In his latest book, Michael Connelly proves his worth as one of the best crime writers of all time (not just my opinion). I have been an avid fan of his books since I picked up Trunk Music in a charity shop, many years ago and have read all of his Harry Bosch and Micky Haller novels. This time Connelly writes from a slightly different perspective, his latest protagonist is a woman, a police officer called Rene Ballard. We join Ballard on “the late show” which is the night shift. She has been treated badly after putting forward and allegation of sexual harassment by a high ranking officer. Not to be beaten she takes to the night shift as well as she does the waves. This rough sleeping, surfing, tenacious woman puts all her fellow male officers to shame in this gripping crime procedural.
A shooting in a nightclub, the death of her former partner and the brutal beating of a homeless transexual lead her into danger, diminutive in stature yet stronger than people give her credit, she solves all the cases and survives the clutches of a dangerous psychopath.
Connelly writes from the female perspective with an understanding not often found with male authors, he highlights the still visible imbalance of how women are treated in the workplace, and how they need to fight harder to be heard.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment and follow Rene Ballard’s journey as a female police officer in the LAPD.