From their beginnings in print, I've been a fan of retired Los Angeles Police Department Detective Harry Bosch, with or without his half-brother, "Lincoln Lawyer" Mickey Haller. And since LAPD Detective Renee Ballard joined the cast of characters, I've come to enjoy her as well (after a bit of a rocky start, if I'm being honest). These days, Renee is still on the job, heading up the mostly volunteer department's Open-Unsolved Unit. His glory days as the "star" of a series faded, Harry, now in his 70s and dealing with serious health issues, remains friends (if unofficially) with Ballard, so it's always a treat when he shows up. This book also brings Bosch's daughter, LAPD Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, into the limelight - as one of those who wants to help with cold cases.

The story begins with Renee, who gets more of a jolt from early morning surfing than from her coffee, has her department badge, gun and ID card stolen from her car while she's out on the water. That presents all sorts of problems in and of itself - she'll take serious heat if she reports the theft. What to do? For Renee, there's only one option: turn to old friend Harry to help her track down her valuables and nab the guy who took them.

That in and of itself proves to be a challenge, and on top of that, Renee continues to search for the mother who long ago abandoned her - now more of an urgent issue because it's possible she was a victim of the devastating fire on Lahaina in the Hawaiian Islands. All that is put on the back burner, however, when Renee learns that a man thought to be the son of the so-called Pillowcase Rapist - who spread his terror at the turn of the century - has been identified.

Given a mostly volunteer staff, Renee is in serious need of more help; it shows up in the form of Harry's daughter, who begs Renee to plead her case with the higher-ups. Renee, afraid that taking her on will upset Harry, isn't so sure; but gradually, Maddie's expertise makes her an indispensable member of the crew. She even manages to uncover evidence that could lead to solving yet another cold case that has been languishing for years.

The twists, turns and connections among all the investigations makes reading a treat, although like Renee, I worry a lot the troubles with Harry - in the end, making me even more eager to read the next Renee-Harry story (soon, please)? Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to be thoroughly entertained by a pre-release copy of this one.

The Waiting by Michael Connelly is a triple treat! The trio of Renee Ballard, Harry and Maddie Bosch (Harry’s Daughter), is a great addition to the Ballard and Bosch series.

We start off with Ballard out for an early morning surf.. While out on the waves, her car gets broken into and the thief takes off with her identification as well as her police badge. She knows this could possibly get her fired, so she enlists Harry to help her track down the thief. We have two big cases that Ballard is working on, one recent and one a cold case. Maddie comes in to help, hoping that a major solve can get her off her current job of patrolling the streets and into a detective position, Each case is interesting and you’ll love the twists and turns. Don’t miss this great story!

Thank You to NetGalley, the Author Michael Connelly and the Publisher, Little Brown and Company for allowing me to read this advanced copy for my honest review.

Best entry in the Renee Ballard series so far. Loved how the main cold case was not the only focus and we had the extra plotline of Renee recovering her badge and the introduction of Maddie Bosch to the unit

THE WAITING by Michael Connelly is the sixth book in the Renée Ballard series, and it is the best by far. This latest installment had me hooked within the first 50 pages, and it did not let me go until I read through to the very end. Connelly proves that he has come a long way since the beginning of his career, and he is still interested in trying new things, in testing how far he can take the genre without breaking it. He writes about history, mystery, and current events, making it all look effortless in the final published draft.

While out surfing one morning, Ballard’s car is broken into. Someone has stolen her id, badge, and sidearm. Already walking on thin ice, Ballard knows that she has to retrieve what was stolen and quickly before the powers that be use it as an excuse to demote or, even worse, fire her. Ballard cannot let that happen because she knows that she is doing good work heading the LAPD’s Open/Unsolved Unit, closing cold cases. When she returns to the office after what happened at the beach, it turns out that there was a DNA hit showing a link between a recent arrest and a serial rapist known as the Pillowcase rapist who was never caught. Then patrol officer Maddie Bosch walks in the unit’s doors, hoping she can volunteer with the unit. Thinking that it will provide her with much needed experience and help fast track her to becoming a detective, it turns out that Bosch has a cold case that she wants to look into herself — and readers will never guess what infamous LA case has her chomping at the bit.

