Publication
New York, NY : Little, Brown and Co., 2018.
Collection
Call number
Fiction C
Physical description
433 p.; 25 cm
Status
Checked out
Due 2023-02-13
Call number
Description
Fictio Myster Suspens Thrille HTML:Harry Bosch teams up with LAPD detective Renée Ballard to solve the murder of a young girl in the new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly. Detective Renée Ballard is working the night beat �?? known in LAPD slang as "the late show" �?? and returns to Hollywood Station in the early hours to find a stranger rifling through old file cabinets. The intruder is retired detective Harry Bosch, working a cold case that has gotten under his skin. Ballard can't let him go through department records, but when he leaves, she looks into the case herself and feels a deep tug of empathy and anger. She has never been the kind of cop who leaves the job behind at the end of her shift �?? and she wants in. The murder, unsolved, was of fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, a runaway on the streets of Hollywood who was brutally killed, her body left in a dumpster like so much trash. Now Ballard joins forces with Bosch to find out what happened to Daisy, and to finally bring her killer to justice. Along the way, the two detectives forge a fragile trust, but this new partnership is put to the test when the case takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. Dark Sacred Night for the first time brings together these two powerhouse detectives in a riveting story that unfolds with furious momentum. And it shows once more why "there's no doubt Connelly is a master of crime fiction" (Associat… (more)
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kathy89
Love Harry Bosch! This time he shares the spotlight with Rene Ballard of the late night shift known as the Late Show. Harry is working a cold case for a woman he met (in the last book) whose daughter disappeared nine years go. Elizabeth had turned to drugs and Harry had rescued her from a clinic
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and with the help of a friend got her detoxed and promised to find out what happened to Daisy. While prying into old records he runs into Ballard and a partnership is formed. Harry wonders if it's time to retire after making a mistake in judgement while interviewing a gang member that Ballard calls in favors to save him and then he returns the favor by saving her from the Daisy's murderer. They learn from one another and force a sort of partnership. Couldn't put it down. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
Many, many years ago I was drawn into a series featuring a young detective named Harry Bosch. I subsequently went on to read him again and again. Enticing cases he fdefinitel worked, but it was the detective, his life, both rather dark and gloomy, that kept me coming back again and again. There was
She is half Harry's age, but she too has a complicated past. After she reports a colleague, above her in rank, she is transferred to another department, where she works the late show, or the night shift. I loved how she and Harry complimented each other, both pursueing justice, both willing to take short cuts to solve a case. Connelly has the talent to give the reader some very interesting characters, characters that we can understand, relateable. In this pairing he has, despite the age gap, given us a new team, and it will be be interesting to see how they will evolve, work together. Since both can be willfull, stubborn, I expect some fireworks down the line. Hoping for good things to come.
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just something g that drew me to this flawed but very noble character. Eventually as he aged, he found himself forced into retirement by the very department he had so long served. Yet, he could not let go in his fight for justice for all, even those who lived on the margins of society. He now works in an unofficial capacity in a cash strapped to!ice department. It is while working on a cold case, that of s murdered young girl from years past that will bring him together with Renee Ballard, a young police detective.She is half Harry's age, but she too has a complicated past. After she reports a colleague, above her in rank, she is transferred to another department, where she works the late show, or the night shift. I loved how she and Harry complimented each other, both pursueing justice, both willing to take short cuts to solve a case. Connelly has the talent to give the reader some very interesting characters, characters that we can understand, relateable. In this pairing he has, despite the age gap, given us a new team, and it will be be interesting to see how they will evolve, work together. Since both can be willfull, stubborn, I expect some fireworks down the line. Hoping for good things to come.
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LibraryThing member norinrad10
I've been reading Michael Connelly novels for about 30 years now, and in the last 5 years there has been a subtle change in style. They've become less mystery books and more of procedurals. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to your personal taste.
Each book has a central case, but throughout
Long time readers will enjoy this book, and those new to Connelly will appreciate the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, as I'm sure a run of Bosch/Ballard books are in the cards. I for one am looking forward to them.
Each book has a central case, but throughout
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several cases are solved. Dark Sacred Night is no different. In this instance, the central case involves a young woman of the street who was murdered nearly a decade ago and who's killer was never cought. The case provides the perfect opportunity to unite Connelly's long running character Harry Bosch and his latest creation, Detective Rene Ballard. Their partnership for the most part works quite well.Long time readers will enjoy this book, and those new to Connelly will appreciate the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, as I'm sure a run of Bosch/Ballard books are in the cards. I for one am looking forward to them.
