I was so excited to see a new series from Michael Connelly, and thankful I got to read an ARC. I really discovered his books after my friend recommended them when I started working with him when I changed careers. I am so glad he pushed me to Michael Connelly.

In The Late Show, Renee Ballard is a female detective who has been put on the late shift as a detective when she makes a sexual harassment complaint against her Lieutenant. Renee does not mind, however, as she is able to get work done without always having to answer to a partner. They work in one week for three days together, so if something happens on a Saturday, for example, she can handle it on her own. In the end, the "punishment" ends up working towards a positive.

When there is a terrible beating of a transgendered sex worker, and also a waitress, Renee begins to work the cases during the day and at night. This goes against what she has been told to do, but she cannot help herself.. After seeing how her cases have gone in the past, she is determined to keep ahold of these and solve them, no matter what it takes.

This is a great book, to lead a great new series. While she is not exactly like Harry Bosch, I like that. They share characteristics in that they are not accepting BS, and get to the point. But, they are completely different in that Renee is a surfer girl.

I love this new series, and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No writer captures angst and mystery as well as Michael Connelly. In this new series, Connelly introduces a new protagonist, Detective Renee Ballard. Like Harry Bosch, the key figure in dozens of Connelly’s previous novels, Ballard is a closed book that we get to understand only a tiny bit at a time.

An LAPD detective, expelled from the elite Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) after filing a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisory lieutenant, Ballard is now on the late shift in the Hollywood Division, called “The Late Show.” Through Ballard, Connelly ably depicts the misogyny of the old boys club mentality that still exists in the LAPD, without creating melodrama.

We learn that Ballard is homeless except for the two days a month she lives with her Hawaiian grandmother, Tutu, 90 miles away. The other days she sleeps at a local hotel, or in a tent on the beach after paddle boarding. The only being she lets near her heart, besides Tutu, is her dog Lola, who spends most of her nights at a dog care facility.

When a Trans woman is brutally attacked, Ballard is the only detective who cares enough to investigate, ultimately bringing the attacker to justice while almost losing her own life. Similarly, after Ballard’s former RHD partner is murdered while investigating a shocking six person massacre at a local club, Ballard is the only detective able to unravel the corruption that leads back to the LAPD.

This is a great read that I was not able to put down until the end. Five stars.

In return for an honest review, I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Great start to this series! I loved the character. Connelly always draws you in, giving you tidbit after tidbit of info about his characters. More please.

With the second book arriving soon, I figured I better get in on the ground floor and get this first in the series read. Renee Ballard has been relegated to the night shift with the LAPD after bringing harassment charges against a former supervisor. The night shift has provided an understanding partner and a way in which to dig deeper into some cases if she wants. I probably wouldn't have kept reading it, except it was all I had in the breakroom at work. I was a good 165 pages in before things really clicked and got moving. With all that groundwork, I hope the second book will focus more on the story and characters.

The creator of Harry Bosch has a new detective! Renée Ballard works the night shift as punishment for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a boss. While she's supposed to give the cases she catches in the middle of the night over to the day shift detectives for them to solve, she can't help but work on two new cases on her own time. She does, after all, have to work her way back to being an up-and-coming detective. While her partner is against her going rogue to work on these cases, it works out just fine for Renée, who has mastered being a loner. Tenacious and with a strong moral compass, Renée Ballard will have Connelly fans waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.

Connelly’s titles usually have a particular relevance to the story and this one’s no different. The late show refers to the night shift for LAPD detectives, which is where Detective Renée Ballard is assigned. She’s working a case where the victim ends up in the hospital when she’s asked to follow through on an incoming victim from another major crime scene lead by a detective who’s responsible for her landing on the late show. Ballard can’t help following her natural instincts to pursue both cases beyond the scope of her involvement.

Ballard is an interesting study, someone we know nothing about but is revealed slowly and interestingly over the course of the book. She’s smart with great investigative instincts and an unconventional lifestyle. I really liked her and how she was portrayed. The two cases were intriguing and wish I’d been smart enough to predict that twist in the end.

I also liked the narrator who seemed to fit the character like a glove. While she wasn’t the best at character distinctions, she mitigated that by capturing the main character so well. I can’t wait for Ballard to meet Bosch. These two have a lot in common. Great start to the series.

Most readers know Michael Connelly writes top notch police stories. This new series is no different. Start reading this series now as more books are sure to follow.