Connelly knows that detectives never work one case at a time. They have to compartmentalize, prioritize, and keep all of the balls in the air as they juggle to close whatever and however many cases they are working. How he weaves all of these threads together into a coherent tapestry is spectacular. However, there are two features of this novel that makes it far superior to many of his earlier works: the references to contemporary events without sidetracking the narrative and contaminating the prose with subtle political statements, and the author takes the time to explore Ballard’s psychological issues as she is suffering from insomnia. Because of this characteristic, Ballard feels more real than Connelly’s other more well-known heroes, Bosch and Haller. And that deserves to be applauded.

Michael Connelly's newest book, The Waiting, has everything I love in a Connelly novel. Harry Bosch is still around, thank goodness, and he helps LAPD Detective Renee Ballard when her badge, gun and ID are stolen. This is only one of three threads in the plot. I was so happy to see Harry again, even though his health is not the best. I don't know if Connelly is going to slowly move Harry out, but I hope he keeps him around for more adventures to come.

Renee also has her hands full with the Open-Unsolved Unit, a nice touch that goes back to the work Harry Bosch has been doing in recent books. With the help of a genetic researcher, Renee is able to track down a relative of the Pillowcase Rapist, a crime that has been quiet for 20 years. This is the second thread in the book. Ballard brings Harry's daughter, Maddie, a patrol oficer, into the unit to help her since Maddie has so many of the instincts of her father, Harry. But Maddie is also on a search for the third thread in the plot: a famous, but very old case that has become part of the history of Los Angeles.

As always, we hear about the restaurants, the mean streets, and the canyons and freeways of Los Angeles, the milieu for most of Connelly's writing, as he follows his characters through the urban jungle he knows so well.

Thoroughly loved this book. Definitely a 5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this book for an honest appraisal.

Michael Connelly shows once again why he is a master of the crime novel. The Waiting has been my most anticipated book for 2024, as his books are every year. Even more so after hearing him talk about the direction that the book would be taking when he came to Australia earlier this year. The wait, pardon the pun, was absolutely worth it. As soon as the book arrived I needed to get stuck in, and I did.

I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that my favourite detective, Harry Bosch, is getting older and isn’t in the best of health. He has been such a big part of my reading life and ai am happy that he is still kicking around. He does take a back seat in The Waiting, not only to Renee Ballard but also to his daughter Maddie Bosch. It was a welcome change up and one that see so much potential . As long as Harry is always there for them both, I will be happy.

As always, there is so much going on in a Michael Connelly novel. Renee has he car broken into while surfing one morning, and discovers her wallet, phone, gun and police badge and ID have been stolen. She knows she can’t report this and risk losing her job, so she sets out with Harry’s help to get her things back. This leads them down a dangerous path that they could not have seen coming. At the same time, Maddie asks Renee if she can join the Open and Unsolved Unit, seeing it as a way to help fast track her dreams of becoming a detective like her dad. While all of this is happening, the unit gets a hit on a DNA sample that could lead them to solve a 20 plus year murder case. It is all happening.

Maddie and Renee is.a duo that I didn’t know that we needed. They are such a great team and I am excited to read more of them working the cold cases together. There is so much of Harry in Maddie that is makes me smile.

As I have said before, you just have to read this book and this series. It just keeps getting better every year. Connelly never lets this long time fan down, and I doubt that he ever will.

Thank you so so much to Little, Brown and Company for my early copy of my favourite authors book to read. Publishes on October 15th.

