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Renée Ballard #5
Desert Star
LAPD detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch work together to hunt the killer who is Bosch’s “white whale”—a man responsible for the murder of an entire family.
A year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the force in the face of misogyny, demoralization, and endless red tape. Yet, after the chief of police himself tells her she can write her ticket within the department, Ballard takes back her badge, leaving “the Late Show” to rebuild the cold case unit at the elite Robbery-Homicide Division.
For years, Harry Bosch has been working a case that haunts him but that he hasn’t been able to crack—the murder of an entire family by a psychopath who still walks free. Ballard makes Bosch an offer: come work with her as a volunteer investigator in the new Open-Unsolved Unit, and he can pursue his “white whale” with the resources of the LAPD behind him.
The two must put aside old resentments to work together again and close in on a dangerous killer. Propulsive and unstoppable, this new novel demonstrates once again why “Connelly is the real deal” (Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review).
A year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the force in the face of misogyny, demoralization, and endless red tape. Yet, after the chief of police himself tells her she can write her ticket within the department, Ballard takes back her badge, leaving “the Late Show” to rebuild the cold case unit at the elite Robbery-Homicide Division.
For years, Harry Bosch has been working a case that haunts him but that he hasn’t been able to crack—the murder of an entire family by a psychopath who still walks free. Ballard makes Bosch an offer: come work with her as a volunteer investigator in the new Open-Unsolved Unit, and he can pursue his “white whale” with the resources of the LAPD behind him.
The two must put aside old resentments to work together again and close in on a dangerous killer. Propulsive and unstoppable, this new novel demonstrates once again why “Connelly is the real deal” (Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review).
391 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2022
About the author
Michael Connelly
422 books30.6k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,785 reviews
November 30, 2022
Wow. This one is a confirmed, “wow.” Full disclosure I am, and always will be, an avid Connelly fan. I bought his first hardcover Black Echo and then every other hardcover since. Connelly is a quiet and magnanimous person. He gave me a great blurb for my first book. I only preface this review, so you know where I stand when I say this is the worst and at the same time the best Bosch and Ballard book. For me there is no question.
An author’s job is to spark emotions in the reader. This is accomplished through writing craft, character development and most important voice. Connelly has an innate feel for story structure, this book is a classic example. At first, I thought the story was a jumble and I could not image how he’d pull it all together in the end. And yet he did. The ending of this book is shocking. Emotional. Satisfying and Depressing. I was glued to the final pages. In part because I have taken this ride with Bosch through all of his travels evolving in each successive novel. By this time, in this book, he’s a living breathing person. As the story progressed I saw the signs, the motivation for what was to come. And most important I didn’t want to see them. From the very first line Connelly was setting us up, readying us for what was to come. Much like watching a slow-motion car crash. Your cringing long before the clash of crumpled steel mangling flesh and bone. In this case the motivation for the ending is meted out slowly building in intensity. I couldn’t look away and had to read on.
And as I sit here pondering this review I wonder if this book would carry the same emotion for a reader just starting out, reading this one without reading all the others first. Without knowing Bosch this book might come off as shadow that continues to darken to the very end.
In any case Connelly did his job well if I am contemplating these kinds of questions, if he’s evoked these kinds of emotions.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson novels.
An author’s job is to spark emotions in the reader. This is accomplished through writing craft, character development and most important voice. Connelly has an innate feel for story structure, this book is a classic example. At first, I thought the story was a jumble and I could not image how he’d pull it all together in the end. And yet he did. The ending of this book is shocking. Emotional. Satisfying and Depressing. I was glued to the final pages. In part because I have taken this ride with Bosch through all of his travels evolving in each successive novel. By this time, in this book, he’s a living breathing person. As the story progressed I saw the signs, the motivation for what was to come. And most important I didn’t want to see them. From the very first line Connelly was setting us up, readying us for what was to come. Much like watching a slow-motion car crash. Your cringing long before the clash of crumpled steel mangling flesh and bone. In this case the motivation for the ending is meted out slowly building in intensity. I couldn’t look away and had to read on.
And as I sit here pondering this review I wonder if this book would carry the same emotion for a reader just starting out, reading this one without reading all the others first. Without knowing Bosch this book might come off as shadow that continues to darken to the very end.
In any case Connelly did his job well if I am contemplating these kinds of questions, if he’s evoked these kinds of emotions.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson novels.
November 14, 2022
Ballard heads a makeshift cold case team and presses Bosch into volunteering to help out. Bosch helps with Ballard’s case, but his own unresolved case of a murdered family is forever on his mind. I usually really enjoy Connelly novels and although I did somewhat enjoy this one, I thought this was one of the weakest so far for a couple of reasons. One was related to the way the two cases played out sequentially with one seeming to be stretched out far too much while the other seeming to be rushed to its conclusion, and for me neither ending was wholly satisfying.. Secondly, there seemed to be less character development. Connelly had spent two or three books developing Ballard’s character, and yet here as an administrator, she comes over as fairly cardboard-like. And what was all that with the psychic on the team? I’m still not at all sure what she added to the story. Well, it’s Connelly, and it’s Bosch and Ballard, and you know you are going to read and enjoy it, and you will. Just saying…
December 3, 2022
I am a huge fan of Michael Connelly, enjoying all his different series. This story, where once again Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch work together, continues his ability to put out well written, intriguing stories.
Renee has returned to the LAPD, and been given the lead to head up a cold case unit primarily staffed with volunteers. A local politician has been instrumental in getting funding for the unit. He has a personal reason, wanting the cold case of his sister to finally be solved. Renee taps Harry to work in the unit. He’s got his own agenda, wanting to be able to finally solve his personal white whale, the unsolved case of a murdered family of four.
The story moves at a fast pace. I was engaged from the start. I appreciate that both characters continue to grow with each book. Harry is dealing with the issues that come with age. Renee is trying to figure out how to be a manager. It will be very interesting to see where Connelly takes this series next.
It’s impossible for me to say if this would work as a stand alone. I’ve read every book in both the Bosch and Ballard series.
Titus Welliver is Bosch. Even when I read this series, I hear his voice in my head. I’m not as crazy about Christine Larkin as Renee, but I do like that the audiobook had two different narrators.
Renee has returned to the LAPD, and been given the lead to head up a cold case unit primarily staffed with volunteers. A local politician has been instrumental in getting funding for the unit. He has a personal reason, wanting the cold case of his sister to finally be solved. Renee taps Harry to work in the unit. He’s got his own agenda, wanting to be able to finally solve his personal white whale, the unsolved case of a murdered family of four.
The story moves at a fast pace. I was engaged from the start. I appreciate that both characters continue to grow with each book. Harry is dealing with the issues that come with age. Renee is trying to figure out how to be a manager. It will be very interesting to see where Connelly takes this series next.
It’s impossible for me to say if this would work as a stand alone. I’ve read every book in both the Bosch and Ballard series.
Titus Welliver is Bosch. Even when I read this series, I hear his voice in my head. I’m not as crazy about Christine Larkin as Renee, but I do like that the audiobook had two different narrators.
June 5, 2023
I love a good crime fiction novel and having recently enjoyed Ian Rankin’s latest book A Heart Full of Headstones featuring his Edinburgh based ex-cop John Rebus, I coincidentally picked this latest offering from Michael Connelly for my next fix. It features, of course, ex-cop Harry Bosch who is still strutting his stuff (albeit rather more slowly these days) in his home city of Los Angeles. Rebus and Bosch are both aged around seventy years old now, and the similarities don’t end there: each of these recently released books is the 24th episode in their respective series (both series dating back 30 years or more); both men have struggled to adapt to retirement, each hanging on grimly to the coattails of a female detective still active in their old unit; both are now plagued by chronic illness.
So, two top writers – arguably at the very top of the pile, one on each side of the Atlantic – have created two brilliant lead characters, and both are now struggling to keep their man in the game. Bosch and Rebus are very different people, from widely different backgrounds – or are they? They have military service in common: Rebus served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and undertook training for the SAS; Bosch did his service in Vietnam, where he was part of a team that cleared tunnels. Both men, therefore, aren’t scared of swapping a punch or two with anyone who attracts their ire. And they’ve got an underlying directness and grumpiness in common too, as well as – crucially – a burning and never ending desire to seek justice for the victims of crimes they once investigated. So, in actual fact there are more similarities than differences, the cities they prowl and their accents being the most obvious disparities.
In this episode Bosch is again partnered with Renée Ballard who drafts him into her newly reconstituted Open-Unsolved Unit as a volunteer investigator. This gives Bosch the opportunity to dig out an old case he investigated but didn’t close, that of a family of four who were ruthlessly killed and buried in the desert. But first he has to assist Ballard in chasing down leads on the murder of her sponsoring politician’s sister, who was murdered in the 90’s. Harry really wants to get on with his own investigation but understanding Ballard’s need to deliver a ‘win’ he reluctantly sets his pet case aside – for the time being at least. The plot has all the trademark precision Connelly always brings to his story telling, with every step feeling logical and ‘right’. But it’s a bumpy road all the same, with new leads hard to come by and a reliance on DNA technology and genealogy to give them at least something to work with.
