Backlist Bump: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly

In 1992, Michael Connelly debuted with The Black Echo, his first novel as well as the opening novel to the Heironymous Bosch series (now 20+ novels in). I was 11. At the time, I got most of my mysteries and thrillers from my grandmother and while she did have a few Connelly titles, she didn't have any Bosch books. So my starting this series has been a long time coming! But I did start, at the end. And now I'm working my way back.

Harry Bosch hasn't made many friends inside the LAPD. In fact, after being demoted and transferred, he's made plenty of enemies. So when he's called to the scene of a death everyone is ready to write off as a simple overdose and insists on a full workup, no one is happy about it. What Harry doesn't reveal is the fact that the victim is someone he knows. Someone he served with in Vietnam. Someone who used, but should have been in recovery. And the scene has just enough questionable evidence for Harry to suspect murder. 

Some of you have likely already read this one. It's been out for over 20 years now, after all. But since I've only just really gotten into the Bosch series (by way of the show and now Connelly's new Renee Ballard series), it was time for me to go back to the beginning.

And if you haven't read these but love mysteries, well we've got a pandemic to read through and this backlist is sure to keep you busy! (Also, if you happen to be doing the Popsugar Reading Challenge this year, the advanced section has a Book From a Series With More than 20 Books item.)

If you're a fan of the show, like I am, then this book will ring a little familiar to you. But the producers of the show did change quite a few things. Gone was the connection to Harry's Vietnam days, for one. Also gone is the bank heist subplot I didn't mention in my blurb above.

I love Bosch. He's crusty and grumpy. Even at the start of the series, he's already in his 40s and jaded by the job and by the things he's seen and experienced in his life. Things that are revealed in this book, in terms of his military history, and things I know from having read later books.

His military background in particular is something that I really loved. He's a Vietnam vet and since this book involves a fellow soldier, Connelly delves quite a bit into Harry's Vietnam history. It's something that I think makes him stand out for me (and something you don't see much now—but you definitely did see more of when the book originally released). This part of Harry's past—and the backstory with his mom, which is only briefly touched on in this installment—are such a huge part of what makes the character who he is!

But, as someone reading the series lopsided, he's relatively young here! He doesn't have a daughter yet, for one. He's still actively part of the LAPD, for another (the current books have him retired but still investigating).

I had so much fun doing a deep dive into Harry's history that I've already got The Black Ice and Concrete Blonde lined up and ready to go in my TBR! And again, there's a ton of backlist to dive into, so I'm sure to be busy for a while!

One side: I did find it curious, since I've read some of the books now but am only just reading the start of the series, that Connelly starts Bosch's series midstream in Bosch's career. This installment has references to previous cases that made me wonder if Connelly had ever considered any sort of Bosch prequels. I kind of hope it's something he's thought about because it'd be really cool, especially in this day and age, to get some time capsule Bosch mysteries!

Connelly has a new book hitting shelves in May and the next season of Bosch airs in April.

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