2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

Harry Bosch is back as a volunteer working cold cases for the San Fernando Police Department and is called out to a local drug store where a young pharmacist has been murdered. Bosch and the town's 3-person detective squad sift through the clues, which lead into the dangerous, big business world of pill mills and prescription drug abuse.

Meanwhile, an old case from Bosch's LAPD days comes back to haunt him when a long-imprisoned killer claims Harry framed him, and seems to have new evidence to prove it. Bosch left the LAPD on bad terms, so his former colleagues aren't keen to protect his reputation. He must fend for himself in clearing his name and keeping a clever killer in prison.

The two unrelated cases wind around each other like strands of barbed wire. Along the way Bosch discovers that there are two kinds of truth: the kind that sets you free and the kind that leaves you buried in darkness.

Part One - Cappers
Chapters 1 - 21

Part Two - The South Side of Nowhere
Chapters 22 - 35

Part Three - The Intervention
Chapters 36 - 44

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Harry Bosch: Former LAPD detective in the Open-Unsolved Unit who was recently forced into retirement. He sued the department and his brother, Mickey, represented him to a settlement. He’s now a detective in the San Fernando Police Department reserve unit, working part time to supplement their staff shortages due to budget cuts. He’s raising his teenage daughter, Maddie.
Madeline (Maddie) Bosch: Harry’s 18-year old daughter who is in college.
J. Michael (Mickey) Haller: Defense attorney who operates out of his Lincoln town car. He has been married and divorced twice, and has a young daughter, Hayley, from his first wife.
Dennis (Cisco) Wojciechowski: Mickey’s investigator. He’s married to Lorna.
Lorna Taylor: Mickey’s ex-wife and office manger. She’s married to Cisco.
Anthony Valdez: San Fernando police chief.
Trevino: San Fernando police captain and head of the detective unit.
Bella Lourdes: San Fernando detective and CAPS (crimes against persons) investigator.
Danny Sisto: San Fernando detective and CAPS (crimes against persons) investigator.
Oscar Luzo: Recently promoted San Fernando detective.
Lucia Soto: Harry’s former partner.
Bob Tapscott: Lucia’s partner.
Jerry Edgar: Bosch’s former partner. He’s now the investigator for the state medical board.
Alex Kennedy: Deputy district attorney.
Danielle Skyler: Aspiring actress murdered by Preston Borders.
Dina Skyler: Danielle’s younger sister.
Donna Timmons: Murder victim Harry suspected was killed by Preston Borders.
Vicki Novotny: Murder victim Harry suspected was killed by Preston Borders.
Preston Borders: Death row murderer Harry put away 30 years ago. He was convicted of killing Danielle Skylar.
Lance Cronyn: Preston’s current attorney.
David Siegel: Preston’s original defense attorney.
Kathy Zelden: Foreclosure attorney.
Lauren Sachs: aka Sexy Sachy. Private investigator Mickey sometimes uses to serve subpoenas.
Lucas John Olmer: Convicted rapist whose DNA was
recently found on Danielle Skyler. He died in prison three years ago.
Gabe Menendez: San Quentin investigator.
Amanda Margot: Actress and former friend of Danielle’s.
Terrence (Terry) Spencer: Property clerk.
Houghton: Judge presiding over the Borders hearing.
Gooden: Coroners investigator.
Sanders: Coroners investigator.
José Esquivel, Sr.: Pharmacist who was murdered in his store along with his son.
José Esquivel, Jr.: Pharmacist working with his father. He was also murdered in the store.
Ted O’Connor: Air traffic controller at the Whiteman airfield.
Charlie Hovan: DEA agent.
Santos: Key figure in the pill mill organization.
Ivan: aka Dimitri Sluchek. Name Harry gives to one of the two Russians running the pill scam.
Igor: Name Harry gives to one of the two Russians running the pill scam. Turns out that was his real name (Igor Golz).
Elizabeth Clayton: One of the pill shills Harry met while undercover.
Daisy Clayton: Elizabeth’s daughter who was murdered.
Brody: One of the pill shills.
Ali Rohat: aka Chemical Ali. He runs a health clinic, Sherman Health and Med.
Efram Herrera: Retired pharmacist.
David Ramsey: LA Times reporter.
Esme Tavares: Missing persons cold case Harry continues to work.
Frank Sheehan: Bosch’s partner during the Skyler investigation almost 30 years ago.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Kathy Zelder is married to Lance Cronyn.

Turns out Esme wasn’t abducted and killed. She ran away from her husband, leaving her child behind. (hide spoiler)]