It’s classic Bosch, gripping and suspenseful throughout and with the added fear that there’s something just a little ‘off’ with Harry. It’s as good a tale as any in this excellent series. But where does Connelly take it from here? Bosch can’t go in forever, surely the future lies in Ballard, a mini-Bosch in many ways. And in considering how Rankin is also plotting a way to future proof a series in which his lead man ages with every episode isn’t he going in exactly the same direction, with Rebus likely to stand aside sooner rather that later to let his protégé Siobhan Clarke take centre stage? It’s both inevitable and at the same time sad. Clarke is no Rebus, she doesn’t have the depth of defining character (or cutting humour, to be truthful) and in this sense Connelly has perhaps set things up a little better. Time will tell whether either or both are able to pull of a successful transition.
So, two top writers – arguably at the very top of the pile, one on each side of the Atlantic – have created two brilliant lead characters, and both are now struggling to keep their man in the game. Bosch and Rebus are very different people, from widely different backgrounds – or are they? They have military service in common: Rebus served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and undertook training for the SAS; Bosch did his service in Vietnam, where he was part of a team that cleared tunnels. Both men, therefore, aren’t scared of swapping a punch or two with anyone who attracts their ire. And they’ve got an underlying directness and grumpiness in common too, as well as – crucially – a burning and never ending desire to seek justice for the victims of crimes they once investigated. So, in actual fact there are more similarities than differences, the cities they prowl and their accents being the most obvious disparities.
In this episode Bosch is again partnered with Renée Ballard who drafts him into her newly reconstituted Open-Unsolved Unit as a volunteer investigator. This gives Bosch the opportunity to dig out an old case he investigated but didn’t close, that of a family of four who were ruthlessly killed and buried in the desert. But first he has to assist Ballard in chasing down leads on the murder of her sponsoring politician’s sister, who was murdered in the 90’s. Harry really wants to get on with his own investigation but understanding Ballard’s need to deliver a ‘win’ he reluctantly sets his pet case aside – for the time being at least. The plot has all the trademark precision Connelly always brings to his story telling, with every step feeling logical and ‘right’. But it’s a bumpy road all the same, with new leads hard to come by and a reliance on DNA technology and genealogy to give them at least something to work with.
It’s classic Bosch, gripping and suspenseful throughout and with the added fear that there’s something just a little ‘off’ with Harry. It’s as good a tale as any in this excellent series. But where does Connelly take it from here? Bosch can’t go in forever, surely the future lies in Ballard, a mini-Bosch in many ways. And in considering how Rankin is also plotting a way to future proof a series in which his lead man ages with every episode isn’t he going in exactly the same direction, with Rebus likely to stand aside sooner rather that later to let his protégé Siobhan Clarke take centre stage? It’s both inevitable and at the same time sad. Clarke is no Rebus, she doesn’t have the depth of defining character (or cutting humour, to be truthful) and in this sense Connelly has perhaps set things up a little better. Time will tell whether either or both are able to pull of a successful transition.
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November 15, 20223.5 Stars: Michael Connelly always keeps readers current on law enforcement technology. In this one, I learned that there are palm prints in the forensic data bases. The data is limited, but it’s a thing.
In “Desert Star”, Harry Bosch recruited in by his old partner, Renee Ballard, to help with her new unit, Open-Unsolved Unit, that is responsible for closing cold cases. She garners Harry’s interest with one of Harry’s cold cases that got under his skin. It involved a cold-blooded murder of a family including their 13-year old son and 9-year old daughter with a nail gun, buried in a single grave.
I haven’t followed my regular law series of late, such as CSI, Criminal Minds, etc. Thus, I was surprised to learn that law enforcement can get DNA off prints…..if the perps had sweaty palms and fingers. I did know that law enforcement is using all DNA data basis, such as 23-and-Me, and Ancestery.com. to compare with CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hits. Serial killers have been found through the DNA that was found in distant relatives on those commercial DNA sites. Author Michael Connelly uses these new technologies in this novel.
I chose to listen to the audio because my husband loves these Bosch novels, and we are in the car traveling across the county. A bonus for this audio is that Titus Welliver narrates Bosch’s portion. For those who are not Netflix savvy, Welliver is the actor playing Bosch in the series, thereby adding authenticity to the story. The other narrators, Christine Lakin, and Peter Giles rounds out the narration talent. Music was added between chapters. Because we listened in the car, as opposed to ear buds, we didn’t always hear the music. It felt like there were long silent pauses between chapters. I’m assuming there was music, but we couldn’t tell given the road noise of the car. Both my husband and I enjoyed what the publisher did with this. Whenever Renee spoke, even in Harry’s portion, she narrates. Same with Renee’s chapters. Titus narrates his speaking parts. This structure was entertaining and engaging.
Both my husband and I enjoyed “Desert Star”, although the ending was sad….
In “Desert Star”, Harry Bosch recruited in by his old partner, Renee Ballard, to help with her new unit, Open-Unsolved Unit, that is responsible for closing cold cases. She garners Harry’s interest with one of Harry’s cold cases that got under his skin. It involved a cold-blooded murder of a family including their 13-year old son and 9-year old daughter with a nail gun, buried in a single grave.
I haven’t followed my regular law series of late, such as CSI, Criminal Minds, etc. Thus, I was surprised to learn that law enforcement can get DNA off prints…..if the perps had sweaty palms and fingers. I did know that law enforcement is using all DNA data basis, such as 23-and-Me, and Ancestery.com. to compare with CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hits. Serial killers have been found through the DNA that was found in distant relatives on those commercial DNA sites. Author Michael Connelly uses these new technologies in this novel.
I chose to listen to the audio because my husband loves these Bosch novels, and we are in the car traveling across the county. A bonus for this audio is that Titus Welliver narrates Bosch’s portion. For those who are not Netflix savvy, Welliver is the actor playing Bosch in the series, thereby adding authenticity to the story. The other narrators, Christine Lakin, and Peter Giles rounds out the narration talent. Music was added between chapters. Because we listened in the car, as opposed to ear buds, we didn’t always hear the music. It felt like there were long silent pauses between chapters. I’m assuming there was music, but we couldn’t tell given the road noise of the car. Both my husband and I enjoyed what the publisher did with this. Whenever Renee spoke, even in Harry’s portion, she narrates. Same with Renee’s chapters. Titus narrates his speaking parts. This structure was entertaining and engaging.
Both my husband and I enjoyed “Desert Star”, although the ending was sad….
October 30, 2022
It is always so hard to write a review of a new Michael Connelly book for me. I just want to do him the justice that he deserves. It is no secret that he is a favourite author for me, and I am always excited when a new book is announced and when it arrives, nothing else matters. As the years go on, my love for these books and characters has not faded.
Harry Bosch. What can I say? He is my favourite detective, and his aging certainly has me worried every time a new book comes out. He is still pretty sharp, although his body is slowing down. He is starting to show the frustration of this in Desert Star. As much as he wants to be involved in the action, his body says otherwise. We pick up his story 12 months after the previous book and see that things didn't exactly go to plan with Renee Ballard. She approaches him at home and asks him to join her team of volunteers. She is now heading up the newly re-opened unsolved cases unit with civilians helping her. She offers him the chance to once again work on the cold case that has haunted him for years, the one that he could never close. But first, he must help her, and the team find who murdered Sarah Pearlman in the 90's - the sister of an LA counsellor who kick started the reopening of the unit.
Getting back to work is exactly what Harry needed. But if you know Harry, he doesn't like to stick to the rules, or play the political game. Not much of a team player, Renee has her hands full to keep him on the straight and narrow. This is the 5th book where the pair have worked together, and they are starting to know each other pretty well. There is a mutual respect there and they care for each other. Harry is clearly not himself, so I am thankful that he has Renee there to protect him.
I love the direction that these books are going, giving Harry a new burst of life after his decision to quit the force. His daughter Maddie is growing up and has her own life in the police force and he is immensely proud of her. We also hear from another Bosch universe favourite which was a nice touch.
Michael Connelly, another triumph. I had some great discussions with fellow members of the Harry Bosch Appreciation Club - Naomi and Mercedes - once we all finished this one.
A massive thank you as always to the team at Allen and Unwin for sending an early copy to this Bosch fan - you made my day when this arrived.
Published November 8th.
Harry Bosch. What can I say? He is my favourite detective, and his aging certainly has me worried every time a new book comes out. He is still pretty sharp, although his body is slowing down. He is starting to show the frustration of this in Desert Star. As much as he wants to be involved in the action, his body says otherwise. We pick up his story 12 months after the previous book and see that things didn't exactly go to plan with Renee Ballard. She approaches him at home and asks him to join her team of volunteers. She is now heading up the newly re-opened unsolved cases unit with civilians helping her. She offers him the chance to once again work on the cold case that has haunted him for years, the one that he could never close. But first, he must help her, and the team find who murdered Sarah Pearlman in the 90's - the sister of an LA counsellor who kick started the reopening of the unit.
Getting back to work is exactly what Harry needed. But if you know Harry, he doesn't like to stick to the rules, or play the political game. Not much of a team player, Renee has her hands full to keep him on the straight and narrow. This is the 5th book where the pair have worked together, and they are starting to know each other pretty well. There is a mutual respect there and they care for each other. Harry is clearly not himself, so I am thankful that he has Renee there to protect him.
