Best in the Ballard and Bosch series!

I have been eagerly awaiting the fourth book - The Dark Hours - in Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch novels. And IMO, this is the best one yet!
It's New Year's Eve and Renée is again working the night shift - by choice. By tradition, revelers shoot their guns into the air at midnight in Los Angeles. Sounds like a recipe for disaster doesn't it? Uh huh, it results in one of the first homicides of the new year. Here's the thing - the bullet may be tied to an unsolved case - one worked by Harry Bosch. Now retired, Bosch has become a mentor and a sometime off the books partner of Renée.

I'm always so happy to see Harry again. He's like an old war horse that just keeps riding into battle. His experience, (usually) calm demeanor and drive for answers and justice keep him going. "Everybody counts or nobody counts" Renée is fearless and has that same drive for justice. Her determination has not endeared her to her fellow cops. Connelly has woven current events and happenings and the turbulent state of policing and politics into the narrative. While others do just the bare minimum, Renée never lets up. In addition to the New Year's Eve case, she's also trying to find a pair of serial rapists who've been labeled as The Midnight Men. A lot goes on on the late show....

Connelly's crime novels are second to none. The characters, the settings, the details, the plotting - all of it makes for fantastic reading. And yes, lots of action.

The dynamic between these two really works. In the final pages, I thought I saw where the Ballard and Bosch books might be headed in the fifth book, but Connelly throws in an alternative. I can't wait to see which way things end up.

Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin were truly amazing with the delivery of the story.

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Hummm

I’m going to say that I am also disappointed that so much of the covid propaganda got into the story line, all the masking and the line “trust the science” from Renee almost made me stop listening!!! I love Titus as Bosch and I could (and do when I can) listen to him all day, so I was a little disappointed that Harry had such a bit role in this book, hoping for more in the next, in saying that I am starting to enjoy Renee as read by Christine more, even if I don’t relate to her diet choices, ha ha

Solid Connelly, just not his best

Always enjoy performances by Lakin and Welliver, but this time Bosch gets squeezed out of the story a little. A good listen.

Good story but narration not so good

Good story but it sounds as if the male narrator's reading was spliced into the female one, resulting in an unnatural flow between the two. Male narration fairly wooden but female narration very good. Pity as it spoils enjoyment of the book..

Hmmm…

I usually love all this author’s books, but got put off a few times whilst reading this last one.
I read books to escape, so I felt annoyed that political views about Covid even made it into the book’s storyline.
I realise corona is a reality for us all, but having to be exposed to it yet again, even in fictional stories, ruined my enjoyment.

Top of his game

What an exceptional story and a top notch read by the narrator(s).
This is a standout , with of 5 stars on all categories.

great book with Harry Bosh in a supporting role

This is what the French call the "air du temps" : Connelly's main character in Harry Bosh stories is now Renée Ballard , a female detective that is much alike Bosh in the main character traits (introvert, stubborn, socially awkward ) , but that does not have to carry the baggage of being a white male boomer. This is truly the only change from the past : Connelly's books have a great plot -complex, but easy to follow- and a phenomenal rhythm. The reader gets involved in the story and really can't to get to the end.
Another truly enjoyable experience.

He just can't write them fast enough

I pre ordered this moths ago. It was worth the wait. Just sad I have such a long wait until the next one. This book did not disappoint.

Good, but more Bosch, please!

It’s another installment in a long-running series. Connelly has previously introduced us to Renee Ballard, who is kind of a young female version of Bosch. Like her mentor, Ballard is a relentless daredevil who stretches the police department rules but also delivers lots of results. She’s the focus now and I was lefy wishing Bosch had a more prominent role in this book. I’m not used to Harry Bosch playing second fiddle when it comes to solving crimes. Ballard is a good character and Connelly simply doesn’t write a bad book ever. I just wish it had more Bosch in it, since I like the character so much.

This is not a Bosch story. It's a R. Ballard book.

The story isn't bad, but it's not a Harry Bosch story. It's a Renee Ballard story.