The Wrong Side of Goodbye

Written by Michael Connelly

Narrated by Titus Welliver

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Notable Book of 2016 --Washington Post

Detective Harry Bosch must track down someone who may never have existed in the new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Harry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't advertise, he doesn't have an office, and he's picky about who he works for, but it doesn't matter. His chops from thirty years with the LAPD speak for themselves.

Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire is nearing the end of his life and is haunted by one regret. When he was young, he had a relationship with a Mexican girl, his great love. But soon after becoming pregnant, she disappeared. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?

Desperate to know whether he has an heir, the dying magnate hires Bosch, the only person he can trust. With such a vast fortune at stake, Harry realizes that his mission could be risky not only for himself but for the one he's seeking. But as he begins to uncover the haunting story--and finds uncanny links to his own past--he knows he cannot rest until he finds the truth.

At the same time, unable to leave cop work behind completely, he volunteers as an investigator for a tiny cash-strapped police department and finds himself tracking a serial rapist who is one of the most baffling and dangerous foes he has ever faced.

Swift, unpredictable, and thrilling, The Wrong Side of Goodbye shows that Michael Connelly "continues to amaze with his consistent skill and sizzle" (Cleveland Plain Dealer).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Nov 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781478938781

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 The Wrong Side of Goodbye

[dh1writer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent Bosch novel. There are two plot lines. The search for an heir and the search for a serial killer. The stories do not overlap, so the book seems disjointed at times. There are threads, like concern for his daughter's safety, that don't go anywhere. Still, it is a good read.

[nancyjcbs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great first book of 2017! I hope the year holds lots more entertaining books like this.Harry Bosch is working part-time as a private detective and volunteering part time with the San Fernando police department. Therefore there were two cases to follow. They were compelling cases which I didn't see concluding as they did. To my delight Mickey Haller was involved in the private investigation.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel finds Hieronymus ‘Harry’ Bosch still working as a private detective following his enforced departure a couple of years previously from LAPD. He is not entirely comfortable with this status, and still hankers for the sense of establishment that came from being part of the formal law enforcement structure. He has managed to mitigate some of that feeling of loss by signing on as a reserve detective with the Police Department in San Fernando, a small and separate city that has now been engulfed by the ceaseless urban sprawl of Los Angeles. Bosch is not paid for this work, but finds satisfaction in once again having a badge, and regularly racks up far more than the two shifts per month that is the criterion for retaining his detective status.As the novel opens, Bosch and his new detective partner, Bella Lourdes, are investigating a series of violent attacks on women by a criminal whom they have nicknamed ‘The Screen Cutter’ because of the method by which he gains entry into their homes. Meanwhile Bosch is summoned to the home of Whitney Vance, a reclusive billionaire now sinking into poor health, who hires him to conduct a very personal investigation. The need to balance the two different but equally sensitive cases places its own strain on Bosch.Connelly always seems to draw his readers in very quickly, and this novel is no exception. I had a few doubts before starting this book. Too often in the past I have found that series of novels I have enjoyed have been extended beyond their sell by date. This must be around the twentieth novel to feature Harry Bosch, and I have enjoyed them all so far, and but have grown a little wary that Connelly might soon start taking the pitcher to the well one time too many. Such fears were unwarranted, however, and this story is as gripping and plausible as any of its predecessors.Another success!

[breic-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very smoothly written. The ending is just as disappointing as the last Connelly I read, turning a mystery into a thriller. It feels really cheap and stereotypical.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really liked the two stories going during this one, and also Mikey Haller made an appearance. Able to easily track multiple characters--this book was excellent in that respect. One of the characters could easily be Howard Hughes--one plot is similar to his death. One wonders when Harry will age out and actually retire? Good read!

[ajlewis2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Michael Connelly, you did it again! What a story! I listened to the audio and I do like Titus Welliver as Bosch. It works well after having seen the series he stars in. But the main thing is that it is another great Bosch story.

