Renee Ballard is back. Brought back to the force with the promise of leading her own unit - the Open Unsolved Unit - and able to work with anyone she choses.

She turns to Harry Bosch who's life seems to be in the balance, perhaps she has saved him from his own self-destruction.

She lures him to the unit to help a current case with the promise of the ability to work a case he was unable to solve previously - the Gallagher Family murder.

Renee Ballard is working the night shift. It's New Year's Eve and it's not only fireworks taking to the skies at midnight. The firing of bullets has also become a recent craze.

And tonight there's a victim, but it appears unlikely to be an accident.

Mickey Haller the Lincoln Lawyer is back.

But from the get go, Mickey is in trouble. Pulled over by a single traffic officer for no apparent reason, the overly officious officer asks Mickey to open the trunk after blood is seen dripping on to the road.

Mickey knows it's going to be bad and that for some reason he has been set up.

Journalist Jack McEvoy is back.

It's been a few years now since The Poet and a couple of best sellers and he's now working for online company Fair Warning who investigate consumer protection issues.

He soon becomes embroilled in a murder investigation after police find out about his one night fling with a murdered woman.

This is a Bosch and Ballard detective thriller.

Bosch is loosely holding on to his connection with the force with a reserve officer status. He has also recently had an operation on his knee and has been diagnosed with an on the job illness. Ballard is working the night shift and sleeping on the beach during the day in her tent when she does take the time to sleep.