Nine Dragons

Written by Michael Connelly

Narrated by Len Cariou

The shooting of a Chinese liquor store owner in LA brings Harry Bosch back to the Rodney King riots and the moment a stranger gave a young cop sanctuary. Now the debt must be repaid, and Harry soon discovers the old man's death was no ordinary hold-up.

Homing in on clues disregarded by the cops on the scene, Harry builds a picture of corruption and intimidation, with the local Triads at the heart of it. But as he tries to build a case and breach the impenetrable wall of silence in the local community, he finds he is taking a dragon by the tail - a dragon whose talons reach well beyond LA, and even the States.

Suddenly the most precious thing in Harry's life is under threat, and he will need to leave the familiarity of his home turf, alone and without backup, if he is going to stop his worst nightmare from happening.

Read by Len Cariou

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Oct 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781409112464

Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. His books have been translated into 36 languages and have won many awards. He lives with his family in Florida.

Reviews for Nine Dragons

[dorie.craig · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harry Bosch is back, investigating the murder of a liquor store owner. The investigation points to a member of a Hong Kong triad. When an arrest is made, Harry receives a video on his cell phone of his daughter, who lives in Hong Kong with her mother. The video makes it clear Maddie has been kidnapped, and Harry is told to back off the investigation. Harry calls his ex-wife Eleanor and flies to Hong Kong to rescue his daughter.

Michael Connelly's books are always page-turners and I enjoyed this one. However, there are a couple of coincidences in this book that strained credulity. The book felt more like a transition story, since there are large events that impact Harry, and will change the course of the series. But overall the pace was consistent enough to keep me reading. I enjoyed the cameo by Mickey Haller and the nod to Jack McEvoy.

[raizel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I very nearly guessed whodunit this time. Bosch once again is responsible for the deaths of multiple characters as he tries to solve a murder and kidnapping. He continues to act, frequently violently, without pausing to think about what he is doing. Isn't a character in a series allowed to grow? Or does the audience dwindle if it doesn't get what it expects every time? I'd like to think that Michael Connelly readers are better than that.

[infjsarah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was slightly disappointed by this novel. I enjoy Mr Connelly's books - particularly the Bosch series. But there was something lacking in this one. Perhaps the removal from California made it seem unreal. And somehow the characters didn't work as usual.

[amusedbythis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been reading all of the Harry Bosch mysteries. This was one of the best. The story had suspense as well as emotion. I do not want to spoil the book but it toggles between LA and Hong Kong. It is a quick but gripping read.

[tabascofromgudreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't care how much of Michael Connelly's original writing is in 9 Dragons - I personally think he wrote it. Maybe with a little help. What is missing compared to many of his previous books is that dark, deeply tormented soul that made Harry so real. He is surely tormented in this book too, but with a lesser authenticity and more of a "superhero" feel to his character.
This doesnt mean i didnt like the book: i loved it! It's a tremendously enjoyable read, and i wish there were more writers as skilled as Michael Connelly.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In his previous homicide investigations Bosch has encountered some of the hundred (perhaps thousands) of gangs that operate in Los Angeles, but the murder of John Li, a Chinese-American owner of a convenience store, brings him into contact with the Triads for the first time.Li is shot in his own store one evening, and after uniformed cops have attended the scene, Bosch and his partner, Ignacio Ferras, are called out from the Homicide Unit to take over. There are initially very few clues available, and although there had been a security camera in place, the assailant has been sufficiently composed after the murder to remove the recording. Bosch does, however, uncover one unusual feature- before he died, John Li had picked up one of the shells from the shooting, and had put it in his mouth. Bosch and Ferras initially struggle to make headway until Bosch discovers that Li had separated out the DVD recordings from the security camera for two previous days. Study of these suggests that Li was making a regular pay-off to someone who arrived at the same time each week, which match the time in which he had been shot. Bosch suspects that this might represent a protection payment to a Triad gang, and liaises with the specialist unit run by LAPD to deal with such crimes. With their help, the man collecting the previous payments is identified and arrested.Out of the blue, Bosch then receives a message from his daughter who lives in Hong Kong with Eleanor, his ex-wife, or at least from her phone – it is a picture showing her tied up and gagged. Convinced that Triad connections have targeted her in order to force his compliance, he flies over to Hong Kong to try to find her. Thousands of miles from his home turf, and distraught with fear over his daughter’s fate, Bosch enters a wholly different world, with devastating consequences.As ever with the Bosch novels, the story surges along with a compelling plot and very plausible characters. Perhaps not the strongest instalment of the canon, this is still an impressive and gripping novel.

