by Michael Connelly

Little, Brown, May, 2004.
Hardcover, 416 pages.
ISBN: 0316155306

Harry Bosch, a retired LAPD detective, is back on the case when he is asked to help solve the death of a friend, former FBI agent, Terry McCaleb (from the novel Blood Work). Around the same time FBI agent Rachel Walling is called in because the dreaded Poet, a serial killing mastermind, has returned and has already gone on a killing spree -- bodies have been found in the Nevada desert. Walling has dealt with the Poet before (See The Poet) and his plans for her this time are a mystery. With Harry Bosch's help, she must stop the Poet for good -- preferably before he kills again.

Connelly is at his very best when he is writing about Robert Backus, also knows as the Poet, the FBI agent turned serial killer. This latest novel is a sequel to 1996 novel The Poet and readers will be pleased with this well-written addition. Connelly immediately draws readers back into the Poet's twisted world, which is full of cunning lures and traps. The Narrows also starts detective Harry Bosch, Connelly's appealing series detective from his The Black Echo, The Black Ice and The Concrete Blonde novels. Connelly even cleverly includes his character Terry McCaleb's appearance in the film Blood Work (played by actor Clint Eastwood) in The Narrows. Although Connelly brings in previously unrelated characters from his past novels, the book works well as a stand-alone for those who missed any or all of the prior books. The Narrows is a captivating thriller from Connelly, and serves as yet another example of his powerful storytelling skills.

The Narrows is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the July-August, 2004 of The Internet Writing Journal.

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