ECHO PARK

Michael Connelly, HACHETTE, Rs 295; PP 400

Have you heard about ‘Reynard the Fox’? Say the medieval French stories that Reynard refers to a young male fox, who is a trickster. Children’s tales appeared through the centuries bear his prominent name. Part of the legend declares that Reynard possesses a secret castle, almost impossible for anyone to find. He patiently waits for his prey. Then, using all sorts of charms and treachery, he lures his quarries near him. Once captured, he hides them in his castle and stealthily eats them.

One of the bestselling novelists – Michael Connelly beautifully merges this European Folklore with his twelfth crime story – Echo Park. The antagonist in this book (using this very folklore), conjures a fake, but an establishing identity of Raynard Waits (the trickster fox who waits); thus, intelligently concealing his true name and persona.

A Florida University Graduate, Connelly had planned to study engineering, but ended up securing a degree in journalism and creative writing. Raymond Chandler’s detective novels inspired him so much so that they carved a writing career for him. His family fully supported him, in spite of his ‘Builders’ ancestry.

Choosing to become a crime novelist, Connelly turned in to a journalist to adequately prepare himself for his favourite genre – crime writing. At 29, working as a crime reporter on the Orlando Sun-Senital, he received the honour of being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in feature writing. The Los Angeles Times inspired by his this feat, introduced him to their crime desk. Post three years, in 1992, Connelly gifted us his fantastic LAPD detective – Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch. In 1994, when his two more bestselling novels made a huge mark, he confidently bid adieu to his day job.

Connelly with brilliant observation explicitly explains the methodology the LAPD authorities use to investigate their cases. There is a realistic approach to the way the Police Officials feel and deal with external politics and their internal flaws/weaknesses. This only shows Connelly’s significant knowledge of crime and investigation. Vividly written and suitably constructed, Connelly’s short and crisp dialogues make this novel a winner.

An unsolved case of Marie Gesto’s disappearance from the Hollywood supermarket in 1993 haunts Detective Harry Bosch deeply. He gets a ‘bad feeling’ of never being able to lay his hands on the culprit. Thirteen years later, when a colleague points out Harry’s mistake of missing an important clue before, it pinches him even more.

Connelly fervently points out Harry Bosch’s dilemma. “It was every detective’s nightmare. A lead ignored or bungled, allowing something awful to be loose in the world. Something dark and evil, destroying life after life as it moved through the shadows.”

However, soon the killer Raynard Waits admits to Gesto’s death. Except for Harry, almost everyone in the Los Angeles Police Department is convinced of seizing the framed killer. What is Harry’s reason of disagreement? Only Echo Park shall echo the answer.

Dodging a politician’s politics and going against his senior officials, he involves Rachel Walling – an FBI Agent and his ex-lover. She helps him by providing a useful psychological review on Waits and also boosts his moral when he is down. However, will Harry’s wild attitude and absence of mind at crucial instances depart them again?