The Dark Hours (Harry Bosch Series #23 And Renã©E Ballard Series #4) By Michael Connelly

4.4 (28)
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Product Details

Web ID: 13393317

A Wall Street Journal and South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Book of the Year; A masterpiece LAPD detective Renée Ballard must join forces with Harry Bosch to find justice in a city scarred by fear and social unrest after a methodical killer strikes on New Year's Eve (Publishers Weekly). There's chaos in Hollywood at the end of the New Year's Eve countdown. Working her graveyard shift, LAPD detective Renée Ballard waits out the traditional rain of lead as hundreds of revelers shoot their guns into the air. Only minutes after midnight, Ballard is called to a scene where a hardworking auto shop owner has been fatally hit by a bullet in the middle of a crowded street party. Ballard quickly concludes that the deadly bullet could not have fallen from the sky and that it is linked to another unsolved murder a case at one time worked by Detective Harry Bosch. At the same time, Ballard hunts a fiendish pair of serial rapists, the Midnight Men, who have been terrorizing women and leaving no trace. Determined to solve both cases, Ballard feels like she is constantly running uphill in a police department indelibly changed by the pandemic and recent social unrest. It is a department so hampered by inertia and low morale that Ballard must go outside to the one detective she can count on: Harry Bosch.

  • Product Features

    • Author - Michael Connelly
    • Publisher - Little, Brown and Company
    • Publication date - 11-09-2021
    • Page count - 400
    • Hardcover
    • Adult
    • Mystery & Thriller
    • Dimensions - 6.2 H x 9.2 W x 1.4 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9780316485647
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Ratings & Reviews

4.4/5

28 star ratings & reviews

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3 years ago

So much suspense

This amazing series just keeps getting better. Renee Ballard is a tough detective working the night shift in Los Angeles. She gets invested in each of her cases and wants to see justice for the victims. In the latest book she gets involved in two totally different cases. One a death on New Year's Eve that is ruled a homicide and the other a home invasion and assault. One of the cases is connected to a cold case that Harry Bosch worked on and Renee contacts him when she can't get access to the old case file. Renee and Harry work so well together, although it is against the official rules for them to be working together since Harry is retired. There was so much suspense in this book that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Another great book from a wonderful author.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Southern Ca

Moves along but lacks the punch of Bosch books

I’ve read almost all of the Bosch books, and while I appreciate the attempt to feature a female cop as the protagonist, relegating Harry Bosh to a mentor role with no real impact was, I think, a mistake.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Cedaredge, Colorado

Good read

I have always enjoyed Connelly’s books, especially the Harry Bosch series. I must admit after watching the series on Netflix, I was a little disappointed with the character after that. I do think the female character in this series needs to get a little more bold. It appears she is a little bit held back for some reason. I did enjoy the story line and I have read almost all of Connelly’s books, especially the last 20 or so. Looking forward to the next one.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Orange County, CA

Entertaining Mystery/Suspense

Surprisingly, this is only my second Michael Connelly book. But since I have watched the entire Harry Bosch series on Prime Video, I feel like I have read them all. This is Connelly’s fourth book with the character Detective Renee Ballard and also featured retired Harry Bosch. While it was nice to read about a female police officer for a change of pace, this book didn’t really hit home like the Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller characters. I am not quite sure what Renee is missing. Do I wish she were a little more hardcore? Do I feel like maybe Connelly is playing it safe with Renee’s character to appease women readers? I might just have to go back and read the first three Renee Ballard books to see if she has a different presence in those books. After reading “Law of Innocence” last year and truly enjoying it (serious page turner), I was really excited to get another book from Michael Connelly. The “Dark Hours” was an entertaining suspense/mystery read and got me out of a reading slump, but didn’t really knock it out of the park for me. I cannot wait for the Bosch’s second TV series, “Bosch: Legacy” coming to IMDB TV sometime in 2022 and Michael Connelly’s next book.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Orlando, FL

A good tale spoiled by Connelly's politics

Frankly I wish I could get my money back. I buy and read fiction to escape and enjoy a good yarn. Like everyone else today, it seems, Connelly cannot refrain from preaching to the rest of us about masks, vaccinations, and imposing his obvious liberal political views. And none of this has ANYTHING to do with the story! I feel like I was duped into listening to more political tripe and will likely not buy another Connelly book because of it, not even from the discount bargain bin. If you agree with Connelly's politics, fine. For those who don't, your read will be spoiled by the interjections of mask/vax references, opinions of the Capital riots, and references to characters' preferences for liberal news shows and commentators. Mr Connelly I don't care what your politics are, I just wish you had the same respect for your readers.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Denver, CO

Renewed love for Michael Connelly

It has been quite sometime since I have read a Michael Connelly book. He still does not disappoint and I need to read all the ones I have missed. At first I was really taken aback by how much readers were hit in the face with Covid and mask references. I don't like this in my readings because I read to escape and I was getting frustrated with the references. However, the plot, the cases and the dynamic between Bosch and Ballard were so enticing that I just rolled my eyes at each reference and moved on. I understand that Connelly wanted to tie this into current events; Covid and the Black Lives Matter movement, but again I want to read to escape. I thought this was a great police procedural novel. The dual cases that Ballard worked simultaneously were both interesting in their own right. I have always been a fan of Michael Connelly, but this book has renewed my love for his writing!

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Florida

Good read, but…

Good read but I could do without the not quite subliminal preaching about masks and vaccinations or the politics (Do you think the new President is going to save us.) None of it is actually germane to the story. Seems these days everybody has a political agenda and is compelled to preach it. I read books like this to relieve the stress and conflict of daily life. Whichever side of the issue you come down on, it’s a shame Connolly chose to shove it in our face using in this forum also.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from OKC OK

Disappointing on a number of levels.

Firstly, I have read every single Connelly Book as I ran across them, them read them all in order. I LOVE Connelly's books! One of my favorite things about Connelly is that he keeps his personal views and politics out of his stories. Not so with this one! Seemed like the whole country was falling apart with unimpeded, lawless, violent rioting and looting in 2020, which is glossed over in this book, whereas Connelly can't seem to shout up about the so-called capital insurrection. Lawless rioting is lawless rioting whether done by the right or the left! My second complaint is Rene in this book. I LOVE this character and respect her! But the plot just could not get going because of everyone hating on her and keeping her from being able to do her job. Felt like filler and speed bumps! And then her response is to act outside the law and kind of crazily. I loved the dash of Bosch, but for once he was the sane character.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com