I love the direction that these books are going, giving Harry a new burst of life after his decision to quit the force. His daughter Maddie is growing up and has her own life in the police force and he is immensely proud of her. We also hear from another Bosch universe favourite which was a nice touch.
Michael Connelly, another triumph. I had some great discussions with fellow members of the Harry Bosch Appreciation Club - Naomi and Mercedes - once we all finished this one.
A massive thank you as always to the team at Allen and Unwin for sending an early copy to this Bosch fan - you made my day when this arrived.
Published November 8th.
November 12, 2022
The new Open-Unsolved Unit was run by Detective Renee Ballard, and when she saw Harry Bosch and asked him to join her and the team, he requested he continue to look at the Gallagher Family case. Renee agreed, but first they had to tackle to cold case that was the local councilman's sister, Sarah, who was murdered in her bed several years prior. Jake's parents had since died and he was desperate to have the killer of his sister captured so he could put her ghost to rest.
As the team searched for what was now a serial killer, Harry continued his search for the killer of the Gallagher Family. They had the name of the killer, but had been unable to trace him. Harry was determined to find him this time...
Desert Star (the name of the desert flower found at the site the family was discovered) is the 5th in the Renee Ballard series by Michael Connelly and once again he's hit a winner! I haven't read anything by this author that I haven't enjoyed, and this one is no exception. Harry Bosch is a exceptional character and he partners well with Renee. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As the team searched for what was now a serial killer, Harry continued his search for the killer of the Gallagher Family. They had the name of the killer, but had been unable to trace him. Harry was determined to find him this time...
Desert Star (the name of the desert flower found at the site the family was discovered) is the 5th in the Renee Ballard series by Michael Connelly and once again he's hit a winner! I haven't read anything by this author that I haven't enjoyed, and this one is no exception. Harry Bosch is a exceptional character and he partners well with Renee. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2023
Another typical and engaging story from one of America's best storytellers. 8 of 10 stars
November 26, 2023
There are many things I love about Connelly’s writing, but the key to what always gets me, are his characters – the way he matures them.
Bosch gets older, and you feel it, see it and experience it quite honestly through his movements/attitudes.
And Ballard grows in her maturity as a cop, and her deference through Bosch’s teachings, regardless of the fact that she is the boss now.
She leads a cold case unit, and this gives Bosch the opportunity to try and solve a case he left behind prior to his retirement.
They also handle a case important to the city councilmember who made this division possible.
The tension is riveting, the cases compelling, and at times, even when you think you know as a reader who the bad guy could possibly be, stick with it, there is more to consider here.
With this book, I can admit, I never felt bored, it was hard to put down, and this was truly another amazing Bosch/Ballard must read.
Also, a question to Mr. Connelly…are you leaving us a message about Bosch that we need to listen to, because this is going to be difficult for us to hear. Not going to say more about my question. I don’t do spoilers, remember?
Bosch gets older, and you feel it, see it and experience it quite honestly through his movements/attitudes.
And Ballard grows in her maturity as a cop, and her deference through Bosch’s teachings, regardless of the fact that she is the boss now.
She leads a cold case unit, and this gives Bosch the opportunity to try and solve a case he left behind prior to his retirement.
They also handle a case important to the city councilmember who made this division possible.
The tension is riveting, the cases compelling, and at times, even when you think you know as a reader who the bad guy could possibly be, stick with it, there is more to consider here.
With this book, I can admit, I never felt bored, it was hard to put down, and this was truly another amazing Bosch/Ballard must read.
Also, a question to Mr. Connelly…are you leaving us a message about Bosch that we need to listen to, because this is going to be difficult for us to hear. Not going to say more about my question. I don’t do spoilers, remember?
June 17, 2023
4.5 "It's an angry world. People do things you wouldn't expect."
I have been a Harry Bosch fan from the very beginning. Then a Mickey Heller fan and lastly a Ballard fan. Connelly is such an amazing author he has managed to incorporate all three into storylines, often the same storyline, though one might have a bit part. He does so seamlessly. His characters, his storylines always draw me in. A young Ballard and an aging Harry, youth and energy complimented with experience and wisdom. A winning combination.
Ballard has taken on the task of re-opening the cold case team, using volunteers. Her first ask is Harry and the first talk is finding out who murdered a councilmans sister. Harry, who always marching to his own drum, has his own white whale of a case, that of a whole family murdered. Both Ballard and Bosch are rule breakers, using what they can to solve cases, giving justice to the murdered and their families.
I finished this thoroughly satisfied with the wrap up of the cases but also with a sadness. Wont reveal why. Those who read or has read the book know why.
the narrators were Tellis Welliver and Christine Lakin. Both were terrific.
I have been a Harry Bosch fan from the very beginning. Then a Mickey Heller fan and lastly a Ballard fan. Connelly is such an amazing author he has managed to incorporate all three into storylines, often the same storyline, though one might have a bit part. He does so seamlessly. His characters, his storylines always draw me in. A young Ballard and an aging Harry, youth and energy complimented with experience and wisdom. A winning combination.
Ballard has taken on the task of re-opening the cold case team, using volunteers. Her first ask is Harry and the first talk is finding out who murdered a councilmans sister. Harry, who always marching to his own drum, has his own white whale of a case, that of a whole family murdered. Both Ballard and Bosch are rule breakers, using what they can to solve cases, giving justice to the murdered and their families.
I finished this thoroughly satisfied with the wrap up of the cases but also with a sadness. Wont reveal why. Those who read or has read the book know why.
the narrators were Tellis Welliver and Christine Lakin. Both were terrific.
November 24, 2022
End of watch? Maybe. Good installment with Renee and Harry. Curious where Connelly goes next with the both of them. I think my main issue is that there were too many plot holes in this one that don’t get addressed. Also the Renee we know who was just kind of done at the end of the last book, I don’t see her taking this path. She read like a new character. And it’s beyond weird to realize that it’s been a year since the events in the last book, and it reads as Harry hasn’t spoken to his daughter (much), Renee (at all), and Mickey. You get some explanation, but it doesn’t sound like him. Actually towards the end of the book, it just felt like Harry was a different character.
Desert Star follows the events of a year ago though now Renee seeks out Harry to get him to come aboard as a volunteer at a cold case unit she’s heading up. We find out that Renee decided to go back to the LAPD and she and Harry fell out over it. Renee pings his interest though with telling him he can investigate a case that still haunts him, the Gallagher Family massacre. FYI, the book seems to take inspiration from the real life case of the McStay family. Harry reluctantly agrees and the book follows as he starts unwinding that case and the cold case murder of the councilman’s sister who ended up approving and pushing for the cold case unit.
Ehhh. Renee didn’t read like herself at all. She’s in essence a boss in this one, and honestly at times not a good one. She seems to need Harry involved with everything and I was like have you met him? One even wonders why she was so gung-ho on having him included. We get to know some of the other volunteers in the unit and I can’t say too much about any of them except for two of the characters because they were essential to the plot. One of them (Hatteras) got on my nerves. I wanted more personal detail from Renee, where was she living, how was this new unit seen by her former lieutenant, and partner from the last book. She was like persona non grata with the last book and the whole thing just got skipped over.
Harry, there’s a lot hidden about him til the end and I kind of went what like a dozen times. The parts of the case that focused on him investigating though just read better. It was like Connelly didn’t know what to do with Renee unless Harry was in the same scene with her at times. I also thought that the Harry we knew would have bounced as soon as he saw that Renee put his saying of “everybody counts…” on the wall overlooking their unit. I also cringed at that too. Renee was trying too hard and once again, it didn’t read like her at all.
We get updates on Maddie, Mickey, and a few people, but the whole book felt so insular at times. We do get a surprise return of someone that I did like from prior books, but that was it.
I thought it was surprising after the last book and events described with everything taking place during COVID, a year later no one talks about shots, boosters, or is wearing masks. I went huh a few times about that. Also, there’s a smidgen mentioned about a DA that is not seen as being tough on crime being recalled which reminded me of the latest election in California, but that was it.
The plot of two separate cases really doesn’t work in this one. I honestly wish we had just followed one and that was it. Especially because of the [redacted redacted] and possibility about connections to other cold cases. It just felt totally like a stretch.
The flow was up and down. Harry parts moved briskly, Renee stuff started to bore me til the case of the councilman’s murdered sister picked up steam. I just got tired of her telling Harry she was a boss and needed to do what she asked (and then they both ignored it like five minutes later) and didn’t realize the pitfalls of two of her volunteers til way later than someone like her should.
The setting of LA this time felt muted. Maybe because we kind of ran back and forth between the two cases. At one point Harry has to go to Florida and Chicago, so this book felt more “other” than the last one.
The ending as I said had a lot reveals (and not a lot made sense) and as I said it comes to a conclusion, maybe, with one character. Very curious where Connelly is going with this now. I loved the last book, but feel a bit frustrated by this offering.
Desert Star follows the events of a year ago though now Renee seeks out Harry to get him to come aboard as a volunteer at a cold case unit she’s heading up. We find out that Renee decided to go back to the LAPD and she and Harry fell out over it. Renee pings his interest though with telling him he can investigate a case that still haunts him, the Gallagher Family massacre. FYI, the book seems to take inspiration from the real life case of the McStay family. Harry reluctantly agrees and the book follows as he starts unwinding that case and the cold case murder of the councilman’s sister who ended up approving and pushing for the cold case unit.
