In this 30th book in the 'Harry Bosch universe', the detective looks into pill-mills and re-examines one of his old cases. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Detective Harry Bosch worked for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for more than three decades before he retired. Not happy being a 'man of leisure' Harry took a volunteer job with the tiny San Fernando Police Department (SFPD), looking into cold cases.
Harry also agreed to train the SFPD's three young detectives, playfully nicknamed Huey, Duey, and Louie.
In his capacity as a mentor Harry accompanies Detective Bella Lourdes (probably Louie) to the scene of a double homicide.
Two druggists - a father and son - were shot in their pharmacy. It turns out the drug store was part of a 'pill-mill' operation - a gangster-run enterprise in which prescriptions for pain killers from phony clinics are filled by pharmacies that turn a blind eye.
The shooting was meant to look like a robbery gone wrong, but evidence points to deliberate cold-blooded murder.....and Lourdes takes lead on the case.
Wanting to catch the 'pill-mill' gang leader, the DEA decides to send in an undercover cop who'll pretend to be an addict needing pain meds - and Harry gets picked for the job. Harry pretends to be a smelly bum with a knee injury, but infiltrating the drug ring turns out to be SUPER dangerous.
Meanwhile, Harry is also involved with another investigation. Thirty years ago Harry helped put a man named Preston Borders on death row for a vicious rape and murder. Now, new DNA evidence points to a different perp - a serial rapist who recently died in prison. Even worse, Harry is being accused of planting evidence during the original inquiry. As a result, the district attorney is looking to vacate Borders' conviction, and a court hearing is scheduled.
Harry is sure the 'new DNA' was planted and that he's being framed - especially since Harry KNOWS he did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, the DA - and some detectives in the LAPD - seem to think Harry is a dirty cop. (This is par for the course in these books. Harry's usually on the outs with one or more LAPD honchos.)
Luckily Harry's half-brother is attorney Mickey Haller - who's probably the smartest, craftiest lawyer in Los Angeles.
Harry and Mickey - along with Mickey's investigator Cisco - dig up some useful information to use against Borders and his attorneys.....and that's all I'll say about that.
In this book Harry shows a little of his softer side. He's very solicitous toward his college-age daughter Maddie and demonstrates sympathy for a drug addict, whom he tries to help.....though he knows it might be a losing proposition.
I always enjoy Michael Connelly's books, which provide a fascinating peek at crime and criminal investigation around Los Angeles. In "Two Kinds of Truth", though, Harry seems to slide through the book a tad too easily. Harry and/or Mickey just happen to have exactly the right contact; or unearth exactly the right piece(s) of evidence; or carry exactly the correct unconventional (or jury-rigged) weapon; and so on. This occurs again and again and again, to the point where it stretched credibility (for me).
Still, I liked the book and highly recommend it to mystery fans.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Betty Jean (BJ), an African American hotel employee, lives in a middle-class, mixed-race neighborhood in Los Angeles with her husband Lee David, who has Alzheimer's disease.
As the book opens BJ's drug-addict daughter Trinetta drops off her two school-aged sons, Luther and Ricky, 'for a few days' while she 'applies for a job'.
Trinetta then takes off for Atlanta with her new guy, leaving the kids behind.
BJ also has other things on her mind. Her oldest son Quentin, a wealthy chiropractor who's distanced himself from the family, has just married his fifth blonde Caucasian wife.
BJ's middle son Dexter is in prison and constantly sends letters complaining about his wrongful conviction for carjacking (he did it), talking about his big plans for the future (delusional), and asking for money (which BJ doesn't have).
BJ has Dexter's number though, and she lets him know it.
BJ is also concerned about her two sisters: Arlene - proud of her psychology degree - is a single mother.....
.....who dotes on her obese 29-year old son Omar (Arlene overfeeds him)...but she won't let him grow up;
And Venetia - a religious Bible thumper - has a lovely house;
a cheating husband who 'travels' constantly, and two children bound for college.
To top it off, BJ's worried she might have to put Lee David - a good man and loyal spouse - into 'one of those places'. Lee David has become a shadow of his former self, largely unaware of his surroundings, who lies in bed watching "Dora the Explorer" (a children's show).
