Blood Work (Terry McCaleb Book 1)

Disabled FBI profiler Terry McCaleb is two months into recovery from a heart transplant, when he is presented a case that he cannot refuse, despite his doctor's dire warnings about risks to his health. Graciela Rivers, the attractive sister of his donor Gloria, has discovered through a "Where are They Now?" newspaper feature that McCaleb has to be the recipient of the heart, and furthermore may have the expertise to reinvigorate the investigation of her sister's killing in a convenience store holdup. McCaleb is unable to resist Graciela's entreaties to become involved.

McCaleb quickly discovers similarities with other holdups. He runs largely on emotional energy in his investigation as he combats a weakened state, extensive medication needs, and hostility from some LAPD detectives. However, he finds support from Jaye Winston, from the sheriff's dept. Connelly is a master at revealing and connecting shreds of evidence, and with that accumulated evidence, McCaleb begins to realize that his role in this case goes far beyond merely investigating.

The story is well constructed and moves well. McCaleb has to deal with conflicting emotions as he finds himself attracted to the sister, as well as putting his own health at risk. Eventually, his years of expertise and intuition result in an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

I'm a huge fan of Michael Connelly. I've read around ten of his novels, and I've never been disappointed. BLOOD WORK is, in my opinion, one of his best standalone novels. I highly recommend it to anybody interested in crime fiction.

The plot of BLOOD WORK is fairly unique. Ex-FBI agent Terry McCaleb is recuperating from a heart transplant when a beautiful woman walks up to his San Pedro houseboat, and tells him that the donor of his new heart, her sister Gloria, was murdered in a convenience-store robbery. She then asks him to find the killer. Against his doctor's advice, McCaleb decides to do a preliminary investigation, and is soon drawn into the biggest case of his career.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot is reasonably fast-paced, and I think all of the characters are well developed. Connelly is a stickler for accuracy, and you learn the nuts and bolts of how to investigate a street-level crime. The plot does go a little over-the-top at the end (the villain also makes a series of really stupid mistakes that made my eyes roll), but that's a very minor problem.

I think this is one of Connelly's best novels, along with THE LINCOLN LAWYER and THE CONCRETE BLONDE. If you want to start reading Connelly, this is a very good first choice.

This is the first Michael Connelly novel that I made it through. I don't know why. Somehow, on every other attempt to read his work I lost interest on the first page.

Well, I persevered with this work, because this in the great Michael Connelly and there had to be something I wasn't seeing in my short attempts to get interested in his work. There was. While he certain is not a writer who hooks me from the start, his story develops as it progresses and climaxes brilliantly, thanks to the final act superb and believable plot development. A five star read despite the uninteresting to me start.

What a talented writer Michael Conolley is! I never tire of reading anything that he has written as he can go from his serial detective Harry Bosch in works such as Angels Flight and The Concrete Blonde, to other work involving completely different characters, like in Blood Work.
This thriller centralises around ex-FBI agent, Terry McCaleb, who is investigating the death of a young lady. McCaleb had received her heart in a heart-transplant operation & as he is relaxing from his FBI job, her sister tracks McCaleb down, in order for him to investigate into the death, which McCaleb does reluctantly, as it seems to be a case of a random shooting in a deli. But, of course, there is more to the story than meets the eye and soon McCaleb is off running around searching for the killer and the motive.
Although this is not one of Connelly's best, it is certainly an excellent read. He is a master of bringing new ideas into crime thrillers and is able to link other books into his work, without the reader having to have previously read them.
This is a brilliant offering by Michael Connelly. I highly recommend it if you like crime/thrillers with not too many characters, easy to follow, excellent writing style and not too much time waste on the scenery! I am off to read Trunk Music now!

The Story:
Former FBI-man McCaleb survives a heart-transplant only to find out that his doner had been murdered in a shop-lifting incident. It starts out as an easy investigation but becomes very complicated in the end.
The Character:
McCaleb is no Bosch - and that is ok. Although not perfectly convincing, this is a nice change of character. McCaleb is older and physically disabled which makes his work less action-orientated.
The Execution:
Masterly plottet, this has to be the best story so far by Connelly, whose pulp-stories always entertain. The story concludes nicely, but then a look at your hands will show you that over 100 pages are still left and you should be prepared for a very clever surprise ending.
Sometimes the story drags along, a little bit less (or a subplot more) could not have harmed.
But all the Connelly-ingrediences are there: Cases-within a case, old cases which are told _em route_ but are worth getting their own book, characters from other books keep showing up and here and there a nice hint on which crime novels the author himself is currently reading.
The Verdict:
Plotwise his strongest book, McCaleb is a more casual character than Bosch, a bit too boring in the middle, but nevertheless a fine piece of fiction.

This is another thrilling murder mystery from the pen of top crime writer Michael Connelly. Ex-FBI investigator, Terry McCaleb, is recovering from a heart transplant operation and expecting a few months of relaxed and quiet recuperation. By the end of Chapter One, McCaleb has not only found out that his new heart came from the victim of a violent murder but has also agreed to help track down the murderer. That he is doing this for the victim's sister who just happens to be drop dead gorgeous sets the plot.
At first it seems that a serial killer is responsible, but not all is as it seems. When you are an ex-cop, investigations are always that much more difficult. When other real cops (LAPD) have failed to solve the crime, they have their own agendas, and helping McCaleb is just not on the list. The story settles down two or three times, seducing the reader into going with the flow, and then another amazing twist occurs which leaves you wondering if you can possibly guess who did it.
This is an imaginative, well-written, suspense filled novel with just the right amount of romance to lighten the sinister theme. Like all of Connelly's novels I have so far read, it will keep you enthralled until the last chapter.

Blood Work starts off with an unusual premise and then continues to pull the reader in many unexpected directions throughout the reading. Connelly has a couple of flaws as a writer that shows up without fail in each of his books. That is the villains are pretty much the same from one book to the next and as a reader you get used to looking for what becomes obvious hints. Also he always turns the hero, in this case Terry McCaleb, into a victim. So you could say that every Connelly book is very formulaic. Which is too bad, mainly because Connelly's prose is by my standards up there with the best writers working this genre today, Maybe topped or equaled only by Lawrence Block and Tony Hillerman.

What's great about this book and why I like it even more than the Bosch series is that it is toned down several notches. Not until the very end does it become super sensational and over the top. Not until the end does the formula completely take over in an attempt to neatly tie things up.

I just want to say that it is a privilege to have so many great pulp fiction authors out in the world bringing entertainment to us masses. And I want to thank Connelly for being one of the better of these.

Terry McCaleb, ex-FBI profiler and serial killer point man in Los Angeles, is spending his days recuperating after a heart transplant by restoring the boat he lives on. Life consists of long daily walks, checking vital signs and taking anti-rejection medications. That is, until he looks up one day to see Graciela Rivers coming aboard with a request. She's read about his career and new heart in the paper and wants him to privately take on the murder case of her sister, Glory, who was shot in the head and killed during a convenience store robbery. At first, McCaleb says no, he's not in the business anymore, doesn't need the stress and has to take care of himself. But when she reveals that his new heart belonged to Glory, she was an organ donor, he rethinks his answer and decides to look into the case. As he starts to look at the LAPD paperwork and crime scene tape, one thing becomes very clear, things are not as they seem. The detectives working the case, missed some important clues and it appears that Glory wasn't just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but the actual target. And as McCaleb digs deeper, he knows his new heart will never rest easy, unless he solves the crime and finds the killer..... Michael Connelly has done it again. He's written a great mystery/thriller with enough twists, turns and false starts to keep you turning pages to the very end. This is a book that has it all...a great, fast paced, suspenseful plot, well drawn, original characters and riveting scenes that come alive on the page. This is a novel you'll definitely want to read in one sitting. So turn off the phone and lock the door, Blood Work is about to keep you up all night!

Blood Work is a timely subject, foreshadowing ethical, political, and personal questions which will become more important as we adjust to the transplantation and creation of body parts to keep ourselves alive. The basic story revolves around FBI profiler Terry McAleb's need for, acquisition of, and resulting complications from receiving a life-giving heart donation from a murder victim. Although Connelly's work is good in itself, Brian Helgeland's screenplay makes the story come alive in ways the book cannot. Clint Eastwood has been criticized for many aspects of his self-directing, self-producing, and self-starring roles, but the movie works and it is much more entertaining than the book. The May-September Wanda De Jesus-Eastwood romance enhances the story's theme of renewal of life and adds more poignancy than is possible in the book where the two characters are closer in age. Although Paul Rodriguez's over-the-top performance as the PO'd Latino detective is distracting (albeit, with some funny lines), I think it brings out the ethnic interplay of the characters and the environment better than the book does. After all, this is LA, and this is today. But where the movie really shines is in the portrayal of the villain. In the book, we catch only fleeting glimpses of the killer and never hear about his motives from him. However, in the movie, the villain is an integral part of the story. His life and motives may be a little too obvious and perhaps subtract from the suspense, but the book doesn't do any better job of fleshing out evil. The ending also shines in the movie but falls short in the book. Connelly gave us little dread or anticipation. The movie delivers both, not only with Eastwood's constant concern about his heart transplant going bad and a violent bout with a burly Russian, but also with the final confrontation between Eastwood and the killer himself.
All in all, an okay book, a better movie, but not an all-nighter.

