#1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly introduces Renee Ballard, a fierce young detective fighting to prove herself on the LAPD’s toughest beat–the Late Show.Renee Ballard works the midnight shift in Hollywood, beginning many investigations but finishing few, as each morning she turns everything over to the daytime units. It’s a frustrating job for a once up-and-coming detective, … job for a once up-and-coming detective, but it’s no accident. She’s been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.
But one night Ballard catches two assignments she doesn’t want to part with. First, a prostitute is brutally beaten and left for dead in a parking lot. All signs point to a crime of premeditation, not passion, by someone with big evil on his mind. Then she sees a young waitress breathe her last after being caught up in a nightclub shooting. Though dubbed a peripheral victim, the waitress buys Ballard a way in, and this time she is determined not to give up at dawn. Against orders and her partner’s wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night.
As the investigations intertwine, Ballard is forced to face her own demons and confront a danger she could never have imagined. To find justice for these victims who can’t speak for themselves, she must put not only her career but her life on the line.
Propulsive as a jolt of adrenaline and featuring a bold and defiant new heroien, The Late Show is yet more proof that Michael Connelly is “a master of the genre” (Washington Post).
more
I started it and could not put it down. I really liked the detective, Renee, and how she managed all that came her way. Good read
Connelly always has a a little unexpected twist at the end. This book included. He introduced an interesting new character.
Another fine read from Micheal Connelly
Not as good as the Bosch books, but additional books in the series may develop the character more.
I loved it.
As a big Michael Connolly fan I was very disappointed in this book. The plot was not particularly engaging, but the biggest problem was the main character. She was just unlikable! I kept waiting for her to be humanized, but she exhibited no warmth or empathy for other characters throughout.
Great procedural with hidden agendas, interesting characters, and unforeseen plot twists.
Good read.
It’s Connelly.
I know that Renee Ballard is a new character, but I think she can use some fine tuning. I’m not finding her very likable. But if I remember correctly, in the beginning, I wasn’t totally crazy about the Harry Bosch books either, but I liked them enough to continue reading them and now I love them. I certainly liked this book enough to continue reading them. Hopefully, I will begin to love these.I would have liked to give this book three and a half stars instead of just three, but it won’t let me.
Connelly brings use Renee, the Late Show cop whose character comes to life and leads up through another of the author’s home runs. Hopefully she will join the Connelly cast of characters and take us through more of the realistic and suspenseful plots we’ve come to expect from Mr. Connelly.
One of my favorite authors with the Bosch Series, love this new character also!
Outstanding
Good read
Great characters in this book
Kept you interested right up to the end
trying to figure things out
Didn’t care for the characters which seemed stereotypical and unrealistic. Not very engaging.
I’m a big Michael Connely fan and have loved his Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer books. This one rates right up there with the others.
Michael Connelly’s new characters are equally engrossing as the Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch. You will fall into it, and keep reading til the weekend hours!
Contrived. A decent police procedural but certainly not up to his usual quality.
Me Connelly writes a very good readable book. Like his others: it just flows well. I really like him introducing a new detective character. I couldn’t put it down !