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LibraryThing member antao
The first thriller I remember reading as a child was “The Falcon’s Malteaser” by Anthony Horowitz. Looking back, it’s amazing how many of the gripes of the genre were in it, yet it could be enjoyed as a 10 year old.
One another classic thriller writer, not many people about, probably because
When I’m in a bad mood I like to facetiously imply that no literary fiction has a plot. Bizarre comment you might think, right? I’m sure some of you would agree with me though, some of it is tedious drivel and some of it isn’t ... all in the writing isn’t it whatever the genre, right? Tons of lit fic is plot driven and it’s good or bad; tons isn’t and it’s good or bad, crime fiction is obviously very plot driven, and it’s also either done well or badly. It can be very formulaic. I prefer crime fiction that has political stuff happening or at the other end of the spectrum, grimy stuff. Not really a fan of reoccurring detectives stumbling across the crime of the century multiple times; I find it cheesy and the knowledge that they are in no real jeopardy annoys me. For me it’s all about that sweet spot though. A good example is Phillip Meyer’s “American Rust” and “The Son”. Absolutely literary fiction that involves criminal activity and a good deal of violence. Of plot, prose and character, plot is the most fun but the least interesting. Some literary fiction has no plot at all, yet remains a page-turner. Anthony Powell's “A Dance to the Music of Time” sequence springs to mind.
Most people I know who like Crime Fiction are people who inherently do not like folks who do bad to get away with it, back then; they could not care if the evil gets away with it or not, as long as it is twisted people doing twisted stuff, so degenerate are the times.
I do like a good crime story but most modern Crime novels are about murder, usually serial killers and often sexual assault/rape. Are there any well-crafted detective novels about car theft, robbery or dog fouling? Ok, that last one maybe a stretch too far but we do seem obsessed with murder.
Populism is never good for self-esteem in serious art. E. L. James? Dan Brown? The Art of the Deal? And yes, I will resist the temptation to shoehorn in Rump and Rexit; let's keep that Anglo Saxon shame out of it. It’s true that crime thrillers can’t get away with sloppiness. Michael Connelly does not really write Literary Crime Fiction, but he would if he set his mind to it. The sense I got from the “Sacred Dark Night” is that Connelly thought a long time ago: “This thriller writing lark is easy - I’m a great writer, let’s cash in”. So forget about one vast, glaring (to me) plot hole was left in (because the whole thing collapses if it’s not there) [again, spoilers]. It would have been the instinctive and obvious thing for an ordinary middle class person to do. Connelly even tries to paper over it later, having one of his character vaguely muse about how stupid it was. This is just lazy writing. “Literary” novels can get away with a lot if the language is impressive enough. Crime novels are hard. If I was a crime fiction writer I'd want the fact that I could write Literary Crime Fiction hushed up. I wouldn’t want anyone to know I could turn into another John Banville…
I gave up with "literary fiction" chiefly because most "literary novelists" write tedious drivel that gets extravagantly overpraised in the press, being reviewed by their backscratching mates inside the tiny cosy London, NYC, Lisbon or Paris literary scene. A mystery novel can still work if the writing is bad as long as the mystery works. Obviously good writing is better but its optional. If the mystery is nonsense then no manner of finely tuned phrases are going to cover it up.
Crime can be just as much 'literary' fiction as anything else. Granted that much is little different from watching the telly but people get high falutin about tv series these days and I'd simply rather read than watch, mainly. And its rarely up its own arse or boring... and even stuff thats not brilliant can be enjoyable, like 'Girl on a Train', which is more than can be said for much of the 'over-wrought' stuff that gets so lauded as literature..
Bottom-line: At the end of the day, does anyone care what any of us think? We are but naked apes hooting into the void, an evolutionary accident on a dying planet orbiting a dying sun. Nothing of us will remain, not even - despite Larkin's assertions - love. (I'm not naked I've got my underpants on in case you're wondering....)
