Book Review: The Black Box (Harry Bosch Series) by Michael Connelly

Once again, Connelly has written an excellent book about his character Harry Bosch, a homicide detective in Los Angeles. Harry is part of the Open-Unsolved Unit (a/k/a Cold Cases). In The Black Box, he is investigating the death of Anneke Jespersen, a journalist from Denmark who was killed during the L.A. Riots 20 years ago.

There's a love interest, but she doesn't play a very large part in this book. Of course, his teenage daughter is still living with him. And, he's battling the politics at the police department. There's plenty of twists and turns along the way. Just when you think Harry's hit a dead end, he pulls a rabbit out of the hat.

Connelly is a brilliant writer and totally keeps you immersed in the story. I read the book in one day....I just couldn't put it down. You do not have to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. The Black Box stands by itself. I like that. -- I don't want to read 14 other books before I know what's happening with the story.

I give The Black Box two thumbs' up and definitely recommend this book. Enjoy!

Voracious Reading, Including Janet Evanovich

With the holidays, my visit with relatives in Delaware and pneumonia, I've had weeks of reading time. I have read dozens of books. I haven't even kept track of all the books I've read. Unfortunately, that means a lot of missed book reviews. I'll try to go back and sort through my reading.

I was quite tickled to discover my niece had a basement full of books that she's read. I started with lots of Alex Cross books by James Patterson. I ended with Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers novels by Janet Evanovich. I haven't read Evanovich's actual "numbered" books (her latest is Notorious Nineteen). Instead I read four books about Stephanie Plum and Diesel, a man who enters her life to track down Unmentionables (people with extraordinary powers). The books are quite funny. 

Of the four books -- Visions of Sugar Plums, Plum Lovin', Plum Lucky and Plum Spooky, my favorite was Plum Lucky. I cannot tell you how hard I laughed through that one. It includes a little man who thinks he's a leprechaun. At one point he thinks that his invisibility isn't working because he's wearing clothes. So he takes them off. The description of him running naked down the street is hysterical. I was reading Plum Lucky when I was quite sick with pneumonia. I did more wheezing than breathing. Yes, yes, I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face. But, I was laughing so hard it induced vomiting. And, I couldn't stop vomiting because I couldn't stop laughing. That's never happened before when reading a book.

I have so many books lined up to read that I'm not sure when I'll get to Evanovich's "numbered" book. But, I shall.

Fallen Hero: Marine CPL Tyler W. Ziegel (1982-2012)

Tyler W. Ziegel, 30, was a U.S. Marine Corps reservist with Peoria County-based Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion when he deployed to western Iraq in 2004. On Christmas Eve 2004 a suicide bomber blew up near his truck. Ty lost his left hand and fingers on his right, fractured his skull and suffered severe burns in the blast.

Five other reservists were injured but none as severely as Ziegel, who suffered third-degree and full-depth burns on his head, left arm and right hand. He spent 19 months in an Army hospital in Texas and underwent almost 30 operations.

Ziegel’s attitude impressed many at the hospital and back home. He would go from room to room talking to other patients. Even when Ziegel returned home, he took the approach that he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time and didn’t deserve any pity.

In this Journal Star file photo from August 2006, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, right, listens as Marine CPL Tyler Ziegel of Metamora, addresses the press during an announcement at the Marine Corps and Navy Reserve Center, urging summer travelers to donate unused frequent flyer miles to Operation Hero Miles. http://www.pjstar.com/news/x459330231/Hundreds-pay-final-respects-to-Iraq-War-veteran-Tyler-Ziegel?img=1

As Ty rests, having given the ultimate sacrifice of his devotion to this Country, may his light linger around his friends and loved ones with a blessed radiance, bringing them comfort and solace, brightening their days. With deepest sympathies.