Blood Work

Terry McCaleb, Book 1

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Dick Hill

From the #1 bestselling author of the Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer series and who "is the master of the universe in which he lives" (Huffington Post), comes the gripping novel that inspired the film starring Clint Eastwood.

When Graciella Rivers steps onto his boat, ex-FBI agent Terrell McCaleb has no idea he's about to come out of retirement. He's recuperating from a heart transplant and avoiding anything stressful. But when Graciella tells him the way her sister, Gloria, was murdered, Terry realizes he has no choice. Now the man with the new heart vows to take down a predator without a soul. For Gloria's killer shatters every rule that McCaleb ever learned in his years with the Bureau-as McCaleb gets no more second chances at life...and just one shot at the truth.

*Winner of the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière-International Category
*Winner of the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel
*Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel

©1998 by Hieronymous. (P)1998 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Another winner

Some of Connelly's books are better than others. This is a really good listen. There are some new characters in this story and lots of exciting action. I believe tis is the only Connelly novel that has been made into a movie.

One of Michael Connelly's best!

This great 1998 release was followed by the 2002 movie starring Clint Eastwood. Terry McCaleb is an ex-FBI agent who has had a recent heart transplant. He lives on a boat residing at Catalina Island. The action starts when he decides to investigate the still unresolved murder of his heart donor.

McCaleb returns and plays a major role in the Harry Bosch series novel A Darkness More than Night.

Despite being made into a Clint Eastwood movie Blood Work gets less attention than it deserves. Dick Hill does his usual stellar job of narration.

Blood Work Works Well

Terry McCaleb didn't get much of a series out of Michael Connelly, who is best known for Bosch (over 20 titles and counting) and Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, with five books of his own. He was a fragile character right from the start, having gotten a heart transplant that kicks off the story line of Blood Work. That transplant, it turns out, was from someone who was murdered. As a former FBI guy, forced to retire by his heart condition, McCaleb decides to investigate the murder of his donor. Twists ensue.

The vast majority of Blood Work is the micro-detailed examination of evidence by Terry McCaleb as he tries to locate a killer. The characters aren't fully developed until later, in parallel with plot complications. So the focus during the early stages, when the book needs to grab you and hold you, is on the evidence. Fortunately, it all holds together, unfolding with the peeling of the layers. Slowly (maybe a tad too slowly), but surely.

This is the third Michael Connelly book I've heard Dick Hill narrate, and I've heard him read other titles as well. I didn't like him at first -- found his voice too growly. But he's certainly grown on me, especially because his style is so apropos for Connelly's work.

The miracle of being a donor.

If you could sum up Blood Work in three words, what would they be?

Suspense....Gratifying....Educational

Who was your favorite character and why?

Definitely. I wanted to be a donor but because of a malady, I won't get to improve the life of another. Since reading Blood Work, I've read more about the subject and I will read more. Oops, the question has changed. Favorite character was McCaleb. His journey to accepting that he continued living because someone else had to die.

Which character – as performed by Dick Hill – was your favorite?

McCaleb.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Dick Hill can be slow. His narration doesn't have a flow that makes my listening as enjoyable as I'd like. However, he was a competent narrator that didn't make me not want to listen. I did need to take a break here and there because of the narration.,

Any additional comments?

The novel is educational, suspenseful, tender. A novel worth reading.

Absolutely Spectacular!

Of the dozens and dozens of murder/mystery and Connelly Books, this is by far my favorite! Beats every Bosch book I’ve heard so far! Of the hundreds of audio books I have listened to, NOBODY... absolutely NOBODY is a better narrator than Dick Hill! He is as good as a narrator can possibly get! Buy this book. You will not be disappointed!

Blood Work

Enjoyable listen. Lots of twists and turns. Great drama-mystery. Can't wait for Michael Connelly's next publication.

This story holds your interest

Here's a story that you'll enjoy more than once! Moves fast, but carries enough detail to keep the listener guessing.

Outstanding

Yet another great book by Connelly. Kept me engrossed from beginning to end and who could be better narrating than Dick Hill one of my favourites.

Meh...

I listened to this book when ever I could, which is something. I passed over another book that I had on my ipod and preferred this one. I found the story pretty unbelievable though, and a little bit too neat and tidy.

I disliked the narrator. His character voices were all so similar. They were pretty bad. At one point he said " and he sighed" and then he made a sighing noise. weird.

Anyway, thought this book was only so so.

great read. hard to put down.

just when you think you have it figured out another sequence of events happens that make you not want to stop listening.