One another classic thriller writer, not many people about, probably because
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he is too pulpy, is Sax Rohmer with the Fu Manchu books. Fast paced, sometimes brutal, often funny, you can see their impact in wider culture even now. They may not be the highest of brow books, but I do love them. On the other hand, I can’t wait for the new James Ellroy as the second LA quartet continues. Loved all his previous books, and the continuation of the stories of his characters across them make them books I regularly return to.When I’m in a bad mood I like to facetiously imply that no literary fiction has a plot. Bizarre comment you might think, right? I’m sure some of you would agree with me though, some of it is tedious drivel and some of it isn’t ... all in the writing isn’t it whatever the genre, right? Tons of lit fic is plot driven and it’s good or bad; tons isn’t and it’s good or bad, crime fiction is obviously very plot driven, and it’s also either done well or badly. It can be very formulaic. I prefer crime fiction that has political stuff happening or at the other end of the spectrum, grimy stuff. Not really a fan of reoccurring detectives stumbling across the crime of the century multiple times; I find it cheesy and the knowledge that they are in no real jeopardy annoys me. For me it’s all about that sweet spot though. A good example is Phillip Meyer’s “American Rust” and “The Son”. Absolutely literary fiction that involves criminal activity and a good deal of violence. Of plot, prose and character, plot is the most fun but the least interesting. Some literary fiction has no plot at all, yet remains a page-turner. Anthony Powell's “A Dance to the Music of Time” sequence springs to mind.
Most people I know who like Crime Fiction are people who inherently do not like folks who do bad to get away with it, back then; they could not care if the evil gets away with it or not, as long as it is twisted people doing twisted stuff, so degenerate are the times.
I do like a good crime story but most modern Crime novels are about murder, usually serial killers and often sexual assault/rape. Are there any well-crafted detective novels about car theft, robbery or dog fouling? Ok, that last one maybe a stretch too far but we do seem obsessed with murder.
Populism is never good for self-esteem in serious art. E. L. James? Dan Brown? The Art of the Deal? And yes, I will resist the temptation to shoehorn in Rump and Rexit; let's keep that Anglo Saxon shame out of it. It’s true that crime thrillers can’t get away with sloppiness. Michael Connelly does not really write Literary Crime Fiction, but he would if he set his mind to it. The sense I got from the “Sacred Dark Night” is that Connelly thought a long time ago: “This thriller writing lark is easy - I’m a great writer, let’s cash in”. So forget about one vast, glaring (to me) plot hole was left in (because the whole thing collapses if it’s not there) [again, spoilers]. It would have been the instinctive and obvious thing for an ordinary middle class person to do. Connelly even tries to paper over it later, having one of his character vaguely muse about how stupid it was. This is just lazy writing. “Literary” novels can get away with a lot if the language is impressive enough. Crime novels are hard. If I was a crime fiction writer I'd want the fact that I could write Literary Crime Fiction hushed up. I wouldn’t want anyone to know I could turn into another John Banville…
I gave up with "literary fiction" chiefly because most "literary novelists" write tedious drivel that gets extravagantly overpraised in the press, being reviewed by their backscratching mates inside the tiny cosy London, NYC, Lisbon or Paris literary scene. A mystery novel can still work if the writing is bad as long as the mystery works. Obviously good writing is better but its optional. If the mystery is nonsense then no manner of finely tuned phrases are going to cover it up.
Crime can be just as much 'literary' fiction as anything else. Granted that much is little different from watching the telly but people get high falutin about tv series these days and I'd simply rather read than watch, mainly. And its rarely up its own arse or boring... and even stuff thats not brilliant can be enjoyable, like 'Girl on a Train', which is more than can be said for much of the 'over-wrought' stuff that gets so lauded as literature..
Bottom-line: At the end of the day, does anyone care what any of us think? We are but naked apes hooting into the void, an evolutionary accident on a dying planet orbiting a dying sun. Nothing of us will remain, not even - despite Larkin's assertions - love. (I'm not naked I've got my underpants on in case you're wondering....)
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Los Angeles Police Detective Renée Ballard teams up with Harry Bosch to solve a cold case. Fifteen-year-old Daisy Clayton, brutally murdered and thrown into a dumpster, is the one case Harry just can’t let go. Can he and Renée find the answers and bring the murderer to justice?
Strong character
Highly recommended.
