If there are two kinds of truth in the realm of detective fiction, both kinds verify Michael Connelly as one of the pre-eminent practitioners of the genre in modern times.
TWO KINDS OF TRUTH is his latest novel, the twentieth to star his stalwart sleuth, Harry Bosch.
TWO KINDS OF TRUTH twines two kinds of stories, one concerning a current case centring on a pharmaceutical conspiracy, the other a devious campaign from a death row rapist murderer who claims Harry framed him thirty years ago.
This odious smear causes Harry Bosch to ruminate on veritas: “He knew there were two kinds of truth in this world. The truth that was the unalterable bedrock of one’s life and mission. And the other, malleable truth of politicians, charlatans, corrupt lawyers, and their clients, bent and moulded to serve whatever purpose was at hand.”
Corrupt lawyers and their clients are, in fact, the bedrock of the besmirching of Bosch, and these evil litigators and their equally evil emptors, are the firm focus of an orchestrated ignominious comeuppance by the slandered sleuth and his half brother, attorney Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer.
While that caper is playing out, Bosch is forced to go undercover, the first time in his career, to bust a prescription drug rort that is raking in millions, keeping human mules in slavery, and resorting to rape and homicide as an enforcing tool.
As usual, there are two kinds of truth in Connelly’s writing – the authenticity of character and the veracity of caper, the accuracy of plot and the verisimilitude of place.
TWO KINDS OF TRUTH is two for the price of one – two stories that are of equal value, sincerity and compulsive page turning.
Apart from the splendid suspense and procedural strategy of both police detecting and court room defending, readers are given tutorial insights into jazz and the connoisseurship of Pappy Van Winkle Kentucky bourbon.
Like the venerated Van Winkle whiskey, TWO KINDS OF TRUTH should be sipped straight, savoured and enjoyed.
TWO KINDS OF TRUTH by Michael Connelly is published by Allen & Unwin.