Once again Michael Connelly shows us why he is a master of the crime genre. In The Waiting, the sixth in the Ballard and Bosch series, Renee Ballard and her team charged with solving cold cases are busy working on two unrelated sets of serial killings, including one that included the infamous Black Dahlia murder. Add to that her involvement in a current case that involves the FBI and suddenly she's juggling many balls and, typical of her style, taking some shortcuts to find answers. Connelly weaves these stories expertly, leaving readers on the edge of their seats in a book that just can't be put down. 400 pages flew by in the best way possible. Libraries should reward their readers with access to a sufficient number of copies. Bravo, Mr. Connelly!

C'mon now.......

What would life be without the superb talent of Michael Connelly gracing the pages of blockbuster novels time after time? I shudder to think.

Connelly digs deep in this latest offering featuring both Renee Ballard and the incomparable Harry Bosch. There's a flow to this one while Connelly emphasizes both the strengths and the weaknesses of human nature. Not even the good guys get it right every time.

Renee Ballard is drawn to the waves that pound the shores of Southern California. She drags her board at the crack of dawn and takes to the highs and lows of Nature. Like life in general, you can be flipped on your face in seconds. The relentless nature of it all presents a power beyond one's reach. You rise above or you crash below.

Upon returning to her vehicle, Renee notices that both her service revolver and her LAPD badge have been stolen from her car. She's frustrated beyond belief. She's already on thin ice with her male counterparts back at the station. Buying more time, Renee refuses to report the loss. That's where Harry Bosch steps in. Between the two of them, they're onto an almost impossible task of getting the stolen items back in her possession.

Ballard is in charge of the Open Unsolved Unit with a bevy of handpicked talent to peruse cold cases. These individuals range from retired FBI, a previous Vegas Metro cop, a former prosecutor, a Stockholm software genius, and a genetic geneaology pro. Each brings their own expertise that benefit the team. Ballard needs another current official badge member and hires Maddie Bosch, Harry's remarkable daughter. Maddie will bring a bombshell to the table in the confines of a cold, cold case.

The Waiting does read as a standalone. It's pure police procedural which Connelly is a master of. But it's Connelly's gift of injecting the human element deeply into his storyline that wins the day for this one. Both Ballard and Bosch don't always play by the rules. But they are driven by a sense of fairness and resolve in fighting the good fight day in and day out. Be on the lookout for this one that's due to publish on 10/15/24. You'll agree that Connelly is head's above all the rest.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to the talented Michael Connelly for the opportunity.

Another riveting, page turning thriller from Connelly. Ballard”s LAPD Open-Unsolved unit is immersed in solving several cases that were part of LA’s history. Plus, Ballard is trying to recover her badge, gun that were stolen from her car while surfing. Many twists and plots to solve. Great read.

I didn't know how much I needed the Maddie and Ballard duo. It would be awesome to see them both working full time on the unsolved unit. A lot like Harry, Renee takes some time to warm up to/like, but by the end I felt like I was figuring her out. This one had less action/suspense than some of his other books, but I think it sets up a duo that could be really badass to see develop.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you like straightforward who-dunnits,unleavened by humor, the Bosch-Ballard series was made for you, and The Waiting is no exception. As a retired librarian with a strong need to organize, I love the straightforward approach Connelly takes in getting his crimes solved. The reader is kept in the loop every step of the crime solving process. There are hurdles to be overcome, but our crime fighters, whether Bosch father or daughter or Ballard, head of the Unsolved Case squad, move singlemindedly to their goal. As I already mentioned, there is very little humor to lighten the mood. In fact Ballard plays it so close to the vest, it is surprising she sees a therapist to deal with her insomnia. Maddie Bosch as a new recruit to the team does provide a little spontaneity but she is willing to be schooled and bring her natural instincts under control. Bosch Pere has definitely moved to the sidelines, retired and grappling with cancer, but he did play a key role in setting up some would be terrorists. I am thinking the Bosch-Ballard stories will now incorporate more Maddie than Daddy.
My recommendation is reading The Waiting as a pleasant escape from your own life. Can’t wait for the next cold case to be solved.