Strong character
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development, a superb sense of place, and an incredible plot filled with twists and turns come together to spin a tale of intrigue and daring that promises to leave the reader breathless. The author’s impeccable attention to detail, the chemistry between the characters, and the nonstop action will keep the pages turning in this unputdownable book.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
Former LAPD detective Harry Bosch intersects with present late show detective Renee Ballard in trying to close a cold case of a young woman taken off the streets 9 years previous and murdered.
The story is OK. The plot went on far too long. I enjoyed Connelly's writings much more in the past than
The story is OK. The plot went on far too long. I enjoyed Connelly's writings much more in the past than
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his present novels. Fast read. Show Less
LibraryThing member alanteder
Review of the Audiobook Edition narrated by Christine Lakin and Titus Welliver.
This is a solid return of Connelly's latest character Renee Ballard who was introduced in "The Late Show" as a go forward detective working the night shift. She is partnered here on a cold case with Connelly's veteran
In terms of the narration, the large part of the book is narrated by Christine Lakin who voices both roles in her sections (except for one brief duo dialogue passage) with Titus Welliver only voicing those sections where Bosch is solo and not being partnered by Ballard. In that sense, this is more of a Ballard book with Bosch in a large cameo role.
This is a solid return of Connelly's latest character Renee Ballard who was introduced in "The Late Show" as a go forward detective working the night shift. She is partnered here on a cold case with Connelly's veteran
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detective Harry Bosch in what is hopefully a continuing future partnership. The bond is perhaps made too quickly at first but instinctive good investigators may be able to make that leap of faith and of course Bosch would have somewhat of a legendary status that precedes him. The ending was perhaps a bit too quick and neat with an uncharacteristic brief sidestep by Bosch that felt off, but that is a small complaint about a solid investigative thriller from the ever reliable Michael Connelly.In terms of the narration, the large part of the book is narrated by Christine Lakin who voices both roles in her sections (except for one brief duo dialogue passage) with Titus Welliver only voicing those sections where Bosch is solo and not being partnered by Ballard. In that sense, this is more of a Ballard book with Bosch in a large cameo role.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Michael Connelly introduced us to LAPD Detective Renée Ballard in 2017's novel, The Late Show. I really liked this character and was thrilled to find out that Connelly's just released novel, Dark Sacred Night, is billed as a Ballard and Bosch book. Uh huh, two great detectives = one great
Ballard is still working the Late Show - the night shift in Hollywood Division. One night she finds a stranger in the squad room, rifling through filing cabinets. That stranger is retired Detective Harry Bosch, pursing a cold case - one he just can't let go. Ballard finds out what he's after - and they join forces....Oh, the joy of starting a new Michael Connelly book! I was hooked from the first chapter.
Connelly's plotting is so very, very good. The reader is alongside Harry and Renée as they put together the pieces. I enjoy not having 'insider' information that the protagonists don't have, instead 'solving' the case alongside them. (I do have to stop myself from peeking ahead at times though - I just can't wait to see the next development.)
I like the two working together, but admit my heart will always have a special place for Harry. Connelly has kept his series moving forward in real time. Harry is an aging war horse, game for the race, but beginning to struggle. Ballard has her own struggles as well - she's a pariah within her own department. But they're both dogged investigators.
This cold case is not the only case on the table - both Bosch and Ballard have other cases they're also running. Bosch gives it his all every time...
" He had always operated according to the axiom that everybody counts in this world or nobody counts. This belief dictated that he must give each case and each victim his best effort."
Connelly's writing has always had the ring of truth - his settings, procedures and dialogue are so detailed and believable. His writing is so addicting. (And I devour his books far too quickly)
Will there be more of Harry Bosch - and Ballard? I think so....
"You know what I was thinking about Harry? I was thinking about all the cases that would never get solved if you were gone. You still have work to do."
....and I can't wait to read them. Absolutely recommended!
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read.Ballard is still working the Late Show - the night shift in Hollywood Division. One night she finds a stranger in the squad room, rifling through filing cabinets. That stranger is retired Detective Harry Bosch, pursing a cold case - one he just can't let go. Ballard finds out what he's after - and they join forces....Oh, the joy of starting a new Michael Connelly book! I was hooked from the first chapter.
Connelly's plotting is so very, very good. The reader is alongside Harry and Renée as they put together the pieces. I enjoy not having 'insider' information that the protagonists don't have, instead 'solving' the case alongside them. (I do have to stop myself from peeking ahead at times though - I just can't wait to see the next development.)
