I have to say my two favourite long running detectives are Ian Rankin's John Rebus and Michael Connolly's Harry Bosch. So, I got to thinking - what is it that makes us pick up these books again and again and immerse ourselves, for a short time, in their lives? The only answer I could come up with is that both characters have aged with me; sometimes gracefully and sometimes not so gracefully. They represent the genre from opposite sides of the pond. But for me, what really sells them to me is their humanity. They are real characters with weaknesses and strengths. They're still sticking to their guns and fighting for the underdog, no matter what the establishment throws at them ... and this is true of the latest Harry Bosch book Two Kinds of Truth.
Two Kinds of Truth kicks off with Harry in jail ... well, actually he's working cold cases from the old disused jail in San Fernando where he's been sidelined to from LAPD. When a pharmacist and his son are shot, gangland style and simultaneously an old case of Harry's is reopened, Harry is plunged into a two pronged work schedule. First he must find out what links the deaths of the pharmacists to a drug running enterprise that utilises the vulnerable. Second, he must prove that contrary to new evidence, he did put away the correct murderer over twenty years previously.
Connolly, with all the skill we've come to expect from this veteran writer, manages to show us an aging Harry (He's in his sixties), yet one who still has fire in his belly. I love the way Harry and his brother Mickey's moral code is thrown up for scrutiny, yet leaves the reader to decide on degrees of rightness. Harry's honesty and humanity sold the book for me. It rang true... even after all these years, and I loved the welcome return of some characters from the past.
It's fast paced, sensitive and reflects the sort of society we live in now whilst contemplating the changes that have occurred over the years. Connolly always provides an observation of human nature and motivations which I find intriguing. reading the book I was often prompted to wonder what I would do in a particular situation.
All I can say to Michael Connolly is ... "Keep 'em coming!!!"

A typical Michael Connelly, Bosch story. It's good to see the softer side of Bosch and his musings and concerns surrounding his daughter. I've seen him age disgracefully, enjoyed as usual.

I love Harry Bosch and was waiting excitedly for this next instalment! It is as brilliantly enjoyable as ever!

Harry Bosch is back in this latest book in the series. he is working on cold cases when he is drawn in to a murder investigation. Alongside of this, he receives a visit from his old partner with news of a death row murderer who is about to be freed due to new DNA evidence. Harry was the investigating officer on the original murder case and is convinced he has the right man behind bars. Michael Connelly has nothing to prove as a writer and he is consistent with this book. Fans will love it. My thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook.

