The Late Show

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Katherine Moennig

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author Michael Connelly, a new thriller introducing a driven young detective trying to prove herself in the LAPD.

Renée Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, beginning many investigations but finishing none, as each morning she turns her cases over to day shift detectives. A once up-and-coming detective, she's been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor.

But one night she catches two cases she doesn't want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Ballard is determined not to give up at dawn. Against orders and her own partner's wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night. As the cases entwine, they pull her closer to her own demons and the reason she won't give up her job, no matter what the department throws at her.

©2017 Michael Connelly (P)2017 Hachette Audio

A Really Good One

No falling asleep on this book. Great story line. Would definitely recommend to any who enjoy crime solvers. A very slight problem with narrator not changing the male/female voice as well as some. But I am sold on the author, & look forward to others written by Connelly.

More than just a female Bosch!

I very much enjoyed Connolly's new series starter! Hope we see more of Renee Ballard!!!

Good story, not great narration

What made the experience of listening to The Late Show the most enjoyable?

I love Connelly books. I was excited to "meet" the new character, but at times the book was a bit hard to engage with due to the flat narration (her handling of dialogue was a bit confusing for this same reason). I listened to this while driving form Austin TX to Nashville TN and there were points in the middle of the book where I had to stop and listen to music to avoid feeling tired -- this doesn't usually happen to me with a Connelly book, but the narration was pretty difficult (I love the Bosch ones and Titus Welliver's narration especially! Even moreso since he plays the character on the Amazon series). Nonetheless, the plot was pretty good -- and awesome to have a strong female lead character to add to the Connelly franchise.

Excellent start to a new series

One negative reviewer said the story was weak, the weakest in the Connelly library, I disagree. After all, this doesn't make him right or wrong, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Some reviewers complained that the narrator ruined the story, once again I disagree. Was she the best or worst I've heard? Again, I'd have to say "no" to both. I believe her performance was middle of the road.

I enjoyed the book, it is a good police procedural. I highly recommend this audiobook to fans of police procedurals.

My vision and fatigue are such that I can no longer read and must rely on audiobooks.

Michael you have done so much better

I really didn't like it I struggled through the entire story just to get an understanding I thought it was going to lead to a better story line

Maybe it was on purpose

I'm an admirer of Michael Connelly's work. Love all the Bosch books and the Lincoln Lawyer, too. I approached The Late Show predisposed to be entertained and intrigued. Immediately, I was taken aback by the reader's flat tone and inability to differentiate between a character's comment and the subsequent "he said, enraged." BTW, that's not in the book; I made it up. The plot engaged me eventually and the protagonist, Ballard, though cold and offputting, sparked interest in how the story progressed. Maybe the cold, uninflected narration was an indication of Ballard's inability to relate on an emotional level to anything but her work. I'll think about it. in the meanwhile, you think about getting this book in print.

Not Connelly's Best, But Still Worth a Listen

If you’ve listened to books by Michael Connelly before, how does this one compare?

The Late Show left me feeling that I had heard it all before, in one form or another, in Connelly's previous work, but given the quality of that work, that's okay.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Moennig’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Katherine Moennig's performance is very dry as is Connelly's writing style. The combination may not be to everyone's taste. At first, I was put off, but my the end of the listen I thought the performance and the material were well-mated.

Love Love Love Detective Renee Ballard

Awesome new character and series. I can't wait for the next book.
I love Harry Bosch and the series.
Michael Connelly never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Bring on the late show.

Home Run!

What did you love best about The Late Show?

As a long time fan of Michael Connelly I am always waiting for his next book and was looking forward to reading The Late Show. I was not disappointed--Connelly hit a home run with this book! Although I liked the narration, Katherine Moennig's reading felt stilted at times, with emphasis and pauses in the wrong places. Still,the story line and character development far overshadowed any distraction in the narration and I hope that Michael Connelly gives us more of Renee.

Like the new detective, Renee Ballard. Exciting b

Not a good narrator. Please choose a different female voice for the next book.