A new hero in Blood Works by Michael Connelly! And Terry McCaleb is just that--a former FBI profiler whose vast knowledge of serial killers is at the heart of this suspenseful novel. Living on a boat in the Los Angeles area, McCaleb is living in retirement following a very recent heart transplant. A visit from Gracielea Rivers changes his relaxed daily routine into an intense search for the vicious murderer of Graciela's sister, Glory. With much opposition from the police and FBI, as well as from his doctor, and several false starts, road blocks, and dead ends, McCaleb pursues the killer.
Looking at the LAPD paperwork and crime scene tapes, McCaleb is sure that law enforcement came to wrong conclusions. Enough said at the risk of giving away any of the twists and turns that make this novel so suspenseful and make this character one that we hope to meet up with again.

"Blood Work" is the second of Michael Connelly's novels that do not involve his usual protagonist, Harry Bosch. This time, the main character is Terry McCaleb, a former FBI agent forced to retire because of a heart disease that almost killed him and necessitated a heart transplant.
After the L.A. Times prints a "Where are they now?" column about him, McCaleb gets deluged with requests from the public to solve individual tragic mysteries. He turns all of them down except one: the sister of the person whose heart he received. A person who was murdered in what appears to be a random crime. Only as McCaleb investigates more, he finds that the profile of the killer fits . . . himself.
Like all of Connelly's works, "Blood Work" has a number of surprising twists that kept me guessing. In that regard, it's one of his more successful works. ("The Concrete Blonde" ranks as his best, in my opinion, though I haven't read "Void Moon," "Trunk Music," or the new McCaleb-Bosch crossover "A Darkness More than Night" yet.)
But what I found ultimately a little disappointing about "Blood Work" was that there didn't seem to be much difference between McCaleb and Bosch. McCaleb has Bosch's tough, sarcastic sense of humor and even uses some of Bosch's tricks for dealing with bureaucracies.

This was the first Michael Connolly book I read, and because of it I have since bought five others. The plot is engaging from the very start. Ex-FBI agent Terry McCaleb, whose speciality was profiling serial killers, has retired from the Bureau after a heart transplant and is living on his boat in LA harbour. Having turned his back on fighting crime, he has no intentions of helping Graciela Rivers, a woman whose sister has been murdered, until he finds out that the transplanted heart that saved his life belonged to her. With this knowledge, he feels obliged to investigate Gloria's death, against the express wishes of his doctor and knowing it could have serious consequences for his health.
All McCaleb has to go on is a video tape from a convenience store showing a masked man hold up the owner and then shoot the two witnesses. Add to this the hostility he receives from the two LAPD detectives assigned the case, and it seems like McCaleb isn't going to get far. However, it soon becomes clear that the crime is not as random as it seems, and McCaleb is on the trail of someone a lot more sinister than an opportunistic thief.
Connolly writes "Blood Work" with an unrelenting pace and a real flair for knowing exactly how to string the reader along. You'll be as hooked as one of the fish in the harbour!

I always think that a well-researched good novel is the easiest and fastest way to get new information or anything you didn't quite familiar with before. "Blood Work" is such a book that not only entertaining but also very informative, especially on the basic criminology. Mr. Connelly delivered again this time, making a novel quite readable and knowledgeable. His style has become more natural and smooth. Except the loneliness of the hero that is always there, this time, he let a heart-transplanted divorced guy find true love in the end, a gentler and kinder ending than what his Harry Bosch series ended up with. Mr. Connelly also let the reader get a true picture of how repeatively boring but intensive when a guy tried to solve several lukewarm or even cold murder cases; what kind of a**hole detective(Det. Arrago} and die-hard detective(Det. Winston) should be. As always, by linking the unsolved "Code Killer" with this new novel is a quite seamless patchwork done by him. Only some have-to-be-repeative parts in this novel could be flipped easily through if you would like to speed up your reading.

I rather enjoyed this book. The author does a good job telling a story that is not exactly a new one. Given the large amount of books in this class, his one stands out becuase of the writing. He have a very good flow through out the book and he is a master at describing the location and people involved. If you are into crime stories this is one of the better ones out there. Ok some of the story is a bit out here, but there is some much of the human condition as we know it that would come to the surface that you can see yourself in the book. There is just something about the main character that you really get to like. It is not that he is a great human, he just has a human quality that comes through. I think we get to know him becuase the author does such a good job of dropping into the story bits of the lead characters life and thoughts so you really come away with a strong sense of the man. I love the level of detail and the story that takes in all the twists and really makes it work. This is a book for a reader that wants to become part of the story and pay attention.

...and you'll likely enjoy this mystery. The story has an interesting and rather off beat premise, and moves through the pages at a "mostly" brisk and lively pace. But the reader is asked to make too many leaps of faith along the way, feeling just a bit too much like a made-for-TV movie. Terrell McCaleb, the ex-FBI agent with a new heart, moves a little to freely through the LAPD and the FBI in his private and unauthorized investigation of a pair of seemingly unrelated random murders. The love affair with his client is sappy and unnecessary, except for its inevitable role in a formulaic ending. And for the crime-solving genius that McCaleb is made out to be, you think he'd eventually remember to check his voicemail. For the most part, the characters felt hastily developed, relying more on stereotype than on any thoughtful personality development by the author.
But on balance, "Blood Work" is an entertaining, but not riveting, mystery. The plot had some clever twists and as mentioned, is built around an unusual theme. The killer was deftly hidden and skillfully revealed, though the climax felt rushed and contrived. In the final analysis, "Blood Work" is a rather ordinary pop thriller/mystery that feels good while it lasts, but won't be much remembered a few days hence.

It took me a while to come around to reading Blood Work. I'd read all the Harry Bosch novels and seen Clint Eastwood' s movie version, which in and of itself wasn't awful but a total botch now that I've read the original book. The reason I like this more than many of M. Connelly' s other work is the Terry McCaleb character - the combination of intelligence, strength and vulnerability that's better apportioned than Bosch and Mickey Haller. Plus the plot really does take a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Like all Connolly's books, there are moments that annoy - when the hero makes a dumb cowboy move, when a romantic moment comes off as clunky. Overall though this still is Connelly at his page-turning best, and that's saying a lot.

Blood Work was my first Michael Connelly book. Before trying his Bosch series, I decided to go with a stand alone so that I'd get a good feel of this writer's style and tone. And now that I'm done reading Blood Work, all I can say is that if his other books are half as good as this one, I'm in for a great ride!
Blood Work is that rare suspense thriller that is completely unpredictable. After receving a heart transplant, McCaley meets the donor's sister only to learn that his heart came from a murdered woman. Out of guilt and out of need, he decides to go on a mission to find the the donor's murderer. But the more he investigates, the more secrets he uncovers, secrets that will shock him and leave him completely baffled.
I couldn't put this book down. And I could not predict where it was heading. Every time I thought it was going in one direction, the story would completely surprise me and take me in another. And the story is very belivable and the characters very realistic. Blood Work is that rare thriller that works on every level.
I'm in awe of Connelly's writing style and of his talent at writing believable and highly suspenseful prose. I've discovered a new writer that I can't wait to return to.

OK, this isn't a book review so much as a gripe.

First, I enjoyed this book very much. I will leave the story details to others who have previously written reviews. The pacing and storyline kept me interested, but the main character, Terry McCaleb, drove me nuts!

I am not a health care professional, but even I know that people don't act like this in real life. Here we have a man recovering from heart transplant surgery who gets drawn into a murder investigation in spite of his surgeon's advice. This places him in stressful and dangerous situations which can't be good for a person with a new heart beating in his chest. He does it anyway. And then, to compound the stress, he eats like a 20-year-old: enchiladas, hamburgers, donuts, and 5 cups of coffee at one sitting! This is not the behavior of a man who is taking his health condition to "heart".

I think in this regard the author made this character 2-dimensional. People with heart transplants have been given a gift, a second chance at life. This makes them extremely careful with their health situation. They pay attention to medical advice. Michael Connelly totally ignored reality.

Of course, there wouldn't have been any story at all if Terry had not taken up the cause. But couldn't he have eaten a salad at least ONCE in the story??

Something happened to Michael Connelly while he was writing that book. Some kind of crisis or breakdown. Maybe he was fed up with writing that book or writing in general.
It looks like the publisher tried to minimize the damage and make the author finish the intended bestseller no matter what. That's why we have that ridiculous ending. An extra effort was put behind Blood Work's promotiom. Every Connelly's book cover in the English edition I've got advertised Blood Work and guaranteed 150 pound discout on a trip to the USA and Canada with the the book's purchase.
Reading Michael Connely you can rely on a certain standard but this time the writing is very uneven. Of course Terry McCaleb is no match to the authors more famous character. It seems Connely used up all the dark colors of his palette on Hieronimys Bosch. No neurotism, no emotional problems for the new guy - except the sense of guilt all the Connely's creations possess in great measure.
Connely is not very good in characterization. All his characters blame themselves for various bads they did or caused to happen. They like people who like them (and feel guilt toward them) and hate people who do not like them. In every book beside the usual villains there are jerks among the hero's colleagues who devote all their time to making his life diffucult. But he prevails upon them through his mental superiority and courage.
All this guilt, neurotism and the urge for self- destruction are used by Mr.Connely to make his characters alive and complex.
The less important personas are testimony to the author's uneasiness in dealing with real people. They are very stereotypical.
Blood Work's Graciela is the archetypal Latina, giving and forgiving, lustful and religious, loyal to her man.
Bolotov is a criminal by birthright. He is Russian and can be easily confronted and accused on a weak hunch,in fact, on a whim.I was amused when my compatriot reacted on that crap in a very manly way and after that every thought of Bolotov's supposed nearness sent the chills up McCaleb's WASPish a$$.
Yes, Bolotov is not guilty of this crime but he ended up in a prison for something else - so there is no reason to worry about that wrongful accusation.
It was one of the very few episodes when the sense of guilt was not bothering the distinguised ex-agent.
So the first hundreds pages had a promise of a good entertainment then something gone wrong and the last pages is just Michael Connelly's fulfilling his contract obligations. I hope his later books will bring back the author we are used to.

