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Desert Star (Renée Ballard Book 5) by [Michael Connelly]

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Michael Connelly

Desert Star (Renée Ballard Book 5) Kindle Edition

by Michael Connelly (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 47,715 ratings

Book 5 of 5: Renée Ballard

Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

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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.

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).

Book 5 of 5

Renée Ballard
Print length

401 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Little, Brown and Company
Publication date

November 8, 2022
File size

580 KB
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Popular Highlights in this book

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He had lost much of his faith in the goodness of people. To him the violence wasn’t the departure from the norm. It was the norm.
Highlighted by 316 Kindle readers
McShane had wiped out the whole Gallagher family in 2013 and buried them in the desert.
Highlighted by 297 Kindle readers
Beto Orestes was the Inyo County investigator who first responded to the call about bodies being found in the desert eight years before.
Highlighted by 265 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Desert Star by Michael Connelly book cover imagery

Lincoln Lawyer books from Michael Connelly as adapted into Netflix series

Read more Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch Novels


	The Dark Hours	The Night Fire	Dark Sacred Night

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Desert Star:

“Thrilling… Both cases require deep dives into the past; both lead to great action scenes; and, as always, Connelly displays his encyclopedic knowledge of the latest forensics… Bosch, however, takes a low-tech approach and follows leads in the field with his trademark intensity, driven by his desire to restore order in a violent world… [Desert Star] ranks up there with Connelly’s best.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will be glad to know that Connelly is still bringing the same intensity and atmosphere to his iconic series.”—Crimereads

Praise for The Dark Hours:

“One of this month’s best thrillers… Ballard and Bosch are a great combination as they work in and around a police force that Ballard believes too often aims to ‘protect and serve the image instead of the citizens.’”—Richard Lipez, Washington Post

“A thoroughly engrossing procedural… The Dark Hours offers plenty of shocking scenes and clever surprises."—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

“Outstanding… Connelly is the most consistently superior living crime fiction author. The Dark Hours just reinforces that.”—Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel

“Extraordinary… [Connelly] is one of the best in the business at writing about investigations and creating intense suspense, but the relationship between Ballard and Bosch—a professional friendship that grows out of two brilliant minds dedicated to the same difficult but important work—is the cherry on top.”—Collette Bancroft, Tampa Bay Times

“Connelly is sharp as ever... his stories always manage to explore another piece of the city’s soul."—Crimereads

About the Author

Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-six previous novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers The Dark Hours and The Law of Innocence. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than eighty million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He is the executive producer of three television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He spends his time in California and Florida.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09QKSLPN9
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company (November 8, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 580 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 401 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,162 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #10 in Women's Adventure Fiction (Books)
- #12 in Crime Action & Adventure
- #18 in Crime Action Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 47,715 ratings

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Michael Connelly

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Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty-five million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, The Black Echo, won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly's 1998 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, The Lincoln Lawyer, hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. His most recent New York Times bestsellers include Desert Star (2022), The Dark Hours (2021), The Law Of Innocence (2020), Fair Warning (2020), and The Night Fire (2019). Michael is the executive producer of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime/Amazon Freevee. He is the executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. He is also the executive producer of the documentary films, "Sound Of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story' and 'Tales Of the American.' He spends his time in California and Florida.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

47,715 global ratings

5 star		77%
4 star		18%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Yoru

Wow !

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 1, 2023

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I have read this entire series now and must say it is a must read for mystery lovers ! Character development is top notch and keeps you psychologically invested in them and their endeavors. I hope there's a number six in the works !!!!

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Misha Davidavich

Harry Bosch at His Best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 27, 2022

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I mostly read thrillers. I dabble in some sci-fi, some of it space war trash, some of it recent like Axiom's End and the Area X trilogy. A couple of years ago I broke down and back filled all those Dune books that Brian Herbert wrote from daddy's cache of unfinished drafts and outlines (wink wink). But mostly I read thrillers like all the different David Baldacci series's, the first few Brad Thor books until his reactionary politics started to be the point instead of beside the point. Matt Greaney's [Gray Man] books, the Terminal List books. I've read classics like LeCarre, Fredrick Forsythe, lots of Elmore Leonard in the '80s and '90s, and even a couple of Bond books. Did I mention nearly everything by Stephen King?

But my regulars are Nelson DeMille, James Lee Burke (father was a Burke fan, Dave Robochaux and the westerns), Baldacci as already mentioned, and Michael Connelly. I've read all the Harry Bosch books, the Lincoln Lawyer books, the Bosch _AND_ Mickey Haller books, and now that Bosch is getting a little long in the tooth, the Ballard books plus the standalones like the Poet books and the Bloodwork books.

All this not to boast but to establish my bona fides.

When I say I know something about Connelly (if you assume I've seen the Bosch shows on Amazon and on FreeTV you'd be right) and Bosch, I do. One of the touches Burke did to Robochaux and Connelly has done to Bosch is to age the protagonist. As the author has aged so has the protagonist, in this case Bosch. Connelly's in his 70s and so is Bosch. Plus a medical condition that was in a book a decade ago (and BTW the Amazon series as well) came back to bite Harry a couple of books ago and is gnawing his bones. And that's okay, it adds verisimilitude. That and the few steps behind Bosch is showing. It would be a little preposterous for Harry to be the same tunnel rat today he was in 'Nam. This Bosch is almost current with 2022: LA is trying to recover from Covid, there's a recall election in the DA's office, and though he's back working cold cases for LAPD, he's fully retired (it says so on his badge) and working for Renee Ballard as a civilian volunteer.

