Desert Star: The Brand New Blockbuster Ballard & Bosch Thriller

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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! Last I heard, the Open-Unsolved Unit was canceled. Disbanded because it wasn’t as important as putting uniforms on the street.”

The tenth floor of the Police Administration Building was where the Office of the Chief of Police and most of the department’s commanders were located. I think Connelly is the greatest detective fiction writer out there right now. It’s the consistency; I’ve never been disappointed with one of his books. You’d think when he releases books at such a rate that there’d be a drop in quality - but his levels never dip. The crimes often reflect our changing world, and he’ll usually find a fresh twist. The lawyer,” as he is called in this wily debut from editor and litigator Dwyer Murphy, left his lucrative career at a high-profile New York law firm to make what he calls “An Honest Living,” and have less stress in his own practice. He’s actually looking forward to contract work and reviewing documents; certainly he’s not above doing the occasional odd job, no matter how small. Of course, when it comes to cold cases, there's no better man than Harry Bosch, he of the 'Everybody counts or nobody counts' mantra. Ballard has had these very words printed above the door in the unit, which she points out to Harry when she's showing him around. Because of course, Ballard needs him in the unit, as she knows his skills as an investigator. He's there voluntarily, but Harry is driven by a desire for justice, not financial gain. He's also haunted by what the calls the 'library of lost souls' - row after row of files containing unsolved murder cases. The characters were not themselves. It was like getting introduced to new characters. Both Ballard and Bosch take questionable decisions and behave like rookies.Renee has made a sign for the new Open-Unsolved unit with the motto "Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts." This was Harry's mantra, and he is irritated to see it on a sign.

Told with the same smooth prose that his fans have come to expect, Michael Connelly’s Desert Startwists and turns its way towards a gripping and thrilling final act that’s impossible to put down. While Connelly continues to build out Ballard, who may one day very well carry this franchise on her own, he certainly hasn’t forgotten about Bosch. Not only does Harry have plenty of screen time, but his famous creed, “everyone matters, or nobody matters,” is tested when he’d prefer to keep working the Gallagher case rather than divert energy elsewhere simply because of a powerful political connection. Moreover, the relationship (and trust) between Bosch and Ballard continues to develop too. It’s especially fun to see Harry’s low-tech, old-school approach versus Renee’s penchant to embrace technology and newer, cutting-edge forensics. The balance is nice, but more importantly, highlights how the two characters really are better together than apart.

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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. Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

Eureka!" Moment: Harry and Renee realize who did it when Hastings tells them he donated a kidney to his good friend, Ted Rawls.

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The lawyer, who mentions his name is similar to author Dwyer Murphy, makes a formidable hero whose intelligence never falters.