I have a confession to make, this is the first Harry Bosch/Renee Ballard book I have read. I know, I know! I recently read another novel by Michael Connelly involving lawyer Mickey Haller and thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite knowing this series has been ongoing for many years I immediately felt comfortable with the characters who obviously had a lot of history and I was in no way made to feel that I was missing out by jumping straight in this late in the day. Renee Ballard is at the centre of two big cases, one is where a former gang member is shot dead at a New Year’s Eve party and the other is trying to discover the identities of the ‘midnight men’, two particularly nasty rapists who attack lone women in their own homes. A race against time and with very little support from colleagues leads Ballard to ask for help from the now retired Harry Bosch. Complex cases that need expertise, knowledge, intelligence and maybe a little luck along the way to solve them. Alternating between the two cases leaves little time for anything else but Ballard’s determination is all encompassing. An excellent story with two cases for the price of one, this has made me want to start the series right from the start, however I can assure any reader who, like me, has had their head in the sand for many years, won’t be disappointed if you only read this one.

I was looking forward to reading this but I found the first half a little dull. It seemed to be a chronology of the police work rather than a story. The second half developed further and the characters felt more real and I was able to identify with the main two people. The detective work was clever and interesting which was a major aspect of the book and the reason that the main character was successful.
I am sorry to say that I didn’t love this book and felt somewhat disappointed.

Another great book from Michael Connelly. I have been a fan for years and this latest book did not disappoint. Although the focus is on the Renee Ballard character she does enlist the help of Connelly's famous Harry Bosch. Two great characters working together to solve crimes during the Covid pandemic and in the aftermath of multiple riots in America is just a match made in heaven! I loved every page!

Ballard and Bosch are back.
LA, the pandemic has changed the LAPD and as far as Renee Ballard is concerned it's not for the better. However, with low funding and a freeze on recruitment she's going solo again, just how she likes it.
New Years Eve is always a busy night, but this year there are serial rapists targeting women on holidays and Ballard is on high alert.
When she is called to a homicide just after midnight, it links back to a 9 year old unsolved cold case. Resources are stretched and she finds herself calling on ex-cop Harry Boschs expertise, can she find the perpetrator and solve these two cases with Boschs help?

Another excellent book by a great author, bringing together Ballard and Bosch, two brilliant, sometimes maverick, detectives, dealing with 2 very different cases simultaneously in a police department affected both by the Covid pandemic and the impact of the death of George Floyd. The plots twist and turn as Ballard and Bosch pursue their instincts and leads as the book progresses to an excellent climax.

This is my favourite long running series of books. It is fascinating how Michael Connelly has managed to keep the series running - Harry Bosch's 35th episode and Renee Ballard's 4th. I felt as though Ballard was the central lead character in this book, with Bosch taking more of a secondary role. I think that's OK - after all, she is the one who is employed by the police department whilst he has supposedly retired.

The storyline starts with a rape case and quickly turns to a fatal shooting - two separate cases which Ballard is determined to keep working herself. This is all set against a timeline of 2020 into 2021 with the covid pandemic ongoing. It is very current, very believable, fast paced and absorbing.

Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating police thriller. One of a series but written to include the problems with policing in the US, affects of Covid19 and the storming of then Senate in Washington.. This background made the story seem very real. Some good characters and the action was non stop all the way through. Great read.

I’ve never met a Connelly book I didn’t enjoy, and The Dark Hours was no exception. I tore through it in a few hours. Bosch and Ballard are excellent characters, and I really loved how their working relationship evolved with the events that took place in The Dark Hours. Never not highly recommended!

I’ve loved all the Harry (Hieronymus) Bosch books since the first one The Black Echo, and this teaming with Ballard is a perfectly acceptable way to keep him on our pages while being realistic and true to his age and past career. Like all of Michael Connelly’s book this is a great read, with a brilliant main plot and a shocking revelation as to the source of the murders. All that said the book will also in future years be a social history book, as it deals with the aftermath and public opinion of the police following the George Floyd killing and the coronavirus pandemic and it’s impact on L.A.
As usual Connelly grabs you and doesn’t let you go. An excellent read, all the more enjoyable if you’re a fan of the series so you can get the best from the subplots but equally works as a standalone read.
There’s a reason these books are instant bestsellers

New Year's Eve 2020. Renee Ballard and Lisa Moore are out on patrol at midnight, trying to avoid the typical trouble that the season brings....but waiting for the Midnight Men rapists to strike again.

In the meantime, they're called to a fatal shooting, which proves to be anything but straightforward.

The shooting opens a decades-old can of worms, and brings the legend that is Harry Bosch into Renee's world again.

Fantastic

Michael Connelly again delivers fantastic read, the third in the Ballard Bosch series, this one is centred on Renee Ballard with Harry Bosch called in for a supporting role.

Ballard still working the dark hours(the night shift) as a punishment, it actually suits her, although she works the small hours with an unmotivated and often absent partner.

When a murder happens on her shift and the murder squad are busy with another case she temporarily runs with it until she has to hand it over. When she links it to an unsolved legacy case she calls Harry Bosch in to help her.

She is also working on an unusual double rapist case where two men are breaking into houses around midnight and raping women. This case is the meat of the book so to speak and quite sinister yet intriguing.

Set during the pandemic with the back drop of the Black Lives Matter movement and general distrust of the police, Connelly delivers an utterly compelling and complex read. Many plates are being spun by the author but he keeps them all spinning perfectly in this multi story tale.

