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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated The Wrong Side of Goodbye (Harry Bosch #19) in Books

Jul 13, 2024

Trying to Juggle Two Cases

Now retired from the LAPD, Harry Bosch is working as an axillary officer from the San Fernando Police Department, helping the small force clear back cases. That’s how he gets involved with a case of man who is serially attack women. Meanwhile, he’s hired as a PI to track down a billionaire’s potential heir. Can he solve both cases?

These cases were both intrigued, and I appreciated how the stakes kept being raised, explaining why Bosch would focus on one case at any given moment. While both stories resolved logically, I did feel like one got short changed, leaving me not completely satisfied with how that was wrapped up. Even retired, Bosch is still Bosch, mostly for better, although a couple of subplots are predictable at this point. We do get an update on his daughter, and Mickey Haller also shows up. The new characters are well drawn and help pull us in. Overall, this is a book that Bosch’s many fans will enjoy.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Wonton Terror in Books

Sep 27, 2024 (Updated Sep 27, 2024)

Wonton Terror

Vivien Chien | 2019 | Mystery

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

An Explosive Night Market

Lana Lee is excited for the night market this summer. It should be fun and a good chance to draw more customers for her family’s restaurant. However, the first night ends with the explosion of one of the food trucks in attendance. There is one fatality – the owner of the truck. His wife was a friend of Lana’s mother’s, although they have drifted apart. When the police look at the wife as a suspect, Lana jumps in. Can she clear the woman?

It’s been a while since I visited Lana, and it was nice to be back. I like her and her family and friends. I especially like how realistic the family dynamics feels. A subplot involving the Lee family was also well handled. The mystery started strongly, but the pacing did lag a bit in the middle. Lana was a bit stupid at the climax, but I did still enjoy how it played out, and everything made sense at the end. If you are as behind as I am, you’ll enjoy this book.

Kudos

Harm Not the Earth

Liz Milliron

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

When Southwest Pennsylvania's summer rains flood the Casselman River, State Police Trooper Jim...

Murder Most Scenic

Liz Milliron

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The Laurel Highlands seem idyllic, but for Jim Duncan they're anything but. Welcome to Fayette...

Big F@!king Deal

Lawrence Allan

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Hotter than ever, everyone wants a piece of Jimmy, from Hollywood producers thirsting to take...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated Egg Drop Dead in Books

Apr 11, 2025 (Updated Apr 11, 2025)

Egg Drop Dead

Vivien Chien | 2020 | Mystery

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Catering to a Killer

Lana Lee has decided to expand her family’s restaurant into catering, and their first gig is for family friend Donna Feng. But the party ends when Donna’s nanny is found floating in the pool. While the police look at Donna, Lana finds evidence that it might actually tie to Donna’s past. But how could that tie in to this murder?

Donna and her past were plot points for the first book in this series, so if you haven’t read that book, know there are spoilers here. I was actually happy to see this come up again with enough background to refresh my memory. There are some good clues, although I’m not sure the villain’s actions at the end made perfect sense. Still, I was hooked on the suspenseful climax. Many of the regulars took a backseat, which was good in the case of Lana’s family. But we got some great new characters, one of which I hope pops up again. This series is getting stronger as it goes along. Fans who are behind will enjoy this entry.