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Michael Connelly
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Blood Work Mass Market Paperback – October 1, 1998

by Michael Connelly (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,881 ratings
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  1. Anthony AwardWinner, 1999
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From the #1 bestselling author of the Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer series and who "is the master of the universe in which he lives" (Huffington Post), comes the gripping novel that inspired the film starring Clint Eastwood.

When Graciella Rivers steps onto his boat, ex-FBI agent Terrell McCaleb has no idea he's about to come out of retirement. He's recuperating from a heart transplant and avoiding anything stressful. But when Graciella tells him the way her sister, Gloria, was murdered, Terry realizes he has no choice. Now the man with the new heart vows to take down a predator without a soul. For Gloria's killer shatters every rule that McCaleb ever learned in his years with the Bureau-as McCaleb gets no more second chances at life...and just one shot at the truth.

*Winner of the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière- International Category
*Winner of the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel
*Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel
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  1. Print length
    528 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1.13 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780446602624
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0446602624
  8. See all details
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  1. Put the subject you are talking to on the right. It means they look at you from the left and engage the side of the brain that is less critical and judgmental.
    Highlighted by 332 Kindle readers
  2. Blood debts had to be paid in blood. That was why in the bureau’s serial killer unit the agents called what they did “blood work.”
    Highlighted by 194 Kindle readers
  3. Remember what I told you about the equilibrium between physical and mental health? One feeds off the other.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Another of Connelly's volcanic lawmen confronts his nightmare double - the killer whose brutal crime saved the hero's life. Two years after a bad heart sidelined him from the FBI, Terry McCaleb gets another chance, and another heart, thanks to Gloria Torres, shot in a convenience store holdup. McCaleb's well on the way to recovery when Gloria's sister, emergency room nurse Graciela Rivers, tells him who donated his new heart and begs him to reopen Gloria's stalled case. The job seems impossible - after all, what kinds of clues could the LAPD or McCaleb dig up on a random crime of opportunity? - but longtime fans of Connelly's nailbiters (Trunk Music, 1997, etc.) will know that the holdup is anything but random. They won't be surprised when McCourt, scrutinizing a videotape of the robbery, picks up telltale details the cops never spotted, or when he sees that Gloria's murder is only part of a pattern of killings. From here on in, though, it's best not to say too much about Connelly's bag of tricks. Once the suspect McCaleb's confronted attacks him (painful stuff for a convalescent whose cardiologist warned him that the excitement of the chase alone was enough to put him back in the hospital) and takes off, McCaleb, fortified by his budding romance with Graciela and his delight in Gloria's seven-year-old son Raymond, hunkers down with a jumble of surveillance tapes, fortuitous eyewitnesses and earwitnesses, and tiny discrepancies that open up big breaks in the case. But the closer McCourt gets to his quarry, the more closely he fits the profile of the killer himself - a coincidence not lost on the cops who've resented his involvement all along. A tormented hero, a canny and malicious killer, endlessly patient detective work alternating with dark threats and tense action scenes: Connelly seems bent on wiring together every cliche of the mano-a-mano genre and juicing them fill they sing. (Kirkus Reviews) --n/a

About the Author

Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-one novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Two Kinds of Truth, The Late Show, and The Wrong Side of Goodbye. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series and Lincoln Lawyer series, have sold more than sixty million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels and is the executive producer of Bosch, starring Titus Welliver. He spends his time in California and Florida.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0446602620
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (October 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780446602624
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0446602624
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.13 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,881 ratings

About the author

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Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly

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Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty-five million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, The Black Echo, won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly's 1998 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, The Lincoln Lawyer, hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. His most recent New York Times bestsellers include Resurrection Walk (2023), Desert Star (2022), The Dark Hours (2021), The Law Of Innocence (2020), Fair Warning (2020), and The Night Fire (2019). Michael is the executive producer of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime/Amazon Freevee. He is the executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. He is also the executive producer of the documentary films, "Sound Of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story' and 'Tales Of the American.' He spends his time in California and Florida.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
12,881 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the fast-paced plot with unexpected twists and turns. The characters are believable and easy to identify with. Readers praise the author's skill in creating realistic characters and portraying human emotions. Overall, they consider the book an enjoyable read by a talented writer.

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ReadabilityWriting qualityPacingCharacter developmentAuthor
306 customers mention "Readability"281 positive25 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written. They appreciate the well-developed story and fast-paced plot. The author provides clear character development and a clear distinction between good and bad. Overall, readers describe the book as an engaging read that doesn't disappoint.