I like the two working together, but admit my heart will always have a special place for Harry. Connelly has kept his series moving forward in real time. Harry is an aging war horse, game for the race, but beginning to struggle. Ballard has her own struggles as well - she's a pariah within her own department. But they're both dogged investigators.
This cold case is not the only case on the table - both Bosch and Ballard have other cases they're also running. Bosch gives it his all every time...
" He had always operated according to the axiom that everybody counts in this world or nobody counts. This belief dictated that he must give each case and each victim his best effort."
Connelly's writing has always had the ring of truth - his settings, procedures and dialogue are so detailed and believable. His writing is so addicting. (And I devour his books far too quickly)
Will there be more of Harry Bosch - and Ballard? I think so....
"You know what I was thinking about Harry? I was thinking about all the cases that would never get solved if you were gone. You still have work to do."
....and I can't wait to read them. Absolutely recommended!
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LibraryThing member diana.hauser
DARK SACRED NIGHT by Michael Connelly is a Ballard and Bosch Novel, Book 1.
I couldn’t be happier with this breath of fresh air into the Harry Bosch series.
Detective Renee Ballard works the night beat, the graveyard shift, and meets Harry one night while he is rifling through old file cabinets. He
Ballard and Bosch form a tentative, wary partnership which ultimately saves their lives and solves the case.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is excellent crime fiction. It is well-written, gritty, suspenseful - a police procedural with interesting, emotional, hard-working detectives.
A must read.
I couldn’t be happier with this breath of fresh air into the Harry Bosch series.
Detective Renee Ballard works the night beat, the graveyard shift, and meets Harry one night while he is rifling through old file cabinets. He
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is working on a ‘cold case’ involving the 9 year old abduction and murder of 15 year old runaway Daisy Clayton.Ballard and Bosch form a tentative, wary partnership which ultimately saves their lives and solves the case.
DARK SACRED NIGHT is excellent crime fiction. It is well-written, gritty, suspenseful - a police procedural with interesting, emotional, hard-working detectives.
A must read.
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LibraryThing member waldhaus1
I have been a fan of Connelly for several years. I believe I have read everything he has written. He periodically introduces new characters, but maintains continuity from novel to novel. The reader is left feeling he or she is getting to know the characters. Indeed the characters age and change as
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the series develops. Show Less
LibraryThing member creighley
Boring, undeveloped story line. Too many victims. Too many story lines and none were developed. No character or event was in focus. If this is the start of Ballard and Bosch working together, more work needs to be done to develop suspense, realistic solutions, and characters.
LibraryThing member cathyskye
I loved Connelly's first Renée Ballard novel, The Late Show, and had no doubt that she and Harry Bosch would get along well after a bit of introductory posturing (mostly on Renée's part). After all, Ballard is a younger, female version of Bosch. All she needs is his experience, and if the two of
It's fun watching these two get to know each other. Bosch takes one look at Ballard's deep tan and knows she's not the typical detective who works the late show. He even makes Ballard laugh-- and it's so unusual for her to do that that it startled me. When Ballard is around Harry, she pays attention and soaks up how he does things like a sponge. Once again, as I read Dark Sacred Night, I loved watching how Renée sees things, how she interacts with people. There's no such thing as a throwaway human being to Renée or to Harry, so I predict some interesting cases ahead for the two of them to work.
Connelly's pacing is swift and sure. He knows how to deliver fascinating cases and action sequences that have readers biting their fingernails. Moreover, Connelly doesn't believe in throwaway characters either. Readers never see a police officer named Tim Farmer during the course of Dark Sacred Night even though he plays an important role. We only get to read his descriptions of people on his field interview cards, but outside of Ballard and Bosch, Farmer is the most memorable character in the book to me.
There's little else for me to say other than I hope it's not long before these two detectives are working together again. Renée, send up that signal!
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them work together very much, she's going to get it.It's fun watching these two get to know each other. Bosch takes one look at Ballard's deep tan and knows she's not the typical detective who works the late show. He even makes Ballard laugh-- and it's so unusual for her to do that that it startled me. When Ballard is around Harry, she pays attention and soaks up how he does things like a sponge. Once again, as I read Dark Sacred Night, I loved watching how Renée sees things, how she interacts with people. There's no such thing as a throwaway human being to Renée or to Harry, so I predict some interesting cases ahead for the two of them to work.
