Book Review – The Late Show

The Late Show by Michael Connelly (Orion) ISBN: 9781409145547

Bestselling author, Michael Connelly is famous for his series of novels featuring Harry Bosch. He introduces an exciting new protagonist, Detective Renée Ballard, in The Late Show.

Once upon a time, Renée was a detective with a bright future. Now, after filing a sexual harassment complaint against her boss, she works the night shift in Hollywood where she begins investigations but seldom gets to finish them. She spends her days with her dog, Lola, and paddles in the sea, before falling asleep in her tent on the beach.

After a particularly brutal night, she can’t let go of a case where a trans prostitute is beaten and left for dead. Another case involving a nightclub shooting leads her back to her ex-partner, and her ex-boss. Despite being ordered to stay away, she ends up working both cases during the day.

I really like Detective Ballard and her quirky backstory, and I like the way Connelly writes her as a character. Reading The Late Show is like watching a fluid, well-written, well-paced film. The story gripped me from the first page and I can’t wait to read another Ballard thriller.

Amanda Patterson
4.5/5