"...It’s very interesting to read novels outside of the Bosch series...." Read more

"...It’s a much different world. Everything is ordered, good and bad clearly defined, the bad guy always gets what he deserves, the hero shines, no..." Read more

"Big fan of Connelly. The murder mystery was interesting and hard to predict—the best a reader could hope for...." Read more

"Very interesting and informative. Learned a lot." Read more

77 customers mention "Writing quality"74 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it thrilling and well-written, with believable plots and details. The book is described as an excellent read with clever and intricate plotting.

"...I was fascinated by how much detail he put into every scene and how he made his characters so interesting. Truly the GOAT!" Read more

"...This is an excellent read through and through. Highly recommended." Read more

"The author has a great mind and a wonderful imagination. I like his stories as much as I like those of Martin Archer." Read more

"It's a good yarn with good writing, just don't expect it to be believable...." Read more

70 customers mention "Pacing"50 positive20 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast-paced plot and twists. They find the narrator engaging, keeping them hooked on the storyline. The medical details are well-researched and organized, providing insights into the author's reporting style.

"...Connelly gives non-Bosch characters their own voices, yet maintains the pacing, the character depth..." Read more

"...It’s a refreshing antidote to the real world.”“Sounds boring.”“No, it’s reassuring. Where to now?”..." Read more

"Started off a bit sluggish and a bit amateurish but the details of how a homicide is looked at and hopefully solved was very interesting...." Read more

"...Excellently plotted. Rich in character detail. And still unbelievably fast paced...." Read more

48 customers mention "Character development"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and believable. They say the lead character is easy to identify with. The book offers a sensitive portrayal of organ recipient emotions. Overall, customers praise the plotting, structure, and characterizations as superb.

"...-Bosch characters their own voices, yet maintains the pacing, the character depth (mostly - there’s one fairly cliche side character), and the twisty..." Read more

"...But, the character of McCaleb was fascinating as he works through solving the case and dealing with both his physical and emotional challenges." Read more

"...by how much detail he put into every scene and how he made his characters so interesting. Truly the GOAT!" Read more

"...Excellently plotted. Rich in character detail. And still unbelievably fast paced...." Read more

40 customers mention "Author"40 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's work. They find the books believable, well-thought-out, and addictive. The author has a great mind and imagination, and the stories are well-researched.

"Connelly can really craft a detective novel...." Read more

"The author has a great mind and a wonderful imagination. I like his stories as much as I like those of Martin Archer." Read more

"...The plot's not original but it's well done and your attention never flags." Read more

"A very satisfying detective novel. I particularly enjoyed the ending. I believe this is the first I've read of Michael Connelly's work...." Read more

Review
5 out of 5 stars
Review
"Blood Work" - that's what Terrell McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Until a heart condition forced him to take early retirement, he headed all investigations of serial murders in the Los Angeles area. Now he is recovering from a heart transplant operation and leads a quiet life. But McCaleb's calm seas turn rough when a story in the L.A. Times brings him face-to-face with Graciela Rivers, a darkly intriguing woman who hooks him with the story of her sister's unsolved murder. Against doctor's orders and his own better judgement, McCaleb agrees to take up the case. Soon Terry is on the trail of a killer whose crimes are more baffling and horrifying than anything he has ever encountered. It's a mind-bending, breakneck case that leads McCaleb into the darkest place he's ever known, unsure whether he even wants to survive his own investigation.
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Top reviews from the United States

Clay Yearsley
5.0 out of 5 stars Ssatisfying Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024
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Connelly can really craft a detective novel. I haven’t made it to the Lincoln Lawyer series yet, but I suspect he can also really craft a legal thriller.

It’s very interesting to read novels outside of the Bosch series. Connelly gives non-Bosch characters their own voices, yet maintains the pacing, the character depth (mostly - there’s one fairly cliche side character), and the twisty, shoulda-seen-it-coming-but-didn’t plots.

I also like how he makes little references to earlier (and later) books. He slips them in there and doesn’t dwell on them to say “see what I did there?”.

I’m reading all of Connelly’s books in the order of publication. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of them so far. Blood Work is no exception.

Highly recommended.
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George P. Wood
4.0 out of 5 stars First book in Michael Connelly's Terry McCaleb series
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2015
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When I purchased Blood Work online, I thought I was buying the sequel to Trunk Music. “The Also By Michael Connelly” page in the front matter of Trunk Music listed Connelly’s books by publication date, however, not by which character series they were part of. So, when Blood Work arrived, I was surprised to be reading about former FBI agent Terrell “Terry” McCaleb instead of LAPD detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch.

Surprised, but not disappointed. Blood Work is a good story in its own right (with an prospective reference to Michael Haller Jr. seven years before The Lincoln Lawyer was published). It follows McCaleb’s investigation into the murder of Gloria Rivers. At first, her murder appeared to be the random act of a convenience store robber. As McCaleb digs into the case at the request of Gloria’s sister Graciela, he uncovers a deeper, more sinister background to the case that hits a little too close to home.

