The Dark Hours: The gripping Ballard & Bosch Thriller (Ballard and Bosch Book 23)

It is obvious from reading the reviews on Amazon that The Dark Hours is not to everyone's taste with some commenting on the author's possible views of recent political or other developments (such as the emergence of 'wokism') as expressed through the main characters of Ballard and Bosch. For me, the author is simply setting his characters and story in the present day and so is reflecting what is happening in the USA (and other countries around the world) at this time. While I may, or may not, agree with these developments, I would not criticise the author for using them as they add a degree of realism to his story.The stories I most enjoy reading are those with great characterisation, an engaging plot and an atmospheric setting. This story has all three. Bosch and Ballard are very different individuals; their thoughts and views reflect in part their differences in age; Bosch cannot give up a lifetime of finding the perpetrators of crime (especially those crimes which remain unsolved) even though his health is failing and he has been retired for a number of years while Ballard is at that stage of her life when one questions if one's chosen career is what one wants to do for the rest of one's life, and in Ballard's case particularly as her career appears to have stalled.The plot is really gripping. There are two separate story lines for us to enjoy and each have their moments of high drama and tension.The setting is Los Angeles and Connelly's portrayal of the city pulls no punches - we get to see the good as well as the dark underside of LA and its inhabitants.I have read most of the Michael Connelly's novels and for me this is a cracking read, so I have no hesitation in rating it five stars and recommending it to anyone who enjoys reading police procedural crime novels that are set in the present day and which are strong on character, plot and atmosphere.

LA has been through a lot. And much of it is bad. You can always trust Connelly to give LA a fair hearing though. There’s a great deal of hope in LA too after all.Detective Renee Ballard is working a potential murder. During the new year celebrations, a man is killed during the celebratory gunshots into the air. Not satisfied with one case though, there are women being raped and filmed by a two man team. Like her mentor, Harry Bosch, Renee always sees the job through.The relationship between Ballard and Bosch is nicely rounded. Ballard makes connections on both cases but Harry has years of experience to draw on and is only too happy to be kept in the game.I could never tire of Bosch and Ballard is a force of nature. As you would expect from Connelly, the plotting is masterful. Connelly clearly keeps himself fully appraised of the latest LAPD slang, practices, gripes, funding and this comes across strongly in his writing. For me, LA itself shares the top billing with Ballard and Bosch. A joy to read.

I think the writer doesn’t have anything new to add. In the last years, his books have become more and more political, and this one starts with some heavy virtue signaling re covid. Ballard had covid in November, its new years eve, but she’s not sure if she is immune. What is she, illiterate? Couldn’t take it honestly. this is the last bosch book for me.

23 Books in (Bosch then Bosch/Ballard), it’s bound to go a bit ‘flat’ - if you let it….This book isn’t really about anything.There’s a murder on Ballards watch which ties in with an unsolved of Bosch’s - hence the two ‘teaming’ up and then a second serial sex crime case that sort of involves both the protagonists.There’s alot of commentary on the way the LAPD is going, mention of the election insurrection and the pandemic.It’s really slow and tedious one lot of ‘undesirables’ is to do with dentists, reading this is like having a tooth pulled…The murder case ‘solve’, isn’t clever, intriguing or even interesting.The other case is rather bizarre, but not in a good way.Some of the books in this series have been absolutely brilliant.This feels a bit like a successful author ‘going through the motions’.It’s Lazy, and giving it any more stars (as most reviewers have) is absurd.Connelly should be ashamed it’s been published ‘as is’, is a rough draft copy at best.Avoid.

I cannot put my finger on why but this book lacks the page turning drive of all the previous Michael Connolly books I have read, and I have read them all. It's almost as if it were written by someone else who gets the story right but lacks the expertise to bring alive the dialogue and make the book 'gripping.'Amendment:. It took longer for me to be gripped by this book, but when I was it lived up to expectations

I have read all the Bosch books and watched the Amazon T V series. Michael Connelly is a former crime reporter and is very well versed in police procedure. But above all he is a brilliant writer who keeps you completely hooked on the plot. The Dark Hours is one of his best. It is right up to date and pulls no punches on LA police conduct. But the good guys win!

Let’s face it. Bosch is finished. He’s a sick old man at home with some dusty old cases he never solved. This is a Ballard book with Bosch in the sidelines. He might as well not have made an appearance at all. There are two stories, a murder and rapes, cleverly intertwined as usual by Connelly. But it’s slow, lacking in the usual wit, with some unnecessary dialogue (unusual for Connelly). It’s certainly topical at the moment with lots of police politics, Covid, and “Woke” leanings…..(many reviewers object to this but it’s a sign of the times….like it or not). The book starts to warm up and get exciting towards the end but it’s still not in the same league as the earlier novels which is a shame as I’ve read them all.

I've read all of Connelly's novels and this is one of his most convincing reads, located right in the pandemic and at a very low point for the LAPD. It's good to recall that Ballard is based on a real-life hero, Mitzi Roberts, and to think that officers like Ballard still exist. You won't want to put it down.