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Crime Beat: A Decade of Covering Cops and Killers Audible Audiobook – Abridged

Michael Connelly (Author), Len Cariou (Narrator), Nancy McKeon (Narrator),
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,151 ratings
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Book Description: From No. 1 bestseller Michael Connelly's first career as a prizewinning crime reporter--the gripping, true stories that inspired and informed his novels. Before he became a novelist, Michael Connelly was a crime reporter, covering the detectives who worked the homicide beat in Florida and Los Angeles. In vivid, hard-hitting articles, Connelly leads the reader past the yellow police tape as he follows the investigators, the victims, their families and friends--and, of course, the killers--to tell the real stories of murder and its aftermath. Connelly's firsthand observations would lend inspiration to his novels, from The Black Echo, which was drawn from a real-life bank heist, to Trunk Music, based on an unsolved case of a man found in the trunk of his Rolls Royce. And the vital details of his best-known characters, both heroes and villains, would be drawn from the cops and killers he reported on: from loner detective Harry Bosch to the manipulative serial killer the Poet. Stranger than fiction and every bit as gripping, these pieces show once again that Michael Connelly is not only a master of his craft, but also one of the great American writers in any form.Amazon.com ExclusiveBefore he became a bestselling novelist, Michael Connelly was a crime reporter, covering the detectives who worked the homicide beat in Florida and Los Angeles. In his vivid new book, Crime Beat: A Decade of Covering Cops and Killers, Connelly leads readers past the yellow police tape as he follows the investigators, the victims, and the killers to tell the real stories of murder and its aftermath.Read an exclusive essay from Michael Connelly Michael Connelly's 1988 Los Angeles County Press Pass More from Michel ConnellyEcho ParkThe Closers The Poet
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  1. Listening Length
    6 hours and 12 minutes
  2. Author
    Michael Connelly
  3. Narrator
    Len Cariou, see all
  4. Audible release date
    May 8, 2006
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Hachette Audio
  7. ASIN
    B000FMRYLQ
  8. Version
    Abridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 6 hours and 12 minutes
Author Michael Connelly
Narrator Len Cariou, Nancy McKeon, Carl Franklin
Audible.com Release Date May 08, 2006
Publisher Hachette Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Abridged
Language English
ASIN B000FMRYLQ
Best Sellers Rank #142,597 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#295 in Writing & Publishing
#591 in Journalism Writing Reference (Books)
#594 in Words, Language & Grammar (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
1,151 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and interesting, providing a background for Michael Connelly's crime fiction. They praise the author as great and well-written. However, some readers feel the stories lack depth and are repetitive. Opinions differ on readability and story quality, with some finding them entertaining and engaging, while others consider them boring. There are mixed views on the value for money, with some finding it worth the money spent on it and others considering it not worth the money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Information qualityAuthorReadabilityStory qualityValue for moneyStory length
13 customers mention "Information quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides interesting and informative stories about criminals and law enforcement. They say it's a good background for Connelly's crime fiction and educational for journalism students. However, some readers feel the stories are disjointed and boring.

"Glad I bought this used and cheap. It's moderately interesting as a way to understand where some of the ideas in Connelly's fiction comes from...." Read more

"...book details how he came to create his characters and devise his crimes and crime scenes...." Read more

"In the wonderful introduction, Connelly explains, in effect, why he is so good at this. He's covered crime and cops. Been to crime scenes...." Read more

"I found this book a very interesting background for Michael Connelly's crime fiction...." Read more

8 customers mention "Author"8 positive0 negative

Customers like the author. They say the book is well-written, but it's written more like a diary than a novel.

"...This is a compendium of some of his favorite stories. It is well written, but journalism differs from fiction writing - so, it took a while to get..." Read more

"Read Connelly for years untill I started reading John Grisham---great author! GK" Read more

"Michael Connelly is a great writer and one of my favorite authors, but the Crime Beat novel just had too much repetition that occurred throughout..." Read more

"written more like a diary than a novel." Read more

37 customers mention "Readability"23 positive14 negative

Customers have different views on the book's readability. Some found it interesting and engaging, while others felt it was boring and disappointing.

"...Book arrives in A-1 condition, ready to enjoy. No question, I'll use Amazon again when I'm close to finishing this book...." Read more

"Worst book ever. Waste of money nothing made sense as far as the stories told it should have never been written. No endings" Read more

"...It was interesting to read some of Michael Connelly's journalistic efforts...." Read more

"...And for that one reason among many, Crime Beat is well worth the read." Read more

34 customers mention "Story quality"18 positive16 negative

Customers have different views on the story quality. Some find it interesting and entertaining, with a compelling look at crime from various viewpoints. Others feel there is too much detail without enough of a storyline, making the book repetitive and boring after a while.

"They were good stories, but because they were culled from newspaper articles the whole story was retold in every instance...." Read more

"...However, reprinting several articles on the same case results in extreme redundancy...." Read more

"...I'm not a fan who needed to know ALL of that!! I just loved the stories that he told about Bosch." Read more

"...But this book of true stories is too dry. I stopped reading after the chapter “Cops Accused,” pp.67-81...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money. Some find it worth the money spent to buy it cheap and get it shipped, especially for the introduction. Others say it's not worth $1, let alone $12.99 on Kindle.