This is a brilliant mystery of such complexity that virtually no one will guess who did it before Connelly unveils the culprit. A retired FBI agent with a heart transplant is recruited by the woman whose sister's heart he now owns into investigating why his donor was killed. The story illustrates a tension between the professional law enforcement community and outsiders, the tension between local and federal law enforcement, and the complexity of a crime that starts out in one direction and moves in several other directions. The more you read the more you will keep reading to find out how it is solved.
The characters and their dilemmas are quite realistic. You will find yourself rooting for the retired agent and his new friend against both law enforcement and the criminal. The southern California scene falls into place and the process of hunting down bad people becomes totally engrossing. Blood Work is a solid book for losing yourself in a first-rate mystery.

Ex-FBI agent Terry McCaleb spends most of his days onboard his boat where he's recovering from a heart transplant. It's a quiet, restful life until Graciella Rivers steps onto McCaleb's boat. She wants McCaleb to find the murderer of her sister Gloria. McCaleb is uninterested until Graciella discloses one addition piece of information: the heart McCaleb received once belonged to Gloria.
McCaleb learns that Gloria's murder is more than just a random act of violence during a convenience store robbery. To say any more would give away too much of a great story. What makes the story great? First, Connelly writes smart. The story is intriguing, fast-paced, and most important - believable. As a reader of mysteries and thrillers, I really get tired of writers who jerk you around from one red-herring to another in order to steer your attention away from a plot detail you might have otherwise noticed. Connelly does none of this. His story (and his writing) has a flow that reads very naturally and easily. BLOOD WORK is one of the smartest thrillers I've read in a long time. Well worth your time and money.
496 pages

Michael Connelly's latest thriller is a much more believable work than his previous stand-alone, _The Poet_. In this one, his protagonist is Terrell McCaleb, FBI retireee and recipient of a recent heart transplant. When the sister of his organ's donor comes to ask him to get involved in the investigation, McCaleb feels a very personal connection to the case, which draws him in.
Connelly does a great job with the inter-departmental rivalries involved in the case and the reluctance of both police and sheriff's departments to have McCaleb get involved. Also quite real are the insights into McCaleb's recuperation, when a temperature of even 1 or 2 degrees above normal suddenly becomes a matter of concern.
What McCaleb eventually discovers in his investigation is a real shock, one which Mr. Connelly keeps hidden pretty well until the climactic moment. My only real problem with the book was the swift and relatively easy capture of his quarry towards the end. A strong recommendation!

Michael Connelly delivers a riveting story of vengeance in BLOOD WORK. Connelly successfully puts the reader into the mind of the main protagonist, ex-FBI agent and profiler Terrell McCaleb, as McCaleb goes methodically through his investigative paces to uncover clues to solve three brutal cold-blooded murders by a souless, evil killer. Though slowed by his recent heart transplant surgery, McCaleb turns relentless in his quest to hunt down a murderer that he considers the embodiment of evil. McCaleb understandably re-enters crimefighting with some initial trepidations, despite his connection to one of the victims, but caution gives way to accelerating action when he discovers that he also has a macabre link to the villian. If you found vicarious satisfaction in John "Lilly" Lelankevitch's merciless crime-fighting spree in the novel, EVIL, BE GONE, then you'll also get caught up in Connelly's BLOOD WORK!---Robert John Estko, the author of EVIL, BE GONE

This is the best procedural-type mystery I've read in some time. Terry McCaleb used to be an FBI profiler working out of Los Angeles until his heart fell apart on him and he had to get in line for a transplant. Then the new heart comes -- but, as he discovers several months later, the donor was murdered. Now the dead woman's sister wants him to try to find the killer. What seemed to the police like a classic convenience store robbery gone wrong gradually becomes a great deal more as Terry investigates. I like the way Connelly never wastes a paragraph; details the reader might regard as just window-dressing always turn out to be more important than one originally thought. Only the ending doesn't quite work for me: Is it reasonable for Terry and Graciela to assume young Raymond will really be able to keep his mouth shut about what happened down in Mexico? But otherwise, this is a very well done story.

I'm not sure if this was Connelly's goal but I couldn't help but be impressed with the research he seemed to have done in order to make the novel credible. The reader learns about heart transplants and computers. There's something about FBI procedure and the way bullets are linked to specific guns. It's great. Furthermore, the plot is really gripping. Sure, you might sit back a week later and think, "That was a little ridiculous, wasn't it?" but while you are in the throes, you will be enthralled. A heart transplant patient asked by the sister of his donor to solve the murder which gave him life. Never mind that the recipient is a former hotshot FBI agent and also never mind that the murder is the work of a true fiend. The novel is more morally complex than books which are equally fun to read and it is more fun to read than more books that are more morally complex.

You can truly picture Clint Eastwood in the lead role. The story line is fantastic and the chapters end leaving you fiending for more.
You start with a retired FBI agent trying to recapture his life. By odd circumstance, which you have to read to find out, he returns to the job to find a murderer who he belives is a cerial killer. In true action hero form, he uncovers clues that the cops working on the case coulnd't figure out for themselves. It becomes VERY personal for this retired FBI agent and Bloodwork has double meaning here, which makes the writting superb. The twists and turns enable you to practically read it from cover to cover in one sitting, utterly unable to wait for the outcome.
Michael Connelly knows how to grab and hold ones attention. This book comes highly reccommended, especially if you like these FBI case stories. Happy reading!

I don't write these reviews often, but this book impressed me so much that I had to put in a few good words for it.

I have read several of Connelly's Harry Bosch novels and had enjoyed them very much, but this one stands out from the rest.

Why? First of all, Terry McCaleb is the hero of this. An ex-FBI serial killer specialist, he has a newly transplanted heart in him as the book opens. He isn't the classic pulp hero, and it makes life interesting.

Second, and I won't ruin the plot by saying anything, this is extremely intelligent, a creation of lots of good reporting and crafting of a great plot. Connelly, a former LA Times reporter, shows his background when he weavees together a plot that is fascinating, believable, and full of surprises. This is among the best constructed mysteries I've ever read.

So do yourself a favor and spend the few bucks -- or few cents -- it takes to purchase this book. You'll be intrigued and amazed by it.

As usual, Michael Connelly writes some of the most clever mystery stories. There is always a series of twists and turns to keep the reader off balance after believing he/she has figured out the plot. This story in particular ends in a place least likely to be thought about. And the story is believable with an ending that is not a default type of conclusion that some authors get themselves into- having to finish a story but with a very weak conclusion, having created too many leads that go in too many directions. This is a highly recommended read.

Michael Connelly is one of the best crime novelist writers I've ever read. Every book I've read of his has been a rollercoaster of emotions & suspense. I haven't been disappointed yet!
I'll admit it took me a little bit to get used to Terry McCaleb, since I'm a huge fan of the Harry Bosch series, and who can top that? However, before long I was enjoying Terry almost just as much.
Blood Work is full of twists & turns, in search of a killer. Terry McCaleb, who has just had a heart transplant is supposed to be at home resting, retired from the FBI. Until the woman who's sister died so he could have his heart, asks Terry for his help in finding her killer. How can he turn her down? I don't want to reveal too much, so I'll leave it at that. If you like crime novels and murder mysteries, I guarentee you'll love this book. There wasn't a dull moment. And I'd also recommend the Harry Bosch series, including Concrete Blonde, Trunk Music and Angels Flight.

Michael Connelly is one of the greatest storytellers ever! It would be difficult to pick a favorite because each are special in their own way. "Blood Work," the book, was much better than the movie. Sometimes Hollywood just doesn't get it right. And I was thrilled with the way Connelly dealt with the misconceptions in the movie.

I never wonder if a new Connelly publication will be good or not - because if it's Connelly and Bosch - it's a page turner and dynamite. Read this book and then read "A Darkness More than Light." My problem is - when I start reading a Connelly book - I can't put it down until I've read the last page. Thank you, Michael, and keep the books coming!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, my first by author Connelly. My only gripe is strictly on myself: I saw the movie several times prior to reading the book. I'm a big Eastwood fan. Not to give anything away, but there are plot details that differ significantly, and I had a hard time keeping the two separate.

The book is much better. The plot may strain credibility at times but not in comparison to the movie. For the procedural, investigation genre, this novel works. Some of the plot twists are unlikely if not inconceivable, though. The characters are rich and completely engaging. The character development, at least with regard to the major characters, is superior. Its not the best thriller I've read, but if you find it too tedious, you're jaded.

I love Michael Connelly's books. I really like mysteries and he is one of the better writers. This book keeps your interest all the way through it. Terry McCaleb is an ex-FBI man who was good at running down serial killers. He was forced to retire because of a bad heart-he ended up being the recipient of a donor heart. The sister of the donor comes to him to see if he will help find the man responsible for her sister's murder-it is her heart that he has, and he does reluctantly at first and then becomes very determined to find the murderer. You also learn a little about what a transplant person's life is like after the operation and how they cope. Very interesting book that keeps your interest the whole way through it. I recommend it highly as I do most of his books.

Blood Work is based on a captivating premise: a retired FBI ace is persuaded by a stranger to investigate the murder of her sister. The recipient of a heart transplant, Terry McCaleb accepts and soon discovers that the victim was the donor of his new heart and therefore his savior. A most promising framework on which to build a police procedural.

The McCaleb novels are a departure for author Connelly, who is well known for his sharp, edgy Harry Bosch novels. Unfortunately, this new hero cannot hold a candle to Harry with respect to charisma and simple humanity. For some reason, Connelly resorted to a series of facile discoveries and coincidences to bring this mystery to its conclusion. Some of these contrivances are just too much to swallow. It didn't take long, for example, for Terry to find the exact beach location where the perpetrator hides out, and this along the southern California coast, no less.