Blood Work was not quite the page-turner other Connelly books have been, at least not in my opinion. That only means it took me a weekend to read it instead of a day. Connelly is a great storyteller and has become my favorite crime novelist.

I close with a piece of dialogue between McCaleb and his neighbor Buddy Lockridge. It describes perfectly why crime novels and murder mysteries are so popular:

[Lockridge:] “Good books are fast reads. You read crime novels?”

[McCaleb:] “Why would I want to read made-up stuff when I’ve seen the real stuff and can’t stand it?”

Buddy started the car. He had to turn the ignition twice before it kicked over.

“It’s a much different world. Everything is ordered, good and bad clearly defined, the bad guy always gets what he deserves, the hero shines, no loose ends. It’s a refreshing antidote to the real world.”

“Sounds boring.”

“No, it’s reassuring. Where to now?”

Reassurance that the good guys beat the bad guys in the end. That’s why I continue reading Michael Connelly. If you’re interested in other books involving Terry McCaleb, check out A Darkness More Than Night and The Narrows. And if you want to read Connelly’s Bosch books in proper order, make sure to check out his website.
22 people found this helpful
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bruce fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars great character studies
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2024
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Big fan of Connelly. The murder mystery was interesting and hard to predict—the best a reader could hope for. But, the character of McCaleb was fascinating as he works through solving the case and dealing with both his physical and emotional challenges.
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Fred S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Captivating!
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2024
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I’ve enjoyed reading all of Michael Connelly’s novels, but I think that Blood Work is his best book so far. I was fascinated by how much detail he put into every scene and how he made his characters so interesting. Truly the GOAT!
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Katie H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed book
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2024
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Very interesting and informative. Learned a lot.
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J. Aaron Bellamy
4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect place to start reading Michael Connelly
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019
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This is my favorite Michael Connelly novel I’ve read so far. Excellently plotted. Rich in character detail. And still unbelievably fast paced. From the ten or so of these books that I’ve read, I’d recommend this as the perfect place to start. The Bosch books that come before are excellent, but slower paced. The Poet, for me, felt a little far-fetched, but Blood Work hits its target dead center.

Admittedly, Connelly still struggles slightly with the romance. Maybe its me, but the love scenes in all the books I’ve read by him just don’t work. I can always hear Barry White playing in my head. Sometimes they need to be there, sometimes they don’t. In Blood Work, they make sense, and he doesn’t spend too much time on them, so fine, forgiven. They don’t even come close to being a deal killer and frankly, most people probably won’t even notice anything amiss.

Also, there are a few plot elements that may strike a careful reader as too perfect. More than many other crime writers I’ve read, Connelly does a great job making his detectives work hard to find the clues, and makes those discoveries believable. Every now and then, someone will pull a needle out of a haystack that makes you want to be like – really?? – but you just have to move on. Again, most people won’t notice or care.

This is an excellent read through and through. Highly recommended.
31 people found this helpful
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Angelo
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2024
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The author has a great mind and a wonderful imagination. I like his stories as much as I like those of Martin Archer.
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Alf
3.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but plot holes are ridiculous
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019
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It's a good yarn with good writing, just don't expect it to be believable. Some examples without spoilers: There was a code that the FBI allegedly couldn't crack that took me about 2 seconds, there was a character who was supposed to be expert at things but made an impossible-to-believe error, there were legions of people who compromised professional ethics to help the protagonist, etc. So you have to suspend disbelief, which I was willing to do until it got to be too much at the end.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Grondin Lyse
5.0 out of 5 stars Bien écrit
Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2024
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Lire
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars M'a plu
Reviewed in France on March 22, 2024
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Excellent comme tous les romans de Michael Connelly.
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Lawrence Applebaum
5.0 out of 5 stars Blood Work (Terry Mccaleb 1) (English Edition)
Reviewed in Germany on February 28, 2022
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Spannung!
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Grace
4.0 out of 5 stars CONSIGLIATO
Reviewed in Italy on November 5, 2019
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Consiglio il libro perchè di piacevole lettura, inglese scorrevole e trama abbastanza intelligente.
Solo 4 stelle perchè non molto intrigante (si immagina facilmente come prosegue) e non dei livelli di scrittura di S.King o semplicemente Agatha Christie .... Amo i gialli psicologici e con più suspence.
In ogni caso lo consiglio e mi riservo di leggere qualche altro libro di M.Connelly.
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Aman Khan
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
Reviewed in India on June 8, 2019
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When it comes to Blood Work, the devil is in the details. One of the best works of Michael Connelly!
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