The Late Show by Michael Connelly introduces a female detective, Renee Ballard.. She is smart ,searches for the truth, and follows all leads to solve her cases. She cares about the many victims of crimes and does her best to solve them. She doesn't give up..
Perhaps because her personal life has not been easy she is more determined to help others and solve crime, She is a good female role model. I hope to read more stories about her adventures and hopes she finds a partner who she can become close to. I felt she was lonely with only her beloved dog for company.

Renee Ballard has been working the overnight shift since she ratted her former boss out for trying to pressure her into having sex with him. Cops are an insular bunch.

The overnight shift for detectives is colloquially called The Late Show. She's gotten used to it, but she'd just like to see a few cases to their end once in awhile.

One night, two cases fall onto her docket. One she talks the daytime staff into letting her keep--the brutal assault of a trans prostitute--and one she's got to be careful if she wants to dig into. The one she needs to be careful with is the mass shooting of five people at a bar.

When the main detective on the case--Renee's old partner who didn't stand up for her against the boss--shows up dead, she just can't leave this case alone. Something is seriously off about it.

Connelly has done it again. This is the start of a new series, and it's just as much of a hit as the Bosch series. Ballard is a compelling character who is shaping up to be every bit as rich and nuanced as Bosch. Connelly is a pro at what he does, and it shows. Rather than another addition to the procedural cop murder mystery genre growing a bit stale, he's written something that's enjoyable and easy to consume quickly--you read it quickly because it's entertaining and really good.

Can't wait to see the next one.

Michael Connelly introduces a new detective in The Late Show (Little, Brown and Company, digital galley), a fast moving police procedural that is hard to put down. Renée Ballard works the LAPD overnight shift, responding to everything from burglaries to homicides. Because she has to hand off all of her cases at the end of her shift, she rarely gets to see anything through to completion. 

When Ballard becomes particularly attached to two cases -- the beating of a prostitute and a mass shooting at a nightclub -- she goes against the wishes and backs of her partner and LAPD brass to dig deeper and try to get some closure.

Connelly is a master story teller and with Ballard introduces a new character who is well versed in modern police work. She is at home navigating cell phones and computer databases in a way that Connelly's other fictional detective, Harry Bosch, is not.

The Late Show is the first of a new series featuring Ballard and will allow Connelly to explore some different aspects of detective work. And even write about cases other than homicide. But fans of Bosch and Mickey Haller should not despair, Connelly tells us in a Q&A interview at the Omnivoracious book blog that he has a new book featuring those characters coming out in the fall.

Renée Ballard is a good LAPD detective but when she made waves in the department by telling the Brass that her boss was sexually harassing her things got tough. Now as one of her punishments, she has been assigned to the Late Shift (night duty). That doesn't stop Renée from being a thorough and dedicated cop. It is fascinating to see how she investigates, builds her cases, and solves crimes. Lots of suspense, action, and great writing!

I just love Michael Connelly books!! The Late Show, the first book in a new series, is no exception! I was hoping I would love it from the beginning just like I did with the Harry Bosch series. And I honestly reall did!! Detective Ballard is such a great character. This book is everything you have come to expect from this author, great characters, great settings, and great storyline. If you haven't picked up a book by this author, I strongly suggest it!
I voluntarily reviewed a reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Wow - What a great beginning to a new series!! Loved the character of Renee Ballard and can't wait to find out more about her!

Renée is a new character and I like her very much. She's tough, determined and won't let anything get her down. She's been treated badly before, so now she's being much more careful but she still pursues cases that intrigue her. She just covers her butt better.

Little Brown and Company and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It has been published so you can grab a copy now.

As is usual, this is a fast paced read with casualties along the way. Renée accused her supervisor in the past of harassment. He wanted more than just good police work. However, even her own partner wouldn't back her up. She gets stuck on the night shift which is where old police officers go to die or retire, whichever comes first. What she finds is that's where the interesting cases show up. Her new partner tells her she needs to turn it in to the squads that handle those cases. But she's invested in the transvestite that took such a beating with brass knuckles he/she might die. And she hates the fact that a young waitress was shot in the bar. Especially since she thinks a cop was involved. So she keeps snooping.

She does find the guilty parties but one of them finds her and almost kills her. When she fights back and kills him, they try to make her look like she used excessive force but she survives that. It helps that she recorded the cop talking to the reporter and feeding him false information.

She also finds evidence left for her by her previous partner. Someone has killed him in his garage, and he knew he was skating close to death. Now she has the information to take down a bad cop. If only she lives long enough to do it...

Most authors I cringe when I hear they are writing a new book with new characters. But not Michael Connelly. I knew from page one that Ballard was going to be another great character. I also had plans to just read a few chapters and get my housework done for the weekend. Needless to say, I couldn't put this book down so no chores got done this weekend! The writing for Ballard is different than Bosch or Mickey and is very action packed--I felt like I was seeing the book through the eyes of Ballard which is a cool thing to do. As always, Michael Connelly did not disappoint.

Fast paced with many twists and turns. This story kept me guessing until the very end.
I look forward to more adventures with Renee Ballard and the late show!