I'll probably read the next McCaleb novel, but with lower expectations that I hold for dear Harry.

Michael Connelly is unique. His writing is similar to PatriciaCornwell's, but he's much, much better. When I read THE POET, some years ago, I said to myself: Such an very well-written book! But when I read BLOOD WORK, I found a book that it's so good as the other one. Things are always happening in a kaleidoscopical speed. Things just happen so fast! And the plot is also so cool!
In order not to spoil the plot, in a few words, BLOOD WORK tells the story of policeman who's going to retire because of a heart surgeon. In fact, he's in a leave because of his heart problem. But before he is able to do so, a case "calls" him and he finds himself involved in a story that you will love to read.
Michael Connelly's favorite books are ANGEL'S FLIGHT and THE LAST COYOTE. I don't have AF, and personally, THE LAST COYOTE is far behind THE POET and BLOOD WORK, my favorite ones. Anyway, I prefer the ones 'without' his famous detective Harry Bosch. If you like detective stories full of twists and action, you won't be disappointed with that one. The whole book is incredible and you never get tired of the reading. Try it and see exactly what I mean.
Marco Aurelio

I read several of Connelly's books. I enjoyed The Poet but havebeen disapointed by the rest.
On the positive side, Connelly has a great way with explaining investigative procedures-probably due to his background in journalism.
On the minus side, the plot was pretty predictable with one or two interesting twists. If you've read some of Connelly's other books you may even be able to predict the twists.
I would have forgiven the plot if the characters had been more interesting and less one-dimensional. It seemed like they were there simply to carry the plot and technical details. If you want a fast read and an OK story, this book is fine. If you also want some compelling characters, I would recommend checking out James Elroy or early Lawrence Sanders.

Michael Connelly has become one of my all time favorite authors. I had just finished reading the Poet and was a little disappointed. Then I picked this up from the library. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this one. Terry, a former FBI agent in LA, is retired and slowly getting his life together after a heart transplant. HE is visited by a stranger who asks him to help find the killer of her sister. Little does he know, he is connected to this sister in an unusual way. Against his doctor's advice, he starts investigating the murder which leads him on a journey of hard to find clues and speculation. The story line is unique and flows nicely. This is one of the best I have read all year. If you haven't tried a Connelly, you can't lose with this one!!

Connelly departs from his straightfoward mystery/suspense novels with this story that centers on a retired FBI agent searching for the killer of the donor of his new heart. Terry McCaleb is 8 weeks out from a heart transplant when he learns of the donor's murder. Her persuasive and attractive sister spurs McCaleb to jump start the cold case of the hunt for the killer. It takes some unforeseen turns as the former FBI investigator faces his own past and the dilemma of gaining a new chance on life from someone else's loss.

Connelly, as usual, pens a suspenseful page turner. The heart transplant issue causes some missteps I think because such a patient probably would not be able to do some of the things McCaleb does or suffers without more severe physical problems. That question is present throughout the action of the book and is a part of the conflict he faces. It also limits the usual tough-guy (Bosch type) of character in Connelly's books. Other than that issue, the book is first rate.

It could be that Connelly is off to begin another series with a new main character. It looked at one point that the former FBI agent might need a lawyer, and Mickey Haller was recommended, but did not put in an appearance. Really enjoyed this one and hope there are more coming!

The begins with Terry McCaleb, a former FBI agent who specialized in serial killers (some job, huh?) who is recovering from a recent heart transplant, being asked to investigate the death of a young woman. The person asking is the woman's sister, and the reason she thinks McCaleb should be interested is that the deceased is the donor of his new heart. Under the circumstances, he finds it difficult to say no, although his heart surgeon has told him that any kind of work is totally out of the question. He's also handicapped by the fact that he's no longer with the FBI and doesn't have a PI license. That doesn't stop him.

This story has a number of twists and turns, although some of the "twists" I had already guessed -- but there were enough left unguessed to make for an enjoyable read. All in all, this book could be classified as a pageturner, but you will be able to put it down and go to sleep when you need to.

Michael Connelly takes us once again on his thriller merry-go-round. I love his mysteries and this one was no exception. This masterful writer introduces us to a new hero and builds up his storyline like the crime writer that he was and still is, only now using his skill in books. I am reading his books in sequence this time rather than picking up somewhere in the middle. Therefore, I had already seen the movie that was adapted from this book. I don't like doing that but was unavoidable. Read this book, you won't be disappointed.

This book is the best suspense book I have read ... ever. It was fast-paced, and kept me reading, and reading, and reading. I just couldn't put it down. Just when I would think I was at a stopping point, something else would happen. I ended up finishing it very quickly. It is easy reading and very enjoyable.
I liked the plot was beliveable, as many of today's mysteries are not.
You won't be diappointed with ANYTHING about this book. It is sooooo good. The characters are ones you know in your every day life and that made the book much better, too.
Get this book ... you will love it. I PROMISE! Any fan of mystery and suspense should read this book. You'll be glad you did.

I enjoyed the work. I enjoy the Bosch novels more but this one grew on me. It did have a slow start for me. Really slow.
What i enjoyed was the character go through the motions. Yes, he was a former fed but his action didn't go by the rules. He wasacting like a man with a mission and then a former fed. Also, the little insight on a criminal mind were nicely done. He(MC) didn't spend a lot of time on that either, just enough.
And last, i enjoyed how the character told you bits of insite on the FBI mind. For example, the neighbor next door, going to do luandry, with, shoes off and some quaters. and putting dirt on the broken lock. Very nice details.

Michael Connelly steps away from his hard-boiled Harry Bosch novels and introduces us to retired FBI Profiler Terry McCaleb. McCaleb is recovering from a heart transplant and living on a boat in the marina when the sister of the woman whose heart Terry received asks him to find her sister's killer. What appears to be a routine robbery begins to take on a more sinister direction as McCaleb begins to piece together some overlooked evidence. This thriller adds a lot of suspense not just from the events surrounding the murder but also from Terry's unstable physical condition. He can't drive, he doesn't know when he's hungry, has to constantly monitor his temperature and blood, and is easily fatigued.
Connelly populates the book with an excellent supporting cast of characters such as Graciella Rivers, the heart donor's sister and potential romantic interest for McCaleb; Detective Arrango, a detective who resents McCaleb looking into his investigation; and Buddy Lockwood, McCaleb's beach bum neighbor and part time chauffer. The plot may be a little contrived, but it's Terry's pain at how he received his new heart and the debt he feels he owes that drive this story. McCaleb is a thoroughly enjoyable character. As Terry begins to make certain discoveries, the suspense builds to a final satisfying conclusion.

Pick any of Connelly's books and you wonder, "how can one author be just soooooo much better than any of the others?"
Mr. Connelly is head and shoulders above any of the competition. Just to put it in perspective, the second tier would contain authors such as:
Ridley Pearson's Boldt/Mathews series
Michael Koryta's Lincoln Perry
James Patrick Hunt
Richard Montanari
Lee Child (before Jack Reacher rose from the dead)
Steve Hamilton

Michael Connelly has created a tremendous story that is full of intrigue, suspense and surprises!! A young woman has died, her heart goes to save Terry McCaleb and her sister appears on his boat to ask for his help in finding out about the murder. Connelly has, as always, created interesting characters and even more interesting possibilities. Who can you trust, who do you really know and who will be willing to trust you when evidence points to a murder and the person with the most obvious thing to gain is the only person that appears to be investigating the crime! This is a novel that grabs the reader and holds your attention to the last detail.

Coming from the Harry Bosch novels I thought I would miss this remarkable character - just to see him replaced by an equally remarkable one. And what a plot! It is complex and twisted, indeed. But the reader always knows what McCaleb knows, and in opposition to most mysteries, understands what is going on, and can easily follow the main character's reasoning. Although the former FBI agent is an "exotic" character because of his recent heart transplant he is credible as a literary character and seems genuine and real. All the other persons are credible too and even the sick mind of the bad guy appears genuine and imaginable. A great book!

A new characterbut another high quality story from Michael Connolly. Lots of interesting twists and turns as a retired FBI agent with a new heart tracks down the killer that made the organ available.

This is one of my favorite books I've read recently. Connelly delivers a remarkable plot and character in Terry McCabe. The plot is thick, but plausible and inventive. The identity of the killer in this one took me by surprise, although the evidence is there all along. Terry's relationship with Gabriela, is very different and I felt Terry's predicament. Terry is no super-human, that's for sure. Also liked his relationship with Buddy Lockridge, who becomes his "driver," but still wants to be a real detective, too. A great read, and filled with tense moments and some marvelous dialogue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My wife and I loved the suspense and cliff-hanging chapters. We began this novel as an audio CD, while traveling cross country, enjoying the voice of our favorite award winning narrator, Dick Hill. The story line was so suspenseful that on occasion we read the book aloud to each other when not in the car so that we could both find out what happened next while progressing simultaneously through the exciting adventure. We loved "Blood Work," and look forward to reading more of Connelly's books.

I have to say that this is a great mystery. It has a great setup with a bunch of great twists in it. I know it made me use my brain quite a bit, trying to figure out how everything was going to fit together in the end.
My only problem is that the title 'Blood Work' makes you think it's suspenful. It's not. At no point did I feel there was any danger for the main characters, or any character. If you start reading this book, start knowing that the only thing motivating you to turn the pages is the fact that you want to know how the ex-fbi man solves the case, not because you have to know what happens to the people in the end.

