Michael Connelly's newest Harry Bosch mystery won't disappoint his fans, its evidential labyrinth laid out with meticulous care. This writer doesn't subject readers to facile witticisms or insider gossip. And for a change of pace, Connelly's protagonist is written in the first person, offering particular insight into the real Harry Bosch.

Now retired from the LAPD, it occurs to Bosch that his police badge has been a symbol of his personal mission as a detective, to stand for the dead. Now a civilian without the protection of the department, Harry comes to terms with himself as a man who still harbors that sense of duty, retracing an unsolved homicide gone cold four years ago. The body of the female victim haunts Bosch, her hands arranged in a pose of supplication. This poignant image propels him through the tangled web of lies and deceits that surround the murder, as well as the $2 million robbery that followed, one potentially linked to the other.

Bosch's investigation and subsequent actions bear the fruit of years. Like a poker player, Bosch holds his cards close to the vest, endlessly pondering possible permutations. If nothing else, Bosch trusts his finely honed instincts. There is more going on than the obvious and too many interested parties, a serious concern as things get complicated.

Lost Light is a prime example of the mystery/thriller genre done right, as Bosch mentally assesses the evidence, discarding the irrelevant while gathering pertinent details. Caught in the middle of intra-agency bureaucracy and territorialism, undeterred by deliberate obstacles, Bosch is challenged to think outside the box. Bold and direct, Connelly's writing is razor sharp as Bosch sifts through the bits and pieces that will ultimately reveal the solution. At his best, Connelly is at all times in control, harnessing developments and characters with precision.