This was a solid mystery/thriller from one of my favorite authors. I really liked Renee Ballard. She was flawed, smart, and a good detective. I look forward to more in this series. I gave this 4 stars on goodreads.

RHD detective Renée Ballard finds herself on The Late Show since she filed a complaint against Lt. Olivas two (2) years prior and her complaint was deemed unfounded. She was given a new partner, Jenkins, who pretty much phones it in every night. He never really gets interested in a case and has no issue turning them over to the day shift when their time is done for the night.

Ballard gets two (2) cases that intrigue her and she does her best to see them through to the end. Some of her methods were definitely not within the strict sense of the law, but she did what she felt she needed to in order to propel her cases forward. When her ex partner becomes a victim in one of her cases, she really goes above and beyond in order to try and clear the case.

It was intriguing to see how her mind worked and all of the obstacles she needed to overcome in order to get the knowledge she needed to get the perpetrator to face justice. I liked how Michael Connelly was able to give me a good grasp of what made her tick and why she was the way she was with her childhood and her history with the LAPD. She did have an issue with letting things go and seemed to be hellbent on people being put on trial. Even when one of her cases cleared in a way that didn't need to courts to decide it, she still lamented that he should have had to face a jury of his peers.

I do not want to give away the facts of either of her cases, since I do not want to spoil the book for anyone. They were both intriguing and showed different aspects of her detective work and ability to shortcut some things that maybe another cop wouldn't have done. She did seem to be all over the place at times and didn't really seem to grasp her personal situation as being as dire as it seemed. She was quite to be defensive and seemed to think her methods were okay as long as the results got what she wanted. Would definitely read another book about her. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

5 Stars.
<b> <u>Michael Connelly at his Absolute Best. </u></b>

Detective Renee Ballard is Cop. Plain and Simple. Except that she is anything but. She works “the late show” at the “Hollywood Division” of the LAPD after being shipped off there for filing a complaint against her former boss (Lieutenant Olivas). A Sexual Harassment Complaint. It wasn’t well received. Now she is kind of known as a black sheep and she works cases with her new partner Jenkins. Cases that require no follow up. None. Its killing her inside, yet she has no choice. It’s this or nothing. The only good part of working the late show is that it allows her time to surf during the day and spend time with her dog, Lola.

One night however, two cases come in that gain her attention and she wants them. Big time. The first, involves a trannie prostitute (Ramona Ramone) being beaten within an inch of her life and left for dead; the second involves a waitress, (Cynthia Haddel) being murdered in a nightclub along with a couple of others. While the waitresses’ murder seems peripheral to the other murders at the club, Ballard thinks it warrants an investigation. The Lieutenant in charge of the investigation does not. He is, of course, Olivas. And he wants her out.

Ballard, however is tenacious and fiery – thus she finds a way to work the Ramona Ramone investigation on company time. Where it leads is dangerous, yet Ballard can’t stop herself. As for the investigation into Cynthia Haddel’s death? Well, Ballard investigates that one on her own, despite being warned to stay away.

Renee Ballard is a loner. The only things she needs in this life are her dog and her surf board and her job. Her life hasn’t been an easy one but she is pretty great at taking care of herself. Because of that, she has grit and strength and a crazy sense of right and wrong. Further, she can’t let go of anything, no matter where it leads or how dangerous it gets. And both of these cases lead down roads, that spell trouble with a capital T, but that’s not much of a surprise, is it?

<b>With “The Late Show” Michael Connelly does something special here, he creates a new character as almost as likeable as Harry Bosch. I, for one, didn’t think that was possible.</b> I have read every single Michael Connelly novel ever published. He is one of my favorite mystery/suspense authors. And Harry Bosch? One of my favorite characters EVER. I will admit that I’m not that big of Mickey Haller fan… he’s a little too smooth and slick for me (though Matthew McConaughey, does a great job portraying him). But Renee Ballard? Well, Michael Connelly knocked it out of the park with her character. Somehow, she isn’t a female Bosch. She’s vulnerable, yet resilient; kind, yet stubborn - and frankly she is courageous as hell. And I can’t wait to see what Michael Connelly has in store for her next.

I just have to say a HUGE thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. When I receive ARC’s that I request of my favorite authors (Connelly, Backman, Hoffman, Demille, Atwood, etc.), and I get approved, I end up jumping for joy and doing little whoops…) and when I got this one (my first Michael Connelly – I could barely contain myself). I’m pretty lucky – that’s all I have to say. So, thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown and Company and Michael Connelly for this ARC. I am so lucky to have received this. In case it wasn’t obvious, I loved it and I recommend it to mystery/suspense fans and all Michael Connelly fans out there. Dig in guys!

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon on 7.23.17.

New character and series? Base hit. By a favorite author? Double play. Getting a copy from the publisher to read in exchange for an honest review? Bases loaded.

The new character is Renee Ballard, a relatively young and feisty detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. The author is Michael Connelly, well known and much loved by me for his Harry Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series. And my honest opinion? A home run!