[hatpin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Weak and disappointing from Connelly. He seems to have decided to drastically change his detective's living situation and has bent the plot around that instead of writing a decent book. Implausible happenings exacerbated by the info-dumps about Hong Kong, where he is keen to let the reader know that he did his research.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nine Dragons
3 Stars

While investigating a routine homicide with apparent ties to the Chinese Triads, Detective Harry Bosch finds the case hitting a little too close to home when he receives threats and his daughter, Maddie, is kidnapped in Hong Kong. Will Harry be able to find her in time?

Harry Bosch is definitely my favorite of all Connolly's protagonists. Nevertheless, his portrayal in this installment leaves much to be desired, and it might be that the series has passed its prime.

Harry's characterization is a huge big mess. He turns from being an intelligent, thoughtful and sensitive man into a rash, racist and boorish thug. He seems to care little for those around him, and barely bats an eye when two people close to him are killed.

In terms of the plot, the murder case is initially very intriguing, but veers off in illogical and unrealistic directions before it gets back on track. The twist at the end was not all that surprising and is easy to figure out once Harry recovers from his John McClane/Die Hard impersonation in Hong Kong.

All in all, this book is not up to Connelly's standards as the focus on the action overshadows the plotting and character development. Hopefully the next one will be better.

[addunn3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Harry ends up in Hong Kong to track down his daughter. OK, Harry and the author should have stayed in LA - the move to HK messed up my reality meter!

[csdaley-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I still liked this book but it was a little improbable. It stretched me to my outer most belief system. Usually Bosch books don't do this. They are very grounded in detective work. Plus, I hated the ending (last chapter). I hope the next book bounces back.

[emigre_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gritty book, can't believe the author's decisions for some scenes.

[dekan-6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

this was pretty good. although the main character annoyed me quite a bit. just didn't like his personality. also the way the author worked in the relevant information was a bit inconsistant with the character and quite amatuerish. still an enjoyable read and a bit of twist here and there. a bit of unexpected. a cop book and bosch is a regular character.

[mrtall_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Michael Connelly’s latest entry in his Harry Bosch police procedural series hits very close to home – in two ways.First, Harry is embroiled in a complex plot involving Chinese Triads, with events ranging from LA all the way to Hong Kong – and it’s his own daughter who becomes a pawn in their game. Second, since I’ve lived in Hong Kong for over two decades, it was fun to see one of my favorite fictional characters pay a visit. But this is not one of Connelly’s better efforts. The police procedural phase of the story is over and done with so quickly you realize it comprises just an introduction to the real meat here, which is a suspense/chase sequence set in Hong Kong. To be kind, Bosch is Bosch throughout – impulsive, bull-headed, cranky and tough – and this leads to a series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities that give the story more heft and interest than the standard suspense/thriller. But many turns in the plot burst right through the bonds of plausibility, especially when the story moves to Hong Kong. And although Connelly manages to get some details about HK right, he whiffs completely – or simply misrepresents – many more. Unlike the vicious, chaotic urban nightmare Connelly presents, Hong Kong is crowded but orderly, and it’s incredibly safe. Also, Connelly distorts HK’s geography in odd and unnecessary ways; there seemed little reason to do so in order to fit the plot, so I was left wondering if he spent any more time here researching than Harry did tracking down his daughter.So recommended, but with reservations. There are many, many better choices in the Harry Bosch series.

[gandara_4 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I am very very disappointed.too bad.

