I could say that Echo Park was my favourite Harry Bosch novel but I would be lying, they are all equally brilliant. Harry is back out of retirement working for the Open Unsolved Crimes Unit with the LAPD, cases that have gone cold and need a revaluation with fresh eyes. He is partnered with Kiz Ryder and one day they receive a call from the District Attorney's dept in respect of the case of Marie Gesto, an unsolved murder that has bitter memories for Bosch. When a van driven by Raynard Waits is routinely stopped, and during the search body parts are discovered wrapped in black plastic, the resulting fallout brings into question the handling of the Gesto murder inquiry some 15 years ago. It would appear that Waits is prepared to admit his culpability in the Gesto homicide. As Bosch delves deeper into the records it becomes clear that a valuable piece of evidence had clearly been overlooked in the original investigation. The case is further complicated by the political ambitions of a future DA candidate Richard O'Shea and when a dangerous life threatening situation develops on a field trip Bosch is annoyed and confused over the lies and deceit directed towards him. At the same time Harry is presently surprised when he rekindles relationship with FBI agent Rachel Walling but it remains to be seen if the two have a future together. Echo Park is an all consuming, edge of the seat thriller. Michael Connelly gives some great insights into the mindset of Bosch. He is an officer not accustomed or prepared to follow instructions or directions from his immediate superiors...."Bosch considered himself a true detective, one who took it all inside and cared. Everybody counts or nobody counts. That's what he always said.".....He always gets results but he is a maverick and as such his stubbornness and gung ho attitude creates dangerous and politically damaging situations for the LAPD Rachel Walling must look within herself and question whether she is prepared to accept and indeed love a police officer who appears to go through each day without fully understanding how his dangerous conduct affects those around him..."Are you saying all is forgiven? There's nothing to forgive. The past is past and life's too short. You know, all of these clichés. She smiled and they sealed it with a kiss."....... I am always astounded at the high quality of Connelly's writing his descriptions of the city of angels..."it was said that LA was a sunny place for shady people" and his deep understanding of a flawed but brilliant police officer so shaped by his difficult childhood and his experiences in the hell of Vietnam...."He had come many years and many miles but it seemed to him that he had never really left the tunnels behind, that his life had always been a slow movement through darkness and tight spaces on the way to a flickering light. He knew he was then, now, and forever a tunnel rat.".......Story telling of the highest order and highly highly recommend

Echo Park is the twelfth book in the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly and was first published in 2006. Bosch and Rider are still working in the open cases squad, and they are about to close a case when Bosch receives a call about Marie Gesto. This being a case back from 1993 and one that has haunted Bosch ever since. Nobody was ever convicted, and they did have a suspect who had access to ‘daddy’s money’ and a restraining order on Bosch. The ADA, O’Shea is running the case while at the same time standing for election as the LA District Attorney. A man, Raynard Waits has admitted to the murder of Maria Gesto but Bosch is not so sure. Though he knows Waits is a murderer he does not believe that he committed this murder. To confirm that Waits is the murderer they take him on a field trip, and he takes them to where he says the body is buried. As the police back him away he escapes shooting two police officers in the process and injures Rider too. Bosch is angry and sticks with Rider at the hospital. Bosch begins to put things together along with FBI Agent Rachel Walling and as they put things together, he can see he has been played like a fiddle. Which makes Bosch even more angry and is now a detective on a mission. This is a great thriller and a great read.

This is the first book I have read by Michael Connelly. It was a very thrilling read and I could not wait to turn the page. If you enjoy this genre and want some escapism this is the book for you.