Look, I've got a bone to pick with short story collections. Not with Connelly - the man knows his craft better than most lieutenants know their patrol routes. My issue is that just when I'm settling into an operation, it's over. Mission complete before I've even finished my coffee.
Mulholland Dive is a solid two-hour deployment. Knocked it out on a drive to Houston for a client meeting. Ranger was riding shotgun, and even he perked up during "Two-Bagger" - that obsessed cop tailing an ex-con hit a little close to home for anyone who's done surveillance work.
The Three-Story Debrief
Connelly gives us three distinct scenarios here, and each one shows why the man's been dominating crime fiction for decades. "Cahoots" drops you into a backroom poker game where someone's cheating - and in that world, cheating gets you killed. Clean setup, brutal execution. Literally.
"Mulholland Dive" is the standout for me. An accident reconstructionist - basically a detective for car crashes - investigates a fatality off that famous L.A. road. The technical details here? Connelly did his homework. You can tell he spent time with real investigators, learning how they read a scene the way I learned to read terrain in Kandahar. Every skid mark tells a story. Every impact angle is evidence.
"Two-Bagger" scratches that surveillance itch. A cop convinced he's watching a contract killer about to make a move. The tension ratchets up slowly - which works for a short story but left me wanting more runway to really feel the stakes. Circular Staircase gave me that same feeling - solid mystery work, but I wanted another hundred pages to really dig into the investigation.
Collins Behind the Mic
Here's where I'll be straight with you - Collins is competent. He's got an even pace, clear differentiation between characters, and he handles the noir LA vibe appropriately. The man doesn't miss a beat transitioning from gangsters to tech-savvy LAPD specialists.
But.
There's a "but."
He's not going to blow your doors off. Some narrators grab you by the collar and don't let go. Collins is more like a steady NCO - gets the job done, no drama, no fireworks. For some listeners, that's exactly what they want. Others might find themselves wishing for a bit more... punch. I've heard complaints that his voice lacks excitement, and I get it. These are crime stories. A little more edge wouldn't hurt.
Personally, I didn't mind it. At 1.25x (my standard speed), Collins moves along nicely. The even pacing actually works for the methodical nature of these investigations. You're not getting a performance that screams "thriller" - you're getting a professional read that respects the material.
Who's This For?
If you're a Connelly fan, this is essential. It's like a snack between his full-length novels - satisfying but not a meal. If you're new to Connelly, start with The Lincoln Lawyer or one of the Bosch novels first. This collection assumes you already appreciate his style. Skip it if you need that slow-burn, 15-hour investigation to feel satisfied - you'll be frustrated before you've settled in.
The short format is both the strength and weakness here. Perfect for a quick commute or a lunch break. Frustrating if you're like me and want to stay in that world longer. Each story feels complete, but "complete" for a short story means you don't get the slow build that makes Connelly's novels so satisfying.
Production quality is clean - no weird audio issues, no jarring transitions between stories. Baseline stuff, but worth noting.
Ranger's Verdict
Ranger approved this one, though he fell asleep during "Cahoots." (In his defense, he'd had a long walk.) For under two hours of your time, you get three solid crime scenarios from one of the best in the genre. Collins won't make you forget about the great narrators, but he won't ruin the experience either.
If you're looking for a quick tactical insertion into Connelly's LA - the poker games, the winding death-trap roads, the obsessive cops - this delivers. Just don't expect a full deployment. You're in and out before the adrenaline really kicks in.
Mission accomplished. Barely.