It's pretty common for me to read a novel by a bestselling author and think, "Well, that was okay. Not great, but okay." That's what I did when I read two of Michael Connelly's previous books. I can only classify the man as a competent writer, nothing more. He does several things in his writing that I find very annoying; such as, for some reason he hates to use contractions in his dialogue, so his characters all end up sounding like robots when they say things like, "I will find more evidence. You will see that I am right, and then you will wish you had not doubted me."

Those common little flaws aside, though, Blood Work was simply a terrible book. The characters were all cliched stereotypes that we've seen a thousand times. The dialogue was flat, the excitement level was roughly equal to a turtle marathon, and the entire book just dragged on and on and on, going nowhere.

By far the worst aspect of this book was the pacing. Oh, lord, the pacing. In the beginning, we learn that Terry McCaleb is a retired FBI man who recently recieved a heart transplant. A woman visits him to ask him to investigate the murder of her sister, who was killed in a gas station robbery. The kicker is that it's the murdered woman's heart that McCaleb got during his transplant.

Now, this is a nice little set-up. Different, interesting. But then the book proceeds to go nowhere fast. By page 100, the only thing we've learned is that the person who killed the woman also killed a man during an ATM robbery. By page 250, the only new information we have is that when he killed the woman, he also stole her earring. No major developements happen until around page 350, and by then the reader has most likely sunk into a coma. Even the ending of the book fails to deliver the goods; the few things that were supposed to be surprises were easy to guess near the beginning. The one plot point that does take us somewhat by surprise is so neatly and easily wrapped up that we still feel disappointed.

Not only does the book take hundreds of pages to actually go anywhere, but it's bogged down by useless details that Connelly seems to love adding in. He'll give lengthy descriptions of a man putting on a shirt, or describe the type of Pop Tarts the main character is eating, or the music he hears in an elevator. He also over-describes simple tasks as if he's talking to pre-schoolers. He'll say things like, "The man smiled when he saw the woman approaching. A smile is when the ends of your mouth both point upward. People smile when they are happy." When I got to a line about a person wearing sunglasses in order to block the sun, I almost fainted from disbelief. Michael, please. Get a grip.

I found myself wanting to stop reading this book in the middle many, many times. I eventually just skimmed through all of the bad soap opera dialogue and the endless (and pointless) descriptions to get to the end, which was as predictable and cliched as I expected. I found myself thrilled that the book was over but at the same time upset that I had wasted 10 or 12 hours reading it.

To me, the solution is simple. Michael Connelly needs to come to my house every weekend over the summer and mow my lawn. This will give me back the time that I lost reading his book, and it's the only fair solution to this problem. In-between cutting the front and the back yard, I'll give Michael a glass of lemonade and suggest that he switch careers and begin writing math textbooks, which are only slightly more exciting than Blood Work was.

Don't worry, Michael; the yard isn't very big. Just pick up some gas on the way over because I think I'm almost out.

I've read all of Connelly's books in order and this is the most recent. It really is the best so far. Now I really like the Bosch series and look forward to the next one. This is one of the stand alone books that Connelly does ever so often (even though it does contain a main character that appears in a latter Bosch novel).

The story moves quickly but builds supense. The main character is likeable from the very first. I almost skipped this book because I had seen the movie and was worried that I would find it boring. Don't worry about it! The plot is different enough that there are still several supprises and you get more from the character by reading.

Anyway hope you enjoy the book.

This book is as good as James Siegel, Dean Koontz and other leading author serial killer novels. An ex-FBI homicide profiler recovering from a heart transplant is convinced by an attractive woman to find the killer of her sister, her sister she informs him was also the donor of his new heart. The connections the detective discovers as well as the killer's motives are brilliant ideas by Michael Connelly.

If you like thriller serial killer/detective novels then you have to read this one. You'll keep thinking about this book for days after you've read the last page.

This is the first book I have read by Michael Connelly and I would probably read another, despite this one dragging in places. It really never took off for me, but I kept reading, as it was kind of interesting. It was not great I didn't think, and the way the bad guy was ultimately located was pretty lame. I kind of liked the way the relationship between McCaleb and Graciela developed. Buddy was great. Buddy was also kind of a minor character as was Jaye Winston, who could have had a lot more to do with the ultimate resolution than she did. I've read lots of thrillers. This one wasn't one of the top notch thillers but it was a pretty good mystery. The end was awfully flat.

"Blood Work" - that's what Terrell McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Until a heart condition forced him to take early retirement, he headed all investigations of serial murders in the Los Angeles area. Now he is recovering from a heart transplant operation and leads a quiet life. But McCaleb's calm seas turn rough when a story in the L.A. Times brings him face-to-face with Graciela Rivers, a darkly intriguing woman who hooks him with the story of her sister's unsolved murder. Against doctor's orders and his own better judgement, McCaleb agrees to take up the case. Soon Terry is on the trail of a killer whose crimes are more baffling and horrifying than anything he has ever encountered. It's a mind-bending, breakneck case that leads McCaleb into the darkest place he's ever known, unsure whether he even wants to survive his own investigation.

This is probably the best Michael Connelly book I've read. Connelly's Terry McCaleb is smart and more likable than Connelly's other regular character, Harry Bosch. The story line is suspenseful with some twists and turns along the way. The ending fell a little flat and could have been developed a bit more before publication, but still a great story. Too bad the movie completely butchered this wonderful book. I'd suggest that if you must watch the movie, that should be done before reading the book - otherwise you'll hate the movie.

Blood Work is a good, old-fashioned detective novel. Ex-FBI agent is convinced to take on one more case; case becomes complicated; agent finds himself in trouble; situation is resolved; everybody but the criminal is happy. Thrilling enough to hold my interest, but familiar enough to be comforting and comfortable, this book was perfect for my state of mind when I read it. I would certainly recommend it.

A new characterbut another high quality story from Michael Connolly. Lots of interesting twists and turns as a retired FBI agent with a new heart tracks down the killer that made the organ available.

This is one of my favorite books I've read recently. Connelly delivers a remarkable plot and character in Terry McCabe. The plot is thick, but plausible and inventive. The identity of the killer in this one took me by surprise, although the evidence is there all along. Terry's relationship with Gabriela, is very different and I felt Terry's predicament. Terry is no super-human, that's for sure. Also liked his relationship with Buddy Lockridge, who becomes his "driver," but still wants to be a real detective, too. A great read, and filled with tense moments and some marvelous dialogue. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My wife and I loved the suspense and cliff-hanging chapters. We began this novel as an audio CD, while traveling cross country, enjoying the voice of our favorite award winning narrator, Dick Hill. The story line was so suspenseful that on occasion we read the book aloud to each other when not in the car so that we could both find out what happened next while progressing simultaneously through the exciting adventure. We loved "Blood Work," and look forward to reading more of Connelly's books.

I have to say that this is a great mystery. It has a great setup with a bunch of great twists in it. I know it made me use my brain quite a bit, trying to figure out how everything was going to fit together in the end.
My only problem is that the title 'Blood Work' makes you think it's suspenful. It's not. At no point did I feel there was any danger for the main characters, or any character. If you start reading this book, start knowing that the only thing motivating you to turn the pages is the fact that you want to know how the ex-fbi man solves the case, not because you have to know what happens to the people in the end.

It's pretty common for me to read a novel by a bestselling author and think, "Well, that was okay. Not great, but okay." That's what I did when I read two of Michael Connelly's previous books. I can only classify the man as a competent writer, nothing more. He does several things in his writing that I find very annoying; such as, for some reason he hates to use contractions in his dialogue, so his characters all end up sounding like robots when they say things like, "I will find more evidence. You will see that I am right, and then you will wish you had not doubted me."

Those common little flaws aside, though, Blood Work was simply a terrible book. The characters were all cliched stereotypes that we've seen a thousand times. The dialogue was flat, the excitement level was roughly equal to a turtle marathon, and the entire book just dragged on and on and on, going nowhere.

By far the worst aspect of this book was the pacing. Oh, lord, the pacing. In the beginning, we learn that Terry McCaleb is a retired FBI man who recently recieved a heart transplant. A woman visits him to ask him to investigate the murder of her sister, who was killed in a gas station robbery. The kicker is that it's the murdered woman's heart that McCaleb got during his transplant.

Now, this is a nice little set-up. Different, interesting. But then the book proceeds to go nowhere fast. By page 100, the only thing we've learned is that the person who killed the woman also killed a man during an ATM robbery. By page 250, the only new information we have is that when he killed the woman, he also stole her earring. No major developements happen until around page 350, and by then the reader has most likely sunk into a coma. Even the ending of the book fails to deliver the goods; the few things that were supposed to be surprises were easy to guess near the beginning. The one plot point that does take us somewhat by surprise is so neatly and easily wrapped up that we still feel disappointed.

Not only does the book take hundreds of pages to actually go anywhere, but it's bogged down by useless details that Connelly seems to love adding in. He'll give lengthy descriptions of a man putting on a shirt, or describe the type of Pop Tarts the main character is eating, or the music he hears in an elevator. He also over-describes simple tasks as if he's talking to pre-schoolers. He'll say things like, "The man smiled when he saw the woman approaching. A smile is when the ends of your mouth both point upward. People smile when they are happy." When I got to a line about a person wearing sunglasses in order to block the sun, I almost fainted from disbelief. Michael, please. Get a grip.

I found myself wanting to stop reading this book in the middle many, many times. I eventually just skimmed through all of the bad soap opera dialogue and the endless (and pointless) descriptions to get to the end, which was as predictable and cliched as I expected. I found myself thrilled that the book was over but at the same time upset that I had wasted 10 or 12 hours reading it.