Ehhh. Renee didn’t read like herself at all. She’s in essence a boss in this one, and honestly at times not a good one. She seems to need Harry involved with everything and I was like have you met him? One even wonders why she was so gung-ho on having him included. We get to know some of the other volunteers in the unit and I can’t say too much about any of them except for two of the characters because they were essential to the plot. One of them (Hatteras) got on my nerves. I wanted more personal detail from Renee, where was she living, how was this new unit seen by her former lieutenant, and partner from the last book. She was like persona non grata with the last book and the whole thing just got skipped over.
Harry, there’s a lot hidden about him til the end and I kind of went what like a dozen times. The parts of the case that focused on him investigating though just read better. It was like Connelly didn’t know what to do with Renee unless Harry was in the same scene with her at times. I also thought that the Harry we knew would have bounced as soon as he saw that Renee put his saying of “everybody counts…” on the wall overlooking their unit. I also cringed at that too. Renee was trying too hard and once again, it didn’t read like her at all.
We get updates on Maddie, Mickey, and a few people, but the whole book felt so insular at times. We do get a surprise return of someone that I did like from prior books, but that was it.
I thought it was surprising after the last book and events described with everything taking place during COVID, a year later no one talks about shots, boosters, or is wearing masks. I went huh a few times about that. Also, there’s a smidgen mentioned about a DA that is not seen as being tough on crime being recalled which reminded me of the latest election in California, but that was it.
The plot of two separate cases really doesn’t work in this one. I honestly wish we had just followed one and that was it. Especially because of the [redacted redacted] and possibility about connections to other cold cases. It just felt totally like a stretch.
The flow was up and down. Harry parts moved briskly, Renee stuff started to bore me til the case of the councilman’s murdered sister picked up steam. I just got tired of her telling Harry she was a boss and needed to do what she asked (and then they both ignored it like five minutes later) and didn’t realize the pitfalls of two of her volunteers til way later than someone like her should.
The setting of LA this time felt muted. Maybe because we kind of ran back and forth between the two cases. At one point Harry has to go to Florida and Chicago, so this book felt more “other” than the last one.
The ending as I said had a lot reveals (and not a lot made sense) and as I said it comes to a conclusion, maybe, with one character. Very curious where Connelly is going with this now. I loved the last book, but feel a bit frustrated by this offering.
January 12, 2023
Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard agreed to go private together, but she backed out on him to take a gig in Robbery Homicide working cold cases. Bosch feels hurt, but when Ballard invites him to join the squad as a volunteer, he reluctantly agrees so he can work his "white whale" case: the Gallagher family, four members who were murdered and dumped in the desert in 2013. Bosch is convinced he knows who did it, but he's never been able to prove it. But first, Bosch and Ballard have to play politics and work on the cold case of Sarah Pearlman, the younger sister of Jake Pearlman, the councilman who helped stand the cold case unit back up.
This is a somber yet excellent entry in the Bosch and Ballard series. We see Ballard dealing with the politics and stress that comes with being the boss of the cold case unit--including handling Bosch, a lone wolf for life. Bosch is in a bad place and also determined to solve the Gallagher case, no matter what. The cold cases Connelly presents are all intricate and detailed (as always) with his usual research and police authenticity.
We are seeing Ballard mature as she attempts to branch out in her career, learning to work with different team members, politicians, and more. We also get to see a bit more of Maddie, Bosch's daughter. As always, Bosch is my favorite, no matter how grumpy or stubborn he may appear, and I'll love him forever. I'll be so lost when his role in Connelly's books ends.
This book certainly was a bit sad in places, but I loved the mysteries and the relationship between Ballard and Bosch. It's a great read, though I suggest at least reading the previous Bosch/Ballard books to understand how they interact (they're so good!). 4.5 stars.
This is a somber yet excellent entry in the Bosch and Ballard series. We see Ballard dealing with the politics and stress that comes with being the boss of the cold case unit--including handling Bosch, a lone wolf for life. Bosch is in a bad place and also determined to solve the Gallagher case, no matter what. The cold cases Connelly presents are all intricate and detailed (as always) with his usual research and police authenticity.
We are seeing Ballard mature as she attempts to branch out in her career, learning to work with different team members, politicians, and more. We also get to see a bit more of Maddie, Bosch's daughter. As always, Bosch is my favorite, no matter how grumpy or stubborn he may appear, and I'll love him forever. I'll be so lost when his role in Connelly's books ends.
This book certainly was a bit sad in places, but I loved the mysteries and the relationship between Ballard and Bosch. It's a great read, though I suggest at least reading the previous Bosch/Ballard books to understand how they interact (they're so good!). 4.5 stars.
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December 3, 2022
December 03, 2022:
4-Stars - "I Liked It A Lot"
November 21, 2022:
"Desert Star (Renée Ballard, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #36).
Audiobook - 09:37 Hours - Narrators: Christine Lakin, Titus Welliver
Heard: 08:44 Hours - Balance: 00:53 Hours @ 91%
I'm on the home stretch. Not quite sure how I feel about this book yet. It's highly readable, but is it as good as the earlier Bosch novels? Or is it as good as the earlier Ballard novels? Or is it better than either or both?"
Finished November 22, 2022
December 03, 2022: Review to come ...
(Thank you David Putnam for showing me the way :) )
4-Stars - "I Liked It A Lot"
November 21, 2022:
"Desert Star (Renée Ballard, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #36).
Audiobook - 09:37 Hours - Narrators: Christine Lakin, Titus Welliver
Heard: 08:44 Hours - Balance: 00:53 Hours @ 91%
I'm on the home stretch. Not quite sure how I feel about this book yet. It's highly readable, but is it as good as the earlier Bosch novels? Or is it as good as the earlier Ballard novels? Or is it better than either or both?"
Finished November 22, 2022
December 03, 2022: Review to come ...
(Thank you David Putnam for showing me the way :) )
July 2, 2023
Star Light Star Bright.
Another outstanding police procedural from the long running series featuring Harry Bosch.
In Desert Star, Bosch teams up with Renee' Ballard, another favorite character to solve two cold cases in particular. I never tire of being at the beck and call of the author as clues and methods are meted out to discover the perpetrators.
While some authors crank out seemingly similiar books, that isn't the case here as the individual titles always feel fresh. The characters progess and grow over time with poigant observation, relevant plots, and up to date technology.
Recommended to readers who love police proceduals especially.
Purchased at Barnes and Noble.
Another outstanding police procedural from the long running series featuring Harry Bosch.
In Desert Star, Bosch teams up with Renee' Ballard, another favorite character to solve two cold cases in particular. I never tire of being at the beck and call of the author as clues and methods are meted out to discover the perpetrators.
While some authors crank out seemingly similiar books, that isn't the case here as the individual titles always feel fresh. The characters progess and grow over time with poigant observation, relevant plots, and up to date technology.
Recommended to readers who love police proceduals especially.
Purchased at Barnes and Noble.
February 15, 2023
3.5 stars
In this 24th book in the 'Harry Bosch' series, Detective Bosch and his sometimes partner Detective Renée Ballard look into cold cases. The book would be best enjoyed by readers familiar with the series.
*****
Retired Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch, now seventy-years-old, likes to listen to jazz, schmooze with his police detective daughter, and mull over haunting cold cases, like the brutal murder of the Gallagher family.
Contractor Stephen Gallagher, his wife, and two children disappeared in 2013, and their bodies were discovered a year later, buried in the desert. By then Gallagher's business partner Finbar McShane had sold off all the company's assets and disappeared. Harry is certain McShane killed the Gallagher family and still hopes to bring him to justice.
Harry gets the chance to do just that when his former partner, Detective Renée Ballard, offers him a volunteer position in her new Open-Unsolved Unit (cold case squad).
The squad is being sponsored by Los Angeles Councilman Jake Pearlman, who hopes the cold case detectives will solve the rape and murder of his 16-year-old sister Sarah in 1994. Renée entices Bosch to join the cold case squad by promising he can investigate the Gallagher homicides, but she expects Harry to look into Sarah's rape and murder as well.
The cold case squad includes Renée, Harry, a former FBI agent, a retired deputy district attorney, an ex-Santa Monica cop, and a genetic genealogist (GG) who uses DNA to trace perpetrators. The GG also considers herself a psychic, which adds interest to the investigations. The unit has regular meetings to discuss ongoing cases, and everyone gets a chance to contribute.
Bosch studies the murder books associated with Sarah Pearlman and suggests that, with modern technology, the palm print of Sarah's killer may yield DNA.
This turns out to be the case, and even more notably, points to a serial killer. These revelations yield fresh clues, and Harry and Renée's continuing inquiries hone in on a surprising murderer.
Harry also delves back into the Gallagher family tragedy. One of Bosch's first moves is to re-interview Stephen Gallagher's assistant Sheila Walsh. Walsh's house was burgled after the Gallaghers disappeared, and Harry thinks this is relevant to the homicides.
The book is part police procedural/part thriller, and despite being a septuagenarian, Harry shows he can power through painful injuries and handle himself in a pinch - be it with fists or a weapon. Ballard also demonstrates she's not a woman to be trifled with, though manipulative politicians and the Police Chief may try to bend things their way.