Connelly fans will love this latest chapter in the Bosch and Ballard universe. There are multiple cold cases to be solved including the notorious Black Dahlia, as well as contemporaneous crimes to be stopped. Maddie Bosch joins Ballard's cold case unit as a volunteer bringing with her the evidence to solve one of ma's greatest mysteries. And Harry is around to bail Ballard out of a tricky situation. It's great to see the familiar characters moving forward and the cases are fascinating. Great read!

Another worthy addition to the Bosch/Ballard detective series (even the Lincoln Lawyer gets a quick mention). Michael Connelly is the expert at police procedural novels that give equal focus to police department politics involved in crime solving. Great characters and a fast paced plot had me reading late into the night, Although this can be read as a stand a lone, you'll be missing out if you don't start at the beginning and read all of Michael Connely's series. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy

Name of Book: The Waiting
Author: Michael Connelly
Series: Renée Ballard #6, Harry Bosch #24, Bosch Universe #37
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Pub Date was: October 15, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 416

Story starts when Renee Ballard is out surfing before work, as she returns to her car she finds the door open and her badge, gun, and ID are gone!. She does not want to report the theft fearing it could end her career especially since she has made a few enemies. Since she cannot pass through security so calls her friend Colleen Hatteras to let her in the fire exit. She knows she has to find the thief and decides to investigate herself. She turns to Harry, who is now retired and undergoing cancer treatments, to help her recover these items after discovering possible evidence on the beach. Together they uncover a far greater danger than just some stolen goods, referring the situation to the FBI.
Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit. Bosch's daughter Maddie wants to supplement her work as a patrol officer on the night beat by investigating cases with Ballard. But Renée soon learns that Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city's library of lost souls.

I was delighted that Maddie Bosh had a role in this: seems like only yesterday she was a little girl, and then was off to Chapman University and now working her way to be a detective.

The team is dealing with cold cases and thanks to modern techniques they have leads in solving long forgotten cases.
Maddie finds some information which she feels may solve the well-known Black Dahlia case!
Additionally there is DNA results of a man who seems to be the son of an infamous ‘Pillowcase Rapist’.

WOW! This kept me interested and I did like it.
I do have a low tolerance of f-bombs – I have read plenty of Michael Connelly stories so I know they are part of ‘his’ DNA.
I do wish Ballard would toned it down.
Anyway - yes! I am looking forward to next in this series – especially if Maddie is included.

Want to thank NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 15, 2024.

SO FREAKING GOOD! this book kept me on my toes and it was so engaging that I couldn't put it down! I need to read more with Renee Ballard!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Some time ago, I decided to read only books with female protagonists. Female protagonists in mysteries, to be specific. I wanted to read about women who were smart, capable, interesting, and independent. They could work alongside men but if they had to work for men, they needed to make it apparent that they had the skills necessary to work independently while placating their male superiors. Well, my goal did not last all that long. There were just too many great mysteries, suspense novels and police procedurals in which women played a large role but were often second fiddle to a man, whether he was her boss or a colleague. There were novels, however, that had strong male characters but equally strong female characters. The series featuring Detective Harry Bosch and Detective Renee Ballard is an excellent example,
Michael Connelly’s The Waiting, Book 6 of 6 in the Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch series, shows off Detective Ballard as the head of the LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit. The story provides background for her character and thus we are better able to understand her motivations and values. Renee is very much like her mentor, Harry Bosch, taking matters in to her own hands, not afraid of being an outsider in the department.
After having her badge, gun and ID stolen, Ballard, reluctant to report the theft to the LAPD and discovering shocking information in her search for the items, seeks out the help of retired detective Harry Bosch.
Ballard agrees to add Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter and a LAPD patrol officer, to her squad of volunteers in the Open-Unsolved Unit. The volunteers work at least one day a week. The group includes a retired FBI agent, a past Vegas Metro police officer, a former prosecutor with the district attorney’s office, the owner of a LA based software company and an expert in finding people on the Internet, and a homemaker with expertise in genetic genealogy as it pertains to law enforcement. The unit works from unsolved cases, recorded since 1975, in which the murderer is believed to be living and still free.
Ballard’s unit uncovers the familial connection between a young man recently arrested for a domestic dispute and the twenty year old case of a serial rapist and murderer known as the Pillowcase Rapist. Maddie uses her new role as a volunteer investigator to gain access to the archives after she discovers clues to the well-known 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the “Black Dahlia.”
Two strong female protagonists, a terrorist plot, two infamous criminal cases, and a surprise twist are the absorbing ingredients of a great crime fiction. The setting is familiar to Harry Bosch fans as is Harry’s loyalty and bravery. Renee and Maddie are an impressive team and I hope to see them paired together again soon.
The Waiting will be published on October 15, 2024. I would like to thank Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sixth book in this series and the first that I have read, although I have read a number of the Harry Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer novels. It revolves around Renee Ballard and the cold case squad. Bosch’s daughter, Maddie, joins the squad early in the book. There are two cases being worked on. One is the Black Dahlia from the 1940s and a more current case involving domestic terrorists. The one major drawback to the book (and only those who live near the areas) is that he confuses streets and directions, in particular South Pasadena and Pasadena. Other than that is it an engaging and quick read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