Ballard, taking centre stage here, is a superb and stubborn character. A strong and driven woman, she is allowed to shine here as Bosch plays second fiddle to her.

I was all in with this one from first page to last. The more I read the more I realized the title of the book had many many meanings.

Dark, current, atmospheric and ultimately satisfying, Connelly shows no sign of dropping his standards of putting out some of the best police procedurals/thrillers out there today.

Get your hands on a copy if you can.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

It’s always a treat for me to read the latest Michael Connelly book and The Dark Hours was definitely up there with this author’s other novels in that it was a great read that had me both entertained and enthralled from the very first page.
This was another outing for Renee Ballard who works the night shift for the LAPD. In this book Ballard is investigating two cases, the murder of a retired gang member and a series of rapes perpetrated by a duo dubbed the Midnight Men. Her partner, Lisa Moore , is not a great help as she wants to spend most of her investigating time on holiday with her boyfriend. After all it is the festive New Year season! Renee must work alone and enlists the help of her mentor, retired cop, Harry Bosch as he has a connection to the murder case.
The main investigating is done by Ballard and Bosch’s role in this book is much smaller but I still enjoyed the interaction between these two characters as Ballard uses Bosch’s experience to help crack the two cases.
This book is bang up to date with the pandemic as well as cuts to police funding hovering in the background of the plot. This adds to the tension as Ballard feels unsupported within her own department. With little money or time, Ballard’s Co workers seem intent on looking after themselves and there is not much hope of thorough investigations. Ballard is keen to solve the rape case but is practically working on her own in a race against time before there are more victims. As the book progresses she becomes more and more disillusioned.
There was some light relief from the serious nature of the crimes when Ballard decides to adopt a new dog.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book- Ballard is a great character- and I’m certainly looking forward to more novels featuring her and Harry Bosch. Michael Connelly’s books are always consistently good and race along at a great pace. I set aside a weekend to read this one and despite having to undertake a few normal chores during my reading time, I finished The Dark Hours in the allotted period.
Definitely a five star read for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Orion for my review copy.

I am a big fan of Michael Connelly and although some of his books are parts of a series you never have to read the previous books to be submerged into his world. I have more of his books than any other author. In general I like his books because he tells it how it is and doesnt waffle about non-important things. I know I am going to be on the edge of my seat and I wont want to put it down once I start. This book is no exception. Great storyline and great cast of characters. The story starts on New Year's Eve 2020 and does mention covid and BLM but its not prominent. It happened and it keeps the book current. Brilliant read and can't wait for the next book from Michael Connelly.

If you are a fan of Michael Connelly this will not disappoint. As part of the Ballard/ Bosch series of books this tale continues their relationship. An up to date coronavirus included story. Well worth a read, excellent.

I have read almost all of Michael Connelly's books and none have ever disappointed me. Whilst some are, of course, better than others he never delivers anything less than a 4 star for me. How he keeps up this level of consistency is beyond me.

This novel features both Ballard (predominantly) and also Bosch (to a lesser extent). Whilst dealing with investigations into murder and rape, this novel also deals with current matters such as Black Lives Matter, Covid-19 and the impact that both have had upon policing in America.

Whilst I will always love Bosch, I feel like Ballard is coming into her own now in the series of books and am keen to see where the series goes next.

Another great read from Connelly and will delight his volumes of fans.

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Renee Ballard, the strong female protagonist, is an LAPD detective. She is intensely devoted to her job and finds the bureaucracy and lazy cops on the force frustrating. She wants to solve a murder, but after she does most of the work, the case is turned over to someone else. The case of the serial rapists is so important to her that she actually resigns to solve it.

I didn't realise it was part of a series so did feel as though I was missing out on specific parts. The story flowed well and I did enjoy it. It fit the genre perfectly and matched the description given. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

What a read!!! I was kindly gifted an early e-copy in return of an honest review. I loved this! The cover immediately caught my attention & I couldn’t put it down! I would certainly recommend.

For me Michael Connelly never puts a foot wrong. His books are plot driven, have great characters and are well written. This is as good as always. It is very topical, written and set during the Pandemic (and including the storming of the Senate). It shows how the police have been defunded, the lack of morale, with the public losing confidence making it harder on those battling for justice.
Rene Ballard is coming into her own, but it’s good to have Bosch partnering her unofficially and being her backup. This book combines a new murder with one of Bosch’s cold cases, a good reason for him to be involved, and multiple rapes to solve as well - so plenty going on. I enjoyed every page of it. Definitely 5 stars.
Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for a much wanted ARC.

It never ceases to amaze me how Michael Connelly manages to keep up his incredibly high stand in the Bosch and Ballard novels. This latest entry is more Ballard than Bosch, with the latter providing support from the sidelines. In this compulsive read Renee goes on the hunt for tag-team rapists, whilst has problems at work, another story angel links to one of Bosch's cold cases. As usual, Connelly's masterful flair brings the many story strands together and whilst Bosch might be nearing the end of the line, Renee Ballard has some ways to go as you will find out with the killer ending! Maybe Maddie Bosch will appear on team in the next book! I love this series.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for this latest Michael Connelly featuring Ballard and Bosch set against the backdrop of divisions within the LAPD.
Another superb outing for Renee Ballard ,who is fast becoming my favourite female detective. Never thought I would say this, but although Bosch is a big miss , Ballard is a worthy successor..
It is set at a very fast pace with the story not letting up. Although fictional. Michael Connelly makes it seem very real.
5 stars all the way and I cant wait for the next one.