Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch discovers two kinds of truth in this gripping work of fiction from #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author Michael Connelly Harry Bosch, exiled from the LAPD, is working cold cases for the San Fernando Police Department when all hands are called out to a local drugstore, where two pharmacists have been murdered in a robbery. Bosch and the tiny town's three-person detective squad sift through the clues, which lead into the dangerous, big-business world of prescription drug abuse. To get to the people at the top, Bosch must risk everything and go undercover in the shadowy world of organized pill mills. Meanwhile, an old case from Bosch's days with the LAPD comes back to haunt him when a long-imprisoned killer claims Harry framed him and seems to have new evidence to prove it. Bosch left the LAPD on bad terms, so his former colleagues are not keen on protecting his reputation. But if this conviction is overturned, every case Bosch ever worked will be called into question. As usual, he must fend for himself as he tries to clear his name and keep a clever killer in prison. The two cases wind around each other like strands of barbed wire. Along the way, Bosch discovers that there are two kinds of truth: the kind that sets you free and the kind that leaves you buried in darkness. An NPR Best Book of 2017 A Times Critics' Top Book of 2017 A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2017A South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery of 2017 An Amazon Book of the Month

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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...he had never planted evidence against any suspect or adversary in his life. And this knowledge gave Bosch an affirming jolt of adrenaline and purpose. He knew there were two kinds of truth in this world. The truth that was the unalterable bedrock of one's life and mission. And the other, malleable truth of politicians, charlatans, corrupt lawyers, and their clients, bent and molded to serve whatever purpose was at hand.

Black Echo

Bosch

This is a spoiler-free Review
Read on In The Sheets

Two Kinds of Truth is the 22nd book in the Harry Bosch series and the 27th in the Bosch Universe. Between the books and the Amazon show, it seems Bosch is still going strong after 25 years.

While I have read some Michael Connelly in the past (I loved The Poet) this is my first Bosch novel. A fact I'm not proud of, but I will say it won't be my last.

In this installment, Bosch is working on two cases, a recent double murder, and a case from more than 2 decades prior that's been reopened due to new evidence and the advancement of DNA analysis. As the new case threatens to directly effect Bosch and potentially jeopardize his career, he has to work fast to ensure justice is both served and re-served.

What I loved most about this book is how fleshed out the characters are. Each has an individual personality, and even after 25 years, you can still see character development over the course of the novel.

You can tell just how comfortable Connelly has become with the characters and how much he enjoys writing them, they feel like real people. The book knows exactly what it is and does it extremely well. There's a level of writing here you only get from someone who's been writing and developing these characters as long as Michael has.

If you're into detective thrillers, this is an obvious choice, it doesn't get any better than Michael Connelly. The series being 22 books in already sounds daunting, but each is also written to stand alone, so it's never too late to jump in!

I have read a half-dozen or so titles by Michael Connelly, and have found them overall to be exceptional. Fair Warning was good, but not my favorite. Two Kinds of Truth is maybe even better than Lost Light and The Black Echo. Enjoy.