Two other major characters in the book are Tammy and Nurse Kim. Tammy is BJ's neighbor and best friend, a caring helpful woman who BJ can confide in.
Tammy, a white woman married to a black man, is funny when she talks about the attitude she gets from black women.
And Nurse Kim is David Lee's skilled caregiver, a sexy lady whose 'caregiving' is all-inclusive (and maybe a little over-the top).
SPOILER ALERT: The rest of this review might contain (what you consider) spoilers. So read at your own risk.
The story, told in rotating voices by all the main characters, follows the lives of these people for more than a decade. Luther and Ricky move from grade school through college, with some ups and downs along the way. Luther, a good student and caring brother, loves Grandma's cooking, reading, and football. I was glad when he gave his Uncle Quentin a richly deserved 'what for'.
Ricky - affected by drugs in the womb - struggles with school, joins the swim team, and falls off the rails a bit (selling drugs). But BJ knows how to set him straight.
Through it all BJ struggles to feed, clothe, and support these beloved grandsons with limited financial resources. Unfortunately, BJ has to give up the hard won 'zero balance' on her Sears credit card.
As for the other characters: Quentin and his wife have a baby, but he remains aloof from the family until things go downhill and he has an epiphany.
Dexter gets out on parole, forgets his 'big plans', sponges off his mom, and gets into trouble (again).
Arlene is more than dismayed when Omar moves out to lead his own life and come to terms with his sexuality.
Venetia can't admit her marriage is over, even when her husband leaves her for another woman - until she finally 'grows up'.
Nurse Kim eventually leaves to become a traveling nurse - which makes young Luther (who has a crush) a bit sad. And more.
END SPOILER ALERT END SPOILER ALERT
All the characters are believable, well-rounded, and stir our emotions....whether we like them or have disdain for them.
This is a well-written engaging book that provides an authentic picture of one family's dynamics. Highly recommended.
Rating: 4 stars
In this 5th book in the 'Shetland Island' series, Detective Jimmy Perez helps investigate the death of a journalist. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Journalist Jerry Markham, a former resident of Shetland Island in Scotland, goes back for a visit and ends up dead. His body is found by Procurator Fiscal (prosecutor) Rhona Laing, in a boat she regularly uses.
Detective Inspector Willow Reeves is brought in to investigate the crime.
She works with two local detectives: Sandy Wilson - an insecure lad who lacks confidence in his abilities; and Jimmy Perez - who is still in deep mourning after the death of his girlfriend Fran.
Willow immediately pegs Rhona Laing as "knowing something" but the local police - loyal to Shetland Islanders - resist the idea.
Investigations reveal that Jerry Markham may have been looking into an island group promoting tidal energy. 'Green initiatives' are a controversial issue on the island, with some people promoting the idea and others agitating against it. The police come to suspect shenanigans in this proposed business venture.
The detectives also discover that Markham is generally considered a spoiled, self-centered fellow who - several years before - had run out on his pregnant girlfriend, breaking her heart and angering her family. Moreover, another body soon turns up, complicating the investigation and widening the list of suspects.
The story's setting is well described, and the reader gets (what seems to be) an authentic glimpse of the terrain and culture of the Scottish islands.
The characters, including the detectives and a wide array of suspects, are well-rounded and interesting. In addition to his professional duties we get to know a bit about Jimmy Perez's private life, in which he's raising Fran's young daughter - a sweet, precocious child.
The police investigation proceeds in a logical fashion leading to a finale that's believable but too long and drawn out. All in all an enjoyable mystery.
FYI: 'Shetland' - adapted from Ann Cleeves books - is a BBC crime series starring Douglas Henshall as Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez. It's available on Netflix.
Rating: 3 stars
In this 3rd book in the 'Kate Burkholder' series, the Police Chief has to deal with a series of hate crimes as well as multiple deaths. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a bonus.
*****
Police Chief Kate Burkholder of Painter's Mill, Ohio was raised Amish, but left the fold after a traumatic incident in her teens. Nevertheless, Kate understands and empathizes with the local Amish community, an insular group that avoids interaction with the 'English.'
