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Renée Ballard #1

By:  Michael Connelly 

ISBN: 978-0316225984

Publisher: Little Brown & Co. 

Publication Date: 7/18/2017 

Format: Hardcover

My Rating: 5 Stars

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 and 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. 

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