Pills and Proposals

Harry Bosch, retired and weary, contemplates his mortality, only to be interrupted by Renée Ballard, a former partner. She proposes he join her in a newly reconstituted LAPD cold case unit, leveraging his expertise to solve the unsolved Gallagher Family murders—a case that haunts him. Ballard, now in charge of the Open-Unsolved Unit, needs Bosch's help to justify the unit's existence and clear cases, especially the politically sensitive murder of Councilman Pearlman's sister, Sarah. Bosch, initially reluctant due to his fraught history with the department, is drawn back by the chance to pursue justice for the Gallaghers and the promise of purpose.

Cold Case Reborn

Ballard introduces Bosch to the new cold case squad, a mix of retired law enforcement, volunteers, and specialists in genetic genealogy. The unit operates out of a homicide archive, away from the politics of headquarters. Bosch is assigned the Gallagher case but must also review the Sarah Pearlman murder, which has political implications. The team's motto, "Everybody Counts or Nobody Counts," reflects Bosch's personal philosophy, but he's uneasy about the public display of what he considers a private code.

The Library of Lost Souls

Bosch immerses himself in the murder books, starting with the Pearlman case. The archive, filled with thousands of unsolved cases, is a "library of lost souls." Bosch is both inspired and burdened by the sheer volume of unresolved violence. He reviews the Pearlman files, noting the thoroughness of the original investigation but also the lack of leads. The case's only physical clue is a partial palm print on a windowsill, a frustratingly cold trail.

Everybody Counts

The team's work is shaped by the pressure to deliver results, especially for high-profile cases. Ballard juggles political demands, fundraising, and the need to keep the unit alive. Bosch is reminded that every victim deserves justice, but the realities of bureaucracy and politics threaten to undermine that ideal. The tension between personal conviction and institutional constraints becomes a recurring theme.

The Pearlman Connection

Councilman Jake Pearlman's sister, Sarah, was murdered in 1994, and the case remains unsolved. Ballard's unit exists largely because of Pearlman's political clout. Bosch reviews the case, noting the lack of DNA or fingerprint evidence, but is struck by the brutality and the possibility that the killer is a serial offender. The case's political importance means every move is scrutinized, and Ballard must balance investigative integrity with the need to appease powerful interests.

Desert Graves

Bosch visits the Mojave desert grave where the Gallagher family was found, reflecting on the enormity of the crime: an entire family executed and buried. The case is personal for Bosch, who feels the weight of unfinished business. He reconnects with Beto Orestes, the local investigator, and is reminded of the randomness and cruelty of the world, symbolized by the "desert star" flowers blooming at the grave site.

The Gallagher Family Mystery

Bosch briefs the team on the Gallagher case: Stephen Gallagher, his wife, and two children disappeared, their bodies found a year later. The prime suspect, Finbar McShane, an Irish associate, vanished after liquidating the family business. The evidence is circumstantial—a nail gun as the murder weapon, an excavator used to dig the grave, and a suspicious letter from McShane. The case is a classic "bust-out" scheme, but without hard evidence, McShane remains free.

The Palm Print Breakthrough

Bosch suggests extracting DNA from the partial palm print left at the Pearlman crime scene, a technique not available in 1994. Ballard pushes the lab to try, and they succeed in obtaining a DNA profile. The DNA matches another unsolved case: the 2005 murder of Laura Wilson, an aspiring actress. The connection between the two cases—eleven years apart, different victims, but similar brutality—suggests a serial killer.

The Volunteer Squad

The cold case unit is a patchwork of personalities: Ballard, the driven leader; Bosch, the haunted veteran; Masser, the legal mind; Hatteras, the empathic genealogist; and Rawls, a political appointee. Tensions arise over methods and priorities, especially when Hatteras reveals her "empath" abilities, unsettling Bosch. The team must navigate internal politics, personal beliefs, and the ever-present pressure to deliver results.

The Empath's Intuition

Hatteras, the team's genealogist, claims to sense truths about suspects and victims, leading to friction with Bosch, who distrusts anything unscientific. Ballard mediates, recognizing the value of both intuition and hard evidence. Hatteras's insights, though controversial, sometimes point the team in useful directions, blurring the line between rational investigation and gut feeling.

