About the most you can hope for in a novel, is that there will be a final resolution thats exciting, interesting and that makes sense. In a word, satisfying. I hate when a novelist leaves you hanging; unfinished business left to YOUR imagination, rather than theirs.
In the case of a cop novel, or a lawyer novel, you want to like your protagonist, want to believe in them, cheer for them and tag along as they solve the riddles of the day. For you to be able to do that, the author needs to pen a tale that is founded in reality and likelihood. In a thriller, it takes genuine skill to do all of that AND remember that youre writing a story. That stories need to be entertaining and above all, compelling. That at the end, youre reader needs to be cheering or crying right along with your character.
Michael Connelly has been doing that for years with Detective Harry Bosch. The Bosch novels have been among the most satisfying cop novels Ive ever had the pleasure of following along for the ride on. With The Lincoln Lawyer, Connelly departed from his age old cop, Harry Bosch and gave us Mickey Haller, lawyer extraordinaire.
Well, talent does what talent does, and Haller the lawyer was every bit as much fun to tag along with as Bosch was before him. Which brings me to The Brass Verdict.
In TBV, Connelly marries his two characters in a story thats riveting. The novel is primarily Haller the lawyer, but Bosch looms large as the novel progresses. Arguably, Connelly hides some crap from us but hey, its a thriller and in the end, this novel finishes in what for me is what I consider his best novel ever.
He gives you practically every tool you need to figure out whats going on and then surprises you at every turn. The novel has more twists and turns than a Times Square pretzel yet at the end it all makes perfect sense and youre left cheering like mad. Its Connellys masterwork and if youve read the preceding dozen Bosch novels and one Haller novel, youll understand completely, just what a great novel this is. If you havent, it will still be a great read but some of the personal happenings will be above your head.
Best go dig up the early stuff and treat yourself to Bosch in the beginning. Top drawer crime thriller.