[datrappert · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book I have read by Connelly and the first Harry Bosch book. I gave "The Lincoln Lawyer" 4 1/2 stars and was impressed both by the storytelling and the writing. But, frankly, Nine Dragons could have been written by a different author. Maybe it starts with the character of Bosch. I know he has been around a long time, and I'm not sure how he has changed over the years, but in this book his incessant plunging into things without really thinking them out gets old very fast. He is driven almost solely by impulse after his daughter is kidnapped, and one misstep leads to another. The characters in this book, including Bosch, his ex-wife, their daughter, the other cops, the bad guys--EVERYONE--are "types", not real people. This doesn't have to be a fatal liability for a book, as you can see if you read a few of my other reviews. There is a place for exciting pulp fiction driven more by plot than character, but when a writer writes a book that goes on as long as this one does, the reader needs something more.Unfortunately, the plot of Nine Dragons is just as weak as the characterization. The basic premise--Bosch gets involved with a Triad killing in LA that results in his daughter being kidnapped, and has to go to Hong Kong to rescue her--is okay, but Connelly's execution of the story is amateurish. The clues that Bosch follows are so unlikely and so convenient that the story lacks the least thread of plausibility. Unlike in the Lincoln Lawyer, Connelly's writing here often descends into long statements of the obvious—three sentences where one would do. But worse than that are the way the characters react to the terrible things that go on in the story—there is no real human emotion here, and as Connelly piles on the tragedy, the book gets more and more exasperating.So why even two stars? Connelly does write some good individual scenes, especially one near the end when Mickey Haller from the Lincoln Lawyer shows up. Also, some of the police methodology is interesting. Mostly, despite the many stupidities in the book, he keeps the action moving forward so that the reader will stick around to the end. And is it worth it? Maybe not. The end of the book, like all that proceeds it, is pretty flawed and its twist doesn’t excuse what proceeded it.The eBook edition, and I presume the hardcopies as well, offer previews of another Haller story (with Bosch as a character) and another Bosch story. Both of these previews read quite well and succeeded in drawing me in, so I will probably turn to Connelly again at some point. I hope Nine Dragons was just an off-day for him. Maybe he inhaled too much smoke or drank too much maotai while he was in Hong Kong doing his research….

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After a Chinese-American store owner is murdered, Bosch becomes educated in the world of Asian gangs and and the far-reaching influence of triads. It all becomes personal when his 13 year old daughter is kidnaped from a mall in Hong Kong, and Harry goes there immediately to find her. The consequences of everyone's actions are unexpected and tragic.

[phoenixcomet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Typical Harry Bosch novel: irritating detective gets involved in a case in LA where a local grocer is shot which ultimately leads him to having to rescue his daughter in Hong Kong from slave traders. Plot was engaging; the story moved and it had some good twists and turns to it.

[raaurora · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Michael Connelly is one of my favorite authors, but this could be the worst book he has ever written. The issues with his ex and his daughter felt forced, his half brother drops into the story out of nowhere and then is gone just as abruptly, jetting back and forth between California and the Pac Rim. It felt like a quilt that was badly put together - the pieces just don't fit with each other.

[edwardsgt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cracking Harry Bosch story, with Harry zeroing on a liquor store killing that bears the hallmarks of a Triad killing and leaving a trail of dead bodies in his wake as he ruthlessly pursues the perpetrators and drags in his ex-wife Eleanor Wish now living in Hong Kong with their daughter Maddie. Relentless pace with several unexpected plot twists before all is revealed. Make sure you have time to read this in a few sessions as you'll be hooked!

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, I certainly didn't see THAT coming. Without a doubt this was the most uncomfortable of Connelly's books that I've read to date, and I don't mean that in a bad way. A little disappointed that he didn't take the time to go little deeper and darker into the horrible situation Bosch found himself. Harry's very human, or maybe mortal is a better choice, in this work. But his vast and varied experiences in both Vietnam and Homicide prepared him well for the case of his life. While my main complaint would be the story timeline was just too unrealistic, it did speed the story along with an urgency and desperation that could be believed. The potential two new relationships that come up at the end make for interesting thought. I hope Connelly gives rise to both and let Harry maybe find a little happiness for a change.

