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Book Reviews of The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2)

The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2)
The Scarecrow - Jack McEvoy, Bk 2
Author: Michael Connelly
ISBN-13: 9780316166300
ISBN-10: 0316166308
Publication Date: 5/26/2009
Pages: 419
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 165

4 stars, based on 165 ratings
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

34 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

debs avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 649 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Another excellent novel by Michael Connelly. Great character development, goes deep into what it's like to be a news reporter but not to the point of the reader losing interest in what's being said. The story moves fast from one chapter to the next, and it's hard to put down! Keeps you guessing what will happen in the next few pages. This time the story is told from the (first person) viewpoint of Jack McEvoy, a reporter that appears in many of Connelly's "Harry Bosch" novels. Another recurring character, FBI agent Rachel Walling, is an integral part of the story. Some authors rush to end the book and you feel left unsatisfied - NOT the case with this book: this ending leaves you satisfied that the story has reached its conclusion at just the right pace.
punkinema avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 305 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Michael Connelly has done it again! Terrifying book of dark twisted crimes. Jack McEvoy, a reporter for the L.A. Times, has been laid off. After he gets the bad news, a caller accuses him of printing lies. He promises to look into it and finds much more than he had expected. Two males, unknown to each other, are suspected kidnappers, torturers and murderers. Jack finds quite accidentally that a cunning killer has done the deeds. He meets Rachel Walling, FBI Agent, who saves his life. They begin the journey of finding the Scarecrow. Great book!
TextAddict avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Jack McEvoy was once a hotshot crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times when he cracked the case on The Poet, but true with todays economy, becomes a victim in the set of layoffs. Jack receives a two week notice and has to train his replacement, Angela, a new reporter with a smaller salary. Isn't that a smack in the face? Jack decides to go out with a bang and give the paper a reason to believe they made a big mistake in letting him go, by writing a murder story that will highlight his career.

Jack connects a trunk murder to an earlier murder in Las Vegas and takes off running with his biggest story in over twelve years. Once in Las Vegas Jack realizes he's onto a killer that has long since worked under police and FBI radar and has some how set off a digital trip wire. The killer knows he is coming and is trying to set up road blocks to throw Jack off and eliminate any and all problems.

Jack has no choice but to find some help so he gives Rachel Walling of the FBI a call. He has not seen or spoken to her in the twelve years since they shared a short affair while cracking the case of The Poet. Meanwhile, Jacks replacement at the paper, Angela, is murdered. Will Rachel and the FBI help Jack find this killer or will he go down for the murder as the trunk killer, once Angela is found dead under his own bed?

This book was very well written. I have to say that right off hand, I couldn't think of another Michael Connelly book that I had read. This book made me go look up all other books that he has wrote because it made me want to read more from him. I realized that I had read a few of his stories before but apparently none that had caught my attention and reigned me in the way this book did. Michael Connelly has a new fan and I can't wait to read more!

A+
Twintoni avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 133 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is an exciting thriller about a serial killer who tracks his victims using his computer knowledge while working for a cyber security business. Scary because it could really happen. Connelly is an excellent author. This book has ties to one of his earlier books, The Poet.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great book in keeping with Connelly's other novels.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I love how Connelly switches from his Harry Bosch series with his novels fearuing former periphery characters as protagonists. And how neat it is when you get that occasional intersection back to the main line. This is so much different than authors who have a series featuring a given character and then write the occasional unrelated novel. Anyway, The Scarecrow features the reporter Jack McEvoy and FBI Agent Rachel Walling on the hunt for a serial killer stalking through the Internet. Does not disappoint.

