The Last Coyote
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Michael Connelly |
| Products | Crime novel |
The Last Coyote represents the fourth installment in the series by American crime novelist Michael Connelly, centering on the Los Angeles detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch. Released in 1995, this work earned the 1996 Dilys Award from the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Meaning behind the title
Bosch comes across a solitary coyote near his residence in Los Angeles, a detail he shares during mandated therapy sessions. The psychologist interprets this encounter as a metaphor for Bosch’s sense of isolation, likening him to the lone coyote and reflecting his feelings of marginalization within the police department.
Synopsis
Following an event at work, Detective Harry Bosch of the Los Angeles Police Department is placed on compulsory stress leave and assigned therapy with psychologist Carmen Hinojos. Concurrently, Bosch delves into a cold case involving the murder of his mother, Marjorie Lowe, who was a prostitute strangled when Bosch was twelve years old. He uncovers that she intended to meet with local prosecutor Arno Conklin on the night she was killed.
With assistance from Los Angeles Times journalist Keisha Russell, Bosch investigates Conklin, his associate Gordon Mittel, and Marjorie’s pimp Johnny Fox. Fox was reportedly fatally struck in a hit-and-run incident while distributing campaign materials for Conklin; meanwhile, Mittel has become a significant political contributor. Bosch interrupts Mittel’s fundraiser and submits an article about Fox’s death using his superior Harvey Pounds’ name as an alias.
City archives reveal that only one original investigator from the case, Jake McKittrick, remains alive and resides in Florida. McKittrick discloses that early on, his partner Eno was instructed by the Assistant District Attorney not to pursue inquiries into Fox unless Conklin was present. Afterward, the investigation stalled.
To gain entry into McKittrick’s gated community, Bosch pretends to be interested in purchasing property and briefly dates homeowner Jasmine Corian. In Las Vegas, he visits Eno’s widow and acquires documents indicating Eno received weekly payments of $1,000 since the murder through a front company involving Eno, Mittel, and Conklin.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Bosch discovers that Pounds was murdered during his absence—likely retribution for Bosch using Pounds’ identity at Mittel’s fundraiser. Keisha provides information about Monte Kim, who had written about Fox’s death and extorted Conklin using photographs of Marjorie and others.
When Bosch confronts Conklin, he learns that Conklin intended to marry Marjorie on the day she died; Conklin suspects Mittel of being responsible for her murder. Subsequently, Mittel abducts Bosch but claims that Conklin is deceased. Bosch manages to overpower Mittel’s enforcer Jonathan Vaughn and causes Mittel to fall from a cliff to his death. However, fingerprint evidence excludes Mittel as Marjorie’s killer.
During therapy sessions, Hinojos notices discrepancies in photographs from Marjorie’s crime scene, prompting Bosch to suspect Meredith Roman as the murderer. At Meredith’s residence, he finds she has committed suicide. Vaughn then confronts Bosch armed with a gun—revealing himself as Johnny Fox, alive and responsible for killing Pounds and Conklin. Police arrive as Fox attempts to escape; he is shot. Later, Bosch visits Jasmine in Florida.
Principal characters in The Last Coyote
- Carmen Hinojos — Psychologist assigned to LAPD personnel
- Meredith Roman — Prostitute and acquaintance of Bosch's mother
- Keisha Russell — Journalist with the Los Angeles Times
- Lieutenant Harvey "Ninety-Eight" Pounds — Bosch's commanding officer
- Jerry Edgar — Partner to Bosch
- Irvin Irving — Assistant chief within LAPD
- Arno Conklin — Former district attorney
- Gordon Mittel — Attorney
- Jake McKittrick — Detective who originally investigated Marjorie Lowe's murder
- Jasmine Corian — Artist and Bosch's romantic interest during Florida visit
- Monte Kim — Ex-reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Reception
The Last Coyote received acclaim from the Library Journal, which highlighted its incisive writing style, intricately crafted storyline, and intense suspense.
Awards and nominations
In 1996, The Last Coyote was honored with the Dilys Award by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. That same year, it also earned nominations for the Anthony Award, Macavity Award, and Hammett Prize.