I am a big Bosch fan; both of the books and the TV series. In fact, since I started watching the TV series, I now very clearly see Bosh as Titus Welliver as I read. Some great casting that! Amazingly, we are now on book 22 of the series and, where some series have well and truly flagged long before this stage, this one still shows no signs of doing that. Long may it continue.
So, Bosch is back working cold cases for the San Fernando PD. His current case involves that of a woman who disappeared, feared murdered by her husband. Then, a visit from an old partner, accompanied by police investigators brings his world to a standstill. Apparently, one of his old cases is coming back to haunt him. A convicted, death row killer has launched a new appeal. The powers that be are taking it seriously so he must have new evidence. But the investigators are saying little about the details but it appears that they aren't eager to back him up. His world is brought back to the present when he is called to assist the SFPD with the murder of a father and son in their drug store. With his new colleagues backing him in his troubles, he goes all in to repay their trust and get to the bottom of the murders. Even going out on a limb - literally - to get to the truth. Meanwhile, his old partner comes through with details from the case files for his investigation. Time to bring in half brother and Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller to fight his corner whilst he continues to investigate the pharmacy killings.
Oh my Harry, you have the world on your shoulders in this book. One minute you are ticking along quite nicely with your cold cases, no pressure, no time constraints other than wanting to get to the truth for all involved and then BAM! Not only a current case that needs your expertise and experience, but that expertise is also being called into question. Talk about piling on the pressure!
But remember, this is Harry we are talking about. He's seen it all, done it all, hell he wears that T-Shirt like a badge of honour and, if anyone can, Harry can. Even if it means risking his life going undercover. Juggling both the current case he is working on proves tricky when the proverbial hits the fan with the investigation into his integrity. But we have Haller to take up the slack here. Another of my favourite characters and one that I am very happy to have partnered here with Bosch in this book. Chalk and Cheese a bit but they complement each other well and for all their relative pasts, they do have each other's backs albeit not always evidently.
Plotting here is just as tight as other books; especially with regard to the investigation and appeal. At first, I was as clueless as Harry as to how the new evidence could have come about. As things started to come to light, as connections were made, as conclusions once drawn started to break down, I was in awe how well planned out this had been but also, how easily it all started to fall apart once initially shaken. I was also quite shocked at the ease that certain people were able to throw Harry to the wolves despite his over 30 year record, yet his new colleagues backed him to the hilt. It was also good to see Harry get the bit between his teeth once again with his current investigation. It was also really nice to see another old friend appear in this book. No spoilers but it did make me smile. The final part of the puzzle regarding his cold case without giving away anything just redressed the balance to the book. You'll understand this better after you've read it, honestly. But it's inclusion was perfect.
With Harry ageing I am worried for the longevity of this series. I know that Mr Connelly has a new series he has just started staring Renee Ballard which I read and enjoyed earlier this year but there will come a time when Harry has to hang up his cuffs. That'll be a very sad day for sure but, as this book has proved, there is still life in the old dog yet. Roll on the next book.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I expected to love this book and I was not wrong. In fact, having read the previous books in the series, I think this is the best one for some time. It's complex. There are two major plot lines, two cases being pursued and they are not interlinked, except that Bosch is involved in both.

This is the 20th novel in the series. Bosch is retired from LAPD and working as a volunteer for SFPD. He is consumed by his work. He gets up early and works long days, late into the night if necessary. His volunteer case involves the murder of a pharmacist and the investigation leads to a world of prescription drug abuse. Meanwhile is old partner from LAPD turns up out of the blue and drops a bombshell describing an accusation of Bosch relating to an old case. Somehow he manages to juggle both. Haller is on hand to support with legal advice and somehow, in the end, both cases are resolved.

Brilliantly written, this book is Bosch at his best, dealing with something relevant and topical. As well as all the crime content, you see his softer side, especially in relation to his relationships with his daughter and others.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

it is excellent to be reading about Bosch again ... his delicacy all around, and his unerring sense of what's important for his case, and how to handle the people on his team - not to speak of the horrific crimes - not only in the past that nip at his heels when a team scrutinize a case from earlier in his career, distracting him ... but the ongoing murder .. Connelly is terrific and this one is too. Harry is almost feminine and feline in his way of going about detective work. This is a totally worthy addition to the series.

