History Literature / BloodWork

* EarlyBirdCameo: The novel contains a random reference to lawyer Michael Haller Jr. This is Literature/MickeyHaller, who first appeared seven years later in ''Literature/TheLincolnLawyer'' and has been the protagonist in five Connelly novels. It's also a ContinuityNod since the second Literature/HarryBosch novel, ''Literature/TheBlackEcho'', established that Michael Haller ''Senior'' was Harry's father.

* EarlyBirdCameo: The novel contains a random reference to lawyer Michael Haller Jr. This is Literature/MickeyHaller, who first appeared seven years later in ''Film/TheLincolnLawyer'' and has been the protagonist in five Connelly novels.

* WorthyOpponent: The Code Killer actually uses the phrase "worthy opponents" to describe himself and [=McCaleb=]. Terry does not reciprocate, not at all.

* CanonWelding: This novel Canon Welded previous Connelly novel ''Literature/ThePoet'' to the Literature/HarryBosch universe by mentioning both the Poet investigation and a couple of minor characters from Harry Bosch novels.

* SharedUniverse: The novel joins Connelly's established one by mentioning The Poet, SerialKiller bad guy of Connelly's novel ''Literature/ThePoet'', and also containing other references to the Creator/HarryBosch universe, such as ''L.A. Times'' reporter Keisha Russell, introduced in ''Literature/TheLastCoyote'', Joel Bremmer, the killer in ''Literature/TheConcreteBlonde'', and FBI agent Rachel Walling, introduced in ''Literature/ThePoet''. Mentioned in passing is Michael Haller, Jr., who we will come to know later as Mickey Haller, ''Literature/TheLincolnLawyer''.

Retired from the FBI due to his disability, [=McCaleb=] runs a charter fishing business in the waters around Catalina Island. One day he is approached by Graciela Torres, who tells him some shocking news: her sister Gloriana Torres was the person who donated the heart, and the heart was only available because Gloriana was murdered during a convenience store robbery.

** Buddy is reading a Japanese mystery novel called ''Literature/InspectorImanishiInvestigates'', which is totally real.

* ShoutOut: Buddy is reading a Japanese mystery novel called ''Literature/InspectorImanishiInvestigates'', which is totally real.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Four times in the first five chapters, the Code Killer case is mentioned as one of the serial killer investigations Terry worked on.

* ShownTheirWork: In the book, [=McCaleb=]'s explanation of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugfire DRUGFIRE]] computer and its origins.

* EurekaMoment: Terry realizes James Noone was pretending to be under hypnosis when he realizes that otherwise Noone would have responded to Jaye's words instead of only his.

* KirksRock: The backstory recounts how detective Jaye Winston had investigated the case of a murder victim found at "a large outcropping of sandstone known as Vasquez Rocks." This is how she got to know [=McCaleb=], who now needs her help investigating another murder.

* AsianStoreOwner: In the novel, the store owner where Gloria Torres is killed is named Chan Ho Kang. He gets killed too; Terry later commiserates with his widow.
* CanonWelding: This novel Canon Welded previous Connelly novel ''Literature/ThePoet'' to the Literature/HarryBosch universe by mentioning bot the Poet investigation and a couple of minor characters from Harry Bosch novels.

* EurekaMoment: In the book, Terry realizes James Noone was pretending to be under hypnosis when he realizes that otherwise Noone would have responded to Jaye's words instead of only his.

* ItWorksBetterWithBullets: At the end of the novel, Noone breaks into [=McCaleb's=] room and steals his gun, which he later uses to threaten [=McCaleb=] with. What Noone doesn't know is that it was [=McCaleb's=] habit to carry his weapon without a round chambered. [=McCaleb=], however, has Noone's gun, which Noone had planted on [=McCaleb's=] boat as part of the frame, and Noone's gun DOES have a bullet in the chamber.
* NotWithTheSafetyOnYouWont: In the novel, [=McCaleb=], being held at gunpoint by Noone with his own weapon, employs a variant of this by pointing out that his gun isn't loaded. [=McCaleb's=] habit was to carry the weapon without a round in the chamber, and [[TooDumbToLive Noone never checked it]].
* ObfuscatingStupidity: At the end of the book, [[OldMaster [=McCaleb=]]] plays dumb about the killer's fate, pretending to be hearing about it for the first time from Winston. Whether Winston buys it or not is left open to interpretation.

In 2002 Connelly's novel was adapted into a film, also called ''Film/BloodWork'', featuring Creator/ClintEastwood in his last action movie role.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Four times in the first five chapters, the Code Killer case is mentioned as one of the serial killer investigations Terry worked on.