Detective Bosch is spending Christmas alone, which is usual for him. He is the on-call Hollywood detective for the night but, oddly, finds he wasn't called for a death in his division. He shows up anyway to find Officer Calexico "Cal" Moore has committed suicide and the police department handed the case to more prestigious detectives from Robbery Homicide Division (RHD). Bosch is miffed. Yes, because the decedent is a cop, the case would have gone to RHD but he still should have been called. Though Bosch hardly knew Moore, he takes an interest in the case and starts digging. Moore worked narcotics and was looking into a new drug called Black Ice, which was related to a homicide that Bosch is investigating. Maybe Moore's death is related.
Despite pressure from the upper echelons of the LAPD, Bosch pursues the case to the Mexican border - the twin cities of Calexico-Mexicali - where Cal Moore was raised. He knows he's getting close when someone takes a shot at him. Increasing pressure from LA means he needs to return with the whole package or suffer consequences. The most surprising incident was when he was attacked by a bull soon after having attended a bull fight, using a bulletproof vest as a matador's cape. Good stuff. Of course, he again has the opportunity to creep through tunnels, harkening back to his days as a tunnel rat in Vietnam.
Excellent book. Recommended.
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