Welcome to Litsy!

Another wild Saturday night! Nacho approves!
#catsofLitsy

Finished this one up on audio so I could get some chores done this morning. It was relatively fun, and I can see myself picking up more of the novels featuring Renée Ballard. The police protocol details are a little more nitty-gritty than I require, but I like the setting, and it tickled me a bit that, although I have only been to downtown LA once, one of the places I visited---The Last Bookstore---plays a small but significant role in this novel.

I've never been totally clear on what people meant when they referred to a "police procedural," but now that I've read a scene in which a main character figures out what search terms to use in a case database, I think I'm starting to get the idea.

I gave it 20% and am still not invested in the characters. I think the plot is moving too slowly to be interesting.

Thanks @RamsFan1963 or the tag!
1. Usually
2. Veronica speedwell was the first that came to mind.
3. I am a sucker for best friends love stories.
4. I am grateful for wifi. Ours has been out for several days now & you don‘t realize how many people/appliances rely on it these days.
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

My first introduction to Detective Renee Ballard and I'm a big fan! I absolutely can't wait to see the way that she and Bosch interact in future books of the series 👏🏽

Side note: got home from vacay yesterday (😭) but snuggles with my bb who was excited to see me made the transition a little easier 😻

Renee Ballard may be my new favorite detective. Well-written, a total badass, and an intriguing back story. Connelly did not disappoint with this book, that‘s for sure. When the true killer is discovered (after many red herrings), I gasped and was shaken. I never saw the twist coming, and this book has had a number of those. Highly highly recommend this read

“The late show” is police talk for the night shift. I like Connelly‘s novels and this is no exception. Here we meet Renee Ballard who reports for duty in Hollywood each night at midnight. Good character development. #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

This eventually got pretty good, but I‘m rating it at 3 stars because it took until the 60% mark on my audio before it did. That‘s WAY too long! It wasn‘t until 60% that it stopped sounding like a run of the mill crime. The author described mundane things in too much detail, adding to the snooze factor. Once it got to 60%, it picked up and had a satisfying conclusion, so just be ready for a long slog!

I‘m at 60% on my audio book and finally—FINALLY!—we‘re starting to get hints that something other than a run-of-the-mill crime is going on! 😒😴

Does this get any better? I‘m more than 40% into this on audio and I‘m bored! John Sandford is the only crime series author I read and I‘m trying to branch out. This, so far, reads like an ACTUAL police procedural—you know, all the tiresome details and paperwork that outweighs the exciting moments. I guess I‘m spoiled—it‘s hard to beat Sandford! I‘m too far in to DNF, so I hope it picks up!

I think we can all use some self care with everything going on in the world. I hope you‘re staying sane. 🙂

• The tagged book, Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear, and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.

• I‘m not much of a rereader. Sometimes a comforting read means a romance because it has a guaranteed HEA and sometimes it‘s mystery/suspense because it provides a great distraction.

• Coloring. It can be very relaxing.

#selfcaresaturday

Ballard and Jenkins rolled up on the house on El Centro shortly before midnight. It was the first call of the shift. There was already a patrol cruiser at the curb out front and Ballard recognized the two blue suiters standing on the front porch of the bungalow with a gray-haired woman in a bathrobe.

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I did a blog post here: https://alwaysbringbooks.com/2020/04/17/first-lines-fridays-3/

Thanks to @ShyBookOwl for sharing!

#firstlinefridays

Wrap up!

#Booked2020 @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen

I liked this more than I thought I would. #7 #2020 #quarantinereading #coronavirus2020

Starting this next on #overdrive #currentlylistening

Really enjoyed this new character. This one was a good mystery with interesting characters and a story that moved at a good pace. I look forward to others in the series.

Great writing. The book introduces detective Renee Ballard. Could not put it down.

I‘m enjoying the new character Rene Ballard. What‘s your favorite book by Michael Connelly?

Good writing honed into great writing, I first read Black Ice 2 decades ago when it came out. I loved Harry Bosch. I love Renee Ballard just as much. My one criticism is that the 2 detectives are not that different. I find that Renee is flat as a female character and reads much more as a male. I‘ve found very few cases where a male author writes a female main character as well as they do a male. (The best was Laramie Dunaway, if you are curious).

Listened to this as an Audiobook and I really enjoyed it!

My Michael Connelly adoration has been pretty well documented here. I love Harry Bosch but he is getting a bit long in the tooth. This was an excellent shot of adrenaline for Connelly‘s writing and Renée Ballard fed my bad-ass lady detective hole that is left whenever I don‘t have a new Helen Grace to read. I absolutely LOVED this. 5? One thing that did bug though spoiler tagged below. ??

This is probably a REALLY bad idea but I‘m a glutton for punishment. #StartASeries

This was a very good first in series that's similar to Connelly's Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer series. The narration wasn't perfect, but Moennig's voice, which had a somewhat gritty quality, fit the character of Ballard really well. Overall, this was an enjoyable listen.