Connelly's pacing is swift and sure. He knows how to deliver fascinating cases and action sequences that have readers biting their fingernails. Moreover, Connelly doesn't believe in throwaway characters either. Readers never see a police officer named Tim Farmer during the course of Dark Sacred Night even though he plays an important role. We only get to read his descriptions of people on his field interview cards, but outside of Ballard and Bosch, Farmer is the most memorable character in the book to me.
There's little else for me to say other than I hope it's not long before these two detectives are working together again. Renée, send up that signal!
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LibraryThing member BillieBook
Harry Bosch has been sidelined, suspended, retired, and outright fired multiple times and, eventually, one of those is going to have to stick. Smart, then, of Michael Connelly to continue to introduce new characters who can help fill the gap when that inevitable day finally comes. Putting Bosch and
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Ballard together on the page should convince faithful readers that Renee Ballard is a worthy successor to Harry Bosch when the beloved character eventually takes his final curtain call. Show Less
LibraryThing member bjkelley
I didn't think Connelly did a good job with the last "Ballard" book (seemed he couldn't write for a female character), but this time out he does a great job with Ballard and of course Bosch is always great. I did think the ending came up rather abruptly, but that may just be me.
LibraryThing member RowingRabbit
Most of the books I pick up are fiction. I have one of those jobs that introduces me to life’s less glamorous realities on a daily basis so I read for escape. But as with non-fiction, I learn something from every story. Of all the lessons I will take away from this book, the most important may be
Renée Ballard knows what I’m talking about. So after dealing with a particularly eewww-inducing crime scene one night, she looks forward to some solo down time back at the station. Except she’s not alone. There appears to be a strange man trying to break into the file cabinets. Ballard, meet Bosch. Harry Bosch.
You could say it’s the start of a beautiful friendship but that would gloss over a few bumps in the road. Harry is working on his hobby case. In a previous instalment, he met a woman grieving the death of her teenage daughter. It’s been 9 yr. since Daisy Clayton was violently murdered & Harry has decided it’s gone unsolved long enough.
Ballard has her own issues. She used to be part of an elite crime squad. Her fall from grace began after a superior officer got a little handsy & she dared to report him. Of course the department stepped up & dealt with it. Sort of. He kept his job & she found herself back on the street working the late show. Renée now works alone & it’s not bad. Some nights are quiet & she begins to look into Harry’s pet project.
Before she knows it, they’ve formed a partnership of sorts. They’re an interesting pair & part of the fun is watching Renée try to rein Harry in as he sidesteps the rules in trademark fashion. It’s a slow, painstaking process, frequently interrupted by the demands of more pressing cases.
To be honest, it took me a bit to get into the story. But I found Renée much more fleshed out here than she was in the previous book. As she & Harry settled into their relationship, I found it easy to sit back & enjoy the ride. I really enjoyed the story lines that emerged from current investigations. It maintained the pace & provided plenty of tension that balanced out the slower grind of the cold case, making its progress more realistic.
By the end, it’s clear Harry’s days as a reserve officer with the San Fernando P.D. may be numbered. But it might be the start of a new chapter for the old cop which is great news for Bosch fans. So if he & Renée find another cold case to tackle, I’m in. As long as he doesn’t get a cat.
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this. Feed your cat. Faithfully, continuously & in large quantities. In fact, just cut a hole in the bottom of a 50 kg bag & leave it out on the kitchen floor, ok? You might thank me later.Renée Ballard knows what I’m talking about. So after dealing with a particularly eewww-inducing crime scene one night, she looks forward to some solo down time back at the station. Except she’s not alone. There appears to be a strange man trying to break into the file cabinets. Ballard, meet Bosch. Harry Bosch.
You could say it’s the start of a beautiful friendship but that would gloss over a few bumps in the road. Harry is working on his hobby case. In a previous instalment, he met a woman grieving the death of her teenage daughter. It’s been 9 yr. since Daisy Clayton was violently murdered & Harry has decided it’s gone unsolved long enough.
Ballard has her own issues. She used to be part of an elite crime squad. Her fall from grace began after a superior officer got a little handsy & she dared to report him. Of course the department stepped up & dealt with it. Sort of. He kept his job & she found herself back on the street working the late show. Renée now works alone & it’s not bad. Some nights are quiet & she begins to look into Harry’s pet project.