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

[The Wrong Side of Goodbye] by Michael ConnellyHarry Bosch series Book #214,5&#9733'sFrom The Book:Harry Bosch is California's newest private investigator. He doesn't advertise, he doesn't have an office, and he's picky about who he works for, but it doesn't matter. His chops from thirty years with the LAPD speak for themselves.Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire is nearing the end of his life and is haunted by one regret. When he was young, he had a relationship with a Mexican girl, his great love. But soon after becoming pregnant, she disappeared. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?Desperate to know whether he has an heir, the dying magnate hires Bosch, the only person he can trust. With such a vast fortune at stake, Harry realizes that his mission could be risky not only for himself but for the one he's seeking. But as he begins to uncover the haunting story--and finds uncanny links to his own past--he knows he cannot rest until he finds the truth.At the same time, unable to leave cop work behind completely, he volunteers as an investigator for a tiny cash-strapped police department and finds himself tracking a serial rapist who is one of the most baffling and dangerous foes he has ever faced. My Thoughts:Back in 1992 I read the first of Michael Connelly's new series about a take-charge, by the book, no holds barred police detective...Harry Bosch. I was hooked after the the last page of that book was turned and I can say that absolutely nothing has changed. After the book before this one...[The Crossing]...we saw some big changes coming for Harry including his leaving the San Francisco Police Department after throwing his commanding officer through a plate glass window. We as fans thought that perhaps Harry was going to ride off into the sunset. I was really glad to see this book appear to take it's place as #21 and bring Harry back. Harry is working for a smaller department investigating cold cases as well as doing some private investigating work on his own. The difference is he doesn't get paid for his police work because of a new program that the department is working to allow detectives that aren't quiet ready to throw in the towel to continue to work and feel productive while lending their many years of expertise. At first it seemed the police case and the private case were not going to exist too well in the same story line but as usual Michael Connelly brought both to a glorious conclusion. Mickey Haller...the Lincoln Lawyer from another of Connelly's series and Harry half brother...has a major role in the story also. So what more could Michael Connelly's fan ask for?

[infjsarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the Bosch novels and this one is at the top end of quality. There are 2 stories, one where Harry is working as a volunteer police officer (really! and we thought funding was bad in the UK) and the other where he is doing his private detective role. Both plots have twists and turns and it is very enjoyable. Have to be impressed by Connelly's continuous ability to produce great stories.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent entry in this very fine mystery series. Good old irascible Harry is a part-time detective for a very small CA city while still doing his P.I. work as well. Tracking a serial rapist and seeking a possible lost heir really keeps his calendar quite full. Lots fo solid police work and occasional judicial quandaries keep the action moving and make this a difficult book to put down; so I read it in one fell swoop. Another neat little ending put the icing on this literary cake.

[olivermagnus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wondered where Michael Connelly would take his most famous character, Harry Bosch, now that he has retired from the Los Angeles Police Department, so I was excited to get this new book in the series. Harry is working part-time as a private investigator and he also volunteers as a detective for the budget constricted San Fernando police department, researching cold cases.

He's called to the estate of elderly billionaire, Whitney Vance, who asks him to find out if he has any living heirs. When he was eighteen, Vance's 16-year old girlfriend told him she was pregnant. After a series of threats from his father he rejected her and has always regretted it. Now he wonders if that child could still be alive, and a possible heir to his business. At the same time, Harry has found some leads on a cold case involving a serial rapist. It appears that the rapist is escalating, making it important that he be found quickly. One of his hiring conditions was that he could not use any department resources while working his private cases, but we know Harry is just not going to be able to avoid a conflict when he is faced with two serious cases taking up his time.

One of the things I like most about this series is that it remains so fresh after all these years. I think Michael Connelly has done a wonderful job of bringing us believable characters with distinct personalities, including an appearance by Mickey Haller. He's a master storyteller and this is a perfect example of what makes a good police procedural. I listened to the audio, narrated by Titus Welliver, who also plays Harry in the Amazon Original series, Bosch. He is outstanding and makes the story even more enjoyable for me.

