Giveaway:: The Scarecrow

I "discovered" Michael Connolly about 2 years ago. Not really, he's been writing for more than 15 years, but I stumbled across one of his books, Chasing the Dime and was immediately hooked. Not only did I enjoy the story in general, but Connolly's style is right up my alley, and I've found this to be true with all of his books I've read since. The narratives are plot driven without a lot of unnecessary scenic descriptions, foul language, or detailed sexual encounters. A former journalist, Mr. Connolly writes thrillers and has created several recurring characters, FBI Agent Rachel Walling, reporter Jack McEvoy, former cop Harry Bosch, and lawyer Mickey Haller who once in a while meet each other, during the course of an investigation.

I have been reviewing books for Hachette for about 6 months now, but I think I was more excited to read The Scarecrow than anything they have sent me yet. Because he is an author of whom I am a big fan, I felt like I was super-special to get to read his latest before it was available in stores.
The Scarecrow did not disappoint in any way. It is the tightly written story of reporter Jack McEvoy and FBI Special Agent Rachel Walling searching for a new serial killer, who they call the UnSub, for Unknow Subject. For Jack, finishing out his last two weeks at the Los Angeles Times before being downsized, it could be the second amazing story of his career. What better way to go out than on a high note? When he calls his former lover, Rachel, whom he hasn't seen in ten years looking for information, her sixth sense tells her that something is amiss and she jumps in to his investigation with both feet. Meanwhile, the reader knows who the UnSub is. The Scarecrow has gotten his moniker by being able to scare off any hackers or explorers who visit the Farm of data storage computers he oversees. Jack and Rachel's investigation takes them from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and on to Arizona.
Besides being an exciting thriller, The Scarecrow tackles two current issues we hear about daily, privacy of our data, and the economic crisis. Jack is being downsized with 99 other Times employees as more people are turning to the Internet and television for their news. The Scarecrow uses his computer skills to find his victims and to disrupt the investigation, trying to cut off Jack's resources, and setting up others for his crimes.
If my enthusiasm for the books of Michael Connolly has spread to you, Hachette is generously giving three of my readers copies of The Scarecrow and another three copies of The Poet! This giveaway will end on Thursday, May 21, a week before The Scarecrow will be in stores. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me which book you'd like to receive. The six winners will be chosen by random.org on May 22.