Like many minorities, the Painter's Mill Amish are sometimes subject to prejudice and abuse, and - as the story opens - a couple of thugs sneak into an Amish farm and slaughter four sheep.....just for fun. This is followed by other hate crimes such as: a Molotov cocktail being hurled into an Amish buggy; an Amish farmer being beaten, tied, and left out in the freezing cold; an Amish teen being brutalized and slashed with a buggy whip; a deliberately set barn fire that results in a death; and so on.
In the midst of these incidents an Amish family experiences an unthinkable tragedy. Solly Slabaugh, his wife Rachel, and his brother Abel are found dead in the Slabaugh farm's manure pit, where the decomposing hog poop gives off deadly methane gas.
The tragedy leaves four orphans - Mose (17), Salome (15), Samuel (12), and Ike (10) - whose custody becomes a contentious issue. An excommunicated uncle wants to care for the kids, but he's strongly opposed by Amish Bishop Troyer and his congregants.
The Slabaugh disaster seems like an accident at first, but turns out to be murder. Kate and her team investigate with the help of John Tomasetti from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who's also Kate's (secret) boyfriend.
The cops have to figure out whether the Slabaugh deaths are part of the string of hate crimes - or something else - before they can identify and catch the perpetrator. This isn't easy, especially since the persecuted Amish refuse to cooperate with the authorities and won't say what they saw, who attacked them, etc.
The case takes a heavy toll on Kate, who - try as she might - can't avoid getting emotionally involved with the investigation. As a result Kate broods a lot, drinks too much, and has some blind spots in relation to the crimes. Tomasetti, who's very protective, does his best to keep Kate grounded.
The developing romance between Kate and Tomasetti is low-key since they both have distressing histories and problems with commitment. However, Kate does tend to go on a bit about how attractive and sexy Tomasetti is.....so if you like that kind of thing, there you have it! 😍 (LOL)
There are some surprises in the story as well as scenes where Kate is attacked and placed in jeopardy - so there's plenty of excitement. Kate's a very tough cookie, though, who can take care of herself.
I enjoy the 'Kate Burkholder' books, which are well-plotted, well-written, and provide interesting glimpses into Amish life. In this book the author emphasizes how important family is to the Amish, how much they value their children, and how kind they are to other people. It's touching to see Amish friends and neighbors rally around after the Slabaughs are killed - to take care of the children; look after the farm; and see to the livestock.
This is a good book that I'd recommend to readers who enjoy mysteries, especially Kate Burkholder fans.
Though it's best to read the series from the beginning to know the backstories of the main characters, I've found that each book can be read as a standalone without any problems.
Rating: 3.5 stars
In 2000, a 21-year-old English girl named Lucie Blackman - unhappy with her job as an airline hostess, deeply in debt, and wanting an adventure - moved to Japan with her friend Louise Phillips.
Lucie Blackman
Lucie and Louise rented a cheap apartment and took jobs as hostesses in the 'Casablanca' nightclub in Roppongi, a district of Tokyo teeming with nightspots and night life.
The Roppongi district in Japan is teeming with nightspots
The job of a hostess was to chat up Japanese businessmen and get them to buy pricey drinks and expensive bottles of champagne.
Hostesses get Japanese businessmen to buy drinks
Hostesses entertaining Japanese businessmen
Businessmen are encouraged to purchase bottles of champagne
The hostesses were also encouraged to go on dinner dates with the clients, which would encourage return visits to the club. The nightspots made handsome profits by employing these female companions - many of whom were tall, English-speaking blondes like Lucie and Louise. The girls, in turn, could make a lot of money in salary and bonuses.
Tall blonded hostesses like Lucie Blackman are popular in Japan
Hostesses can make a lot of money
Long conversations with Japanese businessmen were often boring, uncomfortable, and inappropriate (one man would ask 'do you fart when you pee?') - and Lucie was only a mildly successful hostess. Moreover, the striking blonde didn't get invited for many dinner dates - which put her job in jeopardy. So it's not surprising that Lucie agreed to go to lunch with thirtysomething business mogul Joji Obara, especially when he promised to give her a cell phone. Sadly, Lucie never returned from that luncheon.