Renee Ballard is clearly the star of the newest Ballard and Bosch mystery, The Waiting, by Michael Connelly. As the single-minded leader of the LAPD’s open-unsolved case unit, Renee is determined to solve even the most impossible crimes with the help of her diverse team, several of whom are civilians. Connelly is a master at describing Renee’s dogged, step-by-step investigations, including research, interviews, interactions with other law enforcement—often unfriendly—and situations of risk and personal danger. The team’s work on a high-profile 70-year-old cold case is juxtaposed with Renee’s search for her stolen police badge and gun. The suspense is palpable, and Renee is truly a character worthy of rooting for.

Harry Bosch, now retired and recovering from a serious illness, also makes a brief but impactful appearance. And his daughter, a police officer hoping to become a detective, becomes a member of Renee’s team.

We don’t know much about Renee’s personal life. She surfs to combat her insomnia, sees a therapist on the down-low, and her estranged mother hasn’t been found after the Maui fires. I would love to read more about her life outside of the LAPD in future series entries to flesh out her character.

My thanks to Little, Brown, and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

My thanks to Michael Connelly, Little Brown & Co. publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this work. I attest the review is my own original and unbiased work.

The Waiting brings together Detective Renee Ballard, retired detective Harry Bosch, and his daughter, now a police officer who is volunteering at Ballard's open/unsolved murder case team to try and clear out cold cases in the Los Angeles Police Department. There is a lot of waiting in this book, which covers three different "cases" or plots involving the lead characters.

All three protagonists play important roles in the book, although this is more of a Ballard/Maddie Bosch book. Harry has an important part in one of the three ongoing plots involving a potential terrorism event, but not the others.

Connelly is a gifted writer, and his characters are realistic and engaging. I avoid spoilers in my review so I won't detail the plots; I will just say the other two plots are very good and keep the reader turning the page (in my case a Kindle version). Only one of the cases involves an actual cold case, and to me this was the most interesting of the three plots.

I did find the ending of one of the plots a bit meh; this one involved Ballard on her own and to me the climax was less that what I've experienced in other Connelly plots. Nevertheless, it is a good book and I had trouble putting it down.

If you enjoy detective/police/thrillers you will enjoy this read.

I recently read that Michael Connelly has written 38 previous novels, and his experience shines in the pace and plotting of his latest, The Waiting.

Detective Reneé Ballard, now in charge of LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit, juggles three separate cases, one with the help of her mentor and close friend Harry Bosch. Also joining the volunteer team in this installment, his daughter, police officer Maddie Bosch, shows good instincts and growth she hopes will help in her quest to become a detective.

I loved how expertly Connelly blended the many threads and pieces in this volume into exciting and believable conclusions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for a digital advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.