Before she knows it, they’ve formed a partnership of sorts. They’re an interesting pair & part of the fun is watching Renée try to rein Harry in as he sidesteps the rules in trademark fashion. It’s a slow, painstaking process, frequently interrupted by the demands of more pressing cases.
To be honest, it took me a bit to get into the story. But I found Renée much more fleshed out here than she was in the previous book. As she & Harry settled into their relationship, I found it easy to sit back & enjoy the ride. I really enjoyed the story lines that emerged from current investigations. It maintained the pace & provided plenty of tension that balanced out the slower grind of the cold case, making its progress more realistic.
By the end, it’s clear Harry’s days as a reserve officer with the San Fernando P.D. may be numbered. But it might be the start of a new chapter for the old cop which is great news for Bosch fans. So if he & Renée find another cold case to tackle, I’m in. As long as he doesn’t get a cat.
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LibraryThing member SamSattler
Michael Connelly consistently writes some of the best police procedurals being produced today, and "Dark Sacred Night," the collaboration between Connelly's best known detective (Harry Bosch) and his newest (Renée Ballard) is no exception. As the novel begins, Harry is still working for the small
Initially, the pair decide to work together on a nine-year-old cold case involving the death of a 15-year-old runaway, a young girl who died at the hands of someone who knew exactly how to cover his tracks. Neither Ballard, nor Bosch, is the kind of cop that will give up on a case when the trail gets cold, and by combining their skills and their determination, maybe the girl's killer will finally be brought to justice. But that's a lot easier said than done.
In the meantime, the reader learns that the life of a police detective often involves juggling multiple murder cases, personal problems, and everyday life even to the point of going without sleep for days at a time. Michael Connelly has done it again. Harry Bosch fans will be happy to catch up with Harry's ever evolving life, and fans of Renée Ballard will enjoy watching her and her career begin to evolve in this second book featuring her. Good stuff.
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police department he joined after leaving the LAPD, and Ballard is working the "Late Show" at LAPD, but when they cross paths late one night both their lives will change forever.Initially, the pair decide to work together on a nine-year-old cold case involving the death of a 15-year-old runaway, a young girl who died at the hands of someone who knew exactly how to cover his tracks. Neither Ballard, nor Bosch, is the kind of cop that will give up on a case when the trail gets cold, and by combining their skills and their determination, maybe the girl's killer will finally be brought to justice. But that's a lot easier said than done.
In the meantime, the reader learns that the life of a police detective often involves juggling multiple murder cases, personal problems, and everyday life even to the point of going without sleep for days at a time. Michael Connelly has done it again. Harry Bosch fans will be happy to catch up with Harry's ever evolving life, and fans of Renée Ballard will enjoy watching her and her career begin to evolve in this second book featuring her. Good stuff.
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LibraryThing member sberson
A bit too pat, but fine reading.
LibraryThing member Perednia
The more Harry I read, the more I love Michael Connelly's work. The more Renee Ballard I read, the more I love Michael Connelly's work. Even when I question what these two cops are doing, I love Michael Connelly's work.
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This was a fascinating look at the inside workings of the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as some local police districts, while also an intriguing set of tales about several crimes committed there. The central case concerned a cold case file where a young woman was murdered, a case retired
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detective Harry Bosch can't let go. Through pure coincidence, he ends up working with Detective Renee Ballard to solve what turns out to be a serial murder investigation, but there is lots more going on with both of them during this investigation. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in what I hope will be a series joining these two interesting characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
Not my favourite of the Bosch series.
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Great story naturally bringing Ballard and Bosch together to collaborate on a cold-case, whilst contributing to each's other current cases. Bosch is investigating a 9 year-old murder and Ballard catches him digging into old files and becomes intrigued and decides to join forces with Bosch.
