Wow! What a book! I couldn't read it fast enough. The tension and pace were absolute magic! Brilliantly unsettling, with characters so deftly woven that you never quite know who – if anyone – you can trust. Another riveting and powerful thriller from this talented author.

This book sees Bosch and Ballard work together again to solve cold homicide cases. Ballard has been given funding to create a new team of detectives to solve these crimes and Bosch is invited to join them. With plenty of twists and turns this is Michael Connelly at his best.

Michael Connelly can surely write gripping, action paced, and intriguing thriller. This one was excellent, a Bosch investigating cold cases and being part of a new team.
It's fast paced, I was hooked since the first pages and couldn't put it down as it's a page turner.
Loved the storytelling, the solid plot that kept me guessing and on the edge.
The characters are well developed and I loved their being human being with their faults and not perfect.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Many thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Michael Connelly for my ARC of ‘Desert Star’ in return for an honest review.

I have read all of Michael Connelly’s novels now and the Bosch character stays real and awesome. Although part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend reading the lot. You will not be disappointed.

This was another brilliant read. Renee Ballard is appointed head of the cold case team and insists she can recruit Bosch a a volunteer. There is the case that got away for him and she entices him back by promising him time to review it as well as all the other cases.

Well plotted, excellent characters, chilling scenes and so many twists. Loved it.

Highly recommended

"The Desert Star" written by Michael Connelly and published in Hardback And Kindle by Orion on 9th November 2022. 400 pages.
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1409186229


SOME CRIMES YOU CAN'T FORGET.
Detective Renée Ballard is given the chance of a lifetime: revive the LAPD's cold case unit and find justice for the families of the forgotten. The only catch is they must first crack the unsolved murder of the sister of the city councilman who is sponsoring the department - or lose everything...

OTHERS YOU CAN'T FORGIVE.
Harry Bosch is top of the list of investigators Ballard wants to recruit. The former homicide detective is a living legend - but for how long? Because Bosch has his own agenda: a crime that has haunted him for years - the murder of a whole family, buried out in the desert - which he vowed to close.

I thought the book was just so astonishingly good. I’m now determined to continue with Connelly’s books and I have bought Kindle copies of all those that I missed.

This very experienced writes a very exciting story which had me really gripped until the very dramatic conclusion. I enjoyed reading this very much and will certainly look out for more books by him in the future. Strongly recommended.

(Advance Reading Copy provided by Orion via netgalley in exchange for fair review)
he follows some leads on the original murder

Bosch is my guilty pleasure, there, I’ve said it. Whether he’s going solo, sparring with his half-brother Mickey Haller or, as in this case, partnering with Renee Ballard, he can do no wrong in my eyes. This time he’s been enticed into volunteering for the newly reformed Open Unsolved Unit in order to clear a particularly nagging unsolved case of his once and for all whilst battling local politics as well as police ethics. Reading Connelly is always an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

When Renee Ballard is given the opportunity to run the cold case department of the LAPD, there is one condition, she is to investigate the death of a city councilman’s sister. Ballard jumps at the chance. The department is staffed by retired law enforcement and volunteers and Ballard wants to add one more member - Harry Bosch.
With the chance to solve a case that has haunted Bosch for years, he knows this is something he can’t turn down.
With two cold cases to crack they dive straight in, and the results are something neither could have ever predicted.
Another brilliant Bosch/Ballard novel by the most consistent crime writer in the business.
Michael Connelly writes with a class and elegance other writers would kill for.
Desert Star was a pure joy to read and you’d be crazy to miss out.
Truly exceptional.

Michael Connelly has worked so hard and so astutely to keep his Harry Bosch police procedural series so fresh and a must read by adapting his main character’s role. Firstly as a detective, then as a PI before returning as an investigator into open cases and then in partnership with the wonderful Renee Ballard.

Desert Star is well up to standard - which means it is an incredible book - beautifully plotted and written as ever, but there is a feeling throughout the book of time being g short and of being rushed.

This results in Bosch taking more risks and cutting more corners than normal but he finally helps solve two horrific murder cases that had been unresolved for years.

The reason for his state of mind is revealed late on and all I can say is that I look forward to hopefully many more books in this unparalleled series.

If there’s one class of people Bosch would prefer criminals over, it would have to be politicians. But when Renee Ballard approaches him with an offer he can’t refuse, he puts that thought to the back of his mind.