To me, the solution is simple. Michael Connelly needs to come to my house every weekend over the summer and mow my lawn. This will give me back the time that I lost reading his book, and it's the only fair solution to this problem. In-between cutting the front and the back yard, I'll give Michael a glass of lemonade and suggest that he switch careers and begin writing math textbooks, which are only slightly more exciting than Blood Work was.

Don't worry, Michael; the yard isn't very big. Just pick up some gas on the way over because I think I'm almost out.

I've read all of Connelly's books in order and this is the most recent. It really is the best so far. Now I really like the Bosch series and look forward to the next one. This is one of the stand alone books that Connelly does ever so often (even though it does contain a main character that appears in a latter Bosch novel).

The story moves quickly but builds supense. The main character is likeable from the very first. I almost skipped this book because I had seen the movie and was worried that I would find it boring. Don't worry about it! The plot is different enough that there are still several supprises and you get more from the character by reading.

Anyway hope you enjoy the book.

This book is as good as James Siegel, Dean Koontz and other leading author serial killer novels. An ex-FBI homicide profiler recovering from a heart transplant is convinced by an attractive woman to find the killer of her sister, her sister she informs him was also the donor of his new heart. The connections the detective discovers as well as the killer's motives are brilliant ideas by Michael Connelly.

If you like thriller serial killer/detective novels then you have to read this one. You'll keep thinking about this book for days after you've read the last page.

This is the first book I have read by Michael Connelly and I would probably read another, despite this one dragging in places. It really never took off for me, but I kept reading, as it was kind of interesting. It was not great I didn't think, and the way the bad guy was ultimately located was pretty lame. I kind of liked the way the relationship between McCaleb and Graciela developed. Buddy was great. Buddy was also kind of a minor character as was Jaye Winston, who could have had a lot more to do with the ultimate resolution than she did. I've read lots of thrillers. This one wasn't one of the top notch thillers but it was a pretty good mystery. The end was awfully flat.

"Blood Work" - that's what Terrell McCaleb used to call his job at the FBI. Until a heart condition forced him to take early retirement, he headed all investigations of serial murders in the Los Angeles area. Now he is recovering from a heart transplant operation and leads a quiet life. But McCaleb's calm seas turn rough when a story in the L.A. Times brings him face-to-face with Graciela Rivers, a darkly intriguing woman who hooks him with the story of her sister's unsolved murder. Against doctor's orders and his own better judgement, McCaleb agrees to take up the case. Soon Terry is on the trail of a killer whose crimes are more baffling and horrifying than anything he has ever encountered. It's a mind-bending, breakneck case that leads McCaleb into the darkest place he's ever known, unsure whether he even wants to survive his own investigation.

This is probably the best Michael Connelly book I've read. Connelly's Terry McCaleb is smart and more likable than Connelly's other regular character, Harry Bosch. The story line is suspenseful with some twists and turns along the way. The ending fell a little flat and could have been developed a bit more before publication, but still a great story. Too bad the movie completely butchered this wonderful book. I'd suggest that if you must watch the movie, that should be done before reading the book - otherwise you'll hate the movie.

Blood Work is a good, old-fashioned detective novel. Ex-FBI agent is convinced to take on one more case; case becomes complicated; agent finds himself in trouble; situation is resolved; everybody but the criminal is happy. Thrilling enough to hold my interest, but familiar enough to be comforting and comfortable, this book was perfect for my state of mind when I read it. I would certainly recommend it.

I know it is silly to compare movies to books, esp. when they are this good, but what the heck. I saw the movie before I even knew who Michael Connelly was. I backed into my love affair with Connelly's books...I read Chasing the Dime last year and the Poet soon after. Then I found Void Moon, which I liked, and the Narrows which I loved. And then I went backwards to Harry Bosch. So, after the Narrows where Terry dies (nothing given away there folks), I started fresh with Harry and Terry. The book is a solid love story, exceptional police procedural, and has a tightness the movie lacks. I mean, Buddy as the killer? Even Buddy maligns that choice in the Narrows. The conclusion to the novel is far better!

With this "out of series" thriller, Connelly introduces a new character, Terry McCaleb. An FBI profiler forced into retirement for medical reasons, he is given a second chance with a heart transplant. And this, in turn, leads to one of his most horrifying adventures. Eastwood like this story enough to star in the movie made about the book. This character in a later book interfaces with the series character Harry Bosch. I can't wait!!!

An excellent read, I recommend this one to any fan of the genre!!!

Okay, first off: this ain't literature. It's not supposed to be. So for those looking for something cryptic, go elsewhere. If you want a good toe-curling murder mystery with characters with whom you can identify, this is a great thing to reach for. Whenever you read, whether at the end of the day, at work or at school, this book is so well paced that you're always about to fall off the cliff or are not trusting the momentary lull in the action. Terry McCalleb, retired FBI psychopathologist and sleuth, doesn't jump out and bite you with his appeal but grows on you slowly, as does a vanilla plot which blossoms into a predictably unpredictable twist.
McCalleb, recovering on his boat after a heart operation, is contacted by a young woman who appears to be another lost California dreamer hoping to snare him into her plan. When she explains the circumstances of her visit, however, the empathic McCalleb is drawn to her case and takes it against the best advice of his doctors, friends, ex-colleagues and fellow fishermen. She asks him to find a killer in what appears to be an open-and-shut case; he looks into it and finds first one, next another, and after that still another layer of intrigue behind the scenes. When he finally reaches a breathing point to survey his work, he confronts something so sinister it threatens to tear his heart right out of his chest.
As you can guess, this was an avid pageturner for me and I found the characters appealing, although all characters outside the immediate action tend to be bland and functional. McCalleb is believable and grouchy enough to be tangible, warts and all, to the reader; his cohorts and ex-colleagues come through in vibrant life as well. I recommend this to anyone who wants a book that is a compelling read and is realistic despite not every aspect of its plot being firmly rooted in predictable, normal reality. I want read more of Connelly's books because of my experience reading this.

Good book. An entertaining read that is technically complete with details. In other words, no loose ends when you finish the story.
The main character is a little unbelievable in that he does things no real heart transplant patient would attempt. But overall a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Michael Connelly is one of the best.

Once an agent, always an agent
Blood Work
By Michael Connelly
Warner Books ($$$$)
By Danny Brennan
Blood Work is a modern mystery written by Michael Connell. The crime takes place in Los Angeles, California, where an ex-FBI agent-Terrell McCaleb-is enjoying his retirement from the bureau. Terrell began his retirement days by recovering from a heart transplant surgery and remodeling his boat. After the crime takes place, he puts his retirement on hold to investigate a series of murders. Terrell McCaleb puts his skills as an agent together and hunts down the killer.
"Michael Connelly is a national bestselling author of A Darkness More Than Moon Night, Void Moon, Angels Flight, Blood Work, and The Poet. New York Times bestselling author of The Poet, comes his most ambitious, most gripping achievement to date- a novel of masterly suspense and righteous obsession that will never let you go. The winner of an Edgar Award, a Nero Wolfe prize, a Macavity Award, and an Anthony Award, he lives in Los Angeles." (Back in/out-side cover)
Blood Work is written mainly for an adult audience because of the violent references. For those who love a good mystery, Blood Work has all of the suspense and "who done it" one could ask for.
Blood Work has an interesting perspective in murder investigations. Terrell McCaleb can only go so far, as a citizen; and not everyone is on his side. The book definitely holds the reader's attention, and it makes it hard to put the book down. Overall, Michael Connelly has made Blood Work a success, and it will definitely intrigue all of its readers.

A bereaved sister tempts Terrell McCaleb from a retirement caused by his heart transplant. As the search for a killer brings him back from complacency, his emerging feelings for Graciella give him a new reason to live.
Of all the detective writers whose books grace the shelves at foreign airports, Connelly is the writer whose works I'm currently most pleased to see. His heros are just the right kind of men and his plots and characters are always compelling and intelligent.
Give it a try!

Enjoyed the book very much. Quick pace for 95% of it. Just a few places where it slowed down and I was more easily able to put it down. A few areas seemed less believable to me: his cardiologist giving McCaleb an ultimatum without written documentation, the fact that he was allowed to work on a case and have access to files as a retired agent, even the fact that he was allowed to copy files and take them with him into retirement, the fact that his cardiologist was able, with a phone call, to access names of recipients of transplanted organs with the CMV story ... But the small details that later turned out to be important clues more than made up for the areas where I didn't quite accept the likelihood of what was happening. Bosch is still my favorite, but I do enjoy the Terry McCaleb mysteries.

I am new to Michael Connelly....but i'm not new to serial killer books and this one was up at the top! It was an easy read from beginning to end...i liked how he get's you into the action right away without boring backround information, he adds that as we go along, the end was also excellent;) this book kept me wanting more and i am now proud to say...becuase of this book...i am a Michael Connelly fan and am planning on reading most, if not all, of his books. Last Word - EXCELLENT BOOK!

This is a good read, not great, not bad, but good. The reasonfor the murders was a bit of a stretch, but made for a different plot line. The irritating L.A. cop was a textbook case of testosterone poisoning, and added an ironic humor (to me) I don't think the author actually intended. I don't normally read modern murder mysteries, since they tend to be a little too gory for me, but this one had little gore and a lot of suspense. Terry's character was very well developed. I hope to see more of him.

A great book! If you like mysteries you will like this one. Connelly goes with a different character in Terrell McCaleb, an ex FBI agent who has had a heart transplant. He gets involved in trying to find who killed Gloria Torres. There are many surprises along the way. I had a hard time putting the book down until I could finish it. Terry uses all his past abilities to tract down the killer. Then when he does find him, what happenes? Need to read to find out. A great book.

