mini-book reviews: Trunk Music, Blood Work, and Angels Flight by Michael Connelly

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I've been tearing through Michael Connelly's lengthy backlist, and I often find myself with repetitive things to say about them, so I'll mostly be doing mini-reviews of his titles, unless one compels me to write more deeply.
Trunk Music is the fifth novel in the Harry Bosch series. Harry is back from his disciplinary leave and now has two partners: Kizmin Rider and Jerry Edgar. Their first case as a team of three is the murder of Hollywood producer Tony Aliso, who is found in his trunk in what appears to be a Mafia hit. The real story is a twisty, satisfying and surprising story I've come to expect from Connelly. The novel veers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and brings a familiar face back to Harry's personal life, Eleanor Wish, from The Black Echo. On the whole, Trunk Music is a deeply satisfying mystery and also moves Harry's story forward.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: purchased

Blood Work is a stand-alone novel that introduces Terry McCaleb, an FBI agent who retired after having a heart transplant. Soon, however, he finds himself looking into the murder of Gloria Rivers, the woman whose heart Terry now has. Blood Work is filled with satisfying surprises and continues Connelly's streak of smart mysteries. As always, Connelly, also includes an Easter Egg for regular readers of his earlier books.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Source: library

Angels Flight is the sixth Harry Bosch novel. The mystery centers on the murder of an activist civil rights attorney, Howard Elias. Famous for suing the LAPD, the case is riddled with political implications and accusations. As Harry, Kiz, and Jerry try to solve this murder, they find themselves also investigating the last case Elias was working on, and the possibility of a murderer still on the loose. Even by Connelly's standards, Angels Flight is dark, but it's an excellent mystery that captures the racial tensions of Los Angeles in the 1990's beautifully.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Source: purchased

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