It must be hard to write a crime novel. It's all about surprising twists to the story. But with so many books in the genre published year in and year out, it must be nearly impossible to come up with an idea that hasn't already been used. For that reason I give Connelly high marks for the plot device by which Terry McCaleb is induced into taking on the case in Blood Work. It's an interesting story since the investigator/protagonist has no official standing. He's not a police officer, not a lawyer, not a private investigator. He's a retiree, albeit with a helpful friend on the police force. But that's counterbalanced by enemies.

Connelly knows LA well and mixes in locale with surprising twists and turns to propel the story with enough energy to keep things interesting. Reading this in 2011 though, it is charmingly anachronistic. It's not old enough to be a period piece, but it's new enough that it feels awkward the way the characters don't have mobile phones to communicate. They're always looking for phone booths to make a phone call!

How do you capitalize on your previous job experience? You write about it!

Michael Connelly books have mesmerized readers with his working knowledge

of the California Law Enforcement community. Not even some of his main characters are saved from the evil that lurks there. My thoguht is: If once you delve into his world of characters, and you don't find yourself fully engaged, you might want to check your sanity.

A new hero in Blood Works -a former FBI profiler whose vast knowledge of serial killers is at the heart of this suspenseful novel.Living on a boat in the Los Angeles area, McCaleb is living in retirement following a very recent heart transplant.A visit from Gracielea Rivers changes his relaxed daily routine into an intense search for the vicious murderer of Graciela's sister, Glory.With much opposition from the police and FBI, as well as from his doctor, and several false starts, road blocks, and dead ends, McCaleb pursues the killer.

Looking at the LAPD paperwork and crime scene tapes, McCaleb is sure that law enforcement came to wrong conclusions.Enough said at the risk of giving away any of the twists and turns that make this novel so suspenseful and make this character one that we hope to meet up with again.

This is one of Michael Connelly's earlier works, but it shows off all of his skills and talents that readers have grown accustomed to over the years.

Terry McCaleb, a retired FBI agent who is 60 days post-op from a heart transplant, is visited on his boat Graciella Rivers, who informs him that her murdered sister, Gloria, was the organ donor for his heart.Can't McCaleb investigate her death, which has been ruled a random shooting during a robbery?Doesn't McCaleb owe it to her dead sister, who left a seven-year-old son behind?

McCaleb promises to check out the case to see if there are any discrepancies or if the police missed anything.All this activity potentially puts McCaleb at a health risk.

Before long, McCaleb believes Gloria's murder is connected to two other murders, none of which was random.But what's the connection?McCaleb is determined to find it.

McCaleb is looking for the tell--"the piece of evidence that didn't fit before but would make sense now, that would tell him the story."

It's an intriguing quest as the real story masterfully unfolds.

Brilliant writing, clever plotting and interesting storytelling produces another winner for Michael Connelly and his readers.

Martin "Life doesn't begin at 4... (TULSA, OKUSA)-Michael Connelly is one of the greatest storytellers ever! It would be difficult to pick a favorite because each are special in their own way. "Blood Work," the book, was much better than the movie. Sometimes Hollywood just doesn't get it right. And I was thrilled with the way Connelly dealt with the misconceptions in the movie.

I never wonder if a new Connelly publication will be good or not - because if it's Connelly and Bosch - it's a page turner and dynamite. Read this book and then read "A Darkness More than Light." My problem is - when I start reading a Connelly book - I can't put it down until I've read the last page. Thank you, Michael, and keep the books coming!