[gmmartz · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Every once in awhile, I get the feeling Michael Connelly has a decent idea for a book, sketches it out, and hands it off to either his lazier alter-ego or a creative writing grad student to flesh out into a book. This is definitely one of those.

Without going into detail or ruining the experience for someone, like me, who has read pretty much everything the guy has written and will continue to do so, there are way too many examples of sloppy police work, bad assumptions, terrible dialogue.... I could go on. All the elements that normally make him such an interesting author are missing!

I'll chalk this one up as an aberration, albeit one that's becoming a little more common for him.

[joemmama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another entry in the Harry Bosch seres finds Harry investigating the murder of an Asian shop owner. He suspects a Triad connection, but his attention is diverted by the kidnapping of his daughter, and Harry is off to Hong Kong. Harry is a hard boiled detective, old school, but he gets the job done. It was interesting to see Harry out of his element, but Connelly manages to keep the pace up and keeps us on our toes.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great addition to the Harry Bosch Series. Harry ends up in Hong Kong with his ex-wife Eleanor because his daughter Maddie has been kidnapped. Things go from bad to worse as Harry's only thought is to get his daughter back.This was an action packed race to find Harry's daughter .With its twists and turns along the way. From this story on Harry’s life will never be the same.Loved it!

[librarygeek33 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was my second Michael Connelly book. I probably would have liked this better if I hadn't (unfairly) been comparing it to "Scarecrow." I wasn't compelled to race for another Harry Bosch book but, in general, it was a perfectly adequate and entertaining gumshoe novel.

[cmwilson101 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good detective story, with the detective in question being Harry Bosch. Harry is a stubborn, smart, old school police detective who solves crimes with good solid detective work. This story (the 15th in the series) revolves around the kidnapping of Harry's daughter as he is solving the murder of the Chinese owner of a liquor store which Harry sometimes frequents. An unpredictable, believable plot with lots of twists and turns made this book a pleasure to read.

[lb121100 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

i am a big fan of Michael Connelly and this book was not a disappointment. Harry Bosch is the main character in Connelly's books and he makes him complex with each story. In this story a Chinese liguor store owner is murdered and Harry remembers the guy from an earlier encounter and wants to help out. But then his daughter is kidnapped in Hong Kong so Harry goes there to investigate. This is where the very suspenseful and exciting story begins. It is a good read and once again you will enjoy Connelly's tightly woven story.

[spvaughan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read well by Len Carion, unabridged (of course)! Won by Me!Harry is a cop. A Chinese shopkeeper has been murdered. Was it a member of the Tong or someone else? How is this going to involved his daughter and her mother in China? Is there a leak in the cop house? Who can Harry trust? The answers will come as Harry 'globe trots'! The action and pace are fast and furious! 'Just the kind of book I like!O, this is another of Hachette Audio books.. I like what they do!

[golding_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harry Bosch is an old detective friend. He gets older, like us, but never loses his skills. This time his daughter is kidnapped and off to Asia harry goes to rescue her.

[penforhire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Detective Bosch still has some spring in his step. Maybe one of my few complaints, too fast on his feet. He's getting a bit old and it should show more effect on him than creaky joints when assembling furniture.Connelly's writing aged better. His prose is easy, clear, and inoffensive. This book doesn't have so much of the Los Angeles flavor we expect from the series but he makes up for that with a whirlwind tour of parts of Hong Kong.The story has enough twists and turns to please. Without spoiling anything, Connelly knows how to go all-in with his characters and create the belief that anything can happen. The police work was a bit jerky but most of that is intentional.I found this book enjoyable and a must-read for a fan of the series, just not the very best of the series.

[rdurant1217 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For a markedly gentler, more introspective Harry Bosch, he sure knows how to keep the action going. A solid novel, and although it feels like Harry is getting older he is definitely growing as a character - and not growing in a bad way. Michael Connelly is evolving this character as he needs to be evolved and this is a definite step that needed to happen for this series to continue. The addition of his daughter as a (potentially?) future regular in this series is a good addition as well.Solidly written, fast-paced, a good read.