There’s always a frisson of excitement for me when a new Harry Bosch book comes out and this time was no different. I love the Harry Bosch character; that mixture of world weary seen-it-all cop and yet slightly idealistic for all that as he vigorously pursues the cause of justice.
In the 20th in the series, Harry is involved in three cases. One is a cold case he is investigating involving the disappearance and suspected murder of a young woman named Esmeralda Tavares, a young mother who had vanished, leaving behind her sleeping baby in a crib.
As he is following up on this cold case, he receives a visit from his former partner, Lucia Soto, alongside her current partner, Bob Tapscott and Alex Kennedy, the Deputy D.A. OF Los Angeles. It soon becomes clear that the D.A.’s office is planning to re-open one of Harry’s old cases, one where he knows he caught the killer and put the right man behind bars. New evidence means Preston Borders, a killer he put on death row thirty years ago, could be freed.
Borders and his lawyer claim Bosch planted key evidence and it soon becomes clear that if Harry wants to clear his name, he is going to have to do it on his own.
But first he is called out on a shooting to a local San Fernando drug store where a father and son have both been shot dead. As a result of enquiries made into this killing Harry goes undercover to expose the gangland world of prescription drug selling.
The plotlines slowly begin to mesh together in a way that surprises and shocks as Harry fights to save both his life and then his reputation.
There are intimations of mortality throughout this book. Harry is getting older and though able to take care of himself, he is less fit than he used to be and his thoughts whilst living in extremely dangerous conditions are all about the inheritance he can leave for his daughter.
As Harry pursues his cases, violent confrontations are never far away and he earns the respect of his colleagues as he relentlessly pursues the truth.
Meanwhile, as the D.A. builds his case and seeks to free the killer Bosch has put away, Bosch enlists the help of his half-brother Micky Haller, to help him defend his reputation.
(There’s a lovely piece in the book where Haller adopts the accent used by Matthew McConoughey when playing Haller, which just made me laugh out loud).
Working together, Haller and Bosch are quite a team, but as ever there’s still that adversarial edge to their relationship which means that they will never entirely play nice with each other.
As the story reaches its conclusion, there’s a quote from the book that sums up Harry and his experience.
‘Bosch knew there were two kinds of truth in this world. The truth that was the unalterable bedrock of one’s life and mission. And the other, malleable truth of politicians, charlatans, corrupt lawyers, and their clients, bent and molded to serve whatever purpose was at hand.’
A terrific read, which had me gripped from first to last, this book was never less than compelling.

Probably the best Harry Bosch novel I have read. It has everything. Bosch, Mickey Haller, his daughter Maddy, a new murder case in San Fernando a cold murder case from LA and Harry trying to save his reputation which has come under attack.

An intoxicating brew, brilliantly written and researched which grabs you from the first page.

How can somebody write so well? The thriller of the year for me.

It has been many years since I read a Michael Connelly book about Harry Bosch and I am not sure why that is! Although he is always being pursued for some injustice I found his character as endearing as every. Two stories intertwined worked well. A very readable book from an accomplished author.

I'm a big Michael Connelly fan and have read most of his books including the Harry Bosch and Micky Haller series which now often seem to overlap.
In this Bosch thriller Harry is working for San Fernando Police Department clearing cold cases and also joining in with some current police work. He is approached by some ex colleagues from LAPD investigating claims by a death row inmate that he is innocent and has been framed by the police. This is unfortunately a case Harry investigated 30 years ago and he knows he didn't plant evidence as is being claimed. He resolves to investigate and prove his innocence not trusting the officers he used to work with.
Whilst all this is going on he is also investigating a double homicide of a pharmacist and his son in their chemist shop; this is a case happening in the present day. As part of this he goes undercover and puts himself in extreme danger.
This was a book I read quickly as the story was so compelling and really well researched. The two strands of the plot were not connected but fitted together nicely as Harry looked for "the truth" in both instances. When he realises that he has a problem with the old case he contacts his half brother, the lawyer Micky Haller to help him and the interaction between the two was interesting, Harry is a stickler for the rules and Micky will resort to anything to win a case no matter the cost.
The section where Harry goes under cover to catch a criminal masterminding the drug plot in the pharmacy case is exciting and well written. The reader is left holding their breath hoping that Harry will not get caught as the criminals seem unscrupulous and extremely violent.
This is a great read and despite being the 22nd book in the series it has all the hallmarks of an excellent thriller that we expect from Michael Connelly. Long live Harry Bosch- hopefully he will continue investigating well into his retirement as these books just get better and better.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Stuck, looking through cold case files, Harry Bosch sits at his desk minding his own business when two detectives turn up. They reckon Harry made a wrongful arrest that could have a devastating effect on his 30-year career. Harry, of course, is mad and determined to prove he was right all along. 'Two kinds of truth', ends up as two stories in one book with Harry coming to life as he teams up with his old partner Jerry and runs rings around younger men in the force. Another well-told tale by Connelly.