"Glad I bought this used and cheap. It's moderately interesting as a way to understand where some of the ideas in Connelly's fiction comes from...." Read more

"...This book has no redeeming value that I could find other than trying to profit on his name. What a shame, this will be the last Connelly book I buy." Read more

"...It seemed to help some. I'll do it again tomorrow. The price was right and it arrived quickly...." Read more

"...Nowhere near as interesting and engaging as his novels. Not worth the price charged for the book." Read more

10 customers mention "Story length"0 positive10 negative

Customers find the stories in the book too long and repetitive. They feel like it lacks depth and has a lack of an ending. The writing style differs from fiction, making it difficult to adapt to.

"...Although, it was read by some fine actors, it was not fiction; therefore, it would have been better served by professional newsreader or, if they..." Read more

"...There are several articles written about each crime, so each contains repetitive information. I gave up about a quarter way through the book." Read more

"...It's a compendium of stories with repetitive news articles...." Read more

"...As I began reading this book I realized it was not a novel. This was very disappointing...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Shadow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon is there when you need it.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Prompt delivery, and notification of when to expect the order to arrive. Book arrives in A-1 condition, ready to enjoy. No question, I'll use Amazon again when I'm close to finishing this book. Thanks much for being there. . .
    Helpful
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  • J. Hult
    4.0 out of 5 stars Early Michael Connelly
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    They were good stories, but because they were culled from newspaper articles the whole story was retold in every instance. It was interesting to read some of Michael Connelly's journalistic efforts. I enjoy reading his books and can see that he had the gift right from the beginning.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Judy Murray
    3.0 out of 5 stars Oops!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I wasn't sure what this book was going to present. It turned out to be WAY more info than I needed to know about his background which allowed him to become the creator of a character like Detective Harry Bosch. I'm not a fan who needed to know ALL of that!! I just loved the stories that he told about Bosch.
    One person found this helpful
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  • An Orr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Connelly is a great writer
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    If you like Detective stories you will love the Bosch series
    One person found this helpful
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  • C. Simmons
    2.0 out of 5 stars editor needed
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am a fan of Connelly. I e read tons of his work, and I knew he used to be a crime reporter. I was excited to read this real-life look at what inspired him.
    Unfortunately, this was not the book it could’ve been. The forward was extremely promising. Connelly chiming in to give us insights to his time as a reporter and his relationship with the detectives he covered. That’s where the insights died though.
    The entire book is just collections of his newspaper columns - not even edited for clarity. The same facts are rehashed over and over in detail over the course of the “story”. It gets really confusing in parts as the details are slightly changed/added to/adjusted/more people brought up, etc.
    If someone had actually edited the columns together into a coherent story, it would’ve been more enjoyable. If Mr. Connelly would’ve added details about how he got his information, background on the detectives, or any other relevant material it would’ve been an outstanding read. As it is, it feels like something thrown together to fulfill a contract.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • David Eck
    5.0 out of 5 stars His Old Newspaper Reporting
    Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Fans of Michael Connolly probably know him from his series of Bosch novels, or the streaming TV series "Bosch." This book deals with the time the author was a newspaper reporter in Florida and Los Angeles. You are reading stories he wrote while a newspaper reporter. It gives you a good idea of where his plot-lines come from in his novels.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Laurence J. Yadon
    4.0 out of 5 stars It Is What It Is
    Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Don't look here for the polished prose of an experienced crime novelist- these stories are all about the grit, the grime and the smell of death experienced during the ten-year evolution of a young crime reporter often meeting rigorous deadlines on his way to commercial and artistic success.

    There are minor distractions to be sure- as in the three or so instances narrative seems to be repeated in whole or in part. Yet these trivialities are greatly outweighed by the opportunity to ride shotgun with a highly skilled writer in his formative years.

    And for that one reason among many, Crime Beat is well worth the read.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • A. S. McKnight
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd read the reviews
    Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Glad I bought this used and cheap. It's moderately interesting as a way to understand where some of the ideas in Connelly's fiction comes from. However, reprinting several articles on the same case results in extreme redundancy. I found myself reading the first article or two, then skimming the remaining articles for what little new information they contained. Ultimately the book seems like a way to make a quick buck off Connelly fans. It's probably possible to get everything worthwhile from this book in an hour or two. It's probably worth the money I spent to buy it cheap and get it shipped.
    13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Earl
    1.0 out of 5 stars Earl in Fla.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a complete rip off. Nothing more than copying newspaper account of crimes. Expected a little more from Mr. Connelly.
    Report
  • Mr S Long
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant story by a brilliant writer
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    One of my favourite all time writers. You just know given his background that Michael has experienced far more real life incidents than he has included in his stories. A real page turner.
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  • Client d'Amazon
    1.0 out of 5 stars langue française
    Reviewed in France on August 17, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Le roman est en Anglais alors que j'avais choisi roman en français.
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  • Col3201
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as his novels
    Reviewed in Australia on June 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    His novels are far more interesting than his life's story
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  • JesterSix
    3.0 out of 5 stars News clips
    Reviewed in Canada on March 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Good writing by Connelly as usual. Found the book couldn't keep my interest long enough to finish it. I purchased Echo Park and dove right in.
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