9 DRAGONS by Michael Connelly
Detective Harry Bosch returns for another adventure in Michael Connelly’s latest novel 9 DRAGONS. This time the investigation gets personal as his ex-wife and their daughter somehow get involved in the fallout from a murder at a south LA liquor store. Connelly draws readers in through their loyalty to Harry, but this is not one of the best books in the “Bosch” series.
To begin with, the plot of 9 DRAGONS is “déjà vu” all over again. As you get into the story you realize it all seems familiar. That is because the Liam Neeson thriller “Taken” presented the daughter in distress scenario first. That film was all about a young girl being kidnapped by a group that planned to sell her. The plot of 9 DRAGONS follows a similar line.
Harry Bosch investigates the murder of his old acquaintance John Li in Los Angeles. It appears this is a Triad hit. During his investigation Harry comes across some Chinese symbols. His daughter Maddie is living with her mother Eleanor (Harry’s ex) in Hong Kong and is learning the Chinese language and culture. Harry sends her a photo of the markings by cell phone and asks if she knows what they mean.
Somehow this simple act leads to the mother and daughter being placed in a potentially dangerous situation. Harry flies to Hong Kong to help out and things go downhill for him from there on.
Fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series have a lot invested in this character, his private life and his career. They have gone through some tough times with him and have always given him their loyalty by buying these novels. In return they expect Harry to act in certain ways.
In 9 DRAGONS however Harry seems to have some traits that are unexpected. At times he is a little racist and this does not jibe with the Harry we have been following for many books. He lets this racism creep in to his relations with a new man assigned to work with him on the liquor store murder. Plus Harry is less than patient with his old partner who doesn’t give Harry the support he thinks he needs.
Harry also makes some mistakes in his investigations that prove costly. The old Harry wouldn’t have slipped up like this. Maybe this is a new turn in his character as he grows older. Connelly knows the man and knows how he thinks and acts so he could be preparing us for a new phase of Harry’s life.
In the past there has been a wistful melancholy to Harry’s behavior. That sadness permeated most of the pages of the past books. It is missing in this one and that is a minus in the enjoyment of the story.
Connelly is still one of the best writers out there today, but 9 DRAGONS is less than his best. Harry Bosch has always been a flawed character but in this book we get a new set of flaws that go against the image we had.
9 DRAGONS is published by Little, Brown and Company. It contains 377 pages and sells for $27.99.