3.5 stars out of 5
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The Scarecrow continues the story of Jack McEvoy, the main character of Connelly's The Poet. Jack sets out to write his definitive murder story, but his investigation leads him into far more complex and dangerous territory. Excellent plot and character development.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 5 more book reviews
My wife and I enjoyed this book immensely!
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 3152 more book reviews
very well written, keeps you turning pages, short chapters that leave you wanting to know what happens next. Good characters you can like and root for instead of an insufferable person you hate on first page. Have liked all of Michael Connelly books so far.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 4 more book reviews
An okay story good for cold nights and a warm fire.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 54 more book reviews
An interesting look into off-site data storage. The story keeps moving and brings back two of Connelly's earlier characters. I have liked other Connelly books more, but this is a good read.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 33 more book reviews
OH!!! Awesome!
jmartin88 avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 13 more book reviews
I've read several of Michael Connelly's books now and this is as good as any. The ending was quite different than expected. His reference to his previous book The Poet has me very intrigued and I plan to read it next.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on
Exciting and kept me reading!
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
I've read most of Connelly's novels and like them a lot. This one was a little disappointing--a bit predictable plot-wise.
mary2029 avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 35 more book reviews
L.A. Times reporter Jack McEvoy who's being laid off wants to go out with a big story. He stumbles on to a serial killer who uses computer technology to stalk his victims ... and Jack. Scary stuff on how someone can hack all your information.
gigi avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 355 more book reviews
EXCELLENT!! Just like all of Michael Connelly's books!
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 4 more book reviews
Very dark and more on the gruesome side.
annapi avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 334 more book reviews
A rare Connelly that took me awhile to get into - it starts out slow, and I put it down for months before picking it back up again. It still seemed slow, but as I had no other book to read at the moment, I persevered. Once the action started, wow! I was pulled along as I usually am into his books, and stayed up late finishing it. Jack McEvoy, reporter at the Los Angeles Times, is laid off. He is to train his replacement for two weeks, so he decides to go out with a big story that will make the establishment regret canning him, and starts investigating the murder of a white woman that the police have pinned on a 16-year-old juvenile delinquent whose grandmother insists is innocent. But his investigation quickly escalates out of control when he unwittingly connects this murder to another one in Las Vegas with the same MO. Suddenly, Jack himself is a target for a serial killer. Connelly hits another one out of the ballpark!
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 31 more book reviews
Another great book - up to date using technology - kinda scary actually - great read
barbsis avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 1076 more book reviews
Jack McEvoy is a reporter who has just been fired from the LA Times due to downsizing. He decides to go out with a bang and make them regret firing him. He finds a case where he suspects that the accused is innocent and works it. During his investigation, he comes across another case that is eerily similar and thinks a serial killer might be at work in various states so he calls his old flame, FBI agent Rachel Walling.

The chase is exciting with the misdirection from the killer and the drama of the newspaper business, as well as the political BS from the FBI. Another well-written novel by Michael Connelly that grabs you by the scruff of your neck from page one and just doesn't relent until the final page. Really good stuff.
marcijo28 avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 325 more book reviews
Another great and gripping thriller from Michael Connelly!
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 372 more book reviews
Boring. Didn't finish. The build up was taking forever. Typical NYT best seller.
mrrob avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 83 more book reviews
Michael Connelly does it again! This story is one that'll keep you on your seat as you read it. The story is one that is too familiar with what has been happening these days in the real world. As I read it, I was reminded of some of the stories I had read in the newspaper recently.

Highly recommended.
nccorthu avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 569 more book reviews
Very descriptive well written book. A very good writer who turns out veru visual stories. In fact if you read it you won't watch any movie made of it . you will feel as if you have seen it already.
snowglow avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on
Great story. Likeable good guys, scary and creepy bad guys.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on
Quite good. Not his best plot as I prefer the books with Harry Bosch but overall good.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 67 more book reviews
I really like Michael Connelly's new character!! Enjoyed this book very much, look forward to the next in the series.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 20 more book reviews
I was already a fan of Michael Connelly's books when I got this one, and it is the best yet. He uses a couple of characters we have already met, and tangles their lives in a murder mystery/thriller that is satisfactory to the end!
robinmy avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 2104 more book reviews
It's been over ten years since Jack McEvoy wrote his bestseller about "The Poet" before taking a job as a crime reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Newspapers are currently having a hard time, so Jack isn't surprised when he is told that he has two weeks to train someone else for his job before he is let go. Jack decides to find a story that will make them regret laying him off. When an angry reader calls him concerning a story he wrote about a murder confession made by her 16-year-old grandson, Jack decides to look into her accusations. He quickly finds that the police may have arrested the wrong person. He also finds himself on the trail of a killer who may be ready to take his next victim.

This book is an excellent follow-up to The Poet. Jack contacts FBI Agent Rachel Walling to help him find a killer who has been undetected so far. This story is vintage Michael Connelly. I wouldn't mind reading another book featuring Jack McEvoy in the future. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 85 more book reviews
My first Connelly book but certainly not my last. I thought the beginning was a little slow but it heated up quick. I enjoyed it & will definitely read more of his books.
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 385 more book reviews
Great read
arthudson avatar reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 91 more book reviews
good
reviewed The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, Bk 2) on + 3 more book reviews
Excellent book. Love connellys books