Chasing The Dime (Hardcover)

Anyone who has read Michael Crichton's novels may well see a generic resemblance, especially with "Disclosure". Yet there is not that much similarity, apart from the interweaving of high tech and business with sex and crime. Presumably Connelly likes to take a rest from Bosch from time to time, as he did (with great success, I thought) in "The Poet" and "Void Moon". I found it refreshing to look through the eyes of a naive civilian, rather than a cynical cop like Harry Bosch or a manipulative FBI agent.

As usual, Connelly's research is excellent and his technical descriptions convincing. This is a fast-paced thriller right from the start, although it did not really grab me by the throat until about halfway through. Strongly recommended for everyone except technophobes.

In a nutshell the story is about computer scientist, Henry who has recently been dumped so has had to move into a new apartment. He finds that his new telephone number used to belong to a prosititute, and consequently is being called by would-be clients. Henry decides to investigate the whereabouts of this lady and finds himself in the midst of a dodgy world of sex and pimps etc. then without much further ado he gets set up for a murder. The tale is basically of how he finds out the real killer and gets himself off the hook.

As a character I just didn't find Henry as captivating as Bosch, McCaleb and other of Mr Connelly's hero's. Also I didn't really believe the storyline as being plausible. Yes the call girl probably was stunning, but in the cold light of day, would a computer whizzkid on the cusp of securing multi-million dollar finance for the next biggest scientific discovery since how to slice bread really get involved in searching for her when it would be far easier to change his telephone number? The reason for this investigation we are told is because Henry's sister was also a prostitute who was murdered (by Norman Church aka The Dollmaker in Concrete Blonde), but personally I couldn't find this convincing. We are told that Henry thinks the prostitute is in some sort of trouble hence trying to find her, but other than these calls he is receiving from men wanting to score with her there is no real reason to think she might be in danger.

There was an interesting twist right at the end, but by that time I had lost my enthusiasm for the book. Read the book and decide for yourself, but I couldn't recommend it as being anywhere near on a par with other works by Michael Connelly.

The book grips you, holds you in and makes you want to read more. The story is well crafted with good characterisation. It moves at a good pace and you just want to keep reading.

The other good thing is that you don't expect the end until you find the one stand-out clue in the final 8th.

A well written and constructed novel that is worth the cost of the hardback. Don't wait six months for the paperback.