The Scarecrow, by Michael Connelly

 The Book

Investigative reporter, Jack McEvoy is a giant slayer. He's the man who brought down The Poet (previous book), a serial killer lurking at the top of the ranks in the FBI. A story and book so legendary that it landed him a juicy assignment at one of the most prestigious papers in America, The LA Times. He's spent the last several years writing about murders and murders and pretty much being able to do as he pleases. He's gotten a lot of stories, and won several awards. In short, Jack McEvoy is damn good at his job. But it's not enough in 2008 with the newspaper industry under pressure to save his job. Management has announced it will cut 100 in this round of lay offs and Jack McEvoy is number 99. But seeing as how he's such a team player, he will get an extra two weeks if he stays and trains his replacement, young, pretty, pouty Angela Cook. Jack agrees. 

But as he is contemplating his next move, he decides to investigate one last story. When the arrested kid's grandma complains Jack doesn't care about Alonzo Winslow, Jack decides he can squeeze out one more story full of pathos for the history books. The biggest F You to his paper. A story so good the editors will regret firing him. And, with just a modicum of investigation, Jack discovers that he has the rarest thing of all, an innocent gang banger who is being blamed for a serial killer. 

But now, Jack has Angela hot on his heels, trying to wrestle the story away from him. And as he goes hunting serial killers, he finds he needs the help of his ex-lover Rachel Walling. When she drops everything to meet him, she saves his life. But at what cost. Together they trace the culprit through the entire West and figure out who he is and what he wants. The team that brought down The Poet is about to bring down their next target, The Scarecrow. Or maybe, with a killer this smart, he'll bring them down first. 

 My Thoughts

I should have reviewed The Poet when I listened to the book a few weeks ago. Like all of Michael Connelly's work, that book and this one are a masterpiece of complex story lines, well written and tightly constructed. Connelly knows how to write with both passion and precision. A rare combination. And while it's true I hate Bosch and love Mickey Haller, my feelings for Rachael and Jack are more clinical. I find I can dissect this book and The Poet more effiently than I can the Hallers or Boschs. I'm too caught up in my emotions for those characters to really read the sentences. 

Connelly himself talks about how uncomfortable he is with writing Jack McEvoy, since it's as close to an autobiographical account of his work as he's ever done. I don't take that to mean Jack isn't a figment of Connelly's imagination. I'm sure he is. I'm sure that Connelly's wife and editors could readily distinguish between the man himself and Jack. But, as a writer I get it. It's so much easier, less frightening to be inside the head of a character who doesn't share your worldview, or pressures, or choices. I'm sure all of those things were borrowed for Jack. 

I personally, when I write my Allison Pecanac mysteries, am always worried if I've revealed too much of myself, have I made her stand on her own? And yet, I know her so well. Inside and out. I am assured by my best friend (who reads my work) that Allison is not me. There are definitely places where she is, but she says she thinks I could have gone farther. 

And maybe it's just my experience at this type of writing, but I feel the same about Jack and Connelly. Maybe there are echos, but I don't think this is the man Connelly is. 

How Much My Library Card Saved Me

So, this book was purchased as part of a Friends of the Library sale at one of my local libraries. I was gifted a $5 stuff your bag with everything you can get into and I took them up on their offer. Next year, we go and donate $10 to them. Because libraries are awesome. This book entered their collection in July of 2009 and must have exited in August of 2024. Certainly I got this copy in September and read it in October. 

This Book                                         $0.00

Items Reviewed This Year            $520.90

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