Thrilling and fast paced. Terry McCaleb finds the killer of the woman (and two others) whose heart he receives in a heart transplant. In doing so, he uncovers a plot engineered by someone who also needs a heart, and shares the same rare blood type as his, and that of his heart donor's. Love Michael Connelly!

In addition to being an author in the same genre as Michael Connelly, I'm also a fan of his of work. What Michael does in terms of creating interesting characters, major plot lines and sub-plots that tie together, realistic dialogue, and intrigue in his work, is what makes him one of the most popular writers today. It's a shame he isn't as well-known as some of his peers, but with the release of the feature film "Blood Work" starring Clint Eastwood, Michael is well on his way to becoming a household name in the crime fiction genre.
"Blood Work" was the first novel I've read featuring former FBI agent Terry McCaleb. The plot line Connelly has created is imaginative and possible, which gives the main character all the impetus needed to investigate the death of the person who in all respects, saved his life. Being a former police detective, Connelly's police procedures are accurate and reflect his true knowledge and/or dedication to getting it right. "Blood Work" was a great read, which is all I expect from Michael Connelly.

I loved the first 3/4ths of this book. Piecing together the clues was great and the process of tracking the killer left me riveted. Then all of a sudden the book ended. The last part seemed like an entirely different book. Getting the killer seemed much too easy, after all the effort of finding who it was. Otherwise the premise was excellent and I would still recommend it. However, if you have not read Connelly before, this would not be the best first start.

My first book by Connelly was Trunk Music. I have always been a big crime fiction buff, especially cop thrillers. I found Trunk Music very engaging with a fresh 'in your face' kind of narrative. The tempo is quick and surprises frequent. The style and content is crisp and informative in a very procedural way, which probably has a lot to do with Connelly's Police background. In any case, Trunk Music hooked me on to the man. But Blood Work is prime whoddunit stuff. The suspense and the way Terry MaCaleb goes about unravelling mystery is breathtaking. It HAD to be made into a movie. When I read it in 1999(!), I knew it was movie material. However, the pleasure of reading is unparelleled.
Blood Work has all the twists and micro-episodes a la Jeff Archer short stories, cool detective work and a class I plot. And then there is the narrative. Refreshing.
This book is a 'must-have' and like many others who have reviewed here, you too may end up buying more of this novelist. I have not read The Last Coyote and Concrete Blonde by him. All others have been gulped down. Cheers Mr. Connelly!

I had seen the movie previously and enjoyed it. I started reading all of his novels and have loved them all. I enjoy all of the detail and work that goes into his books and this one didn't disappoint. mccaleb is a great character and would love to see more books with him as the focus. Great read!!!

Michael Connelly delivers another exciting tale. I could read his work from now on. There are only a few that I haven't read, so I just keep looking for those, and hoping for more. He draws you in with his well written stories and snags you with the characters that he develops so fully.

This is the 2nd book I've read, after Angel Flight. Blood Work is a pure page turner. Terry is such a genuine character that I can almost feel his existence. He is even 'cooler' than Harry Bosch, as he is more calm, mature and smart. And the slowly revealing plot will stop you from putting the book down. This is one of my favorite detective story. Michael should seriously write a serious of Terry, besides the Harry series.

Blood Work, being my 3rd Michael Connelly novel was another winner. I couldn't stop reading this one and finished it in a day and a half. This book was about a series of gun shot murders over the last couple years that led the detectives to feel that the killer was probably someone trying to harvest their organs. Well, maybe the detectives are wrong, read it and find out? My collection of Michael Connelly novels' are growing.

BY THE END OF THE FIRST CHAPTER I WAS HOOKED TO THIS FINE NOVEL. McCALEB, I LIKED THE GUY FROM THE START. THE WHOLE BOOK SENDS YOU THROUGH A QUEST, ALONGSIDE TERRY McCALEB, TO SOLVE A MURDER. THAT IF IT HAD NOT BEEN COMMITED, TERRY MAY NOT HAVE LIVED. CONNELLY WRITES A DYNAMIC, SUSPENSEFUL NOVEL. IT'S THE SMALL DETAILS THAT MAKE THE STORY BIG. GREAT BOOK! PICK IT UP, READ IT, THEN RECOMMEND IT!
David E. Meyer Houston, Tx.

This is just a great book. Michael Connelly writes an interesting, fast-paced novel with great characters. This author was recommended to me from someone who read this in one sitting. Well, I am a "content" (pokey) reader so it did take me more time but I enjoyed it all the more! I will definately seek out more work by this author. Always looking for a sub for my ex-fave author (and you know who you are Ms. Cornwell). Thumbs up!

The title of my book is Blood Work. The auther of the book iread was Michael Connelly.The total mumber of the pages in the book is 469 The main characters in the story are Terrell Mccaleb, an ex-FBI agent and Graciella Rivers, the sister of Golra
The setting of the story takes plave near L.A. the time of the story is 1993. This story is about an ex-FBI agent(mcacaleb.)recovering from a recent heart transplant.The only problem with that is the heart he has now is from Golria, who was murer. The sister of Graciella Rivers steps on the boat and into his life.
The one golden sent. in the story i wish is haad wrothe is" the urge to freshly recrate the sensation of power and control over another human would be growing and incerasingly hard to control." (85)This shows how he feels the power inside of him. The cover of the book realts to the story because the people beign killed like Golria are being killed for a cerrtain Blood types.
The title of the book means, it all revise around blood type and killing people. This was the best book i have read in a long time. If you are looking for a book that kepts you on the edge of your set the entire time read this book!

this is another assured, interesting and enjoyable book by Michael Connelly. It's original (very, really), well written, and Terry McCaleb is a good, likeable lead character. Connelly developes the characters subtle relationships well in this book, the plot of which is incredibly original, and i have read almost nothing like it before. Fans of Connelly will like it, and so should all not-yet-fans of Connelly.

Blood Work is good but not great. The plot is somewhat contrived, but the characters are interesting and believable. Black Echo has always been my favorite Connelly read, and Trunk Music continues the tradition of the mystery thriller genre, and for all the good points and at times great writing, Blood Work, well, it just doesn't quite work. I know this because it didn't keep me up late, but I did manage to be entertained enough to turn off the NCAA semi-finals - so that means something.

Michael Connelly can make characters come to life as few other authors can. I'm a big fan of his Harry Bosch stories and was afraid I would be disappointed in this new character, Terry McCaleb, but that wasn't the case. McCaleb was interesting and likeable. The plot was intricate and well put together. And, although the conclusion was pretty far-fetched, it didn't detract from an enjoyable read.

Without going into detail, this book was about another organ transplant. The last several books that I read involved this theme so this Connelly novel kind of bored me. That being said, it was not bad and in the future I will be reading Connelly again, once I get over my boredom of transplant plots.

I am a major fan of this author and again, I am not disappointed. I knew going in this was not a Harry Bosch novel, but I still expected a great read and I got it. Halfway through the story, I thought I had if figured out, but he threw me a curve and as usual with this author, I had a great read that I couldn't wait to get back to whenever real life intruded. Look forward to his next book!!!!

Good condition book from reliable seller. All Michael Connelly mysteries are wonderful. If you only know The Lincoln Lawyer, you need to check out this book. I especially like the Harry Bosch books. Warning: The book is the original script and is a little different from the Clint Eastwood movie by the same name.

This is an above average crime thriller. It does not have the nail biting suspense of some thriller, but the plot grabs you and keeps you wanting to find out who the villian is. I have not seen the movie, but it seems like an ideal role for Clint Eastwood. I have read a couple of Connelly's Harry Bosch novel and I like his style. This is an enjoyable read for any crime/suspense fan.

I'd never read any of Michael Connelly's work before. I'd heard of the movie, and thought it sounded interesting, so I figured before I watched the movie I'd read the book. From very early on I was completely engrossed. I'm an avid fan of true crime, and Connelly knows his stuff. Suffice it to say, anything else going on in my life was pushed to the side and I finished the book in 24 hours. I did eventually watch the movie, as well. It was ok, but the book was (as is usually the case) far better.

I read Blood Work in 2 days. That's how great this book is. I could not put it down. Michael Connelly's writing is so vivid, He makes me feel like I was there with McCaleb (like I was his partner) in all the footwork. The characters are so alive. His knowledge of police procedures is right on. It was an honest book.
I was a bit disappointed with the movie. I think it was somewhat a good (I'm being generous) "Clint Eastwood" vehicle. Eastwood has made better ones. I didn't like the fact that they made Buddy Lockridge (in the book) as the "Code Killer." They switched first names of Noone (Buddy/Jasper) and Lockridge. I've read the sequel to Blood Work and Buddy Lockridge (thank, heavens) is still his friend. Also, I think Eastwood was too old to be McCaleb. The movie was like a badly choreographed dance. I much prefer how they ended the killer's life in the book than the ending in the movie.
The book is much more intelligent than the movie.
All in all, I am a Connelly-addicted reader. If someone options Angel's Flight, maybe a younger actor can play Harry Bosch and not alter it as much. If the movie makers do not alter Connelly's ideas, they will make great movies out of his books.

If you enjoy reading dramatic & intense police thrillers, than you'll like this one. It packs in the suspense. Just when you think you have it figured out, it takes you on a more intense ride. You will be so engrossed that you will find it hard to put it down. Mr. Connelly's background as a crime reporter seeps through the pages from beginning to end. You get just enough to keep you holding on. I felt as if I was a little mouse in Terry McCaleb's pocket the whole ride. Michael Connelly takes his understanding of the criminal mind and puts it on paper very well. I enjoyed this thriller so much that I'm anxious to start on the next one. You won't feel as if you've wasted your money on Michael Connelly, that's for sure.