It appears Harry may be coming to the end of his detective career, but I hope he doesn't hang up his credentials just yet.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it to Harry Bosch/Renée Ballard fans.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
January 17, 2023
Michael Connelly returns with the latest in the Bosch/Ballard series, which has been getting better with each book. Both protagonists know their place and have been able to effectively make their marks on the series, as well as this story in particular. Working different angles in a ragtag group examining cold cases, Bosch and Ballard captivate the reader and keep them guessing until the final truth comes to light. Connelly shows that he has a wonderful direction for this series, with some monumental news in the latter portion of this book. A must-read for series fans (and if you were going to skip it)!
After a scandalous departure from the LAPD, Renée Ballard is back. The Chief of Police offers her a new start, to which she agrees, but leaves her colleagues behind to resurrect the Cold Case squad within the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division. Tasked with a handful of volunteers, Ballard is able to bring Harry Bosch back as an investigator. Bosch has an agenda all his own, as he battles with a case that has nagged him for years, where a psychopath killed an entire family.
The killer appears to be free in the wind, though Bosch is sure it’s only because he did not have the resources to work it when full-time within the LAPD. Now under Ballard’s approval, Bosch does his best to tackle it with fresh eyes, allowing a few others to offer their insights. Ballard is happy to have Bosch there, knowing that she could learn a great deal from him. All the same, Ballard remains leery that this will be a case that could suck the life out of her former mentor.
As Bosch makes some headway, he relies on Ballard to clear the way for him to make his move, in hopes of adding a positive stat to the LAPD column. However, anything can (and does) happen on the rough streets of LA, something both Bosch and Ballard know all too well. It’s the final chapters that impact the story most, sure to pique the interest of Bosch fans. Connelly proves to be a master with this chilling story that accentuates two of his well-developed protagonists.
I remember discovering the Harry Bosch series and not being able to get enough. This passion helped me devour many of the books, as well as the television spin-offs that came from them, keeping me highly entertained over the years. Bosch’s grit and Ballard’s no-nonsense advocacy keep the series strong, particularly while they are still working together. Time will tell what will come of it.
Those who have read novels in the Bosch series will know that Michael Connelly knows how to spin a story. They see it from the outset in a narrative that both sets the scene and carries the reader throughout the journey. This is no exception, as both Bosch and Ballard are at their respective crossroads and need something new. Those who surround themselves with these two enrich the story and offer some light humour to a dark and troubling story. Plot twists in the cold case keep things from getting too mundane and Bosch has a way of turning over many rocks to unleash adventurous moments. I have seen Harry Bosch transform over the years and even Renée Ballard has made some significant changes in her short time in the series. I wonder what’s to come and how these two will keep readers on the edge of their seats, particularly with the cliffhanger Connelly offers.
Kudos, Mr. Connelly, for another stellar piece. Keep them coming, as I know many who love this series in all its forms.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After a scandalous departure from the LAPD, Renée Ballard is back. The Chief of Police offers her a new start, to which she agrees, but leaves her colleagues behind to resurrect the Cold Case squad within the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division. Tasked with a handful of volunteers, Ballard is able to bring Harry Bosch back as an investigator. Bosch has an agenda all his own, as he battles with a case that has nagged him for years, where a psychopath killed an entire family.
The killer appears to be free in the wind, though Bosch is sure it’s only because he did not have the resources to work it when full-time within the LAPD. Now under Ballard’s approval, Bosch does his best to tackle it with fresh eyes, allowing a few others to offer their insights. Ballard is happy to have Bosch there, knowing that she could learn a great deal from him. All the same, Ballard remains leery that this will be a case that could suck the life out of her former mentor.
As Bosch makes some headway, he relies on Ballard to clear the way for him to make his move, in hopes of adding a positive stat to the LAPD column. However, anything can (and does) happen on the rough streets of LA, something both Bosch and Ballard know all too well. It’s the final chapters that impact the story most, sure to pique the interest of Bosch fans. Connelly proves to be a master with this chilling story that accentuates two of his well-developed protagonists.
I remember discovering the Harry Bosch series and not being able to get enough. This passion helped me devour many of the books, as well as the television spin-offs that came from them, keeping me highly entertained over the years. Bosch’s grit and Ballard’s no-nonsense advocacy keep the series strong, particularly while they are still working together. Time will tell what will come of it.
Those who have read novels in the Bosch series will know that Michael Connelly knows how to spin a story. They see it from the outset in a narrative that both sets the scene and carries the reader throughout the journey. This is no exception, as both Bosch and Ballard are at their respective crossroads and need something new. Those who surround themselves with these two enrich the story and offer some light humour to a dark and troubling story. Plot twists in the cold case keep things from getting too mundane and Bosch has a way of turning over many rocks to unleash adventurous moments. I have seen Harry Bosch transform over the years and even Renée Ballard has made some significant changes in her short time in the series. I wonder what’s to come and how these two will keep readers on the edge of their seats, particularly with the cliffhanger Connelly offers.
Kudos, Mr. Connelly, for another stellar piece. Keep them coming, as I know many who love this series in all its forms.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 25, 2024
Review on English, followed by the Bulgarian one. Ревюто на английски е първо, сле��ва това на български.
The final pages cruelly destroyed this otherwise wonderful mystery! 😕
Harry Bosch returns so that we can find that after all this time and adventures together, we really have no idea what's going on in his head.
A new cold case investigation unit is created in LAPD, but this time René Ballard is in charge for it. Two unsolved crimes are reopened - the murder of the sister of an influential municipal councilor and the brutal execution of an entire family, buried in the desert!
The last ten percent of the book ruined my feeling for a really well-told story…
Desert star:
Краят жестоко изпорти тази иначе чудесна кримка! 😕
Хари Бош се завъща, за да установим, че и след толкова време и приключения заедно, всъщност нямаме никаква идея, какво точно се върти из главата му.
Създаден е нов отдел за разледване на "студени" досиета към LAPD, но този път го командва детектив Рене Балард. Паралелно вървят два неразкрити до сега случая - убийство преди над двайсет години на сестрата на влиятелен общински съветник и бруталната екзекуция на цяло семейство, открито заровено след това в пустинята!
Последните десет процента от книгата съсипаха приятното усещане от наистина добре разказаната история...
The final pages cruelly destroyed this otherwise wonderful mystery! 😕
Harry Bosch returns so that we can find that after all this time and adventures together, we really have no idea what's going on in his head.
A new cold case investigation unit is created in LAPD, but this time René Ballard is in charge for it. Two unsolved crimes are reopened - the murder of the sister of an influential municipal councilor and the brutal execution of an entire family, buried in the desert!
The last ten percent of the book ruined my feeling for a really well-told story…
Desert star:
Краят жестоко изпорти тази иначе чудесна кримка! 😕
Хари Бош се завъща, за да установим, че и след толкова време и приключения заедно, всъщност нямаме никаква идея, какво точно се върти из главата му.
Създаден е нов отдел за разледване на "студени" досиета към LAPD, но този път го командва детектив Рене Балард. Паралелно вървят два неразкрити до сега случая - убийство преди над двайсет години на сестрата на влиятелен общински съветник и бруталната екзекуция на цяло семейство, открито заровено след това в пустинята!
Последните десет процента от книгата съсипаха приятното усещане от наистина добре разказаната история...
March 3, 2023
My first Michael Connelly and I decide to jump right into book #36 in the Harry Bosch Universe. Thankfully, it can totally be read as a standalone. Harry may be grumpy and doesn't necessarily follow the rules, but that's ok. I could tell from the start I was going to like him a lot. This is a great police procedural with multiple murders to be solved. I see what all the fuss is about. Now I need to check out the earlier books in the series to get to know Harry a little better.
February 8, 2023
Way back when I read A Darkness More Than Night I thought to myself, well, that’s about as far as Harry Bosch is likely to go. His defiant stance against his superiors will surely outweigh his results in catching bad guys. That was Bosch #7 and Desert Star is Bosch #24 and Harry is still finding ways to defy his superior’s wishes while cutting straight to the heart of every case he sets his mind to. And thank goodness for that and thank goodness for cold cases.
Adding a little more depth and interest to things is the continued inclusion of Renee Ballard who acts as a voice of reason, sounding board and loyal believer with enough faith in him to put up with Bosch’s tendency to go off-piste.
Renee Ballard is the new head of the re-established Open-Unsolved Unit at the LAPD. Her first order of business is to recruit Harry Bosch as one of the volunteer investigators.
The way she lured him back into the fold was with the promise that he could get his hands on the murder book of the Gallagher Family who were murdered and then buried in the desert. The case, that included parents and a young son and daughter, is the one that has haunted him for years. He has the name of the killer but not his whereabouts and needs to see the case files to get a handle on how to find him.
But before he can get his hands on the Gallagher case he must help Ballard and the team on the Sarah Pearlman murder. Sarah was killed in her bedroom in the 90s. Her body was discovered by her brother who has since gone on to become an LA councilman. It’s his funding that has made it possible to reopen the unit.
With 24 Harry Bosch books behind us we’re well aware that Bosch doesn’t play well with others. But with Ballard he’s about as much of a team player as he might ever be. When gets on the trail there’s little that will stand in his way and that’s part of what makes this such a compelling series - and has done over an extended period.
