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She is the head of the LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit with five volunteers assisting her in the investigation of 6,000 unsolved murder cases. They clear about 3 per month. The volunteers collectively have experience in law enforcement, the law, genealogy and the internet. They are a formidable team.
In a current domestic assault case a routine DNA test on the accused, Nicholas Purcell, triggers a familial identification in the cold case of the Pillowcase rapist sought for 46 rapes and a murder. Renée has long been haunted by the murder, her first case as a homicide detective. The DNA shows he is the son of the rapist. Renée is startled to learn the son’s father is the presiding judge of the L.A. Superior Court, the Honourable Jonathan Purcell. The DNA results are a “hot shot” taking the case to the top of their cases.
On the side, Renée is pursuing a thief who stole her badge and gun and ID from her Defender while she was surfing. Her weak personal security was startling.
Her search for the thief takes her into a group of “Sovereigns” - Americans rejecting government authority. To aid her she enlists Harry Bosch, who is battling cancer. Renée and Harry amplify their individual rogue natures when they work together. Yet again I lament that the talented Connelly has the pair engage in blatantly unlawful actions as they pursue bad guys.
At the unit Madeline “Maddie” Bosch volunteers to work on the cold cases. She hopes such work will aid her efforts to become a detective. Striving to be her own woman she seeks out the position, not even wanting Harry to know she has applied.
Once aboard the “raft” - a collection of linked office desks and short partitions at the Unit that signify they are floating on a sea of unsolved cases - Maddie looks into the famed “Black Dahlia” case from 1947. Renée is very familiar with the case. A lot of America knows about the case.
With the public at grave risk and Renée at personal risk, Renée and Harry tipoff the FBI.
When the higher ups learn of the investigation of Judge Purcell they are queasy. Renée is on a short leash. Further DNA evidence startles the Unit and sends the investigation in a completely new direction.
Unexpected new information in the Black Dahlia case turns it into an active investigation. Suddenly they are looking for a serial killer almost 75 years after Elizabeth Short was killed. Maddie is a touch shaken.
All the members of the Unit contribute to the investigations.
The feelings of Caroline Hatteras about cases continue to drive Renée crazy. At the same time her internet skills at following genealogical trails are brilliant.
Having Maddie on the team frees Renée from having to do all the work that requires a badge. She can pursue leads personally.
As Renée closes in she returns to being a Lone Ranger. At least Harry did work with a partner. Harry’s role in the series is diminishing from book to book. Renée needs a partner. I can see Maddie replacing her father.
Unlike most police, Renée recognizes she needs help with the trauma in her life and sees a psychologist weekly as they dig down into her mind on why she has chronic insomnia. I believe there is significantly more to be learned about her psyche.
Renée is an interesting character but has only a token personal life in the books. While Harry did not have stable relationships he interacted with people and tried to have relationships. I hope Renée’s life outside the Unit is developed in future books.
Some events happened rather abruptly. Once again we learn little of the villain. The Waiting is a very good book but not one of Connelly’s best.
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I admit, Bill, that it bothers me a lot when fictional police go on those individual tangents with little regard for department policy and so on. And as I read your post, I wondered, too, about personal security. To be honest, I wondered about Renée's choices there. But the overall plot sounds interesting, and I do like Connelly's work, to the point where I'll forgive things in his books that I might not in others...
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