BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
(Print: 2010 | 9/6/2016; 9780316485623; Mulholland Books, 16 pages.)
Audio: 9/14/2016; Hachette Audio; 9781478937890; Duration 00:18:46; 1 part
(Digital: Yes)
(Film/TV: No.)

SERIES:
A Harry Bosch story with Rachel Walling (GoodReads show this as Book 14.5 of the series.)

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Harry Bosch-LAPD detective
Rachel Walling – FBI detective

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
This one is a short story about the case of two women who have gone missing and a suspected killer that Harry consults with FBI agent, Rachel Walling, on, in hopes of solving the case. It has a similar plot element to one of the Terry McCaleb novels---I think it was Blood Work. But it was fun to hear this short recasting of a criminal’s technique of hiding evidence.

AUTHOR:
Michael Connelly (7/21/56). From Connelly’s website—"Born in Philadelphia, AP. Moved to Florida at the age of 12 (so that’d be 1968?) Inspired by the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Chose the major of journalism with a minor in creative writing. One of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews. Graduated in 1980. Worked at newspapers in Daytona and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, specializing mostly in the crime beat. A magazine article he co-wrote elevated his stature for the likes of the Los Angeles Times, which brought him here to California.”

NARRATOR:
Titus Welliver (3/12/1962). From Wikipedia, “Welliver was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father, Neil Welliver, was a well-known American landscape painter who was a professor of fine art at Yale University before becoming dean of the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Fine Art. Welliver's mother, Norma Cripps, was a fashion illustrator.[1][2] He studied drama at New York University in the early 1980s, before his film and television career began to take off.[3]”

GENRE:
Mystery, fiction, suspense, thriller

LOCATIONS:
Los Angeles

SUBJECTS:
Murder, Mystery

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1
“Bosch had left her alone in the room for almost an hour. It was time. He knocked once on the door and entered. Rachel Walling looked up from the table. She had the photos spread out across it so she could view them all at once.
He moved into the room and sat down across from her.
‘It looks like you like the photos,’ he said.
‘There isn’t much else here,’ she said.
She waved her hand dismissively at the record of his work on the case. He nodded. She was right. He didn’t have jack.
‘You see anything? You said you could only give me an hour. I don’t want to ---’
‘But you knew I would start to look at the photos and I’d get caught up in it. That’s why you called me, Harry.’
‘No, I called you because I’m desperate. I know this is the guy. I can put him in close proximity to both women. He was following them. He’s got the history and profile—the guy’s an apex predator. But after that, I’ve got nothing. So what have you got, Rachel? Can you help me or not?’”

RATING:
I predictively gave this story 5 stars for the usual reasons. ( )

Blue on Black is a short story. It takes place in the Pacific Ocean off of Southern California. It is one of Harry Bosch's stories. It leaves you wanting more, as it is only one chapter. Four stars were given in this review to this book. ( )

When Harry Met...
Review of the Hachette Audio audiobook edition (2016) of the story that first appeared in the anthology "Hook, Line & Sinister: Mysteries to Reel You In" (2010)

Very short story with Harry Bosch asking for FBI Profiler Rachel Walling's assistance on a case. I had missed this one when it first came out and just caught up on it now thanks to the Toronto Public Library's Audiobook download service. (Thanks to Karan for the tip!)

Narrated by the Harry Bosch TV-series (2014-2021) actor Titus Welliver, which lends it an authentic gravitas. ( )

What a great short story by Connelly! I had no idea that he even wrote some stand alone stories starring Harry Bosch. This one was great and we even get some interaction with a character familiar to longstanding readers, Rachel Walling.

"Blue on Black" is a short story between Connelly's "Nine Dragons" and "The Drop." Harry thinks that a man that they have been following, named Denniger is responsible for two young women who are missing. Harry asks FBI agent Rachel Walling to look at what he has so far in order to help him figure out if Denniger is their man.


I liked how the story came together and the role that Rachel plays with things. Connelly is able to evoke so much emotion in this story with Harry wanting to make sure that the two young men have someone that stands for them. I know a lot of people complained this was too short, but to me I thought it was pitch perfect. It made me want to go back and re-read the Harry Bosch series. ( )

This very short story felt like a chapter out of a Harry Bosch book. It only takes 17 minutes to listen. Mystery solved. ( )