Harry Bosch is called to investigate a murder at a convenience store in South LA, a place he had been many years before. He had visited the store after escaping a mob (Angels Flight) and was offered a kindness by the Chinese-American proprietor, the murder victim. Needing the aid of an interpreter, David Chu of the Asian Gangs Unit (AGU) is called to the scene to interview the victim's wife. It does not take long to discover that Mr. Li was paying protection to a Triad. Bosch has hardly begun the case than he gets a call demanding he back off. Ignoring the threat, he arrests the Triad bagman who was the likely suspect. And then he received a video of his daughter, bound and gagged. Madeline lives in Hong Kong with her mother, Elinor Wish. Bosch is on the next flight to Hong Kong. Here is Harry Bosch meets Taken. Yes, Harry has a particular set of skills that make him a nightmare to those who would kidnap his daughter. There are a lot of bodies and Harry calls upon Mickey Haller to represent him.
One of the staples of Harry Bosch is his insistence that there are no coincidences. In fact, he cracks the case because of his belief that their are no coincidences. However, the plot of this book has the most glaring coincidence of all time. After this, Harry is going to need to seriously rethink his belief that their are no coincidences.
It is a quick and engaging read but, toward the end, it feels like Connelly was pressing up against a deadline. The big case is explained after the fact. On one page, Harry is racing off to arrest the culprit and on the next, it is a week later and he is recalling the fallout from that day. Huh? Not one of his stronger endings. Still, a good book and definitely recommended.
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