The Late Show
by Michael Connelly
I read both positive & negative reviews about this book and find myself somewhere in the middle. When I discovered Connelly’s Bosch series, he was well into several years of writing them. They were captivating and eventually I went back and read the novels in order from the beginning. The initial books were okay, but not stellar.
Like TV shows, sometimes it takes a bit for the characters to settle into themselves and become more than what you read on the page. I expect it will be this way with Renee Ballard.
I have long said in my reviews of Connelly’s work, that he does not always write a well-rounded female character. Why? I don’t know. But Renee is the start of that. Is she rather confusing now and rough around the edges? Is she a bit of a female Bosch? Is she somewhat vague? Yes to all three questions. But I have hope and feel it would be wrong to be hypercritical of a worthwhile author who has taken this gamble on a new series …
Doing that takes guts.
With The Late Show, Connelly’s gamble pays off.
So I’m going to hang in there for books two or three in this series to see what she evolves into and then decide whether or not I’ll keep reading.
About this story, specifically, I found the Ramona Ramone character to be interesting and wanted to know whether or not she would wind up getting justice. Same with the waitress killed in the bar–would she get the justice that she deserved for being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
The story plodded sometimes with too much police procedure that is well-known to anyone reading this genre. We all understand ballistics, fingerprints, etc. LA as setting and The Late Show as the premise were both interesting. I also hope there is a bit more to her part-time partner in the next book. Be patient, Connelly fans, I’m betting more good stuff is coming.
Michael Connelly is probably my favorite mystery writer. I love the Bosch series and I’m sorry he made Harry grow old and had to replace him. I liked his last book and I’m eager to see where he goes with Renee. I met Michael Connelly many years ago at a small mystery book shop in NYC called the Purple Orchid. He was autographing his first non-Harry Bosch book, “Blood Work.” I still have that book with his autograph and a picture of him and me together.
Jeannette, love chatting with a fellow Bosch fan. I think Blood Work was among the first books I read, then the movie and then I starting nabbing Bosch books wherever I could. The Lincoln Lawyer grew on me, but only after the brother-connection was revealed. I like that twist. I’m glad you like Renee–that encourages me to hang in there for the next book.
His latest, Two Kinds of Truth, is waiting for me at home–delivered during my MT trip. I’m hurrying to finish two other books so I can dive directly in.
JEALOUS, OH SO JEALOUS. That you met Michael Connelly AND have a signed book AND a pic with him.
I’ve never read any of Connelly’s books and I guess at this point it’s unlikely I will. I appreciate your honest review RoseMary.
I love the Bosch books, Marquita. And the Amazon TV series (although I could sure do with less cursing in it). Connelly is a great story teller.
My husband is a writer who takes pride in writer a well developed female character. He talks a lot about how important that is, which I really appreciate. Because a lot of men write women as more two dimensional. I’m not personally familiar with Michael Connely’s work. I believe he is a mystery writer which isn’t my genre. But if though your review is lukewarm towards the book. I kind of want to read it now. A) It seems that the one of the main characters is named Renee. B) I live in L.A. C) When I first moved here, I spent some time on the same studio lot as the Late Show tapes,. So I kind of have to check it out! And I’m sure I’ll mutter about the female characters too.
Erica, neat to learn that your husband is a writer!
For Connelly, skip this book and read any of his Harry Bosch books. In particular, City of Bones was amazing. Let me know if you like him. His books are police procedural mysteries. I love them.
I’ve never read any of his books but maybe I shall!
What? Seester! Get reading from the beginning. You’ll love them. The Lost Bones and City of Light are tough to read, but well worth it.
Nothing here has me running out to get this one Rosemary.
Yes, Ken, I was really hoping to be able to write a stellar review on this one. I’ll hang in there for the next couple and let you know what they’re like. I still admire him for venturing down this path. Big risk for an established author.