As usual, Michael Connelly’s ability to spin a compelling yarn is the other factor that keeps me coming back for more. Solidifying barely existent pieces of evidence seems to be the norm for the cold cases and the jigsaw is a precarious one to keep under control but Connelly appears to handle it with ease.
Both Bosch and Ballard are complicated characters with hectic backstories, both of which continue to develop with each successive book. It’s great to see that Ballard, despite some pretty traumatic events from earlier books, is becoming more grounded and stable - a great foil for the less predictable Bosch.
Desert Star is another very satisfying cold case mystery that provided me with exactly the type of complicated investigation I was hoping for and I was happy to once again be taken along for the ride.
Adding a little more depth and interest to things is the continued inclusion of Renee Ballard who acts as a voice of reason, sounding board and loyal believer with enough faith in him to put up with Bosch’s tendency to go off-piste.
Renee Ballard is the new head of the re-established Open-Unsolved Unit at the LAPD. Her first order of business is to recruit Harry Bosch as one of the volunteer investigators.
The way she lured him back into the fold was with the promise that he could get his hands on the murder book of the Gallagher Family who were murdered and then buried in the desert. The case, that included parents and a young son and daughter, is the one that has haunted him for years. He has the name of the killer but not his whereabouts and needs to see the case files to get a handle on how to find him.
But before he can get his hands on the Gallagher case he must help Ballard and the team on the Sarah Pearlman murder. Sarah was killed in her bedroom in the 90s. Her body was discovered by her brother who has since gone on to become an LA councilman. It’s his funding that has made it possible to reopen the unit.
With 24 Harry Bosch books behind us we’re well aware that Bosch doesn’t play well with others. But with Ballard he’s about as much of a team player as he might ever be. When gets on the trail there’s little that will stand in his way and that’s part of what makes this such a compelling series - and has done over an extended period.
As usual, Michael Connelly’s ability to spin a compelling yarn is the other factor that keeps me coming back for more. Solidifying barely existent pieces of evidence seems to be the norm for the cold cases and the jigsaw is a precarious one to keep under control but Connelly appears to handle it with ease.
Both Bosch and Ballard are complicated characters with hectic backstories, both of which continue to develop with each successive book. It’s great to see that Ballard, despite some pretty traumatic events from earlier books, is becoming more grounded and stable - a great foil for the less predictable Bosch.
Desert Star is another very satisfying cold case mystery that provided me with exactly the type of complicated investigation I was hoping for and I was happy to once again be taken along for the ride.
November 22, 2022
I need to find a younger set of authors. It seems my favorites have all allowed their books to be ghost written. This book doesn’t feel like a Bosch/Ballard book. Harry would not have stabbed even this criminal with a screwdriver and then “cleaned it up” and admitted it to Ballard. That’s just nonsensical. I wonder if Michael Connelly even read this book, much less wrote it? Waited all year for this release and it left me depressed. Gonna kill off Harry as a bitter, suicidal old man with Cesium poisoning instead of sending him out in the blaze of glory he deserves? Ridiculous! What a let down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2022
This series continues its boring march to the end. Somehow he made Ballard even less interesting by moving her into an admin role. The political machinations in this one are clumsy and the case(s) are obvious and dull. Bosch is such a great character that it’s a shame these installments will probably be among the last. Unless! Now that Bosch is in his 70s, Connelly should pivot to the trendy geriatric thriller genre and give him some cozier cases. It can’t be worse than these.
October 31, 2023
The great thing about the Connelly Bosch novels is that they flow and engage the reader. This last one is no exception. I also wonder if this is the final time we will see Harry. In this outing he is back with Renee reviewing two cold cases. One is in investigating a politicians murdered sister and the other a case Harry once investigated of the brutal slaying at f the Gallagher family.
In one we know the murderer and the other is someone connected to the family of the politician. I liked the ending and in Key West. It is amazing Harry is now 70 and still going. Judge, jury and executioner.
A real page turner in which I finished in two days.
In one we know the murderer and the other is someone connected to the family of the politician. I liked the ending and in Key West. It is amazing Harry is now 70 and still going. Judge, jury and executioner.
A real page turner in which I finished in two days.
October 27, 2022
About this time every year I get a little excited knowing there's likely to be a new book from Michael Connelly. This year has not disappointed - we have a new Bosch/Ballard book - Desert Star.
Desert Star sees Bosch a little older (it makes me sad) and a little physically slower, but sharp as a tack, and often reflecting on past cases and his life in general. Bosch gets an unexpected knock on the door from Renee Ballard. Last we read Bosch and Ballard were striking out privately on their own, but a change of plans has Ballard (12 months later) heading up a closed case unit of the LAPD with a group of "volunteers" and part-timers, and she wants Bosch. The spear-head case for the unit is the death of Sarah Pearlman, the sister of a counsellor in the 90's, and it is him who has propped up the unit, declaring open season on the cold cases. As in most Bosch/Ballard books there are a couple of other cases running - one that ends up being related to the Pearlman case, and one that has stuck with Harry for years, without any closure.
Desert Star is a real mixture of all the things we love about Bosch and Ballard, both as individuals and as a collective. Bosch is the elder statesman, a fountain of knowledge and information, and a source of constant frustration and wonderment for Ballard, who is incidently Bosch's boss. Ballard is a fierce, independent Detective who is getting a foothold in the politics of policing in order to ensure they can continue targeted work on the many files gracing the shelves of the library of lost souls at their new headquarters. We also see snippets of Bosch's daughter Maddie's life, in terms of her being on the fringe of Bosch's life, given she is now working the streets with LAPD seemingly removed from the shadow of her 'gunslinger' father.
Time stands still for me when I read these books as I pour over the pages, with these familiar characters I know and love, whilst Bosch and Ballard have continued to live on, in very real time. I'm ever conscious the use by date for Harry and will always plead for just one more.
Great book. Loved it. Like I knew I would.
Desert Star sees Bosch a little older (it makes me sad) and a little physically slower, but sharp as a tack, and often reflecting on past cases and his life in general. Bosch gets an unexpected knock on the door from Renee Ballard. Last we read Bosch and Ballard were striking out privately on their own, but a change of plans has Ballard (12 months later) heading up a closed case unit of the LAPD with a group of "volunteers" and part-timers, and she wants Bosch. The spear-head case for the unit is the death of Sarah Pearlman, the sister of a counsellor in the 90's, and it is him who has propped up the unit, declaring open season on the cold cases. As in most Bosch/Ballard books there are a couple of other cases running - one that ends up being related to the Pearlman case, and one that has stuck with Harry for years, without any closure.
Desert Star is a real mixture of all the things we love about Bosch and Ballard, both as individuals and as a collective. Bosch is the elder statesman, a fountain of knowledge and information, and a source of constant frustration and wonderment for Ballard, who is incidently Bosch's boss. Ballard is a fierce, independent Detective who is getting a foothold in the politics of policing in order to ensure they can continue targeted work on the many files gracing the shelves of the library of lost souls at their new headquarters. We also see snippets of Bosch's daughter Maddie's life, in terms of her being on the fringe of Bosch's life, given she is now working the streets with LAPD seemingly removed from the shadow of her 'gunslinger' father.
Time stands still for me when I read these books as I pour over the pages, with these familiar characters I know and love, whilst Bosch and Ballard have continued to live on, in very real time. I'm ever conscious the use by date for Harry and will always plead for just one more.
Great book. Loved it. Like I knew I would.
February 21, 2023
I am sorry, Mike Connelly fans. This review is going to be harsh. In my defense, I too am a fan of Michael Connelly. (notice the present tense?)
I have several complaints. (Some with spoilers in the comments section)
The whole book has a tired feel to it. MC might be interested only in the TV series, but he should know that there are some book lovers who don't watch TV and OTT (like me!).
The meticulous way the detectives go about trying to crack old unsolved cases was interesting, but i have doubts regarding some of the methods, they don't seem practical - picking up DNA from a 20 yr old partial palmprint?
I was put off in the beginning, when Renee has been talking to Bosch in her office, introduces him to their colleagues and THEN, belatedly realizes that he has shaved off his moustache!
What kind of a detective is she?! Bosch always had a moustache, and she doesn't immediately realize that?
There are 2 old unsolved cases that Bosch are Ballard are pursuing. 3/4th of the book invested in the first mystery and the 2nd one was rushed. The identity of the killer of the first mystery was a big letdown (spoiler-y reasons in the comments). The ending of the 2nd mystery was clumsy.
The characters were not themselves. It was like getting introduced to new characters. Both Ballard and Bosch take questionable decisions and behave like rookies.
I make 3 guesses here
1. MC never created a character sketch when he started the series and introduced new characters
2. HE created a very good one and stuck to them till the last book (Dark Hours) but lost it when he started 'Desert Star'
3. MC did not write this.
I wish MC brings back Haller. Connelly seems to be tired of Bosch and I am getting tired of Ballard turning into a detestable Boss-lady.
I have several complaints. (Some with spoilers in the comments section)
The whole book has a tired feel to it. MC might be interested only in the TV series, but he should know that there are some book lovers who don't watch TV and OTT (like me!).
The meticulous way the detectives go about trying to crack old unsolved cases was interesting, but i have doubts regarding some of the methods, they don't seem practical - picking up DNA from a 20 yr old partial palmprint?
