Michael Connelly started the Harry Bosch series in 1992 and the Bosch  character has now appeared in 23 books.   The latest book (2022) features Bosch and Renee Ballard (5 books) working cold cases in Los Angeles.   All of the books are police/detective procedural stories.    In this book, there are two cases on the desk, one which follows forensic clues to catch a serial killer, and one is an old case of Harry’s, trying to track down a suspected killer, for murders that had haunted him for decades.   Both crime stories provide lots of twists and turns, action, and intrigue, bringing the pace of the story to the tempo of a thriller.

I have read all the Bosch, Ballard, and Mickey Haller books (all 3 characters appear in this novel) and this book is one of the better ones in the Connelly  bibliography.    Bosch is a memorable character, now at the end of his career, an old friend still fighting for justice – “Everyone counts or no one does.”

At the spot where a family was buried in shallow graves, he finds desert stars blooming:

“Hard to believe something so beautiful can exist in this place,” he said. “And people say there is no God. You ask me, there’s God right there.”

He turned the stem between his fingers, and the flower turned like a pinwheel.

“You know what that is?” Bosch asked.

“Sure,” Orestes said. “This one’s called the desert star.”

Bosch nodded. He wasn’t convinced it was God on earth, but he liked that.

The flowers represent hope and Bosch will continue to fight for justice, no matter the cost. and as readers, we are always happy to follow his dogged pursuits of the bad guys.    A recommended series and a good book for a winter’s read. 4.4 out of 5.0 stars4.4