Book Review: Chasing The Dime

Title: Chasing the Dime

Author: Michael Connelly

I got this book a couple years ago for my birthday. I kept meaning to listen to it but lately I’ve been into sports radio and have been listening to that so much that I just got back into listening to books on CD.

My new job has me commuting daily into downtown Salt Lake City and I started taking a break from all the sports radio. This book was a welcome change and helped make my commute a lot less stressful and enjoyable.

Henry Pierce is a chemist working on a groundbreaking new technology. His company and a number of others are all competing to be the first to make the breakthrough on a technology that will change the world and make him millions. As the book begins, Henry is just moving into a new apartment after breaking up with his girlfriend who also worked for Henry’s company but left the company as part of their breakup.

Henry got a new phone and as soon as he turns it on there are a number of voice mail messages waiting for him. It’s quickly evident that the previous owner of his new number is a woman popular with the men. After a few calls, Henry discovers that the previous owner of his new number, Lilly, is an escort.

As Henry keeps receiving calls he finds the website advertising Lilly’s services and discovers that she’s missing. Henry can’t get Lilly out of his head and rather than turn the phone off and get a new number, he tries to help her and find out what happened to her. He starts playing the role of investigator and is flung into a world of escorts, sex, lies, violence and mobsters.

As he investigates Lilly’s disappearance, Henry get beat up, threatened and is able to uncover secrets that the police haven’t been able to discover. He does this all while keeping it a secret from his business partner and potential investors to his business.

There were a couple times where I predicted and could tell what was going to happen. Even n these instances I was interested and enjoyed the book. I found myself pulling up to work in the morning or driving into my garage at night and sitting there listening until I got to the next chapter. Like I said, the book was a great diversion to my daily commute to and from work.

I looked online and the author, Michael Connelly has written a number of other books. Based on how much I liked this book, I’ll definitely check out his other books and read, or hopefully listen to them on tape during my commute.

I recommend this book and look forward to reading/listening to Connelly’s other books.