I was put off in the beginning, when Renee has been talking to Bosch in her office, introduces him to their colleagues and THEN, belatedly realizes that he has shaved off his moustache!
What kind of a detective is she?! Bosch always had a moustache, and she doesn't immediately realize that?
There are 2 old unsolved cases that Bosch are Ballard are pursuing. 3/4th of the book invested in the first mystery and the 2nd one was rushed. The identity of the killer of the first mystery was a big letdown (spoiler-y reasons in the comments). The ending of the 2nd mystery was clumsy.
The characters were not themselves. It was like getting introduced to new characters. Both Ballard and Bosch take questionable decisions and behave like rookies.
I make 3 guesses here
1. MC never created a character sketch when he started the series and introduced new characters
2. HE created a very good one and stuck to them till the last book (Dark Hours) but lost it when he started 'Desert Star'
3. MC did not write this.
I wish MC brings back Haller. Connelly seems to be tired of Bosch and I am getting tired of Ballard turning into a detestable Boss-lady.
December 11, 2022
Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch are reunited in this story when Renée asks Harry to join her in the newly reformed cold case unit where she is in charge. If Harry will join he can work a cold case that has been his white whale and have LAPD resources. A nice bone to toss his way since he is retired.
The cold case unit is staffed with mostly volunteers and recieved funding from a local politician whose sister was murdered but never solved. To keep the unit up and running they need to close cold cases. Starting with the murder of the councilman's sister, Sarah. Renée needs Harry's help.
Harry's white whale is the murder of the Gallagher family. Father, mother, son and daughter killed and buried in a single grave in the desert. Harry has a suspect but he is gone. He wants justice for the Gallagher family. He wants their killer. Renée's offer may be his last chance. He is in his seventies now.
Renée is a boss now and adjusting to her new role. The author mentions Harry's age several times. His daughter, Maddie, is now a police officer and is mentioned in the story a couple of times. The end of the story was a bit sad and I was wondering what the future of the series would be. Could Renée and Maddie wind up working together in a future book?
The cold case unit is staffed with mostly volunteers and recieved funding from a local politician whose sister was murdered but never solved. To keep the unit up and running they need to close cold cases. Starting with the murder of the councilman's sister, Sarah. Renée needs Harry's help.
Harry's white whale is the murder of the Gallagher family. Father, mother, son and daughter killed and buried in a single grave in the desert. Harry has a suspect but he is gone. He wants justice for the Gallagher family. He wants their killer. Renée's offer may be his last chance. He is in his seventies now.
Renée is a boss now and adjusting to her new role. The author mentions Harry's age several times. His daughter, Maddie, is now a police officer and is mentioned in the story a couple of times. The end of the story was a bit sad and I was wondering what the future of the series would be. Could Renée and Maddie wind up working together in a future book?
February 8, 2023
There's a reason this series has gone on as long as it has: it's damned good. Once again, Bosch is seeking justice for murder victims and their families and while I wasn't a huge fan of Ballard at first, I really warmed to her in this novel. Ballard and Bosch are investigating cold cases, but Connelly manages to instill urgency into these cases despite their age. This is one of his many gifts. I know the series can't go on forever, but hints that it's coming to an end have me worried. If that happens, I may reread the whole series from the beginning.
November 14, 2022
A Last Case for Bosch?
Review of the Little, Brown and Company audiobook edition, released simultaneously with the Little, Brown and Company hardcover original (November 8, 2022).
Despite the end of last year's The Dark Hours which had Renee Ballard quitting the police force and possibly setting up a detective agency with Harry Bosch, Desert Star finds her back with the LAPD and running a newly constituted Open-Unsolved Unit. Ballard tempts Bosch back to work as a volunteer by giving him an opportunity to solve yet another 'white whale' cold case which has haunted him.
Harry's case has to take the back burner for most of the novel, as the Unit is concentrating on solving the murder of a city councilman's sister. The Unit needs a win on that as it is for the councilman who lobbied for the Open Unsolved team to be re-established. There is the usual political interference with the politician's Chief of Staff pestering Ballard and an inside man being placed on the team to report back. The only other main character of interest is Colleen, a member of the team whose actual job is the DNA family mapping of suspects. But Colleen is also an empath, which compels her to touch objects of evidence in order to gleam their aura, to the constant irritation of Ballard and Bosch.
Overall the investigation trail was well done and a few red herrings kept you guessing. There is an aspect of the book which hints that this may be the final Bosch novel (no spoilers from me) which of course is sad to think about. Future Ballard novels (or perhaps Maddie Bosch novels? à la Letty Davenport in place of Lucas Davenport?) are not going to fill that niche. Plus, where will we get our regular fix of Harry's taste in jazz'n'blues on vinyl?
The narration by TV-Bosch actor Titus Welliver was excellent as always. Christine Lakin narrated the Renee Ballard segments and Peter Giles filled in on other male voices.
Soundtrack, Trivia and Links
As always, Bosch is listening to various jazz and blues albums throughout this book. Author Connelly provides a helpful list at his official website's page for The Music in the Novels.
Clifford Brown (1930-1956), Clifford Brown with Strings (1955).
Shelly Berg Trio, Blackbird (2003) (originally by The Beatles).
King Curtis (1934-1971), A Whiter Shade of Pale (1971) (originally by Procol Harum).
Pharez Whitted Quintet, The Tree of Life (2014).
Miles Davis (1926-1991) (no specific music mentioned, only that Bosch went to a jazz club to hear the Pharez Whitted Quintet do a Tribute to Miles Davis)
Ed Reed (1929-), Here’s to Life (2008).
Shirley Horn (1934-2005), Here's to Life (1992).
Ron Carter (1937-), A Song For You (1978) (originally by Leon Russell).
Review of the Little, Brown and Company audiobook edition, released simultaneously with the Little, Brown and Company hardcover original (November 8, 2022).
Ballard said. "I want your take on a couple things."
"Roger that."
"You gotta stop saying that. Everybody has to stop saying it."
"What's wrong with it?"
"When influencers are saying it on TikTok, it's jumped the shark."
"I don't know what one word of that means."
"Which is a good thing." - Ballard and Bosch banter during a rare comedic moment of Desert Star
Despite the end of last year's The Dark Hours which had Renee Ballard quitting the police force and possibly setting up a detective agency with Harry Bosch, Desert Star finds her back with the LAPD and running a newly constituted Open-Unsolved Unit. Ballard tempts Bosch back to work as a volunteer by giving him an opportunity to solve yet another 'white whale' cold case which has haunted him.
Harry's case has to take the back burner for most of the novel, as the Unit is concentrating on solving the murder of a city councilman's sister. The Unit needs a win on that as it is for the councilman who lobbied for the Open Unsolved team to be re-established. There is the usual political interference with the politician's Chief of Staff pestering Ballard and an inside man being placed on the team to report back. The only other main character of interest is Colleen, a member of the team whose actual job is the DNA family mapping of suspects. But Colleen is also an empath, which compels her to touch objects of evidence in order to gleam their aura, to the constant irritation of Ballard and Bosch.
Overall the investigation trail was well done and a few red herrings kept you guessing. There is an aspect of the book which hints that this may be the final Bosch novel (no spoilers from me) which of course is sad to think about. Future Ballard novels (or perhaps Maddie Bosch novels? à la Letty Davenport in place of Lucas Davenport?) are not going to fill that niche. Plus, where will we get our regular fix of Harry's taste in jazz'n'blues on vinyl?
The narration by TV-Bosch actor Titus Welliver was excellent as always. Christine Lakin narrated the Renee Ballard segments and Peter Giles filled in on other male voices.
Soundtrack, Trivia and Links
As always, Bosch is listening to various jazz and blues albums throughout this book. Author Connelly provides a helpful list at his official website's page for The Music in the Novels.
Clifford Brown (1930-1956), Clifford Brown with Strings (1955).
Shelly Berg Trio, Blackbird (2003) (originally by The Beatles).
King Curtis (1934-1971), A Whiter Shade of Pale (1971) (originally by Procol Harum).
Pharez Whitted Quintet, The Tree of Life (2014).
Miles Davis (1926-1991) (no specific music mentioned, only that Bosch went to a jazz club to hear the Pharez Whitted Quintet do a Tribute to Miles Davis)
Ed Reed (1929-), Here’s to Life (2008).
Shirley Horn (1934-2005), Here's to Life (1992).
Ron Carter (1937-), A Song For You (1978) (originally by Leon Russell).
November 12, 2022
Tears in my eyes, I dare not describe one little bit of this book as it could ruin it for others. It is beautifully written and masterful in planning, plotting and presentation. A superior reading experience for any Harry Bosch, Renee Ballard fan.
Library Loan
Library Loan
December 21, 2022
Harry Bosch Universe #36! it is so great to read a book by an author that has been writing novels for decades featuring the same character that is as good as the ones in the beginning of the series. Congratulation Michael Connolly for another classic Harry Bosch story. Easily 5 stars.
November 30, 2022
Michael Connelly’s continues the partnership of Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch and Renee’ Ballard, two of our favorite law enforcement officers. It has been a year since their last outing, “The Dark Hours” which ended with detective Ballard quitting the police force in an act of rebellion against the old boy’s political network and blatant sexism.
