THE SCARECROW by Michael Connelly

Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter. Once a hotshot in the newsroom, Jack is now in the cross hairs of the latest set of layoffs at the Los Angeles Times. He decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.

Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a sixteen year old drug dealer in jail after confessing to the brutal murder of a young woman found strangled in the trunk of her car. Jack plans to write abut how societal dysfunction and neglect created a teenage killer. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.

When Jack connects the L.A. trunk murder to an earlier murder in Las Vegas, he is off and running on the biggest story he's had since the Poet crossed his path years before. This time Jack is onto a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar - and with perfect knowledge of any move against him.

What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital trip wire. The killer knows Jack is coming - and he's ready.

This is an awesome story. I was able to follow the characters right along and not get lost or tangled in the story. What a great way to leave a job by going out with such a great story. I found I couldn't put a face to Jack but yet I felt I might know him. Extremely well written and to me over the top. Kept looking at the author picture and saying to myself "I can't believe you wrote this" in a good way. Story could very well be happening today. Another one read start to finish. I give it the top. 5 stars