Harry Bosch teams up with LAPD Detective Renée Ballard in the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly.Detective Renée Ballard is working the night beat–known in LAPD slang as “the late show”–and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that … Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin.
Ballard can’t let him go through department records, but when he leaves, she looks into the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. She has never been the kind of cop who leaves the job behind at the end of her shift–and she wants in.
The murder, unsolved, was of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally killed, her body left in a dumpster like so much trash. Now Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy, and to finally bring her killer to justice. Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn.
Dark Sacred Night for the first time brings together these two powerhouse detectives in a riveting story that unfolds with furious momentum. And it shows once more why “there’s no doubt Connelly is a master of crime fiction” (Associated Press).
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Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly a five-star read that won’t let you go. I have been a long-time fan of this author and a huge fan of the Harry Bosch series but I will admit I haven’t read the last few as they seemed to veer of, I was apprehensive of reading this and I am glad I did as this was a compelling and creepy in the best way possible. It gave me Goosebumps as I sat reading it in the dark in bed. With two masterful detectives this could have been a clash of the egos but they seemed to complement each other in the end and fire off each other. This series has so much going for it and you can see the bones are great, I will say one thing you will learn lessons from this book, number one, always feed your cat. (When you read the story, you will know what I mean). Special mention to Detective Renee Ballard as she is a character who will show you the error of your ways in every sense.
There’s little doubt that Michael Connelly is a master of writing a compelling police procedural, but I think his consistency is what is remarkable (over twenty books and still going).
In “Dark Sacred Night” he brings together his most famous character, Harry Bosch, and a new young female detective, Renee Ballard. Ballard was featured in Connelly’s book “The Late Show,” which was good, but when he brings both of these characters together it’s magic. Harry Bosch, a man we know way too much about, becomes interesting yet again, and Ballard becomes more compelling than she was in The Late Show. As for the book itself, I read it one cold weekend in a northern Minnesota lodge between digging snow caves and cross-country skiing. The architecture of the book creates tension, and Connelly weaves together multiple different plots. Scenes initially dismissed as fillers become important, but it’s done well. The ending doesn’t seem forced or rushed. It was an excellent read!
I really enjoyed reading about Detective Renee Ballard in The Late Show. Now she’s partnering with retired Detective Harry Bosch in Dark Sacred Night. They’re working together on a cold case about a murdered young girl, Daisy.
Michael Connelly definitely can write crime fiction that is fast paced and keeps you riveted to your chair as you keep reading to see what happens next.
Based on the ending, it sounds like there’s a pretty good chance that there will be more collaboration with these two.
I always enjoy Michael Connolly’s police procedurals. I’ve followed Harry Bosch throughout his career. Now he’s almost at the end, but unwilling to quit. In Dark Sacred Night, Harry meets LAPD Detective Renee Ballard, launching the first book in a new series that will feature both characters. Connolly’s books have the ring of authenticity when it comes to the nitty gritty of police work. Lots of surprises, and great characters in this book. Recommended.
“Dark Sacred Night” by Michael Connelly is book two in the Renée Ballard series and twenty-one for Harry Bosch. I read the print book, but I also listened to the audio version with Renée narrated by Christine Lakin and Bosch voiced by Titus Welliver.
Lakin communicates Ballard believably, her determination, her curiosity, her frustration, and her dedication to her job. Ballard is a detective on LAPD’s late show, and juggles her personal life with her ever-changing caseload. One night she encounters an unknown man going through the files, retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch. Thus begins an unusual but focused association.
Titus Welliver narrates the Bosch chapters, but this is not the Bosch that Welliver portrays in the Amazon series. This is the Bosch familiar to readers. Bosch is older, retired from LAPD, working on cold cases as a “reserve” officer. Bosch has bad knees, broken relationships, unresolved issues galore, and a continuing determination to make everyone count.
