Bosch has been sent for psychological evaluation after he assaulted his commanding officer. Lt. Harvey Pounds was more a bureaucrat than a cop and Harry had had enough, shoving the man face first through his office window. That his year-long relationship with Sylvia had crashed simultaneous with the Northridge Quake (1994) that resulted in his house being condemned didn't help matters. Suspended pending the evaluation, Bosch decided it was time to solve his mother's murder. Though he was not supposed to access any police files, he nonetheless retrieved the 33 year old case. He was quickly infuriated by the half-assed job the detectives had done. He tracked one of them down in Florida but when he returned to LA, he learned that Lt. Pounds was dead and he was the prime suspect.
Referenced throughout the previous books, the unsolved murder of Harry's mother is finally explored. It proves to be a real puzzler that offers multiple potential perpetrators and an apparent political cover up. As the book is told from Harry's point of view, the reader necessarily follows his current reasoning. This isn't really a case where there are several suspects and one might determine the right one. However, the conclusion does remind me of The Concrete Blonde, providing likely suspects that fit Harry's current theory. My one quibble is that Bosch is caught off guard repeatedly. Despite knowing there is a cop killer on the loose, he isn't paranoid enough.
Like the previous three books in the series, this one is a great read with excellent pacing. Recommended.
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