Dark Sacred Night

Connelly is slowly retiring the Bosch character, and has introduced the female night-shift detective Ballard in a couple of books. It gives him a chance to explore both ends of an officer’s career, the beginning and the end, from both male and female perspectives. OK, enough social perspective. This thing moves. Connelly runs three separate crime investigations, toggling from Bosch’s work to Ballard’s, and twists and turns in ways that make sense after the fact, but that Connelly never telegraphs. To Bosch fans, this is an excellent continuation. To never-reads, this is a great introduction to both characters. Connelly rarely disappoints. He certainly didn’t here.

Renee Ballard is working her usual late night shift when she finds a man going through files at the station. It turns out this stranger is Harry Bosch, a retired detective, who is working on a cold case that has turned personal. Ballard sends him on his way, but begins looking into the files Bosch was flipping through. Once she does, she becomes interested in the case too: fifteen-year-old Daisy, a runaway who was horrifically murdered, her body left on the streets. Ballard begins investigating the case as well, forming an alliance with Bosch and attempting to find out what happened to Daisy nearly a decade ago.

I was a little leery when I learned that Connelly was going to combine Renee’s story with my beloved Harry Bosch’s (let’s just say I love Bosch too much to share him), but this book was really excellent, and I found myself enjoying the two of them together. The narrative switches between Ballard and Bosch, so we still get to hear from each character separately: it’s just their stories and lives that start to overlap. This overlap happened pretty naturally, and honestly, their burgeoning partnership/friendship was fun to see. There’s a moment in the book when someone asks the pair how they want some files, and Ballard responds “digital” and Bosch, “print,” and we get a sense of the fact that–no matter how clever and similar they are–Bosch is truly our old school guy and Ballard is the new blood. So combining forces might not be so bad after all.

I love Harry Bosch. I’ve loved him for about seven years now, since I discovered this series, and I will always adore him, and I don’t like that he’s aging, and yeah. I’m attached. Reading his sections was like being back with an old friend. Connelly has Bosch’s character and voice so perfected by now. I don’t want to reveal too much, but this book ties back to the previous a bit (though it will work on its own), so we see Bosch struggling with some of the choices he made in the last book and figuring out exactly where he stands in his career. I won’t lie: it’s hard to see him age and even to be fallible.

I really tried to read this one slowly and savor it, as Connelly books (especially with Bosch) just don’t come along every day. I love how Connelly seems to know so much (e.g., police procedures, gang wars and rituals, even about surfing), but it never feels like he’s over explaining anything. Even better, you always get such a good story. I enjoy how he ties so many of his disparate plot pieces together, or comes back to something you think is totally unrelated. And there’s always some sort of recent pop culture worked in (a bit of the #MeToo movement pops up here).

There’s a lot going on this book–after all, we get cases from both Bosch and Ballard, plus their shared pursuit of justice for Daisy, but it all works in Connelly’s deft hands. He is the master of interlocking stories. Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I was fascinated to see Bosch and Ballard interact, and I was so glad to have another episode featuring my beloved Bosch. If you’re a Bosch fan, I think you’ll like this one. And if you just enjoy a good, well-plotted mystery, I highly recommend this one as well. 4.5 stars.

This one didn’t live up to the Harry Bosch standards. I think maybe it’s time for him to retire.

A great Harry Bosch novel. Action packed and fast moving.

In this latest addition to Michael Onnelly’s Harry Bosch series, Harry continues as a reserve officer and works on cold cases. A new character is introduced, Detective (Renee?) Ballard. This hard-driving junior detective has recently taken a hard career hit, when she places a complaint against her superior officer stating he harassed her with unwanted sexual advances. The complaint is reviewed by the police board and it cannot be determined in either’s favor. She is transferred to the night shift at an undesirable station while the senior office stays on and is even promoted. However, she has a passion for her work that can only remind the reader of Bosch, and she enjoys her new work very much. She involves herself in a cold case the Harry is working on, leading to much excitement and terror. I will not get into details but you get the gist. Looking forward to seeing these two together in future books or even (shocking!) Detective Renee Ballard running solo!

I loveall of Bosch’s books and this is no exception. Plus the addition of Ballard was great for the story line!

I read every Bosch book and now will follow Ballard. The combination of Bosch and Ballard is superb. I don’t want these stories to ever end!!!!! Please keep them coming Mr. Connelly

I enjoy Michael Connelly books very much. Have enjoyed all of his Bosch books and this is the second of a new series with a new character Ballard working with Bosch.

Michael Connelly simply doesn’t disappoint. The iconic Harry Bosch, the bulldog detective that he is, works well with the tough-as-nails addition of Renee Ballard. What a formidable team! Great hybrid mix of two characters you really want to see win. And they do.

I love the new character of Renee Ballard. Bosch and Ballard forge a partnership to solve a cold case however, there’s plenty of other action. I thought it was excellent. Michael Connelly is truly the king of crime fiction!