Joji Obara
When Lucie didn't get back from her date on time, her friend Louise - sensing that something was wrong - raised the alarm immediately. However, the Tokyo police paid little attention. Even when Lucie was gone for days, and then weeks, the cops - who thought most hostesses were druggies on the fringes of the sex trade - didn't take the matter seriously. This despite the fact that several women had reported Obara previously, for drugging and raping them.....charges the police brushed off.
Police didn't take Lucie's disappearance seriously
Lucie's divorced parents, Jane and Tim, were terribly alarmed when their daughter vanished, especially since it happened in Japan - a foreign country with unfamiliar customs and laws. Tim - and Lucie's sister Sophie - flew to Japan almost immediately, to consult with the authorities.
Lucie Blackman's mother Jane
Lucie Blackman's father Tim
Lucie Blackman's sister Sophie
When Tim was unable to light a fire under the Tokyo police, he used his influence at the British Embassy, and Prime Minister Tony Blair made a public appeal for Lucie. In addition, Blair implored Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on behalf of Lucie's family.
Faced with widespread publicity about the missing English citizen - as well as pressure from the government - the Japanese police made a greater effort to find Lucie.
Missing persons poster for Lucie Blackman
Posters of missing Lucie Blackman were viewed by the public
Sadly, Lucie was already dead. Unfortunately, the Tokyo detectives, who had poor leadership and inept investigative practices, didn't unearth Lucie's body for months - even though Obara behaved VERY suspiciously and the corpse was buried near his seaside condo. In retrospect, it seems like the cops REALLY didn't know what they were doing. (They needed more female police officers, IMO.)
Lucie's body was found in a cave near Joji Obara's home
During all this time Lucie's dad, Tim Blackman, behaved something like the ringleader of a circus - calling press conferences; checking out Roppongi nightclubs; entertaining journalists; making speeches; organizing tip lines; and keeping himself (and Lucie) in the public eye.
Lucie's family kept her disappearance in the public eye
Demonstrator's with posters of Lucie
Tim was severely criticized for his over-the-top behavior, and for accepting a VERY large payment from Obara's lawyers - with the expectation he would 'go easy' on the suspect in public. Hard to know what Tim was thinking!
In this book, English journalist Richard Lloyd Parry explores two narratives: Lucie's story, from her childhood to her death; and Obara's tale, from his youth to his trial - where he was charged with a series of sexual assaults and two unlawful deaths.
Journalist and author Richard Lloyd Parry
Parry was able to reconstruct the lives of both the victim and the alleged murderer, using extensive research and interviews with many people who knew them.
As for Lucie's killing, Parry gives a thorough account of everything that happened: the girl's disappearance; the police investigation; the arrest of Obara; the interrogation; the years-long trial; and the subsequent appeals. During all this time Lucie's mother, father, and sister traveled back and forth to Japan, and the ordeal had a profound effect on the entire Blackman family.
Friends and family remembering Lucie Blackman
This is an interesting true crime story that includes fascinating tidbits about Japanese history, customs, and society. For instance, Joji Obara's family were ethnic Koreans and - as such - were subject to serious discrimination. Korean-Japanese citizens were treated with disdain and not permitted to rise high in society or obtain prestigious jobs. Obara's parents - who were very wealthy - made their money from real estate, parking lots, and pachinko gambling parlors.....and Joji followed in their footsteps.
Pachinko gambling parlor
It was also instructive to learn that Japanese cops expect suspects to confess (most do) and that prosecutors get convictions in more than 99% of cases that are tried. Thus, almost no one wants to be a defense lawyer (LOL). Nevertheless, Obara didn't confess to any crimes and went through a plethora of defense attorneys as he prepared for and participated in his trial.
Joji Obara on trial
Furthermore, Obara never allowed his lawyers to be in charge. He coordinated his entire defense, published a book about himself while he was in jail, and made a valiant attempt to dismiss the evidence or explain it away. This was no easy task since Obara made tapes of himself raping unconscious women AND kept a detailed log. I won't say if Obara got convicted or not....but you can Google the verdict(s) if you're curious.
This is an engaging book that I highly recommend to fans of true crime stories.
Rating: 4 stars