I am a great fan of the Harry Bosch stories. I became "hooked" on Michael Connolly after reading The Poet. I then chased up all earlier novels of this author. I just finished Bloodwork which I think is fantastic. I now have to read Poet again because he referred to this killer so often in his latest book. I hope he writes more soon.

How do you capitalize on your previous job experience? You write about it!
Michael Connelly books have mesmerized readers with his working knowledge
of the California Law Enforcement community. Not even some of his main characters are saved from the evil that lurks there. My thoguht is: If once you delve into his world of characters, and you don't find yourself fully engaged, you might want to check your sanity.

Michael Connelly has just written his best book. It will read even better if you read all of the Harry Bosch books first, begining with Black Echo. This will give you a feeling for his writing style, which will enhance this read. Michael's characters come alive with all the foibles with which we deal with in real life. As a story teller Michael ranks with W.E.B. Griffin and Tom Clancy giving you reading entertainment at its best. There are already too many reviews with the story line in it. So, I will only comment on the quality of the book. Read it. When you are finished, you will want more mysterys from Michael. As the story unfolds so do the facts, and so do the twists. Allow for lots of time for you will not want to put this book down.

Blood Work - what can I say about the book that had me glued day and night till it was over?
The story centres on an ex-FBI agent who has recently undergone a heart transplant, only to discover that it was made possible by the murder of the innocent mother of a young boy.
Although advised by his doctor against investigating the case, McCaleb attempts to show the reluctant police that the trail to the killer is not dead.
I found the plot exciting and on many occasions was so drawn into the main character's mind that I found myself literally having to stop reading while my pulse dropped in case my new heart would be rejected!
Now that's a sure sign of being onto something good!

I was ready to give this book a solid four-star review. Four stars. The conclusion, where the super brainy bad guy makes uncharacteristic mistakes, drops it to a three. Seemed to be written for a movie deal.

I saw the movie before reading the book, but this didn't spoil the book for me. The two differ enough, and, as is often the case, the book is better. I lost myself in the reading as I followed the twists and turns. I couldn't wait to finish, but when I finished, I wished I had more to read.
The characters and the plot are very well developed. Factual information about medicine, law enforcement, ... provide additional interest without slowing the story. The ending isn't disappointing, but it may not feel right to you. Endings are hard.
This is a mystery with action, suspense and love. This read is awesome.

Enjoyed the book - as I do all of Michael Connelly's books - but thought the movie had a better twist at the end. Having read several books which became movies with Clint Eastwood starring, makes me think he must be the one making changes in the screenplay.

This is not Michael Connelly's best work. The lead character is less interesting and less fully developed than other Connelly detectives. The story line was initially tight and compelling, but it concluded with too many unlikely twists.

MC can write awfully better than this. I bought this book because I wanted to relax and read a good thriller and I got uneasy and bored. The main story is OK if and only if you can find it along its pages. The story has overly loopholes that it could be a strainer.

I became a Connelly fan when looking for a summer vacation read and picked up BLACK ICE, and became engrossed immediately. While I am waiting for him to pick up the Bosch character again, this book will suffice as a good read. But for the person who is just getting into his books I rate them this way. The Black Echo and The Last Coyote are THE BEST. So many plot twists and turns and it all fits together, a page turner to the very end. Which is what I don't like about Blood Work is that it laid out for you to much unlike the two above mentioned titles. I guess I just perfer Bosch's kick-ass style verses the lead characters in Blood Work and The Poet.

I am an attorney on the road every week and I play one or two books a week, after Blood Work I have found it very hard to find another writer's work to fill the long hours. Mr. Connelly's writing is smart. Blood Work takes you on many paths, all of which are worth the trip, and then you think you have reach the final stage of the story but to your great suprise the plot gets better. The only thing that saved me to this point was that Mr. Connelly had other books for me to read, now I have readed them all and I can not find another author to hold my interest. So enjoy Mr. Connelly's books But, look out for the withdraws.

Michael Connolly is becoming one of my favorite writers. He really knows how to connect his audience with his characters. Was really worried when starting to leave from Bosch, but would not mind seeing two excellent series running and mixing with each other. Kept me guessing for the entire time and really enjoyed the ending. Hope you buy it.

This is a well written, exciting book. Lots of small detailsget wrapped up nicely in the end, however I thought that the ending itself could have been better. It seemed as though the bad guy was tracked down a little too easily. Overall, a very good book that I would recommend.

I thought the premise for this novel was great, but after a few chapters it became crystal clear where this was going. The ending just sort of happened, without any real satisfaction. I give it three stars because even though I knew what was going to happen, it was entertaining enough for me to see if I had it right.

I discovered Michael Connelly by happenstance. I was on a flight to Europe bored to death when one of the passengers offered me his copy of Angel's Flight because he was going to sleep. I couldn't put it down. I read the book from cover to cover all the way from Detroit to Amsterdam.
I think who I'm excited about is the author. Now I am prowling bookstores for all the books he has penned. I just acquired Void Moon and for a recognition award, I chose Blood Work. Now I'm set to travel to Asia with these two and hope to find some time to visit more bookstores on my layovers and pick up other Connelly books.
Thank you, Michael Connelly, you made an otherwise long trips somewhat entertaining and exciting.

This was my first Connelly novel and I wasn't disappointed. I noticed that there was a movie but decided to read the book first.
The plot is clever and the book well written. It's quite hard to put down after the first couple of pages.
I like to keep an open mind when reading a book, perhaps you can say an emtpy mind, but I figured out where the story was going almost immediately. Still, I couldn't put it down and you won't be able to either.
Michael Connelly is definitely an author I will read more off.

This is my first Connelly book I have read. I loved this one. I will look forward to another Terry McCaleb book and other Connelly books as well as watching the movie based on this book featuring Clint Eastwood, one of my favorite actors.

I'm an italian journalist. I had the "preview" copy of "Debito di Sangue" (blood Work) from the director of Feltrinelli Library of Ferrara. He knows I'm an expert of hard boiled and serial killers novel, asked me to make a test. Great! It's not only an involvin' plot, but there are good characters and a strong atmosphere. Very good, it reminds me something of James Ellroy at his best! Unfortunately here in Italy there only one other Connely's book translated, "The Black Echo". I'll push Blood Work the harder I can, to reach the others...

This thriller was different from others because of one thing -the protagonist is a heart transplant receipient. What a great point of view to use. The story was griping, and well-written. Keep up the good work

Connelly is a master of the police procedural. This book is one of his best, although they are all strong. His writing is sharp. His plotting is intelligent and unpredictable. Difficult to put down.

Logic, intrigue, craftsmanship, compelling characters, heroes and villains, suspense of course, and a mixture of serial killings, horrifying murders, make for a darn good story. I like Connelly's work but I think this one may be his best. He writes well and has done his research - what one should expect from a former crime reporter. The complexity that is his style is never compromised by unnecessary lack of clarity or movement. Although a work of fiction, it was inspired by conversations with a friend who received a heart transplant.

I'm an italian journalist. I had the "preview" copy of "Debito di Sangue" (blood Work) from the director of Feltrinelli Library of Ferrara. He knows I'm an expert of hard boiled and serial killers novel, asked me to make a test. Great! It's not only an involvin' plot, but there are good characters and a strong atmosphere. Very good, it reminds me something of James Ellroy at his best! Unfortunately here in Italy there only one other Connely's book translated, "The Black Echo". I'll push Blood Work the harder I can, to reach the others...

This thriller was different from others because of one thing -the protagonist is a heart transplant receipient. What a great point of view to use. The story was griping, and well-written. Keep up the good work

Connelly is a master of the police procedural. This book is one of his best, although they are all strong. His writing is sharp. His plotting is intelligent and unpredictable. Difficult to put down.

Logic, intrigue, craftsmanship, compelling characters, heroes and villains, suspense of course, and a mixture of serial killings, horrifying murders, make for a darn good story. I like Connelly's work but I think this one may be his best. He writes well and has done his research - what one should expect from a former crime reporter. The complexity that is his style is never compromised by unnecessary lack of clarity or movement. Although a work of fiction, it was inspired by conversations with a friend who received a heart transplant.

I'm giving it two stars to be fair, as I've only seen the movie. I'm buying the book, tho, to see if it was Clint who strayed into fairyland or if it was Connelly. The only other Connelly book I've read is "Trunk Music," which I liked.

Things in the movie so far from reality they spoiled my ability to suspend disbelief: 1. The two young cops in the beginning stand stupidly and watch the old man run off after the suspect, even tho a helicopter picks up the chase immediately. 2. Clint shoots the perp while having a heart attack. That's believable, but in real life, the perp, shot in the back, would have to seek medical treatment. Bullet wounds are always reported to the police unless you are William Randolph Hearst or Michael Corleone. Yet, two years later, the perp is still on the loose. 3. Awww, I don't wanna spoil the plot for anybody who still wants to read the book or see the movie. But these first two were such major goofs that the rest didn't really matter. OK, one more: an FBI profiler gets into footraces with criminals? Wouldn't his skills be deemed too valuable to risk in such mundane pursuits (sorry).

If the book has these gaping holes in the plot, then I'm disappointed that Clint didn't plug them up for his movie. If it was Clint who made the holes then it's obvious why he's segued out of the copflick genre.

I picked this book up on Friday and almost finished it bySunday night (that's with an all day family reunion on Saturday and laundry all day Sunday). I forced myself to to put it down at midnight Sunday and I can't wait to get back to it tonight to finish. I'm not a literary critic but I can say this has been a great read. The elements of the plot eek out a little at a time...just enough to keep you glued to the page waiting for the next development. I'm looking forward to reading the other Connelly books which I bought at the same time.