The point of view of the narrative alternates between the two characters. Ballard manages her demanding and ever changing caseload as an LAPD detective. Her personal life is unsettled, and the only constant is her dog that spends Ballard’s working hours in doggie day care. Bosch works cold cases as a reserve officer for the San Fernando Police department, but he carries with him the weight of cases from the past. One of those cases is the brutal death of Daisy Clayton, a runaway. This case brings the two characters together.
One characteristic of Connelly’s books is a cast of fully developed, unique characters. Bosch and Ballard arrive on the pages with complex stories and complicated lives. We get to know both well. The two, while awkward and reserved at first, forge an unlikely partnership. Together they strive to solve Daisy’s murder; individually they struggle with complexities in their own lives. Nothing stands still in a Connelly book, and even Bosch has new revelations to drop on readers.
Connelly intertwines the complexity of detective work with the vulnerability of people and the determination of his characters. He pays attention to even the smallest detail, and creates a book that is well researched, grounded in real life, and captivating to read. The coalition of Ballard and Bosch seems to have taken root, and there are sure to be more appearances of this unlikely team in future books
Harry Bosch and detective Renee Ballard (introduced in “The Late Show”), join forces to investigate the nine year old “cold case” murder of Daisy Clayton. Daisy’s body was discovered in an alley, after being washed in bleach.
Harry is determined to solve the case as Daisy’s mother Elizabeth, a recovering drug addict, is staying in his home “temporarily,” much to the disappointment of his daughter Maddie.
Bosch also gets involved in a gang related assassination, which brings yet more action and intrigue into the mix.
Michael Connelly writes with his usual finesse, including lots of detailed police procedures and human interest.
I look forward to reading more on this detective duo.
It seems I’m always waiting for Connelly’s next release. Especially the Harry Bosch series. In the Dark Sacred Night, Connelly adds a character to Bosch’s series. LAPD Detective Renée Ballard, which adds a new and welcomed twist to the series. Having introduced Ballard in The Late Show, the combo of Bosch and Ballard works perfectly. Besides the fact that Connelly’s characters are three-dimensional, thus easy to see in the eyes of the reader. – the plots are feasible and challenge the amateur sleuth in all of us. Dark Sacred Night, as the others, is a page-turner, entertaining and very enjoyable read. I recommended.
Connelly never disappoints, and here’s a great example of why. Harry Bosch and Rene Ballard, Connelly’s badass female detective, team up to solve a cold case. There’s action and suspense, of course, made even more so because of the alternating viewpoints of the characters. But the best thing, IMO, is that Ballard is much more approachable than she was in her debut, The Late Show (although she was still a great character, Connelly seems to have hit his stride with her voice in DSN) There’s plenty for Bosch fans to enjoy, as well as a compelling female detective who breathes new life into the long running series. Pick up Dark Sacred Night. You won’t be disappointed!
Classic Connelly. The partnership of Bosch and Ballard works–two professionals with different perspectives. This fast-paced train ride had an unexpected villain. Bravo!
The first Detective Ballard book – The Late Show – was a good solid crime novel, although I’m not sure it got great exposure. An author who has an established character like Harry Bosch (and to a lesser but still successful degree, Micky Haller) will frequently struggle to establish that character on an equal footing as their earlier ones. But, with Harry aging in real time with the world in which we live, there will come a time when he has to be retired. A sad day for us all. I just hope it’s a nice retirement, not a bullet-inflicted one.
I had long assumed Bosch’s daughter, Maddy, would be the one to eventually inherit the mantle, and I still think that’s a possibility. Maybe a forensic pathologist?
Okay, enough about my hopes/predictions for the future of this series.
THIS novel pairs Ballard and Bosch. Bosch is still looking at cold cases for San Fernando and Ballard is still working nights – the “late show” as her solo title was called. They inevitably cross paths, teaming up to solve the murder of a drug addict’s daughter.
The drug addict in question has actually moved in with Harry as a lodger, bringing out his guardian angel syndrome and annoying his daughter greatly, thanks his desire to save everyone – or get them justice. His simple mantra is evident here: everybody counts or nobody counts.