The Button in the Drawer

In Laura Wilson's apartment, Ballard finds a campaign button from Pearlman's 2005 city council run. The button, seemingly innocuous, becomes a crucial link: it suggests the killer may have encountered Wilson while canvassing for Pearlman. The team investigates campaign records, volunteers, and the possibility that the killer was someone within Pearlman's circle, raising uncomfortable questions about proximity and trust.

DNA and Deception

The DNA from the palm print and the urine at the Wilson scene points to a man with kidney disease. The team investigates medical records, searching for someone with a nephrectomy (kidney removal) in the right time frame. Suspicion falls on Nelson Hastings, Pearlman's chief of staff, who fits the medical profile and has a murky history. A covert operation to collect his DNA, however, reveals he is not the killer—but he donated a kidney to Ted Rawls, the team's own member.

The Long Game

The revelation that Rawls, a volunteer investigator, received a kidney transplant and matches the medical and genetic profile of the killer shocks the unit. Rawls, placed on the team by political fiat, has been hiding in plain sight, helping investigate his own crimes. The team scrambles to gather evidence, but Rawls, sensing the net closing, flees and ultimately dies in a confrontation with Bosch.

The Suspect Among Us

The fallout from Rawls's exposure is immense. The unit faces public scrutiny, political backlash, and internal soul-searching. Ballard and Bosch are forced to defend their choices, even as the media and department leadership consider shutting down the unit. The case becomes a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, the limits of background checks, and the unpredictability of human nature.

The Fox in the Henhouse

As the dust settles, the team discovers that Rawls may have been responsible for other unsolved murders, and that at least one innocent man, Jorge Ochoa, was wrongfully convicted for a crime Rawls committed. Ballard works to exonerate Ochoa, facing bureaucratic resistance and the inertia of the justice system. The case becomes a meditation on the fallibility of institutions and the importance of relentless pursuit of truth.

The Dumpster Dive

Bosch and Ballard, following a hunch, search dumpsters behind Rawls's business and recover a box of souvenirs—trophies from his victims, including a nightgown, slippers, and a bracelet. The items help link Rawls to additional murders and provide the evidence needed to free Ochoa. The search is both literal and symbolic: justice often requires digging through the refuse of the past.

The Final Confession

With the Rawls case closed, Bosch turns back to the Gallagher Family mystery. He tracks Finbar McShane to Key West, Florida, where McShane has assumed a new identity. In a tense confrontation, Bosch forces a confession from McShane, who admits to killing the Gallaghers. The encounter is fraught with moral ambiguity—Bosch, facing his own mortality, is willing to risk everything for the truth.

Ashes to Ashes

Bosch and Ballard return to the desert grave of the Gallagher family to scatter their ashes, fulfilling a promise and symbolically closing the case. Both are changed by the experience—Bosch, confronting his own impending death, finds a measure of peace; Ballard, inspired by Bosch's relentless pursuit of justice, recommits to the work. The desert star flowers, blooming against all odds, become a symbol of resilience and hope in a world marked by loss.

Characters

Harry Bosch

Bosch is a retired LAPD detective, defined by his deep sense of justice and personal code: "Everybody counts or nobody counts." He is haunted by unsolved cases, especially the Gallagher Family murders, and struggles with aging, illness, and the meaning of his life's work. Bosch's relationships are marked by loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice for others, but he is also stubborn, skeptical, and resistant to change. His journey in this story is both external (solving cases) and internal (coming to terms with mortality and legacy).

Renée Ballard

Ballard is the head of the Open-Unsolved Unit, a tenacious and resourceful detective who must navigate the politics of the LAPD, the demands of powerful stakeholders, and the complexities of her diverse team. She is empathetic but pragmatic, willing to bend rules to achieve justice. Ballard's partnership with Bosch is central—she admires his integrity but must also manage his rebelliousness. Her growth is seen in her increasing confidence as a leader and her ability to balance intuition with evidence.

Finbar McShane

McShane is the prime suspect in the Gallagher Family murders, a manipulative and cunning figure who disappears after the crime. His ability to reinvent himself and evade capture makes him a symbol of the unfinished business that haunts Bosch. When finally confronted, McShane's confession is chilling, revealing a capacity for violence and a lack of remorse that underscores the darkness at the heart of the story.

