Desert Star

LAPD detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch team up to hunt the brutal killer who is Bosch’s “white whale”—a man responsible for the murder of an entire family. Discover more thrilling Bosch mysteries in the original Freevee series Bosch: Legacy.

A year has passed since LAPD detective Renée Ballard quit the force in the face of misogyny, demoralization, and endless red tape. But after the chief of police himself tells her she can write her own ticket within the department, Ballard takes back her badge, leaving “the Late Show” to rebuild and lead the cold case unit at the elite Robbery-Homicide Division.

For years, Harry Bosch has been working a case that haunts him—the murder of an entire family by a psychopath who still walks free. Ballard makes Bosch an offer: come volunteer as an investigator in her new Open-Unsolved Unit, and he can pursue his “white whale” with the resources of the LAPD behind him.

First priority for Ballard is to clear the unsolved rape and murder of a sixteen-year-old girl. The decades-old case is essential to the councilman who supported re-forming the unit, and who could shutter it again—the victim was his sister. When Ballard gets a “cold hit” connecting the killing to a similar crime, proving that a serial predator has been at work in the city for years, the political pressure has never been higher. To keep momentum going, she has to pull Bosch off his own investigation, the case that is the consummation of his lifelong mission.

The two must put aside old resentments and new tensions to run to ground not one but two dangerous killers who have operated with brash impunity. In what may be his most gripping and profoundly moving book yet, Michael Connelly shows once again why he has been dubbed “one of the greatest crime writers of all time” (Ryan Steck, Crimereads).

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Release date: November 4, 2022

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Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly's name has become synonymous with compelling crime fiction, capturing readers with intricate plots, morally complex characters, and a gritty exploration of justice. Born in Philadelphia in 1956 and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Connelly’s early career as a journalist gave him a front-row seat to the dark undercurrents of the world. His time reporting on crime for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times provided him with an unflinching look at human nature and the law, themes that would later define his fiction.

Connelly's debut novel, The Black Echo, introduced the world to Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch, a detective whose dogged pursuit of justice and personal demons quickly made him a standout figure in crime literature. Bosch, with his unyielding sense of right and wrong, would go on to headline over 20 novels, earning a loyal fan base and becoming the backbone of a series that is still thriving. Through Bosch, Connelly didn’t just craft crime thrillers—he explored the deep moral questions that lie at the intersection of law, power, and human fallibility.

The creation of Mickey Haller, the "Lincoln Lawyer," added another layer to Connelly’s literary universe. The character's ability to navigate the morally gray world of defense law from the backseat of his car brought a fresh perspective to Connelly's repertoire, and The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) became a hit, later adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey and a popular Netflix series.

Despite the popularity of his established characters, Connelly continues to evolve, introducing new voices such as Detective Renée Ballard in The Late Show (2017), a gritty, resilient woman whose journey reflects Connelly’s growing focus on diverse and multifaceted characters. The move from male leads like Bosch and Haller to a strong female protagonist demonstrates the author’s willingness to expand his narrative horizons, while staying true to the suspense and heart of his craft.

With over 85 million copies sold worldwide, Connelly's work has resonated across continents. His books have earned numerous accolades, including the Edgar Award and the prestigious RBA Prize for Crime Writing. But for Connelly, it’s not about the trophies or recognition. It’s about telling stories that keep you up at night, questioning what’s right and what’s real.

Beyond the novels, his books have been adapted into films and TV series, further cementing Connelly as a figure who bridges the worlds of literature and entertainment. Yet, through it all, he remains a storyteller at heart—constantly refining his craft, pushing the boundaries of his genre, and inviting readers into a world where justice is never as simple as it seems.

Through his work, Michael Connelly has not only mastered the crime genre but has shaped it, creating a universe where every case feels like a moral battleground and every character a mirror to our own struggles with right and wrong.