It is 2 in the morning and Harry Bosch is waiting for a call from his wife. She went out last night and he hasn't seen her. When the phone rings, he is surprised to find that it is Deputy Chief Irvin Irving. Howard Elias, a high profile lawyer who made a career of suing the LAPD, has been murdered. Elias was about to go to trial on a case involving cops torturing a black suspect so everyone suspects a cop killed him. The city is on edge and there are fears of a repeat of the 1992 riots. Because police themselves are high on the suspect list, Internal Affairs Division is called in to assist. Detective Chastain, a long-standing nemesis to Bosch, is suddenly his subordinate in this explosive case. They have hardly gotten started when the FBI are brought in to allay fears that the LAPD would whitewash the case.
Not as good as previous books. The plot is too intricate and comes across less real than others in the series. The inclusion of Eleanor leaving Bosch is unsatisfactory and felt tacked on to provide additional stress. Bosch's love life is a constant disaster. To date, he has been involved with Eleanor (felon), Jazz (felon), Sylvia (the wife of a cop who he killed), and Theresa (coroner). He sure can pick 'em. Much like The Black Echo, everything matters. There are no loose ends and just about everyone proves to be corrupt. It is a very dark picture he paints. One does not expect cops to have a sunny disposition.
Were it not for Jeffery Epstien, the pedophile ring among the wealthy elite that is exposed in the book would have been farfetched. Nope, turns out Connelly was onto something despite writing this book in 1999.
Overall, a good book and worth your time.
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