Harry Bosch is back with us in this, the 20th in the series and is as hard hitting and uncompromising as ever. I dip in and out of this series but it doesn't seem to matter, they are a testament to the very clever writing skills of Mr Connelly as they work well whether read as a series or standalone.
No. 20 sees Harry volunteering for the San Fernando Police Department working cold cases. He soon becomes involved in the murder of two pharmacists (father and son), while also defending himself against allegations of corruption laid at his door by a convicted killer Bosch put on death row many years earlier. It is this allegation that leads him to conclude that there are two kinds of truth in this world 'the unadulterable bedrock of one's life and mission. And the other malleable truth of politicians, charlatans, corrupt lawyers and their clients, bent and molded to serve whatever purpose was at hand'.
A lot happens in this book, but it never feels confused, it's fast paced but never manic, a good solid read, made all the better for the appearance of Mickey Haller, Bosch's half brother and The Lincoln Lawyer. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't get enough of Michael Connelly and was excited by the prospect of reading his latest novel. This is the 20th book in the highly successful Harry Bosch series and even after reading all the previous books the series still feels fresh with no sign of the high standard dropping.
Michael Connelly is my favourite author, he rarely disappoints and this is no exception. Great characters, well paced plot and exceptional writing.
Now in his sixties Harry Bosch is working cold cases for the San Fernando Police Department and is called out to a local drug store where a young pharmacist has been murdered. Investigations lead Bosch to a dangerous world of prescription drug abuse. At the same time an old case from when Bosch was LAPD resurfaces when a long-imprisoned killer claims Harry framed him, and seems to have new evidence to prove it. His former colleagues are no longer on good terms with Bosch and he needs to fight to protect his reputation. He fights to clear his name and keep the imprisoned killer where he belongs. These are two unrelated case and Bosch discovers that there are two kinds of truth, the kind that sets you free and the kind that leaves you buried in darkness.
I would like to thank Orion Publishing group and Net Galley for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I have read many of Michael Connelly's books but this must be the best. Two stories which do not relate to each other are told with Bosch as the link. It is masterly. The reader must be engrossed by the stories but also by the philosophical mind of Bosch. His exoneration is a cause for celebration. This is an outstanding novel.

This is another excellent instalment in the Bosch series, which fans of Michael Connelly will definitely enjoy.
While investigating the murder of two pharmacists, Bosch becomes involved in a DEA operation into illegal scripts and drugs run by Armenian and Russian criminals, and ends up working undercover in a perilous situation.
At the same time his integrity is challenged, as a convicted murderer on Death Row alleges Bosch planted evidence some thirty years earlier to ensure his conviction. Bosch enlists the help of his half-brother Mickey Haller to uncover the truth and to save his reputation.
Simultaneously he is working a cold case trying to establish what happened to a young mother who vanished without trace some fifteen years earlier, leaving her baby asleep in a crib. His search for the truth in that case has an unexpected outcome and leads to a different kind of truth.

Harry, as a retired cop, just seems to get better and better. I do hope that he's solving cases when he's 100. That will give his fans many many more years of crime fiction at its best.

I have enjoyed reading about the adventures of Harry Bosch and this book was no exception Harry may well have moved away into a voluntary role but this does not stop him getting caught up in a case and also having to fight to save his own reputation. Another brilliant book can't wait to see where the adventure leads next

Let's be honest after 30 or so of these they do seem to be painting by numbers. That doesn't mean I still won't read each one. I'm interested to see what he does with the new character series he has coming out later this year, that may be the place where we see some more thought going in.

As always Connelly delivers. Bosch has a lot on his plate - a cold case, historic wrongful arrest and 2 recent murders. Bosch has to prove he did not plant evidence in an old case. In the murder cases, he is drawn into the dangerous word of drugs. Reflecting Bosch's age there is not as much action as previously but more than enough to keep the plot moving. Connelly cleverly weaves the 3 cases together but, it is Bosch's reaction to these cases that bind them together rather than the criminals themselves.