Book Review of DESERT STAR by Michael Connelly

DESERT STAR by Michael Connelly (Little Brown & Company, November, 2022) Hardcover, 391 pages. Harry Bosch series #24. Renee Ballard series #5.  

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

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).

 My Four Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

     How does Michael Connelly keep doing this - - - making police procedurals so damn interesting? It seems like since we turned the corner on the 21st century, Connelly's been doing this over and over again, especially in the Bosch novels and now the Bosch/Ballard team-ups. However, instead of becoming formulaic he always manages to add a new wrinkle or twist to keep readers engaged. I am convinced nobody is better at the police procedural. 

     But rather than a pretty conventional tale, Connelly blends in office politics and internal corruption within the law enforcement profession along with polarizing media-police administration tension.

     Plus, the most important thing that I admire in his work (along with several other crime fiction writers) is that his characters aren't stuck in a rut - - with every novel they age, learn from past experiences, get smarter as they grow physically limited, and continue to develop. You won't find more well-defined characters than Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard. Speaking of character development and characters aging - - - I'm getting a feeling that Harry Bosch may not be around for many more novels. He's never seemed older and/or ready to hang it up than in this story.

     Finally, Connelly is so good I can write a testimonial about his skills without having to write a single sentence of story synopsis. Try this, you will probably like it.