The Poet (novel)
ISBN 0752809261 (UK) |
The Poet is the fifth novel by American author Michael Connelly.[1] Published in 1996, it is the first of Connelly's novels not to feature Detective Harry Bosch and first to feature Crime Reporter Jack McEvoy. A sequel, The Narrows, was published in 2004.[2] The Poet won the 1997 Dilys Award.
The story is told in
In April 2004, The Poet was reissued in paperback with an introduction by Stephen King.[1]
Plot
Jack McEvoy, a crime reporter for the
Jack links Sean's death to three other detectives who apparently killed themselves under similar circumstances and who, like Sean, were found with one-sentence suicide notes quoting
The case soon focuses on an online
Jack finds evidence suggesting that the killer has a connection to the FBI, tracing a "boasting" fax back to Thorson. Since Jack knew that she had sent Thorson on a fake errand to buy condoms at the time the fax was sent, he suspects Rachel of being The Poet and of posting to the pedophile network under the name "
Jack informs Backus of his suspicions, only for Backus to lure him to a remote location where he is drugged. Backus admits that he himself is both Eidolon and The Poet, admitting to all of the killings and to his setup of Gladden as the "fall guy" for the murders. As Backus prepares to sodomize and then kill Jack, Rachel appears and knocks Backus out the window and down a long hill. The police later find a body; however, it is left ambiguous as to whether this is Backus.
Meanwhile, as the facts of the case become known, Rachel's judgment is called into question owing to her personal relationship with Jack and her professional relationship with Backus. However, because Jack suspected her, Rachel ends their relationship and takes a trip to Italy. Jack then takes leave from his paper to write a book about the events, although Rachel explains to him that the book will forever taint the FBI because of Backus.
Awards and nominations
The Poet won the
References
- ^ a b c The Poet at MichaelConnelly.com Novel listing on the official website of author Michael Connelly; Accessed on June 2, 2007
- ^ The Narrows at MichaelConnelly.com Novel listing on the official website of author Michael Connelly; Accessed on June 2, 2007
- ^ "Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. October 2, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ "The Dilys Award". Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2008.