Meeting Michael Connelly
On Saturday night I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Connelly at the Borders bookstore in Torrance.
I’ve been trying to meet him for years now, but something always happens. I found out about the book tour for The Closers a week late. I was all set to meet him during the tour for The Lincoln Lawyer, but then my dad died. I was out of the country for another tour, and so on. Something always comes up.
His newest book, Echo Park, is the latest installment in Connelly’s signature Harry Bosch series. Not surprisingly, it looks like a good one. I got 42 pages into it while waiting in line to have it signed, and I’m really enjoying it so far. There were two other folks at the signing from the District Attorney’s Office: Joe Scott (our media guy), and an investigator who once drove me to a crime scene downtown. It’s a tribute to Connelly that he has fans like us who know the criminal justice system and think that he gets it right.
If you’re not familiar with Connelly, I recommend his books highly. They will cost you a night or two of sleep, because you’ll stay up late to see what happens next. But it’s worth it.
Bit of a bleg here: I’m new to the genre, currently about half-way through the “Prey” series by John Sandford. Any guesses as to whether I’ll equally enjoy the Harry Bosch stuff? Are they similar in style? Thanks in advance.
Old Coot (caf903) — 10/16/2006 @ 7:26 amDon’t know the “Prey” series; but I do know the Harry Bosch series. Most folks will enjoy it; Connelly was a reporter for Patterico’s nemesis The Daily Dog Trainer for a long while; worked the police beat. Connelly started to write novels and left the Dog Trainer. Hieronymous “Harry” Bosch is a deeply conflicted individual. Harry was a tunnel rat in Viet Nam which left its own peculiar psychological scars on him; doesn’t do too well with the women in his life on a long term basis; doesn’t do too well with authority figures in the LAPD; but he can solve crimes. If you live in Los Angeles as many of the readers of Patterico’s blog do, most of the Bosch novels are set in L.A. (with excursions to Las Vegas, Catalina and Florida in some of the books).
Connelly is quite good at describing the physical surroundings where events take place. The books have an authentic look and feel of Los Angeles as we residents experience it today.
Mike Myers (541a76) — 10/16/2006 @ 9:36 amGotta love Connelly.
MOG (c949f7) — 10/16/2006 @ 9:49 amOld Coot,
Yes, I think you will enjoy Connelly. I’ve read some of both authors, and enjoy them both. But I think I’d take a Connelly over Sandford if push came to shove. (But it’s oh so close!)
Yes, you just might miss a night or two of sleep. He draws you in. He also has several other characters with their own books. I’ve read a couple of those and also like them. They have a “realness” to them that is hard to describe. I recommend you take the plunge.
Bill M (d9e4b2) — 10/16/2006 @ 11:06 amOld Coot:
I’ve read (or listened to) the entire “Prey” series and most of the Harry Bosch series. I’ve enjoyed both immensely. Lucas Davenport, the protagonist in Sandford’s “Prey” series is an engaging character just as Harry Bosch is, and many of the cases that he handles are quite complex and engaging.
I think you’ll enjoy Sandford if you like Connelly.
Keith
Keith (daf62f) — 10/16/2006 @ 11:27 amSeems to be a consensus; thanks. But before I head for the library, one last bother: How important is it to try and read the Bosch series in sequence? I’ve skipped around on the Sandford books and have missed some character development and found a few spoilers.
Old Coot (caf903) — 10/16/2006 @ 11:57 amJust the name Harry Bosch is great. Mr. Connelly was very generous with his time when I nabbed him for an interview. Bosch pear. A ballsy hero with a great pair….
Vermont Neighbor (456914) — 10/16/2006 @ 12:10 pmOld Coot:
Read the Harry Bosch books in sequence, and start that series first, as it includes some of his very best stuff. (Good stand-alones: I loved The Poet, and Blood Work.)
You might not want to bother with Void Moon right away; it was an experimental piece, and has some great stuff in it, but it’s a bit weak for Connelly.
Everyone: also look into T. Jeff Parker, especially the series that starts with The Blue Hour.
Attila Girl (f95a82) — 10/16/2006 @ 12:55 pmPatterico said:
“… It’s a tribute to Connelly that he has fans like us who know the criminal justice system and think that he gets it right.”
I like his books (and thank Patterico for recommending him), however I must say the books feature a remarkable number of villainous law enforcers. Is this part of what of Patterico thinks he gets right?
Btw I like the Prey books also. If you like one author the other is probably a good bet. Ideally both should be read in order.
James B. Shearer (fc887e) — 10/16/2006 @ 1:14 pmSo far I have loved every single thing written by Michael Connelly and I expect to continue doing so.
How lucky you are to have met this talented human!
Gayle Miller (855514) — 10/16/2006 @ 1:56 pmA great recommendation, and you’re lucky indeed. I’m surprised no one has mentioned James Ellroy: somewhat more noir than Connelly (and Sandford). Also tending very much to be set in LA, though often a long-vanished LA of the 40’s 50’s or 60’s.
Do avoid his “American Tabloid” and “The Cold Six Thousand”, at least at first. The writing style of the latter is bizarre and, I’d argue, at times stylistically monotonous. His LA Quartet is outstanding. (The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, LA Confidential and White Jazz)
Holmwood
Holmwood (76cebf) — 10/16/2006 @ 8:05 pmby the way, Michael Connelly also wrote “Blood Work”, turned into a major motion picture starring Clint Eastwood.
I’ve liked both Michael Connelly and John Sandford’s novels, both of the writers are former newspaper journalists.
Sam (330c25) — 10/17/2006 @ 8:42 amread “echo park” over the weekend. workmanlike yarn, i didn’t think it was brilliant. l.a. law enforcement can be inept, but not so inept that a serial killer escapes during a field trip to find a body. the fbi gal’s act of dumping bosch was insufficiently justified. what do women want?
assistant devil's advocate (d15d7c) — 10/24/2006 @ 10:51 amI would like to read the Harry Bosch books in sequence. Does anyone have that info?
Honor Masse (ae242d) — 1/2/2008 @ 7:26 am