Just Ok, it got better about half way through when there was a lot of action. Quick read.

Michael Connelly introduced a new detective in this story. Detective Renee Ballard. She has been exiled to the late shift where nothing is followed through. They turn everything over to the day detectives. She goes through several cases as the story progresses. If you loved Harry Bosch, you will like this new character. Highly recommend.

Has anyone read this book? I just picked it up but have to go to work so won‘t be able to get far!! But was wondering if it‘s any good?

This is where I am now with my #audiostitching. I bailed on this book. It was too graphic for me. Maybe I could listen to it another time? Cozy mysteries have been a little more my speed lately.

I‘m so happy that Connelly has gotten over his slump of writing. Some of his last Bosch books weren‘t great at all, but this Renee Ballard book was fantastic. Though, it does at times feel like a female Bosch, the story & writing are up to his original level, which is a relief. Ballard is a great addition to Connelly‘s cast of characters. This is my #FemaleDetective for Booked2019 & #Bk2 for #MtKilimanjaro #MountTBR2019.

My patronus is a book, obviously. Guaranteed to bring happy thoughts & can drive away evil spirits & in-laws. Plus makes a good weapon😂 I seem to be having a Potter themed reading session today, even my book sleeve is Harry inspired. About 2/3 through the tagged book, so far it‘s been pretty good, though at times it feels like he‘s written a Bosch book & just substituted genders.🤔

Finally on the downslope of the migraine I‘ve been nursing since yesterday & pairing my current read with a Chamomile Honey & Vanilla tea. This book is for the #FemaleDetective prompt in #Booked2019 and is #Bk2 in my #MtKilimanjaro #MountTBR2019 The first book featuring Detective Renee Ballard, a cop who‘s busted down to the night shift after filing a harassment complaint on her LT, she catches 2 unrelated cases & finds connections between them.

I‘m doing some #audiostitching before bed. Just started this book. I‘m not too sure about it. I‘m only a few minutes in though so I‘ll give it a while longer before I decide. #crossstitch #bedtimereading

It‘s a stay in bed and read kind of day 📚🛌🌧

#booknerd #booksarelife #readajourney #booksniffer #cozy

Michael Connelly‘s The Late Show is a decent audiobook. The narrator, Katherine Moennig from the Ray Donovan tv series, narrates this one, and she‘s a good choice for the voice of Detective Renee Ballard. The novel isn‘t great, but it held my attention, and that‘s more than I can say for many audiobooks. I may get around to the sequel someday. Overall rating: 3.91 stars

Just reread this one! Now I‘m ready for the newly-released Dark Sacred Night. I LOVE Harry Bosch and I‘ve been so impatient for him to meet Renee Ballard since I discovered they would be teaming up in the new book.

I loved The Late Show on the second read as much as the first time. Ballard is awesome: interesting professionally and in her private life. She has the drive to bring justice to victims, even if she has to bend the rules (like Bosch!).

Yay! Finally reading this one. I‘ve read every other book by the great Michael Connelly and so I‘m finally getting round to this one. This is book number 59 for my year!!! Only 6 more to go till goal 🎉

I was hesitant to start this because I heard mixed reviews about the audiobook but I love Connelly and since Renee Ballard will be in the next Bosch book I gave it a go. I really enjoyed the story. Connelly is a master who makes procedurals feel fresh and original. It‘s well plotted and the MC grows on you. The narration was problematic with very bland delivery and poor characterizations. Not unlistenable but could have be so much better.

I got this in an audiobook sale. If you like police procedurals and / or Michael Connelly, this is a solid but not outstanding read. It filled the niche of "story I don't have to think much about and can just relax to" nicely. The ending (including villain) was predictable.

3.5 ⭐

This weekend's #audiopuzzling . Another £2 used puzzle from the charity shop with no pieces missing 👍

My first Michael Connelly. Didn‘t love it, didn‘t hate it. I‘m thick into mysteries right now and this *sort of* scratched the itch.

Just four books read in August. But my pace is picking up from my slump. And three of these were really great! 🤣🤣

#HeyJune #AHardDaysNight Crime never sleeps. ....,,,Would love to read more M Connelly .... #somanybookssolittletime

Call me Snap Judgment Sally if you must, but the first chapter of this does not exactly grab one by the lapels and demand to be read. 😴

Just finished this, not my favourite Michael Connelly, hoping Renee will grow on me next book. #michaelconnelly #thelateshow

After some of the issues with the #cupidgoespostal gifts, I just want to assure @neet_reads that yours is coming I promise! I‘m not going to give excuses, it‘s my bad and I promise it‘ll never happen again, I swear. I‘ve had a few bad experiences with the swaps myself, so I totally understand if you‘re pissed at me, I just hope I can make it up to you! #inthenaughtycorner #thelatelizpixie

I was surprised by the 4 & 5 star reviews of this book on Goodreads as I didn‘t care that much for it. The characters are mostly flat, and a good portion of the story is boring. If this is a start to a new series, I will give the next one a chance though as this one improved near the end.