The Last Coyote: Harry Bosch Series, Book 4

Last Coyote; first of many

I was in the market to listen to some crime fiction and someone recommended the Michael Connelly / Harry Bosch series saying I should start with 'The Last Coyote'. Well, now I'm hooked. The prose is economical and not over-blown and the stories are compelling making it very hard to take my headphones out and do anything else with my life other than listen to Harry Bosch titles. The narration brings the characters alive and breathes life into the growl and grit that you would expect from 'hard-bitten' cops. I would, however, start at the beginning with 'Black Echo' rather than jumping in at Book 4, you won't be sorry.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

My favourite author for running sessions

Michael Connelly is one one of my favourite authors for dull running sessions. I know, it sound harsh but that is how I feel it. I started to listen to his great Lincoln Lawyer stories first in the past and found them a bit predictable but still very enjoying. When I finished with the last one I really struggled to start with the Harry Bosh series as it sounded as Mrs. Marple compared to Poirot to me. How wrong I was! Harry Bosh caught me even more and I have been enjoying his series since.
This story looks very straight forward and easy to guess but everything is completely otherwise at the end. I kept listening even when not running which is really not good for me - I have to buy another one much easier :o)
I must say, Connellys's stories are not the most difficult ones to get a clue but very easy to absorb and enjoyable. I really love them. And Dick Hill's narrating is just great!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

brilliant -loved every minute of it

this range of books is an excellent example of keeping the reader itching to purchase one book after another. As the reader Dick Hill is consistant throughout each book. He is excellent for the part and you can just imagine he is Harry Bosh. Each Harry Bosh series is very entertaining and well written! Fantastic reading! couldnt recomend enough all of the Harry Bosh books I have read so far 1 to 5. Thank you Michael Connelly and Dick Hill...

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent

I've read a lot of Bosch over the years and this book is probably my first or second favourite... They are all really good, in my opinion you can't really go wrong.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

An excellent American murder mystery story

This is another excellent Harry Bosch tale from Michael Connolly. Harry Bosch is a murder detective in the LA police Department who is a strong minded rebel who sees things in black and white. He is a flawed macho figure whose difficult and deprived early upbringing has coloured his view of his life, and his work . The story is an American murder mystery and it is an excellent example of the genre. It is set in 1990's Los Angeles. The characters are believable and well-drawn. The narrative flows steadily and pulls you along. The plot is satisfyingly complex with twists and turns, but it is coherent and understandable. This is another very entertaining book from an author who has been at the top of his game for many years.

The narrator of the story, Dick Hill, gives a master class in voice acting. He manages to put consistent and appropriate voices into the mouths of both male and female characters, which really helps the listener to follow the story. I strongly recommend this book to those who enjoy being entertained by American murder mysteries.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Seamless

Would you consider the audio edition of The Last Coyote: Harry Bosch Series, Book 4 to be better than the print version?

This is a seamless book that develops the back story that lies behind all Harry Bosch novels. Dick Hill deals well with the twists and turns of the plot line keeping the listener fully engaged through his own own unique interpretation, inflection and delivery of the text. Is it better than reading the book oneself? Probably not, but familiarity with the narrator does help to keep the listener fully engaged.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The character of Harry is well developed and is revealed here as a being deeply flawed and complex. Harry is better sketched and articulated in 'The Last Coyote' than in any other Harry Bosch story that I have so far encountered. For me this is therefor the best HB story line because Harry's own history forms the core of the book and is the central focus of the story line. Sympathy engendered by Harry's tragic personal history develops the readers interest in and identification with the character of Harry Bosch, something that I have felt was sadly missing in other HB stories, that is until now! For me, Harry comes fully alive in this book. I would advise a new reader of the series to start their immersion into the world of Harry Bosch by first reading or listening to 'The Last Coyote', as the story line, particularly the sessions with the lady psychologist slowly unpeels and reveals, his motivations, drives and character traits.

Have you listened to any of Dick Hill’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I prefer Dick Hill to any of the other Bosch narrators probably because you feel most comfortable with the narrator that first introduces you to a series, as a bench mark is established, provided, of course that the narrator is competent and sensitive to the text. In the same way Jeff Harding is my favourite Jack Reacher narrator

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The story is seamless and so there are very few natural breaks or put down points - it keeps you fully engaged.

Any additional comments?

My favourite Bosch story so far - I have 7 in my library

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kept me guessing!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would if they are keen on Detective novels. Only one reservation which is that it is set before the use of mobile phones so it is a little dated but it is well written and is a very good story of its kind.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Coyote: Harry Bosch Series, Book 4?

Not sure that I would use the word memorable for this genre of story but all the twists and turns were good.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Not one inparticular

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

Just that it moved along at a good pace, the story was well crafted and it was very well read indeed by Dick Hill. For me a book is ruined if it is read indifferently but this was very good. The reader is very good at differentiating between many different voices and reads it in an interesting and expressive way without overdoing anything. Couldn't fault him.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very low audio quality

The audio quality was worse than in previous books. Impossible to enjoy. Very disappointed. Some voices difficult to understand.

Boring compared to others. Sexist, off putting description of a larger woman

Sometimes the way michael Connolly writes makes his work particularly well suited to misogynist readers.

In one painful passage he describes an overweight woman and describes her in such a cruel way. It’s good writing and paints the picture with accuracy but is painful to endure, nonetheless

And yes, compared to some of his other work it’s a dull story

Gripping!

The whole Bosch series is fascinating. I don't like too much personal life in detective stories as a rule, but somehow Michael Connelly gets away with it, and the Dick Hill is just right.