The Closers (Harry Bosch) [Audio Cassette]

Michael Connelly (Author)

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Time Warner AudioBooks; Unabridged edition (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1415908184
• ISBN-13: 978-1415908181
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (236 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,341,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing ' a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.

After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.

After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles , was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with 18 more novels. His books have been translated into 31 languages and have won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus, Dilys, Nero, Barry, Audie, Ridley, Maltese Falcon (Japan), .38 Caliber (France), Grand Prix (France), and Premio Bancarella (Italy) awards.

Michael lives with his family in Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bosch is back - a little older, a little smarter, May 22, 2005

By 

C. Middleton (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Closers (Hardcover)

In Connelly's previous novel, The Narrows, Harry Bosch was seriously considering coming out of "retirement" and returning to service with the LAPD, despite several misgivings, one of which was the entrenched corruption throughout the force. However a new police chief is on board with a mission to clean house. Harry's old enemy, Deputy Chief Irving, a self-serving political player, wants Harry to fail and will do anything to achieve this end. Bosch has been assigned to the Open-Unsolved Unit, (cold cases) teamed up with his old partner, Kiz Rider, a no nonsense police woman in a predominately male domain, embark on an unsolved seventeen year old murder of a young girl, shot through the chest and taken out of her bedroom and dumped in a field. Harry attacks this unsolved murder with calculated zeal, leading to possible corruption in the force, pushing the case to it limits to find the perpetrator. The Closers begins at breakneck speed and doesn't let up until the last page is turned.

Reading The Closers was like meeting an old friend after a year of absence. Harry Bosch is one of the great characters in crime fiction, a man with an incredible sense of justice and an over bearing conscience, that pulls him into trouble from time to time. His relationship with Kiz Rider, as his partner, is a perfect match, as they know each other well, can read each other's thoughts before a word is spoken. Kiz never rides on Harry's coattails, but contributes to the motion, adding her own special skills to the investigation. Harry is older but he's a little smarter, and careful to stay within the bounds of the law. Kiz keeps Harry in line and is there to prevent him from slipping into his old, unorthodox habits.

As a piece of crime fiction, The Closers is by no means a character study, it is entirely plot driven, following Harry Bosch at work to every twist and turn of the case. Connelly knows how to write a crime novel and does not leave anything to the imagination. I have come to believe that the crime genre is an art form all its own, and Connelly has become one of its masters.

This is the real thing. Modern detective fiction doesn't get any better, and in the hands of Connelly, one can be sure the ride will be thoroughly entertaining; and The Closers delivers on all counts - a five star effort.

92 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Basics, May 19, 2005

By 

J. Brian Watkins (Laie, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Closers (Hardcover)

This was my favorite Bosch novel in a long time. From start to finish the book evidences Mr. Connelly's respect for pure police work untainted by political and personal considerations. Chief Bratton has clearly made a positive impact on our author. As a character, Harry Bosch had been kind of drifting--I am glad to welcome him back.

This book is the finest example of a police procedural. It touches on all the major policing issues of the day, local use of the Patriot Act, the "CSI" effect, various social issues, attention to unsolved cases, increased expectations of officers, and still remains faithful to the predecessor works. Granted, you have to know the prior works to fully appreciate the involvement of Deputy Chief Irving and Bosch's newfound peace with his situation but Connelly's plot is rich enough to carry the entire work without the need for Bosch's usual internal conflicts. Besides, I'm sure that Bosch will run into trouble again soon--L.A. has a new mayor and nobody knows what he really believes or what he really stands for (other than re-election.

The masters make their work appear effortless--this work takes Connelly and Bosch to new heights. Do not expect to put it down until you are finished.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Connelly still the tops, May 22, 2005

By 

Melissa A. Noyes - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Closers (Hardcover)

Once again, Michael Connelly has caused me to lose sleep. If I open one of his books, I don't rest until it's done. And I've never regretted the sleep deprivation!

The Closers reinforces the reader's belief in Harry Bosch, reunited with Kiz Rider, and their dedication to the victims of murder, regardless of their age at death.

Letting the chips fall where they may is a brave stance and the only modus operandi when Bosch is involved.

My advise, start at the beginning of Connelly's career as a novelist and ride along with Connelly as he develops one of the most incredible law enforcement characters ever!