Chasing the Dime

The book starts slow - you think you are reading about one not so fascinating story and almost put it down. But I’m so glad I didn’t do that because gradually the plot shifts into something quite different and you cannot stop reading. Enjoy!

Michael Connelly knows how to captivate his reading audience with intense main characters and thrilling tales. Much like Bosch, Connelly's character in the Bosch series, the main character, Henry, in Chasing the Dime is intense and very cerebral and powers through with great risk and physical harm to himself. His passion is creating a molecular computer system (which already sounds intense and cerebral) and is a master of his craft. The story starts with a phone call to Henry's new apartment asking for Lilly. And the calls kept coming in. Rather than change his phone number, Henry becomes obsessed with finding Lilly and it becomes a twisted tale of Lilly's disappearance, mafia-type of "pimps" or handlers and so much more. All the while, Henry is trying to launch his product, is super detailed down to a cellular and molecular level, while his personal life has taken a nose dive. This can be said of most of Michael Connelly's main characters: they are so driven that their social lives are almost non existent. My pet peeve is that the villains went over the top and somewhat unnecessary mayhem and clandestine routes to try to get to their desired outcomes. It was still a good read.

Great characterizations, as always, plenty of plot twists, realism to the extreme -plot, people, problem, possible solutions and albeit almost impossible to see the end from the beginning…a true thriller from a unique viewpoint that is flawless in its gripping pace and excellent storytelling

I enjoy this author, especially his Harry Bosch novels. However, this one is clearly a stand alone central character. Henry Pierce, is a genius who is developing a molecular delivery system of some sort which, if succesful will make him a jillionaire and his company make MicroSoft look like a Model T Ford. So, with all of marbles on the line as he gets near to filing his patent and convincing a "whale" (a person with millions to invest) to pony up 30 million or so to enable them to complete their research, Henry gets distracted. We are asked to believe that after breaking up with his girlfriend and moving to a new apartment that the discovery that his new phone number used to be that of a very georgeous escort service model gets him into some sort of x-rated frenzy as he starts to receive her calls. The discovery comes near the end of the week. By Monday he can have the number changed and he won't be getting her calls anymore. But instead of going to the lab to do some much needed work on the invention, he spends the time trying to get in contact with the model whom he has become convinced may be in some danger. To give this some credence, the author creates a piece of past history where Henry's sister suffered a similar fate from such a profession, but this seems to be a thin connection for what Henry goes through. We get a pretty good introduction to the world of the escort service as Henry goes further and further into the maze which we eventually find out was created by others to acquire the invention. It is a deadly maze with a bloody conclusion, but somehow all the suspense and such didn't do a lot for me as I kept saying to myself, "no one this bright would ever be doing this at this time." If you can get past that, as some other reviewers have, then you will probably enjoy the mystery and suspense. For me, I hope the next novel from this author will be about Harry Bosch.

This one is about science and the pharmaceutical industry. It was slow going about the science but fascinating as the plot unfolded which included porn stars and the company that controlled them. The way that Pierce figured out who and why they were framing him and the final scene were very satisfying and very exciting. I had not read anything by Connelly except for Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer and was not sure how I would feel about the total change of scene and characters but I am now confident that he does not need to rely on his past work and that many of us will be along for the new journey!

Although the science has forged ahead of the invention part of the story,the human failures and successes portrayed haven’t changed a bit. I didn’t see the real surprises coming at the end. Great fun!

Great item at a great price

Lots of twists and unexpected turns. About midway and i couldn't put it down. But almost didn't even make it that far. Outcome totally unforeseen.

In the first half of the book nothing really happens, but then the thriller redeems itself and becomes exciting. The plot is crafty, the protagonist well defined. Gripping especially towards the end. I warmly recommend it.

Like all of Michael's novel an excellent read.

ガールフレンドと同居していた家を出て、マンションに引っ越したヘンリーのホームフォンに、ポルノサイトを見たという男たちからのリリーへの電話がかかってきた。 興味を持ってサイトを見ると魅力的な女性が映っていた。ロビンという女性との3人プレイもできると書いてあったのでヘンリーはロビンに電話して、リリーの消息を尋ねたら電話は切られたために、顧客のふりをしてロビンに会いに行き消息を尋ねることにした。 単に電話番号を変えれば済むことなのに、ヘンリーは深入りしていった。それにはヘンリーの少年時代のトラウマが… どんでん返しのストーリー展開はそれなりに面白く、英文も分かりやすいので、楽しく読めました。

This is a different kind of Michael Connolly book. It is interesting but bereft of the pacy story that his other books have. The background is rather technical which could put off some. But, a thriller all the same. There is not much of a suspense as the villains are obvious although the ending is cleverly conceived.

What a nice surprise for me to read a completely different type of novel from Michael Connelly! I just love that author and I’m pleasantly surprised to see that he can also write about science and industrial thrillers, thank you for those few hours of delight