Desert Star

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Titus Welliver, Christine Lakin, Peter Giles

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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. Featuring a sneak peak of the first chapter from The Waiting by Michael Connelly.

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).

©2022 Michael Connelly (P)2022 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“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

Riveting

My favorite of all the Harry Bosch books.I got so involved with the characters and the story line that I could not put it down

Another great Ballard and Bosch

I looked forward to this latest Michael Connelly and if you loved the previous books with Renee and Harry you won’t be disappointed . Harry plays a bit of a larger role and is as tough and smart as ever . Excellent

not a renee fan

Maybe renee is better in print. In audible I find her whiney and an unsure of herself supervisor.

Goodbye Harry

Glad I spent many hours over the years getting to know and love Harry Bosch.

I Liked That!

I had not listened to one so well done. I’ve heard so many of the Bosch saga I wanted to be included in the endings.

Best Bosch Yet

I have read all of the Bosch books, watched all of the TV production and listened to all the audiobooks. Michael Connelly saved the best Bosch for last! (Well, it’s probably the last)

The Ballard addition

When Ballard was first introduced I was a bit skeptical to say the least, after listening to so many fantastic books with Bosch being the only main character. The first few books with Ballard and the double narrating took some getting used to, but finally it grew on me. I had been looking forward to the release of this book and Connelly did not let me down. Fantastic book in my opinion and I can’t wait till the next one is released. Seriously dreading the day that this series actually comes to an end. What a series!

Still going strong.

Loved it. Surprisingly fresh as well as entertaining and exciting. A satisfied Bosch fan after this perhaps final story.

Ceylon Mckinnis

Very sad about harry, I wish they could do a miracle and make harry okay again. What would happen to him, will there be anymore books with harry in them. I will truly miss him allot. Please don’t kill him off. I look forward to each and every book about harry. This just hurts allot to know that their will be no more stories written about harry bosh. We need harry. Give it five stars and I really love and enjoy the book. Renay and bosh work so good together and I was looking forward to reading more stories and cases they they would solved. Please Michael don’t do his to harry like this. Always want to read about Mattie and Haley and what would happen to Holler.

I listen to it in 2 long sessions!

I love Michael Connelly and all his books, stories and podcasts. This book didn't dissapoint. I started listening as soon as the book was available as I had ore-ordered it. I listening in 2 long sessions over 2 days. Now I'm sad it's over.
Harry Bosch is a character I wish would live forever, but it seems sadly that that's not going to happen. Until that time that his watch has ended though he is still solving murders, this time very cold cases and it's just so rewarding to watch/read/listen to him do it. His mind is still sharp and he can still hold his own against serial killers, recovering drug addicts and ex-cops.
Here's hoping Harry has several more cases in him, especially with Rene Ballard. I love their partnership. They work so well together and in this book their partnership gets stronger.
I love the performance too. I really enjoy hearing Titus Welliver as Bosch.