[edwardsgt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Harry is back, now working part-time and unpaid for San Fernando PD whilst operating as a private investigator in his spare time. A former LAPD colleague now working for a private security company recruits Harry for a Howard Hughes-like billionnaire recluse to undertake a personal top-secret assignment. As always Harry puts his heart into the assignment but finds himself reliving his time as a tunnel-rat in Vietnam as he investigates one of the players. However his research has to be put to one side as one of his SFPD cold cases suddenly hits a breakthrough and he has to move his focus to that. As always, great characterisation, plotting and real Los Angeles area locations keep you turning the pages.

[antao-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Lure of Good Crime Fiction: "The Wrong Side of Goodbye" by Michael Connelly I used to feel that I shouldn't like reading Crime Fiction, like I did in 2014, in what I always remember as my Crime Fiction Year; it was in that year that I sensibly decided that a well written Crime Fiction novel has as much "intrinsic value" as any other book, however much the literary snobs may turn their noses up. Good writing is good writing, whether it's a spy or a SF novel. After 2014 I haven’t read much Crime Fiction. My bad, but as soon as a new Michael Connelly, or Ian Rankin comes out, I’m already moving them to the top of my TBR Pile, like I did with this “The Wrong Side of Goodbye, as I’ll do with “I’ll Rather Be the Devil” by Ian Rankin, coming out on the 1st of November. I love a good Crime Fiction Novel. This is due to my teenage years, when I was reading detective fiction by the bucket-load as if there was no tomorrow (Christie, Sayers, Stout, Allingham, Ambler, Block, P. D. James, Chesterton, Hammett, Simenon, Rendell, Marsh, Innes, Chandler, Dürrenmatt, Westlake, Camilleri, Highsmith, Burke, Thomson, Higgins, Crais, Spillane, Leonard, etc.). And then, in more recent years I discovered Rankin, Connelly, C. J. Samson and Scandinavian Fiction, and a few other stray Crime Fiction writers like Ken Bruen. Scandinavian Crime Fiction is still one of my favourites all round.

If you're into Crime Fiction, read the rest of the review on my blog.

[scrabblenut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I always look forward to a new Michael Connolly book and this was no exception. Excellent mystery with lots of twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion to both storylines.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Connelly and Bosch have done it again. Written a novel that kept me turning the pages, a tightly plotted novel filled with the special insights that one my my favorite detectives seems to have been gifted. Now working a part time, unpaid gig with a police department that had to make drastic cuts, he continues on investigating cold cases while being allowed to work on his own side cases for some real money. He becomes embroiled in two separate cases, one a serial rapist, the other a hunt for legitimate issue of an aging billionaire feeling his own mortality is getting closer.Good police work, and while this is not a stunner, the cases not terribly flashy, Bosch with the occasional help from his brother from another mother, Heller, keeps the story moving. Just a solid, well thought out entry in the Bosch cannon. I always look forward to a new one in this series and I was not disappointed. Another long running series that manages to maintain my interest.ARC from publisher.

[cjordan916 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Soon one of Southern California's biggest moguls comes calling. The reclusive billionaire is nearing the end of his life and is haunted by one regret. When he was young, he had a relationship with a Mexican girl, his great love. But soon after becoming pregnant, she disappeared. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?

[davewilde-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wrong Side of Goodbye is definitely a five-star read and, although it's the 21st book in a the series, it may be the best in terms of readability, craftsmanship, and thrills. Here, Connelly in-retires Harry Bosch yet again, this time as an unpaid volunteer in the tiny City of SAN Fernando Police Dept, on the trail of a serial rapist. Buttressing that story is another even more mysterious job Bosch takes on privately for n ged billionaire. The detective work Bosch does on the private case, chasing down little clues and being spied on by corporations is even more interesting and compelling. Overall, this novel should appeal to a variety of readers. Good stuff.