Let me begin by saying that I am a huge Michael Connelly fan and have read all of his books. Generally, I like his writing style and he tells a good story. This one, however, about a female police officer who works the night shift, just didn’t do a lot for me.

RATING: 4 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)

Last two years I have been binging on Michael Connelly, especially his Harry Bosch series. As I finished the latest book last year, I saw that Connelly was writing a new series and it starred a woman. I was excited and it did not disappoint. Renee Ballard works the midnight shift at the LAPD, Hollywood division, and hates how each morning her cases are turned over to the dayshift. This shift is her punishment for filing a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor. When she gets two cases, a murdered prostitute and waitress she decides to work the cases on her time off and solve them.

Renee is like Bosch in that she is a rebel and does what she thinks is right. She is also tough and smart. While I hope that Connelly continues to write Bosch, I cannot wait for the next Ballard book! This novel had Connelly's usual action, suspense and one liners.

When I requested this from Netgalley, I thought it was a stand alone story. As I'm reading, I'm thinking to myself - boy, I really like this character. I wonder if this is going to be a series. When I checked I saw that is indeed the case. Hot dog!

This was a good fast paced mystery. Renee is one smart cookie and she likes to stand on her own two feet. I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes this character.

ARC from Little, Brown and Company via Netgalley

Master storyteller, Michael Connelly returns following (Harry Bosch) The Wrong Side of Good-Bye landing on my Top Books of 2016 with THE LATE SHOW.

While reading Connelly’s latest, Two Kinds of Truth realized I had read and failed to post my review of THE LATE SHOW (Renee Ballard #1) —his 30th novel; where we meet his newest tough detective, Renee Ballard in this top-notch gritty LA cop procedural crime thriller with a perfect balance of drama and suspense.

A brilliant new series with an unstoppable new female detective.

LAPD Renee Ballard, a strong-willed complex female detective had previously filed a sexual harassment complaint against her former boss, Lt. Robert Olivas.

The outcome, she has been handed the night shift (a definite downgrade) in Hollywood known as the Late Show. This is her punishment. This definitely will not be good for her career. However, she will give it her all.

Her relentless refusal to back down, prompted (demoted) the move to the late show, by Olivas and her partner, Ken Chastain, who witnessed the incident but did not support her.

She is a bit of a loner with a bohemian flair (almost homeless); loves nature, the beach, and her rescue dog, Lola.

Like a “dog with a bone”, Ballard is handed three assignments and she is more than willing to dive in full force.

One, an elderly woman with credit card fraud. Second a transgender prostitute, brutally beaten and left for dead, and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. She works around the clock. She is relentless. Five people dead.

However, while dealing with the cases, against orders and her partner’s advice, they continue to pull her closer to her own past and demons.

Do we have a dirty cop in the midst? Career suicide?

Ballard may be the sole witness and with her own personal history with the department and her creditability would come under withering assault, as well.

Will she be able to prove her worth? ? Will she remain on the late show or be allowed to go back to the team?

Wow, an avid fan (have read every book and watched every movie and series), Connelly a master at creating crime fiction, well-developed plot and complex forensics. A pro at creating intriguing sharp characters with staying power— like Bosch and Haller, hoping we will see more of Renee Ballard for the long haul.

Ballad is mysterious yet tenacious. Looking forward to seeing more of her character. THE LATE SHOW is fast-paced and non-stop action with a smart, driven and tough leading lady. Hope we see #2 Renee Ballard in 2018.

“It’s like the laws of physics—for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. If you go into darkness, the darkness goes into you. You then have to decide what to do with it. How to keep yourself safe from it. How to keep it from hollowing you out.” ― Michael Connelly, The Late Show

Bosch fans (I am at the top of the list), you cannot miss, TWO KINDS OF TRUTH. Currently listening to the audiobook. I love Titus Welliver (so sexy) on screen and as a narrator. I would follow him anywhere. Bosch is back in the middle of prescription drug abuse, murder, and uncover with a Medicare card. (Yes, I have recently been awarded one too).

Haller and Bosh have proven themselves and looks like we have a new kick-ass female to add to the list. Renee Ballard—there is much more to uncover for the future.

Connelly just keeps getting better (if that is even possible). Love the Amazon Prime series. One of the main reasons for continuing the Prime subscription.

South Florida fans "love you", Mr. Connelly. Keep them coming. Never stop writing or producing. One of the best crime writers of today. No one does it better.

