Revisiting the Cold Case: Harry Bosch's specialty. In this novel he's investigating two cases, the murder of a teenaged girl in 1994 and the murder of an entire family nine years ago. Bosch shook his head. He didn’t remember telling her that but he knew it was what he felt. It was what he had told his daughter when she was considering joining the department in the wake of all the recent protests and cop hate. Harry sympathizes with Jake Pearlman's desire to see his sister's murder solved, remembering how he investigated his own mother's death long ago. That was The Last Coyote. The story moves at a fast pace. I was engaged from the start. I appreciate that both characters continue to grow with each book. Harry is dealing with the issues that come with age. Renee is trying to figure out how to be a manager. It will be very interesting to see where Connelly takes this series next. No badge, no gun,” Ballard said. “But you do get that desk with the six books. When can you start?”

With 24 Harry Bosch books behind us we’re well aware that Bosch doesn’t play well with others. But with Ballard he’s about as much of a team player as he might ever be. When gets on the trail there’s little that will stand in his way and that’s part of what makes this such a compelling series - and has done over an extended period.Remember the New Guy?: One might think that the Gallagher Family case, Bosch's "white whale", would have mentioned a merit in The Burning Room, especially since Bosch's forcible retirement at the end of that book meant that he wasn't going to close it. Michael Connelly’s continues the partnership of Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch and Renee’ Ballard, two of our favorite law enforcement officers. It has been a year since their last outing, “The Dark Hours” which ended with detective Ballard quitting the police force in an act of rebellion against the old boy’s political network and blatant sexism. In their last two books together, Ballard has taken more of the lead role and Bosch the supporting role. In this novel, Connelly flips the script and makes Harry the primary character. There are several reasons as to why this book is such a great read, but the first one is why Connelly choose to make Harry the focus point of this one. And to make matters worse, I am not going to tell you too much of why, other than his choice of aging Bosch in real time, has made Harry a reflective and more personal driven man who has regrets, and a willingness to take risks and sacrifices to get closure in the things that matter most to him. I'm glad I've been with Harry Bosch the whole way through this mystery thriller series, (I think there's been 24 in all) and he's my favourite investigator in crime fiction and it's always a pleasure to catch up with him. The ending in this is particularly moving, and I won't say more than that.

Murphy, the editor-in-chief of CrimeReads who now lives in Miami, adds to “An Honest Living” the smell and feel of old books as well as a few well-placed crimes, such as conspiracy, which the lawyer says is sometimes “just another word for life carrying on without you.” But before he can get his hands on the Gallagher case he must help Ballard and the team on the Sarah Pearlman murder. Sarah was killed in her bedroom in the 90s. Her body was discovered by her brother who has since gone on to become an LA councilman. It’s his funding that has made it possible to reopen the unit. If you want it, it’s a done deal,” Ballard said. “I already cleared it before I came here. It’s a different captain now and different people. I have to be honest, Harry, not a lot of people there know about you. You been gone, what, five years? Six? It’s a different department.”

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Reading this book felt more like having a close friend share a very personal experience with you that revealed their inner self and strengthened your relationship with them. This felt very personal to Harry Bosch in several ways, especially in his relationship with his daughter, Maddie, and his on-and-off partnership with Ballard. Connelly masterfully weaves in the investigation casework, builds on the mystery elements, and thrown in surprising twists that all amplify what is going on in Harry’s personal life and the struggles he is working through to close a case with such meaning and importance to his work.

Eureka!" Moment: Harry and Renee realize who did it when Hastings tells them he donated a kidney to his good friend, Ted Rawls. Driven to Suicide: After trying to kill Bosch, Ted Rawls the Serial Killer shoots himself with his last bullet. Good,” Ballard said. “See you Monday, then. They’ll have a pass for you at the front desk and then we’ll get you an ID tag. They’ll have to take your photo and prints.”What kind of a detective is she?! Bosch always had a moustache, and she doesn't immediately realize that? I thought it was surprising after the last book and events described with everything taking place during COVID, a year later no one talks about shots, boosters, or is wearing masks. I went huh a few times about that. Also, there’s a smidgen mentioned about a DA that is not seen as being tough on crime being recalled which reminded me of the latest election in California, but that was it. The squad is being sponsored by Los Angeles Councilman Jake Pearlman, who hopes the cold case detectives will solve the rape and murder of his 16-year-old sister Sarah in 1994. Renée entices Bosch to join the cold case squad by promising he can investigate the Gallagher homicides, but she expects Harry to look into Sarah's rape and murder as well.

There are 2 old unsolved cases that Bosch are Ballard are pursuing. 3/4th of the book invested in the first mystery and the 2nd one was rushed. The identity of the killer of the first mystery was a big letdown (spoiler-y reasons in the comments). The ending of the 2nd mystery was clumsy. This is a somber yet excellent entry in the Bosch and Ballard series. We see Ballard dealing with the politics and stress that comes with being the boss of the cold case unit--including handling Bosch, a lone wolf for life. Bosch is in a bad place and also determined to solve the Gallagher case, no matter what. The cold cases Connelly presents are all intricate and detailed (as always) with his usual research and police authenticity.

Tropes:

Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch are reunited in this story when Renée asks Harry to join her in the newly reformed cold case unit where she is in charge. If Harry will join he can work a cold case that has been his white whale and have LAPD resources. A nice bone to toss his way since he is retired. I was put off in the beginning, when Renee has been talking to Bosch in her office, introduces him to their colleagues and THEN, belatedly realizes that he has shaved off his moustache! The lawyer, who mentions his name is similar to author Dwyer Murphy, makes a formidable hero whose intelligence never falters. There are many things I love about Connelly’s writing, but the key to what always gets me, are his characters – the way he matures them.