I just finished reading “Lost Light” and just before that, “A Darkness More Than Night.” “…Darkness…” dealt a great deal with the former FBI Agent, Terry McCaleb, who had had a heart transplant and had to leave the Agency and was then performing charter boat fishing tours, and taking a bunch of prescription drugs twice a day to stay alive. He was living with his wife, Graciela, and children in Avalon, on Catalina Island. Terry had thought that his partner on the boat, Buddy, had betrayed his trust by “eves dropping” on a private conversation, aboard the vessel, between Terry & Jaye Winston (female Sheriff’s Deputy), and then selling that info to a reporter. Eventually Terry figured out that Buddy hadn’t admitted to selling the private info, but had thought he was admitting to using the boat to entertain a hooker.

Terry was attacked aboard his boat by the murderer, a crooked cop, and his younger brother. Harry Bosch came to his rescue, and by the time everything was over, the younger brother was dead, and the crooked cop was seriously wounded. There was a large media coverage of these events & the death. Terry even had Buddy untie the boat so that Terry could leave the marina without having to face the questioning by all the congregated reporters.

Now I have started reading “The Narrows,” and once again we find ourselves down at Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro, The Port of LA…

[NOTE 02/20/34]: As I am writing the above sentence I just checked and the YM Warranty has left the Port of LA and is now just rounding the eastern side of Catalina Island, and Avalon, heading up to the Port of Oakland. The BBC Volga is still tied up at Douala, Cameroon. [end NOTE]

I am surprised by the interaction between Harry and Buddy. I know that Buddy had no direct interaction with Harry in “…Darkness…,” but it seems as if neither of them ever had any clue about the existence of each other but both were involved intimately with the other participants: Terry, Harry, and Jaye. *And, just a page or two later, Buddy realizes who Harry is, awkwardness solved.

Already, Terry’s widow has called on Harry, the PI, to investigate Terry’s death. Apparently, Terry in his last days was taking placebos, unbeknownst to him, because someone had replaced his actual heart medications with a benign powder. The first interview after Terry’s widow, is his former boat partner, Buddy.

[NOTE]: I’ve read little more and then went out to Cross Creek Mall for a massage, and then over to Publix to buy some small scallops. I bought .75 of a pound at around $9 plus tax. I’ll probably use half in each Seafood Chowder.

But, while I was driving around, I came up with the rest of the plot for “The Narrows.” From what we have been given currently, it is obvious that Graciela, Terry’s wife killed her husband. She was having an affair with Otto. She is a nurse, so she would have been able to research the medications and realize that she could just change out a couple of medications for placebos, and on a four day fishing trip, which Otto arranged, that would be enough time for Terry to bring his own life to an end, unknowingly. Graciela was unhappy with her marriage to Terry and his insurance was an incentive. Look at all the time he was spending on the boat. Once Terry was gone, Graciela would be able to move herself and her kids back to the mainland. The Poet is just an unimportant side hustle. Prove me wrong Connelly;-) [end NOTE]

[NOTE 02/24/24]: So, I knew my version of the plot of the Narrows wasn’t going to be correct. Mainly because that simple a plot could have ended the novel at about page 100. Once in the rushing torrent, not sure that Harry, actually would ever survive. Like going for a swim in the Cape Fear River. You go in, and you come out dead. [end NOTE]

Catalina Express Schedule

Avalon Freight Services In watching the Port of LA web cam, I have seen a vessel like the “Catalina Provider” coming in or out of the Port. Not sure if this was what Graciela planned to use when “packing up the children” and heading to the mainland.

Zzyzx Road

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At the end of “Lost Light” Harry meets his four year old daughter, Maddie, who he didn’t know existed. A welcome, ex-wife’s surprise, and Harry’s salvation.