A special thank you to Little Brown & Co. for an advanced reading copy. Also purchased the audiobook narrated by Katherine Moennig.

JDCMustReadBooks

A thrilling read with complex characters and dynamic storylines. The book successfully melds characters stories together while maintaining an exciting and detailed account. Very good read. This is an author I will keep my eyes on

The backstory: Michael Connelly is my favorite mystery writer. I've read and reviewed all of his books.

The basics: The Late Show is the first in a new series featuring Los Angeles detective Renee Ballard.
"They worked the midnight shift, the late show, moving from case to case, called to any scene where a detective was needed to take initial reports or sign off on suicides. But they kept no cases. They wrote up the initial reports and turned the cases over to the appropriate investigative units in the morning."
My thoughts: One of the (many, many) things I love about Connelly's novels are that they pass in real time. Harry Bosch, the series of his I love the most, was born in 1950. The first mystery featuring Harry, The Black Echo, came out in 1992. I've wondered how and when Connelly will end that series, and what might come next. The Late Show attempts to answer that question. As a character, Renee Ballard thinks and acts a lot like Harry Bosch in her detective work, but her life outside of work looks quite different. Her work on the late show is also an interesting context for mysteries.

The verdict: The Late Show is a dynamite feminist police procedural novel and an excellent start to a series I hope is just as good and just as long-running as Harry Bosch. Connelly introduces a lot of personal and professional backstory about Ballard, but the central mystery is compelling and filled with Connelly's signature twists.

Alas it was archived before I got chance to read it.

As a lover of crime fiction and mysteries, it pains me to admit that I've never read a novel by acclaimed author Michael Connelly. My book blogging buddies have done their part to recommend his books, and I've enjoyed the Harry Bosch series from Amazon. Still, I've been hesitant to pick up one of his books. Starting an established series can be a daunting task, especially when I have so many other novels to read and review. This fall, however, the stars finally seemed to align. When his publisher offered me a copy of his latest novel, the start of a brand new character and series, I couldn't say no.

Renee Ballard is a veteran of the LAPD who spends her evenings working the Late Show. She hasn't always worked this overnight shift, but a sexual harassment complaint against another officer didn't quite go as planned. She's a woman in a male dominated profession working a shift that sees her hand off each case to her daytime colleagues. Ballard has mostly comes to terms with her new found work life. She dutifully files her reports each morning before finding some rest at home with her dog.

In a rare break from the monotony of her usual evenings, Ballard is hit with a double-whammy of crimes that she can't let go. The first involves the brutal beating of a transgender prostitute. The second is a shootout at a nightclub that left several people dead. Her superiors grant her the authority to investigate the the assault case, but are strangely secretive about the shootout. Rachel works well into the daytime hours on little sleep to get to the bottom of this horrific case. But how close can she get to the suspect without putting herself and her career at risk?

After reading The Late Show, I can now see why Michael Connelly's books are so highly regarded. He writes with a bare-bones urgency that keeps the pages turning and the suspense tightly wound. It did take me a while to start rooting for Ballard. Connelly's focus on advancing the plot made Ballard's development as a character take a back burner at first. As the novel and plot progress, we learn more about Ballard. By the climax of the novel, I felt like I was right there with her discovering all the shocking secrets and twists. Count me in as a fan of Michael Connelly who can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

I felt the story was lost as a result of all the police procedure commentary and explanations. Those of us who have read Michael Connelly’s books already have a basic understanding of police procedure and actions and understand the dynamics of the Los Angeles police department. Story wasn’t bad and a new female character was a nice change but I never got into the book.

This was a dull, but competent, police procedural without anything to make it at all memorable. It is full of clichés - crooked cops, a cop with a troubled past, members of the department are working against her, she goes rogue with her own investigation. There is nothing original here. It was disappointing. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Not much can be said that hasn't already been written about Michael Connelly. This man has done it again with "The Late Show," a gritty tale of police corruption, murder and determination. Instead of Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller, the story of the show is Renee Ballard, a down-on-her luck investigator on the Hollywood late shift. When she catches a brutal beating and a murder in one day, she's determined to track down the monsters. Her stalking draws the attention of others who want Renee's secrets to die with her. But as with all Connelly's main characters, street smarts equals strength.

Every Michael Connely book is a 'must read' , but I'll go one even better! If you can obtain a copy of the book on CD, you will thank me. That's how I experience all his books. His amazing storytelling and the expert voice talent they hire make any drive home a very pleasant experience. Recommended.