly was also the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, he is one of the producers and writers of the TV show “Bosch,” which is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael Connelly resides with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Editoral Review
“The Last Coyote” by Michael Connelly is another fantastic installment in the Harry Bosch series of crime novels. Published in 1995, this book solidifies Connelly’s reputation as one of the top crime fiction writers of our time.
Connelly, a former journalist and the author of numerous bestsellers, has been consistently praised for his ability to combine a vivid sense of place with a deep understanding of human psychology. His work stands out in the crowded field of crime novels for its attention to detail, realistic characterizations, and gripping storylines.
“The Last Coyote” follows LAPD detective Harry Bosch as he investigates the brutal murder of his mother, a former prostitute who was found dead in a motel room. As Harry delves deeper into his family’s past, he uncovers long-buried secrets and dark truths that threaten to consume him.
Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles in the 1990s, Connelly masterfully evokes the city’s seedy underbelly and sprawling landscapes. The vivid descriptions of the city’s various neighborhoods, from the Venice boardwalk to the mansions of Beverly Hills, bring the setting to life and make it a character in its own right.
At its core, “The Last Coyote” is a story about family, betrayal, and redemption. Through Harry’s quest for answers about his mother’s death, Connelly explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of blood.
As always, Connelly’s characters are complex and flawed, but they are also relatable and sympathetic. The book’s pacing is excellent, with tension building steadily throughout until the dramatic climax.
Connelly’s prose is spare and precise, never wasting a word. He is a master of dialogue, and the conversations between Harry and the various suspects and witnesses are highly engaging.
While “The Last Coyote” is a standalone novel, it is also part of a larger series, and readers who are already familiar with Harry Bosch will find much to enjoy here. However, even readers who are new to Connelly’s work will find this book to be a gripping and satisfying read.
If there is a weakness to “The Last Coyote,” it is perhaps that the story is somewhat predictable. There are few major twists or surprises, and readers may be able to guess the identity of the killer before the end.
However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent book, and even knowing the ending does not detract from the pleasure of reading it. Overall, “The Last Coyote” is a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys crime fiction, especially those who are fans of Michael Connelly’s work.
It is a well-crafted, character-driven novel that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. The Washington Post gives this book a rating of 4 out of 5.