And it’s a philosophy embodied by Ballard too.
But this isn’t simply two dogged detectives chipping away at a case. As with all Michael Connelly’s books, there’s a realism that is always fascinating, if a little distracting. And distracting for the characters too, which adds to the brilliance of his novels.
Unless it’s a huge, HUGE case, no detective investigates only one crime, and this is shown clearly as Ballard solves (I think) three crimes while partnering with Bosch on his cold case, each crime showcasing a different quality in Ballard – deductive reasoning, dogged persistence, and knowledge of the law (and her ability to apply it to a given situation). At the same time, Bosch is involved in a drug cartel slaying, which places him in more danger than usual. But always, the novel continues working toward the conclusion of that murder from nine years ago.
Quick sidebar re my hopes for this series – I expect more Ballard and Bosch books, with Ballard easing into the spotlight to become Connelly’s primary character. Possibly partnering with Maddy eventually? Maddy in forensics, Ballard on the street? Could be cool.
Just one request – let’s PLEASE not kill Bosch off in cheap way. Even if you have to make him leave the scene in witness protection – in Bali, or somewhere nice like that. But, preferably, have him retire on his own terms. We may have to face his passing eventually – assuming Connelly doesn’t retire himself – but I’d far prefer Bosch to go peacefully in his old age than become the subject of an investigation himself.
Oh, yeah, I was talking about the book. It’s good. Read it 🙂
I won’t go so far as to call it great. Connelly spends the first third of the book intertwining two characters. This is boring and predictable. I mean who else would be pawing around in file drawers where he doesn’t belong late at night but Harry Bosch? The events and clues unfold in an interesting but not exciting way.
Bosch, according to the story, is 68 and his new partner Ballard is 30ish. Aside from the fact that her character was designed to land a TV show (30ish single female who liked to paddleboard all day … sounds like a girl in a bikini to me), Ballard is a good replacement for the aging detective. Especially since this long time reader is tired of his horror-movie mistakes. (Don’t go into the dark house alone after you’ve had a death threat delivered via cell phone, Harry. Wait for backup! Please. Oh well.)
But, if you like Connelly, you’ll like this continuation of the long running thread. Reliable, not new.
4.5s!
In Dark Sacred Night LAPD Detective Renée Ballard returns to her Hollywood office at the end of the night shift to find a stranger rifling through old case files – retired detective Harry Bosch. Bosch is looking into a cold case. Detective Ballard sends Bosch on his way, then reviews the case file and decides she wants to be involved. She joins forces with Bosch and together they investigate the unsolved murder of a 15-year-old runaway. From there the investigation takes a number of dark twisted turns. Another wonderful Michael Connelly read.
I don’t usually read hard boiled mysteries and detective fiction, but I have read all of Michael Connolly‘s Harry Bosch books and most of the others. DARK SACRED NIGHT alternates points of view between Harry Bosch and Connolly’s newer character, Renee Ballard. Harry Bosch may be growing gray and gimpy, but he hasn’t lost his powerful drive to avenge the underdogs who need him most. Ballard is a perfect foil – damaged, misunderstood, and loaded with heart. Connolly also does a stellar job of exploring the tensions women face when they call a man on his behavior in a man’s world. I enjoyed the book very much. The only thing that really bothered me was that the characters work the night shift and never sleep!
Vintage Connelly, mixing his veteran hero, Harry Bosch, with his newest protagonist, Renee Ballard. Highly enjoyable
This writer can do no wrong
A perfect continuation of the ballard character and mixing Bosch is just icing on the cake, hopefully more to follow of this combination of characters
This is one of his better ones. It has more depth and details and reminded me of the old Wambaugh books. You don’t want to miss this one.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
Probably not one of Mr Connolly’s best but still better than anything else…
Love my Michael Connelly. I read everything MC has written during the shut down. This is another winner. Recommended.