[maneekuhi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read a few books in the Harry Bosch series. I recall being blown away by one of the early ones, "The Poet"?, but then being disappointed by a subsequent book or two, and so I didn't stay with the series. Not so long ago I read one where Harry is in the Far East, I think it involved his daughter, enjoyed it a lot and considered going back and reading some of the older books that I had missed - but I never did. There's been a lot of hype about "Wrong Side" (WS) so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. A true 4 1/2 star, but I'll round up on Amazon to 5 stars, and be real with my LibraryThing rating.Harry is retired, but active doing some private eye work and acting as a non-paid volunteer cop for San Fernando, a small community completely surrounded by LA. He is hired by a very wealthy, very old industrial giant to determine if there is a possibility of an only heir, a child which the old man fathered in Viet Nam days. Meanwhile, Harry is also engaged in trying to apprehend an unknown serial rapist who has attacked at least four women over the past few years. There was a lot I enjoyed very much about this book. The pace was brisk and constant, but never frenetic, so it seemed to be a quick read though it was 388 pages - there were no lulls, and I always looked forward to picking it up again. It was very today, feeling like it was written within the past few days (it's Feb 2017 as I write this); even the dedication to Vin Scully was today's "news". Yet it also had some very well done ties back to the Viet Nam era, without being one of those overdone things that spends too much time in flashbacks - this was just right. Very LA, lot of good local history that was interesting even to me, an East Coast guy. I had never read a Connelly with Mickey Haller, the half bro, and I was surprised to find that I liked him as much as I did. Two good storylines, they interwove very well. Lots of tension at appropriate times, but not saturated with blood and guts, though there's a minimal bit of violence.I was not crazy about how the heir story ended. I thought it was a bit anti-climactic. I would have done it differently, but how can you argue with a guy who has sold a billion books. But nevertheless, I dinged a half star for that. Yet I recommend this highly, I will read the next Bosch, and I might even go back and read a Haller.....I bought and read the hardbound version of this novel. Amazon's pricing at the time of my purchase - and remember, this book is still "new" at this time, a current best seller and not an overstock - was higher for the Kindle version than the Hardbound. Outrageous! I will no longer buy ebooks over $9.99 The publisher (and price setter per Amazon) is Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

[malcrf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bish, Bash, Bosch. Real page turner, excellent characterisation, Connelly has this nailed!

[auntmarge64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sterling suspense, although unnecessarily cluttered by the main character's personal life.Detective Hieronymus Bosch is back. After being forced to resign from the LAPD and winning a lawsuit against them, he's working as a PI and volunteering his time to a detective squad in a neighboring town. He comes up against interesting cases in both lines of work: a dying billionaire hires him to find out if he ever had any heirs, while he searches for a serial-rapist targeting Latinas.As usual the action works well, as we look over Harry's shoulder to observe his thought processes. But the diversion into his personal life, as he makes frequent phone calls to meet up with his college-age daughter for a meal, are quite irritating. The don't advance the story at all, and who cares anyway? Still, if you're a fan of the Bosch novels or TV series, this one's for you.

[delta61 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story. Couldn't put it down.

[velopunk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great Harry Bosch novel. Harry is retired from the LAPD and working as a reserve officer on the San Fernando PD and doing some PI work on the side. With the SFPD Harry is the lead officer on the screen cutter rapist case. As a private investigator he has been retained by a reclusive aviation billionaire to find an heir from a teenage romance over 50 years ago.

[lewilliams-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an outstanding Harry Bosch novel that I had a hard time putting down as Harry looks for a possible missing heir as a PI and a serial rapist as a volunteer detective for the San Fernando PD. We also learn more about Harry's time in the Viet Nam war. I had a hard time putting this book down.

[norinrad10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What you say about any novel that Connelly writes? They are alweays solid and he seems to improve with every outing. This time it's a serial rapist and a search for a long lost heir that move the adventure along. As always it's the little details that make these books so realistic. I can't wait for the next one.

[phoenixcomet · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harry Bosch is back, this time as a PI in CA. Hired by dying billionaire Whitney Vance to discover if he has an heir, Harry embarks on a mission. What really did happen all those years ago and what are the ramifications of finding an heir? Entwined with a serial rapist case, this Connelly novel is a fast, fun read.