Ted Rawls

Rawls is a volunteer investigator on the cold case team, placed there by political connections. Outwardly affable and competent, he is ultimately revealed as the serial killer responsible for multiple unsolved murders, including those of Sarah Pearlman and Laura Wilson. Rawls's presence within the team is a devastating betrayal, forcing the characters to confront the limits of trust and the dangers of hidden evil.

Nelson Hastings

Hastings is Councilman Pearlman's chief of staff, a shrewd and secretive figure who becomes a suspect due to his medical history and proximity to the cases. His role as a gatekeeper and manipulator of information makes him both an obstacle and, ultimately, a source of crucial information. Hastings's willingness to sacrifice himself to protect Pearlman adds complexity to his character.

Colleen Hatteras

Hatteras is the team's investigative genetic genealogist, a civilian with a self-proclaimed gift for empathy. Her unconventional methods and claims of psychic intuition create tension within the team, especially with Bosch. Despite skepticism, her insights sometimes prove valuable, highlighting the interplay between intuition and science in detective work.

Jake Pearlman

Pearlman is a city councilman whose sister's unsolved murder is the catalyst for the unit's creation. His political influence is both a blessing and a curse, providing resources but also distorting priorities. Pearlman's personal grief and quest for closure humanize him, but his actions also raise questions about the intersection of politics and justice.

Sheila Walsh

Walsh is the former office manager for the Gallagher family business, holding key information about McShane's actions. Her fear, guilt, and eventual confession are pivotal in breaking the case. Walsh's story explores themes of complicity, survival, and the moral cost of silence.

Jorge Ochoa

Ochoa is a man imprisoned for a murder actually committed by Rawls. His case becomes a symbol of the justice system's fallibility and the importance of relentless investigation. Ochoa's exoneration is a bittersweet victory, highlighting the human cost of error.

Maddie Bosch

Maddie is Bosch's daughter, a young police officer herself. Her relationship with her father is marked by love, concern, and the tension between independence and responsibility. Maddie's discovery of Bosch's illness and his preparations for death add emotional depth and underscore the generational impact of trauma and justice.

Plot Devices

Cold Case Structure

The novel uses the structure of a cold case unit to weave together multiple timelines and cases. The interplay between old evidence and new technology (especially genetic genealogy and DNA analysis) drives the plot, allowing for the re-examination of past failures and the discovery of hidden connections.

Political Pressure and Bureaucracy

The unit's existence and priorities are dictated by political interests, especially those of Councilman Pearlman. The need to deliver results, manage public perception, and navigate departmental politics creates constant tension and shapes the characters' decisions.

Red Herrings and Misdirection

The narrative uses misdirection, especially with Hastings and Rawls, to keep both characters and readers off balance. The revelation that the killer is within the team is a powerful twist, forcing a re-evaluation of trust and the dangers of proximity.

Forensic Innovation

The use of new forensic techniques—extracting DNA from old palm prints, leveraging genetic genealogy—serves as both a plot engine and a commentary on the evolution of detective work. The tension between science and intuition is embodied in the team's diverse methods.

Moral Ambiguity and Personal Codes

Bosch's personal code ("Everybody counts or nobody counts") is tested by the realities of bureaucracy, politics, and his own mortality. The story explores the gray areas of justice, the limits of institutional solutions, and the necessity of individual conscience.

Symbolism of the Desert Star

The desert star flowers at the Gallagher grave become a recurring symbol of endurance, beauty, and the possibility of redemption in a world marked by violence and loss.

Analysis

Desert Star is a meditation on justice, mortality, and the enduring scars of violence. Through the lens of a cold case unit, Michael Connelly explores the tension between institutional imperatives and personal conviction, the power and limits of science, and the unpredictable nature of evil. The novel's central twist—that the killer is hiding within the team—serves as a powerful metaphor for the dangers of complacency and the necessity of vigilance. Bosch's journey, marked by physical decline and existential reckoning, is both a personal and professional odyssey, culminating in a final act of closure that is as much about his own legacy as about the victims he serves. The story's ultimate message is one of resilience: in a world where loss and injustice are inevitable, the pursuit of truth and the refusal to forget the forgotten are acts of defiance and hope. The desert star, blooming against all odds, is a fitting emblem for the characters' struggle—and for the enduring human need to find meaning amid the ruins.

Last updated: May 17, 2025