For Jake Pearlman, a politician, has made it possible for Renee Ballard to restart the LAPD Open Unsolved Unit so that she can investigate the death of his sister. Sarah Pearlman was just sixteen when she murdered and her killer has never been caught. And there’s one person that Renee really wants working alongside her. Harry Bosch isn’t easy to persuade, but Renee knows that there’s one case that haunts him to this day; the slaying of the Gallagher family that he never managed to resolve. He’s pretty sure he knows who is responsible; proving it was a whole other matter.

Renee promises that he can re-open that case as well as working on the death of the Councilman’s sister is enough to lure Harry back to the cold case table. There are others in the cold case team too, though Ballard is the only current serving police officer – the others are retired and volunteers and include a genealogist and a former FBI officer. Some come with baggage that makes Bosch wary, so as ever, he is keeping himself to himself and not sharing much about his progress other than to Renee.

Michael Connelly is the master of making police procedurals authentic and in Desert Star that mix of professional detection and political interference is brilliantly achieved. Connelly draws a convincing set of characters and lets the different styles of interaction between Ballard and Bosch set up their own dynamic within the Cold Case Unit.

While Ballard juggles with bureaucracy trying to leverage money for the unit and keep the Councilman happy, Bosch is going his own sweet way, occasionally making sure he’s keeping Ballard happy – a task he doesn’t always achieve. Nonetheless they are clearly a team who work together on the same wavelength and their detection abilities complement each other very well. They are, quite simply, a team who know each other well enough to understand what the other is thinking and that’s a huge bonus, even when Bosch tests that relationship to breaking point.

The passage of time in cold cases is really helped by the advances in technology and so it proves with the case of Sarah Pearlman. But this is no academic exercise; very real danger threatens both Ballard and Bosch as they pursue the leads they have uncovered.

Desert Star is an emotional read and we find Harry pursuing the Gallagher case with an urgency that feels like the drive of a ferret pursing a rat. He will make sure he gets his perpetrator irrespective of the cost and eschewing the usual police proprieties.

Verdict: A strong, emotional and as ever brilliantly written police procedural that really hits the spot. Ballard and Bosch are a fantastic team and this is an unmissable contribution to the series.

Detectives Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard are back- this time Renee is running an unsolved crimes unit and she recruits retired cop Harry to be a civilian volunteer. There are two crimes being investigated- the first is the long ago murder of a young teenage girl who also happened to be a present day congressman’s sister. Congressman Jake Pearlman has resurrected the unit to try and solve the crime which has blighted his life.
The second is the murder of a whole family whose remains were found in the desert - one of Harry’s old cases which he was never able to solve.
The two strands of the plot fit together well and I was equally invested in both cases. Harry uses all his detective skills and even manages to get into one or two scrapes along the way despite his advanced years.
There is also a personal element to the story and the ending really left some important questions in my mind. I love Bosch and I hope there will be some more outings for him.
The plot is fast moving with a number of suspects identified but it takes the whole book to chase them down and get some closure for the victims’ families.
I liked the professional relationship between Ballard and Bosch- it was interesting to see Ballard’s personnel management problems within her unit and also the difficulties Bosch has being a team player, even for someone he respects like Renee.
This is definitely a well written and entertaining thriller by an author who knows how to maintain tension and construct a credible and engrossing plot.
I recommend “Desert Star” to all Michael Connelly fans and readers who enjoy great thrillers that ensure you don’t put the book down till all is resolved! Five stars from me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for my advance copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of Desert Star, the twenty fourth novel to feature Detective Harry Bosch and the fifth to feature Detective Renee Ballard.

Ballard recruits Bosch as a volunteer to the revived LAPD Cold Case unit. He returns on the understanding that he can pursue the Gallagher Family case where a family of four was murdered and buried in the desert. She agrees if he helps with the unsolved murder of sixteen year old Sarah Pearlman, who was the sister of the councillor who got the unit set up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Desert Star, which is an engrossing read with plenty going on and a mesmerising plot. It is told from the investigative point of view, so it is the straight out hunt for two killers, but that’s simplifying a complex read. Complex as in detailed, not as in difficult to follow.

I don’t really know how to explain the novel but I will say that I couldn’t put it down. I like cold case novels as there is something special about revisiting old investigations and finding fresh approaches or leads, because the investigators have something to start with and I always like a good moan, which inevitably happens on review. In this novel the cases are completely different, Harry investigated the Gallagher Family case and has a prime suspect, it’s just a matter of finding him and proving it. The Pearlman case is more taxing in that there are few clues until Bosch has a brainwave.

