Library Limelights 306

Michael Connelly. Desert Star. Ebook download from TPL. USA: Hachette, 2022

Old friend Harry Bosch is still with us, albeit retired permanently from the L.A. police service; after all, in his 70s, he's not in the best of health. And yet―we know he won't refuse Detective Renée Ballard's invitation to join the new volunteer, civilian team for investigating cold cases. Space for their experimental unit in the Ahmanson Centre, L.A., is sponsored by Councilman Jake Pearlman, whose sister Sarah was murdered many years ago, case never solved. Pearlman expects the team to concentrate on Sarah's case first; each member is chosen for special skills. Paul Masser is a former D.A.; Tom Laffont is ex-FBI; Lilia Aghzapi was a Las Vegas cop; Colleen Hatteras is the in-house investigative genetic genealogist (IGG). Renée is not too happy with Colleen's hands-on psychic tendencies. Ted "Lou" Rawls, also an ex-cop, was chosen by Pearlman himself (Ballard thinks: to be a direct pipeline to the councillor).

The first new thing they uncover is that someone with the same DNA who killed sixteen-year-old Sarah, also killed Laura Wilson eleven years later. Laura may have a tenuous connection to Jake Pearlman's very first (failed) political campaign. Another cold case on their agenda that Harry especially advocates is for the Gallagher family. Mom, dad, their two young kids, brutally executed and buried in the Mojave desert. He's working that one at the same time until the Pearlman case ramps up to a striking conclusion. Not exactly a conclusion: how busy was the killer in the intervening years? Renée and her team have its work cut out for them with the potential to close more cases on that.

But Bosch has already gone his own way to confront whom he believes is the Gallagher family killer. His cell phone is somewhere in a car crash, unavailable. Daughter Maddie and Renée need to figure out where he is. Plenty of Connelly's twists and tension here, but it's plain that Harry's slowing down.

Bits

▪ "So, this genealogy stuff, how's that work?" (23)

▪ Before going once more into the abyss, he had to find his grounding in the case. The emotional core. (50)

▪ "You put a psychic on the team?" he said. "Are you kidding me?" (73)

▪ She knew that putting him on the team did not make him a team player. (119)

▪ "Don't you come near me, and don't you come near my son. I have a lawyer and he'll sue your ass till you have nothing left." (190)

▪ "We phony up an affidavit from Kramer." (258)

▪ Leaning back in his seat, he held the gun on his thigh. He had no idea what kind of confrontation was about to occur. (333)

▪ "I brought you onto the team and, what? In barely a week, you already got shot up and dinged up, plus your car's wrecked." (346)

▪ "My brother's gone," Oscar said. "And we don't talk to cops. Adios, puta." (433)

▪ "I saw you out there today, trying to look like a tourist in your cop clothes. I know tourists and I know cops." (483)

▪ "Sometimes you do the wrong thing for the right reason. And this was that time and this was that case." (499)

Elyse Friedman. The Opportunist. Ebook download from TPL. USA: Patrick Crean Editions / HarperCollins, 2022.

Ed Shropshire is an elderly billionaire, the kind of father whose autocratic ways exacted obedience from his three children. Middle-aged Ed Jr (Teddy) and Martin both work for him in different business aspects, prepared to take over from him in view of a recent mild stroke. A bit of sibling rivalry there. Daughter Alana long ago disconnected herself from him; in fact she has little to do with her brothers as well. She's proud to work for RedTree Shelter, processing domestic abuse victims.

But when they hear their 76-year-old father is about to marry his new 28-year-old nurse Kelly, it's conspiracy time. The sons are immediately suspicious, wanting to protect their inheritance from a presumed gold-digging interloper. Alana doesn't care what her father does, but her brothers promise her a great deal of money to approach Kelly with their proposal: an offer of millions to Kelly to disappear fast. Alana's not greedy; their payment to her for handling it would go a long way to improve life for her young daughter Lily, afflicted with muscular dystrophy. Away they all go, invited to dad's west coast island for a wedding "rehearsal" weekend.

Trouble's coming, right? Kelly will indignantly reject the proposal and start a battle, eh? Well, no, and yes. She's thinking about their proposal. Alana has some sympathy for the young woman. At their first meal together, everyone sees the affection between Ed Sr and Kelly. They also see that Kelly is inclined to drink a prodigious amount in the evenings. Ed is dependent on her for the timing of various medications. Martin's girlfriend, Gertrud, is thrilled with the luxurious environment, perfect staff, and gourmet meals. A flashback chapter on the life of Alana's mother, Kat, shows that Ed is not her biological father. Kat had two children before she met Ed Shropshire—but where is Lillian, Alana's older sister? Alana wants to investigate a heavy-duty safe on the floor in Lillian's old bedroom.

Taking a little cruise on dad's spectacular super-yacht is a dry run for the wedding service. However, by then the drama is in play and Kelly seems to be driving it. Until Alana changes the plot; a horrendous secret drives her. The raw material is juicy for a crime novelist and Friedman makes the most of it.

Bits

▪ "And am I to say goodbye, or am I supposed to just vanish into thin air?" (36)

▪ "But I guess it's a good sign that she didn't act all surprised and affronted." (38)

▪ "Do you people think I'm senile? I had a mild stroke, not a lobotomy." (51)

▪ "I'm not going to let you do that to an innocent woman." (118)

▪ She wanted to go back in time and not be a part of any of this madness. (136)

▪ "You know damn well that a naggy wife is really just a lousy husband." (176)

▪ It was her first loss and the idea that she would never again see Lillian was unfathomable. (187)

▪ Nobody in their right mind would challenge the colossus that was Edward Shropshire. Whoever tried would be either bought or destroyed. (192)

▪ She still felt strangely uneasy about involving Stephen but couldn't figure out why it wasn't sitting right. He had connections to higher-ups in law enforcement; it was likely the best way to go. (195)

▪ "Nobody's thinking straight today," said Kelly, kindly. "I think we could all use a drink." (232)