Michael Connelly’s LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is dogged when solving a crime – studying the murder book, scrutinizing crime scene photos, going over witness statements, finding those discrepancies that will break open a case. Amazon Prime’s Bosch, based on Connelly’s books, is now in its sixth season and just keeps getting better. Titus Welliver continues to anchor the series as the tough, relentless cop who will stop at nothing to get justice for the victim. His one soft spot is for his daughter, Maddie (the terrific Madison Lintz), while she will do anything to protect her dad. (In season five, Maddie was working in the D.A.’s office and she copied evidence that would help Bosch beat a made-up charge that he planted evidence,)
This season opens with a kidnapping. Dr. Stanley Kent, a medical physicist, takes vials of cesium from his hospital lab, a ransom to rescue his wife, Alicia (Lynn Collins). Kent is found murdered on an overlook, while his wife is discovered tied up, yet alive, in their home. The cesium, radioactive material that could be used to poison L.A.’s water supply or construct a dirty bomb, is missing. It’s all hands on deck as the LAPD works to prevent a disaster. When the FBI comes on board, Bosch and his team are forced to work with the feds, headed up by Jack Brenner (Adam J. Harrington), along with agents Clifford Maxwell (Carter MacIntyre), and Sylvia Reece (Julie Ann Emery).
Bosch begins to doubt Alicia’s story. (How he puts the pieces together illustrates that brain not brawn often lies at the heart of a solid police investigation.) The feds, based on thin evidence, target an anti-government group called the Sovereign Citizens, and stage an ill-advised raid that results in one of the members of the group being killed. His widow, Heather (Abby Brammell) vows revenge, setting in motion another threat to the city’s safety.
While undercover to bust up an opioid ring (season five), Bosch met an addict, Elizabeth Clayton (Jamie Anne Allman), who believed her daughter, Daisy, was not the victim of a serial killer. Once Bosch revealed his identity as a cop, Elizabeth asked him to reinvestigate Daisy’s murder. After a cursory look at the evidence, Bosch believed that Elizabeth was right – Daisy’s killer was still out there. On his off hours, he keeps digging into the case, now years old. He worries that even if he finds Daisy’s killer, he won’t be able to rescue Elizabeth from using again.
Bosch’s supporting cast, with several new additions, add to the depth of the series. Maddie now has a boyfriend, Antonio (Jonny Rios, who will hope will become a regular), while she continues to work as an intern in the office of defense attorney Honey Chandler (Mimi Rogers). Bosch’s partner, Jerry Edgar (Jamie Hector), continues his relentless pursuit of Jacques Avril (Treva Etienne), a criminal from Haiti, now a local businessman, who remains frustratingly out of reach. Lt. Grace Billets (Amy Aquino), finds herself caught up in a #metoo situation when a female detective voices complaints about their interactions.
LAPD Chief of Police Irvin Irving (Lance Reddick), mounts his campaign for mayor while adjusting to changes in his home life. And the two detectives nicknamed Crate and Barrel – Gregory Scott Cummins and Troy Evans – prove comic relief while also displaying their chops as seasoned officers. (Barrel, in particular, can be credited with saving the day.)
Nine episodes go by in a flash, with the tenth tying up the various storylines with a bang (literally). Until a new season of Bosch is made available, we can console ourselves with Michael Connelly’s new mystery, being released on May 26.
All six season of Bosch can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
Photos courtesy of Amazon Prime.
Top photo: Madison Lintz and Titus Welliver; Credit: Saeed Adyani