The novel is a mixture of procedure, politics and personalities. The procedure is ever present and a reminder of the professionalism of the department. Of course Bosch takes a more old school approach, using it when his eye is on the court case, disregarding it when it gets in his way. I found the politics fascinating, as ever the optics rule and everyone else has to kowtow although Bosch and Ballard have their own views and countermeasures. It made me laugh. I really like the setup in this novel. Ballard is finding management of a team harder work than she thought, while Bosch is the antithesis of a team player. There is exasperation all round but no one can deny the bond between them.

There isn’t much laughter in the novel, but there is the satisfaction of a job well done and some heartbreak at the end. The news is most unsettling, but typical of the author to throw in a wrench.

Desert Star is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Michael Connelly is a class act and this latest offering does not disappoint. Bosch finds himself with an offer he can't refuse : to work with Ballard in the newly established cold cases unit. Bosch satisfying wraps up a crime associated with the chief backer of the unit ... and then turns to a case that has haunted him for years. Can he legitimately solve it? Such a well structured and satisfying read with an explosive ending.

Bosch and Ballard are back. Put in charge of the newly revived cold case squad. There is only one person Ballard wants to help her, Harry Bosch. Between them and the members of the team they must solve the murder of a local politicians sister or face being closed down before they have really started. Harry has another case on his mind, This novel is a joy to read

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - you will simply have to read this for yourself!

As a long-time fan of Michael Connelly, I was delighted to receive an ARC of his latest "Bosch and Ballard" novel. I read it in a single day/evening as I could not put it down!

There is, as usual, great chemistry between Bosch and Ballard, and a very well thought out plot. The author displays his usual extensive knowledge of police procedures and the machinations of the political system, which adds greatly to the authenticity of his writing. Without giving anything away, Bosch displays his usual doggedness in pursuing the truth, and the action moves to different locations, including Key West.

My only sadness is that in this novel it becomes apparent that Bosch is getting older, but I still hope for many more Bosch novels to come! (pretty please Mr Connelly!!)

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Orion for my copy of #DesertStar by #MichaelConnelly.
Renee Ballard is given the chance to start up the LAPD cold case unit again and there’s one person she really wants by her side Harry Bosch.
The retired detective that everyone knows and fears, once he gets hold of a case he doesn’t let go, no matter how many years it takes.
And there’s one case he never got to solve. A terrific story with great characters.
Don’t miss it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoy the Harry Bosch series of books and this is an excellent read. We find Harry working with the cold case unit along with his ex partner Ballard. Harry is investigating the murder of 2 children and their parents, a case he previously investigated. The characters are believable, the plot was compelling right up until the last page. Fans will love it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What more can you say about Micheal Connelly and Harry Bosch?

Another masterpiece in crime writing from the absolute no1 in the world today.

There is no need for me to rewrite the blurb in this review, but I can say that the chemistry and relationship between Bosch and Ballard continues to create absolutely fine stories. I was very sceptical when Ballard was first introduced but alas the master knew exactly what he was doing.

There is no finer crime to be read, and as you can see I enjoyed this hugely.

5/5 Outstanding

For me, Connelly can do no wrong.

Bosch is just one of those characters who I just love and have grown up with and I can't believe he is getting so old.

Here, Bosch is invited into Ballard's cold case review team on the promise he can investigate the death of a family of four which has always haunted him. However, first he must help Ballard solve the mystery of a local councillor's sister whose case has also gone cold. This councillor has been prominent in the creation of Ballard's cold case team and failure to solve the mystery of his sisters death may mean the end of the team.

As always with Connelly the pace of the novel was excellent and he moves between both cases with ease giving them both space to develop.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Another masterpiece from probably the best crime author, ever!

Quite simply, one of Michael Connelly´s best yet! Absolutely loved every single minute of this. I didn´t want it to end. If I could give more than 5*´s I would!

YOU. SIMPLY. HAVE. TO. READ. IT!!!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Feedback for any Michael Connolly book has always got to be 100% positive, as they are an excellent read, with good strong characters.
Could say more about this particular title, but don’t want to spoil the read for others.
If you haven’t read any of the authors books, seek them out from the start and enjoy.