Now twelve months later Ballard has changed her mind after considering the personal offer she received from the chief of police, who offers her the opportunity choose any role she wants in the LA police department. That decision has led her to resurrect the same Open-Unsolved unit that Bosch used to be an integral part of. In addition, Ballard has reached out to Bosch and made him an unrefusable offer to join her team as a volunteer investigator.
There have been cases that Bosch has continued to work on, but none of them have haunted him as much as the brutal murders of the Gallagher family members – dad, mom, and two children – which has turned into his personal “white whale” hunt for justice. Earlier in his career, Bosch was sure he had the killer caught and while building his case, the suspect fled into hiding. Harry was never ever able to get enough evidence to charge and chase after the man he is positive committed the murders.
Now, Ballard promises Bosch that he can work on the family’s open investigation officially, if he will join her team and help her work on another politically charged open murder case that she needs his help on. It is the unsolved rape and murder of a sixteen-year-old girl committed back in 1994 and the reason it’s on the political radar is that her older brother, City Councilman Pearlman, has helped support Ballard’s drive to bring back the cold case unit and putting his sister’s investigation on the fest track was an expectation that came with his backing, which can easily be pulled if he doesn’t like investigative results.
Finding her killer is Ballard’s first priority, but finding the Gallagher family killer is Bosch’s primary focus. Still, he accepts her proposition and goes to work on both cases. Upon reviewing the old case files and some outside of the box creative thinking, they get lucky. Through DNA testing they find a connection to another killing with similar attributes, but no identity as to who the potential serial killer could be.
Ballard and Bosch will be forced to face new tensions, old resentments, and personal secrets that will drive Bosch to behave in ways that she never would have expected from him in the pursuit of two psycho killers that could create incredible political fallout and destroy both of their law enforcement careers.
In their last two books together, Ballard has taken more of the lead role and Bosch the supporting role. In this novel, Connelly flips the script and makes Harry the primary character. There are several reasons as to why this book is such a great read, but the first one is why Connelly choose to make Harry the focus point of this one. And to make matters worse, I am not going to tell you too much of why, other than his choice of aging Bosch in real time, has made Harry a reflective and more personal driven man who has regrets, and a willingness to take risks and sacrifices to get closure in the things that matter most to him.
Reading this book felt more like having a close friend share a very personal experience with you that revealed their inner self and strengthened your relationship with them. This felt very personal to Harry Bosch in several ways, especially in his relationship with his daughter, Maddie, and his on-and-off partnership with Ballard. Connelly masterfully weaves in the investigation casework, builds on the mystery elements, and thrown in surprising twists that all amplify what is going on in Harry’s personal life and the struggles he is working through to close a case with such meaning and importance to his work.
Connelly also continues to build on Ballard’s and Bosch’s unique working-relationship. Although still a bit rough in the personalities, their common bonds that bind them – being outsiders, extremely stubborn, and refusing to obey structured rules and policies – is what makes the partnership really work for me. Even with the contrasting differences in their ages and points in life, Ballard is a close reflection of what Harry was earlier in his career – rebellious, angry, and inflexible. However, Harry is a generation older than her, gained wisdom through his tough experiences, and become more of a mentor for other detectives. I especially like that Harry is training and influencing Renee Ballard because he sees a lot of himself in her. By mellowing out later in life (as well as being physically challenged), Harry’s able to help develop the next generation of law enforcement. I love seeing him pay it forward.
After finishing this novel, I found myself surprised and pleased that Connelly has been able to keep such a high level of quality writing. He’s been busy with the Amazon “Bosch” television series and his podcasts, while trying to maintain his daytime writing job, and all three areas are stellar productions. It’s pretty dang amazing in my opinion. And that doesn’t include his development of the Mickey Haller “Lincoln Lawyer” show currently in production with Netflix.
Quite simply, Connelly has become one of my all-time favorite authors, and by far one of the best, if not the best, crime fiction writer that I have had the pleasure to experience. Some writers are great with characters (Christie and Parker), or plotting (Baldacci), or locations (Child and Parker), and some are even known as great storytellers (King and Grisham). For me, Connelly is master of all – characters, plotting, and locations. He combines the three together in his own symphony of writing to create great suspense, memorable people, and classic crime fiction. And the kicker is that he’s done it at such an incredibly high and consistent level for over 30 years. As much as Bosch has aged, Connelly has only gotten better and better like a fine wine. Seriously. Talk about staying power and longevity…
Overall, the good news is this was another excellent Connelly novel. As was every one of his other novels. I challenge you to read Harry Bosch and not find yourself fully engaged in great reading. As Harry’s personal mantra states – “Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts”. When it comes to Connelly’s novels, I find that that they all do…
Now twelve months later Ballard has changed her mind after considering the personal offer she received from the chief of police, who offers her the opportunity choose any role she wants in the LA police department. That decision has led her to resurrect the same Open-Unsolved unit that Bosch used to be an integral part of. In addition, Ballard has reached out to Bosch and made him an unrefusable offer to join her team as a volunteer investigator.
There have been cases that Bosch has continued to work on, but none of them have haunted him as much as the brutal murders of the Gallagher family members – dad, mom, and two children – which has turned into his personal “white whale” hunt for justice. Earlier in his career, Bosch was sure he had the killer caught and while building his case, the suspect fled into hiding. Harry was never ever able to get enough evidence to charge and chase after the man he is positive committed the murders.
Now, Ballard promises Bosch that he can work on the family’s open investigation officially, if he will join her team and help her work on another politically charged open murder case that she needs his help on. It is the unsolved rape and murder of a sixteen-year-old girl committed back in 1994 and the reason it’s on the political radar is that her older brother, City Councilman Pearlman, has helped support Ballard’s drive to bring back the cold case unit and putting his sister’s investigation on the fest track was an expectation that came with his backing, which can easily be pulled if he doesn’t like investigative results.
Finding her killer is Ballard’s first priority, but finding the Gallagher family killer is Bosch’s primary focus. Still, he accepts her proposition and goes to work on both cases. Upon reviewing the old case files and some outside of the box creative thinking, they get lucky. Through DNA testing they find a connection to another killing with similar attributes, but no identity as to who the potential serial killer could be.
Ballard and Bosch will be forced to face new tensions, old resentments, and personal secrets that will drive Bosch to behave in ways that she never would have expected from him in the pursuit of two psycho killers that could create incredible political fallout and destroy both of their law enforcement careers.
In their last two books together, Ballard has taken more of the lead role and Bosch the supporting role. In this novel, Connelly flips the script and makes Harry the primary character. There are several reasons as to why this book is such a great read, but the first one is why Connelly choose to make Harry the focus point of this one. And to make matters worse, I am not going to tell you too much of why, other than his choice of aging Bosch in real time, has made Harry a reflective and more personal driven man who has regrets, and a willingness to take risks and sacrifices to get closure in the things that matter most to him.
Reading this book felt more like having a close friend share a very personal experience with you that revealed their inner self and strengthened your relationship with them. This felt very personal to Harry Bosch in several ways, especially in his relationship with his daughter, Maddie, and his on-and-off partnership with Ballard. Connelly masterfully weaves in the investigation casework, builds on the mystery elements, and thrown in surprising twists that all amplify what is going on in Harry’s personal life and the struggles he is working through to close a case with such meaning and importance to his work.
Connelly also continues to build on Ballard’s and Bosch’s unique working-relationship. Although still a bit rough in the personalities, their common bonds that bind them – being outsiders, extremely stubborn, and refusing to obey structured rules and policies – is what makes the partnership really work for me. Even with the contrasting differences in their ages and points in life, Ballard is a close reflection of what Harry was earlier in his career – rebellious, angry, and inflexible. However, Harry is a generation older than her, gained wisdom through his tough experiences, and become more of a mentor for other detectives. I especially like that Harry is training and influencing Renee Ballard because he sees a lot of himself in her. By mellowing out later in life (as well as being physically challenged), Harry’s able to help develop the next generation of law enforcement. I love seeing him pay it forward.
After finishing this novel, I found myself surprised and pleased that Connelly has been able to keep such a high level of quality writing. He’s been busy with the Amazon “Bosch” television series and his podcasts, while trying to maintain his daytime writing job, and all three areas are stellar productions. It’s pretty dang amazing in my opinion. And that doesn’t include his development of the Mickey Haller “Lincoln Lawyer” show currently in production with Netflix.
Quite simply, Connelly has become one of my all-time favorite authors, and by far one of the best, if not the best, crime fiction writer that I have had the pleasure to experience. Some writers are great with characters (Christie and Parker), or plotting (Baldacci), or locations (Child and Parker), and some are even known as great storytellers (King and Grisham). For me, Connelly is master of all – characters, plotting, and locations. He combines the three together in his own symphony of writing to create great suspense, memorable people, and classic crime fiction. And the kicker is that he’s done it at such an incredibly high and consistent level for over 30 years. As much as Bosch has aged, Connelly has only gotten better and better like a fine wine. Seriously. Talk about staying power and longevity…
Overall, the good news is this was another excellent Connelly novel. As was every one of his other novels. I challenge you to read Harry Bosch and not find yourself fully engaged in great reading. As Harry’s personal mantra states – “Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts”. When it comes to Connelly’s novels, I find that that they all do…
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