The dark hours by Michael Connelly

​"The dark hours" by Michael Connelly - Murder and Rape! 

This book is published by Orion in 2021 and has 400 pages. This is Book 23 of Ballard & Bosch series. 

Times of Corona, end of 2020, Los Angeles. Defunding has resulted in Detective Rene Ballard working dark hours alone, without a partner. Ballard gets two cases. First case is Midnight men, a two men rape team who breaks into house occupied by single ladies, tie them, blindfold and rape them. Second case is a Murder of an ex-gang banger during new year fireworks. This is too much for a single person, but Ballard doesn’t want to let go any of the cases. She teams with Harry Bosch, her mentor and a retired detective, without knowledge of her superior.

Will Ballard be able to retain both cases? Will Ballard be able to crack them? Will Ballard lose her job for involving an outsider and for insubordination?

The story is good. A little on slower side, but that is expected in the investigative work. What’s important is that author retains audience interest. Ballard and Bosch are interesting characters. Both are driven. Both are true detectives. Both don’t care for being politically correct. Both are pain in the neck for their superiors and both get results. 

Book ends with a question mark. Will Ballard remain with Hollywood division of LAPD or will she go private? Guess we will have to wait for Book No. 27. 

After reading this book, I happened to notice that there are five seasons of ’Bosch’ on Amazon Prime, a show dedicated to Harry Bosch based on previous books. Started watching it and completed 2 seasons. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Pace. 

What did I like? The rest 

Recommend reading, if you are or are planning to read the series.