Although this is only the 3rd book in the Harry Bosch series, and there are 20+ books in the series, this was my favorite so far. Harry's demotion to the Hollywood Division is explained in Book #1, but this book brings Harry to trial about the Dollmaker case, which is what got Harry demoted. Harry had shot and killed a serial killer called the Dollmaker, who was actually unarmed at the time. Harry of course thought he was reaching for a gun, so shooting him was his response for self-defense. Harry is brought to trial by the Dollmaker's widow. She doesn't believe that her husband was the Dollmaker - and she also wanted Harry to pay for killing an unarmed man. At the beginning of this book, another body is discovered ("The Concrete Blonde" since the woman was blonde and buried under cement) with the Dollmaker's trademarks. She was killed two years previously and the Dollmaker was killed by Harry four years previously. So this brings into question whether Harry killed an innocent man.
In addition to Harry being involved in this trial, which doesn't appear to be going in his favor, due to the inexperience of his own lawyer vs. the expertise of the Plaintiff's lawyer, Honey Chandler, Harry is still dating the former spouse (Sylvia) of the cop gone bad in Book #2. It's already a year into their relationship and Harry loves Sylvia but she starts doubting his commitment to her. Being a cop's wife, she is super patient, but Harry's unwillingness to talk about his past and his obsession with the Dollmaker case, tries her patience.
As if that isn't intriguing enough (all of the above!), Harry starts to suspect a cop as another serial killer (referred to as the Follower) and uses a psychiatrist/author as a resource for information. This doctor, Locke, seems a little too interested in Harry's latest case, which makes me suspicious of him! And finally, Edgar does a really terrible thing to Harry and that really threw me for a loop. I don't like him so much anymore. This book was definitely a "page turner".
Wendy's Rating: ****
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