[pegmcdaniel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I won this novel in a Bookreporter.com Word of Mouth Contest. Thank you!This latest novel from Michael Connelly in the PI Harry Bosch crime fiction series is definitely a winner. It's a thriller that held my attention throughout. It's carefully plotted, the characters are well-developed, and you'll even find out a bit about Harry's time in Vietnam.Harry is involved in two investigations: (1) find an heir for an aging billionaire, and (2) clear up a cold case involving a serial rapist. There are plenty of twists and turns as Harry uses his skills, intelligence, and instincts to solve these cases.I like that Connelly sets the scenes with Los Angeles and its suburbs so vividly. I always enjoy reading novels set in an area I have visited or lived near and can recognize street names, highways, and other landmarks.

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you're looking for a fast-paced police procedural, this series fits the bill! It's got great vivid descriptions of LA and LA life, and Harry Bosch is The Man. He's capable, smart, and a complete wise guy. But I'm glad he's one of the good guys. Fun read and a surprisingly good discussion in book club!

[runner56_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If my favourite English crime author is Ian Rankin then Michael Connelly is surely no 1 for the mantle of America's greatest living crime writer. Even the hardback cover of his latest book "The wrong side of Goodbye" has a certain dark underbelly feeling mixed in with a dash of noir. The crime writing genre is bursting at the seams with talent and wannabe Connelly imitators but nothing really comes close to the man himself and The Wrong Side of Goodbye is yet another brilliant piece of crime fiction. It is quite amazing how Harry Bosch is still as fresh and keen from, when we first met him, in The Black Echo to this his 23rd outing. The fact that Harry was a "tunnel rat" during the Vietnam war means he is now aged mid 60's and yet we as readers truly believe in him and that fact alone must be attributed to his creator, Michael ConnellyHarry has been asked to find a missing heiress by aviation billionaire Whitney Vance. This job will involve him revisiting his past war history as he searches out Vibiana Duarte who became pregnant after a short relationship with Vance and subsequently deserted by him. Before he dies he wants to put things right. Is she still alive? If not where is the child? In addition he is working with the San Fernando police department trying to find the sexual rapist known as the Screen Cutter. Amidst all this drama he still has almost daily contact with his daughter Maddie, now a student, but very close to her ever worried and fearful dad. During the two investigations a mistake by Harry results in a dramatic and almost tragic situation with an unusual outcome.As always the writing is tight, the characters believable and well-drawn, with an excellent story, never over complicated, always enjoyable. There is certainly much life left in a maturing Harry Bosch and I look forward to his return in what will be his 24th outing.

[howzzit · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite authors and characters. Book is well plotted. Writing style is not as good as past quality. TV series is a disappointment. It needs better casting for the lead character: Harry Bosch.

[macha_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3 and a half stars. Harry Bosch is a great character. and the story's good. but his writing style isn't. it's all subject/object in that order, then period. there's a monotonous tone to the whole proceeding, like it's a rookie crime reporter phoning it in on the night beat so he can go home. really, shouldn't Connelly be better at this by now? so i read them when they come to hand, but i don't keep them, they're disposable.

[twink_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Wrong Side of Goodbye is the twenty first novel in Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series.I wondered where Connelly was going to take Harry once he left the LAPD. But once a cop, always a cop. Harry has joined the small San Fernando PD as a reserve officer. He's been working the case of The Screencutter, a serial rapist working in the area. Harry is also a private investigator now and is called to the home of a reclusive billionaire. At death's doorway, the man wants to know if he has any blood heirs. But there are those just as determined to see that none are found.Connelly has come up with two great cases, both intriguing and well plotted. We meet a whole new set of characters in the new police department. I would definitely like to see more of this group and this setting. Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) makes an appearance as well. I quite enjoy the two characters appearing in each other's cases.This is the 21st entry, but this series has never lost it's momentum or freshness. Skillful storytelling, great characters, inventive plotting, excellent detective work and so entertaining.The Wrong Side of Goodbye was a fantastic listen. Narrator Titus Welliver has become the voice of Bosch for me - gruff, growly, tough. His interpretation of the character absolutely matches my mental image. And he also stars in the television series Bosch.