Point of View

Two Kinds of Truth is written using a third-person, limited omniscient narrator, which exclusively follows Harry Bosch through every scene. Not only is Bosch present in every scene of the novel, but he is the narration's primary focus in every scene, and Bosch is the only character whose internal thoughts and feelings are shared with the reader. This technique creates suspense throughout the novel, as the reader does not have extra or privileged knowledge on top of what Bosch himself knows.

One subtle but meaningful example of this suspense comes when Bosch debriefs his undercover mission in front of the assembled authorities. In the few days that Bosch has been undercover, the story in the Los Angeles Times about Bosch potentially planting evidence had been published, thus becoming common knowledge to everybody assembled around Bosch. After Bosch briefly verbally defends himself in front of the...