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Meanwhile Bosch in his regular part-time job with San Fernando PD is investigating a gangland murder and finds himself a target. Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Is Bosch finding a new partner for his sleuthing? I hope so. We’ve met Renee Ballard in earlier books, but now she plays a key role in finding the killer of a young prostitute. Good old fashioned detective work makes the case work. It takes hard work as well as brains to solve the case. It was
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fun to see some of the other cases Ballard was working on as well. Bosch never disappoints. Show Less
LibraryThing member buffalogr
We’ve met Renee Ballard in earlier books, but now she plays a key role in crime solving. This was a fascinating look at the inside workings of the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as some local police districts. She is partly a female version of Bosch, but she is also clearly her own
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separate person. Pretty good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tatoosh
In “Dark Sacred Night” Harry Bosch, featured in more than 20 full length novels as well as short stories and an eponymous television series, joins forces with Renee Ballard, newly introduced to readers in 2017 in “The Late Show.” Harry is investigating a cold case involving the murder of a
Connelly uses a somewhat unusual approach of repeatedly shifting the point of view back and forth between Bosch and Ballard. Brief sections of a few chapters are told from one point of view, then the other. This inflates the book somewhat as Connelly needs to insert subplots that demonstrate the personality and skill of each character. These subplots, while somewhat interesting, do not advance the plot.
“Dark Sacred Night” suffers somewhat from the inclusion of several standard literary tropes. Bosch is suspended when a fellow police officer, arrested for providing information to a gang member, attempts suicide. The justification for the suspension is superficial at best’ it almost seems that Connelly is setting up the rationale for a new role for Bosch in future novels. Ballard works day and night and suffers from sleep deprivation. Bosch violates an order to avoid becoming personally involved in the location and apprehension of the leader of the gang believed to be responsible for the murder of a potential witness. Ballard is so determined to solve the cold case that she works off the clock. Bosch is kidnapped and his family is threatened. Ballard is a highly competent detective who has been shuttled off to an unattractive assignment because complaints she lodged caused grief for the higher administration.
Each of these plot elements have appeared repeatedly in this genre. Their introduction causes a faint sense of weariness, and an eagerness to move on to something more original.
Finally, it is somewhat disappointing that the murderer appeared only in passing in one brief scene prior to conclusion. It is unlikely that readers could have deduced the identity of the murderer given the information available.
I would like to read more about the team of Bosch and Ballard but I’m hoping the next offering will avoid the use of so many recycled tropes.
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young woman a decade ago. The victim was the daughter of a drug addict, introduced in the “Two Kinds of Truth.” Ballard encounters Harry while he is searching through police department files and, upon learning about the murder he is investigating, agrees to work with him on the case. Connelly uses a somewhat unusual approach of repeatedly shifting the point of view back and forth between Bosch and Ballard. Brief sections of a few chapters are told from one point of view, then the other. This inflates the book somewhat as Connelly needs to insert subplots that demonstrate the personality and skill of each character. These subplots, while somewhat interesting, do not advance the plot.
“Dark Sacred Night” suffers somewhat from the inclusion of several standard literary tropes. Bosch is suspended when a fellow police officer, arrested for providing information to a gang member, attempts suicide. The justification for the suspension is superficial at best’ it almost seems that Connelly is setting up the rationale for a new role for Bosch in future novels. Ballard works day and night and suffers from sleep deprivation. Bosch violates an order to avoid becoming personally involved in the location and apprehension of the leader of the gang believed to be responsible for the murder of a potential witness. Ballard is so determined to solve the cold case that she works off the clock. Bosch is kidnapped and his family is threatened. Ballard is a highly competent detective who has been shuttled off to an unattractive assignment because complaints she lodged caused grief for the higher administration.
Each of these plot elements have appeared repeatedly in this genre. Their introduction causes a faint sense of weariness, and an eagerness to move on to something more original.
Finally, it is somewhat disappointing that the murderer appeared only in passing in one brief scene prior to conclusion. It is unlikely that readers could have deduced the identity of the murderer given the information available.
I would like to read more about the team of Bosch and Ballard but I’m hoping the next offering will avoid the use of so many recycled tropes.
Show Less
LibraryThing member zmagic69
Better than the first book in the series, this one flows like a Michael Connelly book usually flows.
Renée Ballard meets retired LAPD officer Harry Bosch looking at old files on a cold case, and convinces Renée to work with him.
Another excellent book by this author.
Renée Ballard meets retired LAPD officer Harry Bosch looking at old files on a cold case, and convinces Renée to work with him.
Another excellent book by this author.
Awards
Barry Award (Nominee — Novel — 2019)
Language
Original publication date
2018
ISBN
9780316484800
Other editions
Dark sacred night by Michael Connelly (Paper Book)
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