Also in all honesty, though, neither Harry nor Mickey need worry; this mama still loves them best. But when someone new comes along that's worthy of note, there's plenty of room left on my virtual bookshelves. And that means the next time Renee Ballard makes an appearance, I'll be there to greet her.

A native of Hawaii with a journalism degree from the University of Hawaii, Ballard spends part of her free time riding the California surf with her faithful dog Lola. She's also fighting a few demons from the past, including the untimely death of her beloved father in a water-related accident and the fact that her long-time day shift partner failed to support her in her sexual harassment claim against her supervisor. As a result of that unsuccessful complaint, she's been relegated to the night shift - a.k.a. the Late Show. Now, she and her new partner, John Jenkins, are charged with investigating crimes that happen in the wee hours, but they must turn all their findings over to an appropriate "desk" rather than follow up on their own.

It's not always easy to let go of cases that come her way, but she manages - until, that is, she doesn't. On a single night, she lands in the middle of two: The first is the brutal beating of a prostitute who ends up close to death in an induced coma at the hospital. The second involves the murder of several patrons and a female employee at a local nightclub. She pleads her case for continuance on both cases, winning the right to follow up on the prostitute's. On the murders, though, everyone from the top down, including her partner, insists that she back off - but she's not having any of it. Bringing her extensive investigative skills and instincts to bear, she deals the beating incident during work hours. Then, using off hours and spare time, she delves into the nightclub murders with equal gusto - and lands smack dab in the middle of a close-to-home "hit" and a complex case that not only threatens her own future, but that of the entire department.

Now, of course, I'm looking forward to Ballard's next assignment. Bring her on!

Wonderful read, with great pacing. Renee Ballard is an engaging character; I look forward to more books featuring her.

I've read all of Michael Connelly's books and eagerly await his new release every fall. I was SO EXCITED to see TWO new books this year and a new series with a new character! I really enjoyed Renee. She reminded me of Bosch. Tough and doesn't always follow the rules. This was exactly what I was hoping for in a new Connelly release. I am excited to continue with this series!

This was a good mystery. I liked the new character. She was intense. I would have given it a four star but it took me about a third of the way to really start getting into it. Then I loved it.

LAPD Detective, Renée Ballard, a new Michael Connelly character, works the midnight shift, "The Late Show," as retribution for a harassment complaint she filed against a superior officer, but she brings the same intelligence and ferocity to her assignments there as she had during the day shift. She investigates credit card theft, a vicious attack on a transgender prostitute as well as a night club shooting from which she is barred.
I definitely look forward to reading more Renée Ballard books.

The Late Show by Michael Connelly

I’ve enjoyed many books by Michael Connelly, and when I learned his new book, The Late Show, was coming out, I looked forward to reading it. I didn’t know anything about the storyline, and I think perhaps I assumed it would be another in the long line of Connelly’s crime novels set in Los Angeles with a strong male protagonist (such as Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller).

But no! In the first paragraph, we learn that two police officers (“Ballard and Jenkins”) are working the night shift. We soon learn that Ballard is a female officer (at which point I thought, “OMG, is she the lead character here? A woman? AWESOME!!)

The way Connelly reveals Renee Ballard’s backstory, interweaving it with a complex police procedural full of the workings of the LAPD, is masterful. We learn that she is working nights (aka “the late show”) as a punishment for filing a sexual harassment suit against a former supervisor. She managed to keep her badge, but is clearly a black sheep in the squad room.

One night Renee catches two assignments that seem unrelated: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of several people in a nightclub. Although typically the night shift turns all their cases over to the day shift, Ballard is determined not to give up these two cases. As the plot moves along, she chooses to go against both explicit orders and her partner's wishes, working on both these cases during the day while still taking her regular shifts at night.

She is definitely a woman with a past that drove her to become a cop. After a fatal shooting, she notes there “…was something inside her she didn’t know she had. Something dark. Something scary.” As her investigations progress, she calls on sources she has developed, including navigating the intricacies of dealing with the media: “She knew a couple of things about how the murky lines between the media and law enforcement were negotiated. She knew there was little cooperation.”

She is advised that her job takes her “…into the bleakest side of the human soul…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.”

No spoilers here, just a STRONG recommendation for Connelly fans, anyone who likes a good mystery, appreciates police procedurals, or just enjoys a good story with a strong, interesting female character, to READ THIS BOOK. It is terrific! Five stars (only because I can’t give six)!

With gratitude to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley, as I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This will go live on my blog tomorrow. Kellyvision.wordpress.com

This is the first in a new series about Detective Renee Ballard. She's working "the late show," or overnight shifts in the LAPD. Here, she's investigating two different cases--and reluctant to turn them over to the day shift, which is what typically happens.

This isn't a departure from his usual series. Like his Harry Bosch novels, this is a police procedural. And, like Harry, Renee tends to maybe skirt acceptable cop behavior a tad in order to get results. Not like Dirty Harry or anything, but the ends definitely justify the means.

October will see the release of a new Bosch novel, and I am very happy about that (he is my favorite). But I very much like Renee Ballard, too. I look forward to spending more time with her.

Recommended.