Though he's physically past his prime, Harry is as tough and smart as ever.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

13 people found this helpful

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Deborah Fitzgerald

solutions

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 16, 2023

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Renee Ballard has opened an unsolved unit and asks Harry to help with a case. Harry agrees but his focus is on an unsolved case of his own. A family of four was murdered and the killer disappeared. Working with Renee on the first case to it’s solution he is finally able to try to put the family in the closed case file even if doing so may not be exactly by the book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 30, 2023

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I have enjoyed reading every book in the Bosch series. This one was no exception. It was fast and held my attention till the last page. I will miss Harry but look forward to a Renee Ballard series. Excellent writing great stories always.

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George P. Wood

End of the Line for Harry Bosch?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 18, 2022

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Harry Bosch is getting old. To be precise, he is 72 years old in 2022, when the events in Desert Star take place. His motto has always been, “Everybody counts or nobody counts. This is the driving force in his pursuit of justice for victims. But how long can he keep going?

That’s the question I had in mind when I cracked open the latest installment in Michael Connelly’s long-running series of crime novels featuring Bosch. Connelly debuted the character in 1992’s The Black Echo, I discovered the Bosch series in 2015, and I have been a huge fan ever since. (The television show is also very good.)

With Bosch, Connelly has created a Los Angeles-centric universe of characters who interact with one another, such as Mickey Haller (the “Lincoln lawyer” and Bosch’s half-brother) and Renee Ballard (Bosh’s erstwhile partner). As Bosch ages, Connelly is able to shift the focus from him to these other characters. Because fans are already invested in them, they find it—I find it—easy to pick up the new books.

This is especially true as some of the protagonists in my other favorite series age. Jack Reacher is too old to be homeless in America. Walt Longmire—who’s older than Bosch—is too old to be running around the Rez. And Gabriel Allon—who’s contemporary to Bosch—has retired from Mossad. What do you do with these beloved characters?

Connelly has solved that problem by moving Bosch into a secondary position as a supporting character to LAPD Detective Renee Ballard. In Desert Star, she runs the reconstituted Open-Unsolved Unit that tries to close cold cases. With Bosch as her first choice, she has created a volunteer group to sift through cold cases and use DNA or other new developments solve old murders. The team includes another retired (but lazy) LAPD officer, a retired deputy DA, a retired FBI agent, and an investigative genetic genealogist with a penchant for the psychic realm.

Desert Star focuses on two cases. The first is the 1994 murder of Sarah Pearlman, sister of LA City Councilman Jake Pearlman, who has been instrumental in restarting the Open-Unsolved Unit, and who expects his sister’s case to be prioritized.

The second is the Gallagher Family case, the 2013 murder of Dad, Mom, and two kids. Bosch worked the case and identified a suspect, Finbar McShane, but the case went cold long before he retired. It’s the one that got away.

Connelly’s plot is a slow burn, with the major action reserved for near the end of the book. It’s a classic police procedural. The plot twists and turns as new evidence and new insights about old evidence lead readers to the book’s denouement, which hits close to home.

Bosch has often been in perilous, even life-threatening situations, but this is the first time I genuinely worried for him in the years I’ve been reading the series. Is this the end of the line for Harry Bosch? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out.

Whether or not it is, however, I’m glad that Connelly had the foresight to introduce Renee Ballard in the Bosch literary universe several years ago. She’ll carry on when Harry can’t. I enjoyed Desert Star, and I’m looking forward to the next novel.

55 people found this helpful

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South Florida Amazon Fan

Still good

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 3, 2023

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After all the books in this series, still well written story lines and characters you care about. I’ll will definitely miss Bosch.

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Amazon Customer

Connelly doesn’t disappoint

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 15, 2023

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The book follows two story lines that are well developed and interesting. I would love to see more on the Mickey Haller story that picks up where this ended with Mickey and Jorge so that story can be concluded. The book had a satisfying ending. Great read!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2023

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If this becomes the last Ballard and Bosch partnership, then this was a great way to end! This is a great series and I truly enjoyed all five books! You will love them also!!

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Dave

Up to standard

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 2, 2023

Verified Purchase

If you like Michael Connelly novels, then you will probably enjoy this. It is in his usual style and up to standard.

Tham Chee Wah

A kickass super sleuth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

This was an amusing read, more for its characters and the plot. As a reader, the more I get to know Bosch, the detective (retired), the more I liked him. He is the quieter version of Bruce Willis in Die Hard. But as pigheaded.

Bosch did what he came to do first, no nonsense, straight to the point and without regrets. Even with an injured knee, he could limp his way to get the work done.

My first Bosch’s thriller, but my second Connelly. I’m going to read more.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Favourite Author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

I have read all this Authors books and if this was the last one I will start and read them all again. This book does not disappoint very exciting although sad that Boch is not in good health. Ballard is proving to be a good side kick to Boch

One person found this helpful

easyreader

Same old

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

The relationship between Bosch and Ballard hasn't evolved, and the plot ground on without relief. The blurb was misleading--the main investigation had few shining moments and the secondary closure felt forced and rushed. The dangling threads were annoying and served no purpose. There was little opportunity to engage with the antagonists which might have better fleshed out the read, instead of it falling flat. I never begrudge paying for a book and nor do I return one that I didn't care for, but $18.99 is pricey for what should have been more from an author of this caliber. Three stars for the plot twist and editing, but I won't be reading any more Ballard/Bosch.

One person found this helpful

Juergen H.

Ballard wird konventionell und austauschbar

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on February 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

Das neue Setting wird mit wenigen Worten begründet und es passt leider nicht so recht zu den vorherigen Stories. Die beiden Kriminalfälle sind routiniert runtergeschrieben aber auch nicht sehr kreativ. Die Figur Renee Ballard ist diesmal mehr eine austauschbare Standardnebenrolle in einer Harry Bosch Story, das ist sehr schade.

Insgesamt eines der schwächsten Bücher von M. Connelly.

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