The Waiting
By Michael Connelly
- Release Date: 2024-10-15
- Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Description
In this instant New York Times bestseller, LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a serial rapist whose trail has gone cold and enlists a new volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: patrol officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.
Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet two decades ago. The arrested man is only twenty-four, so the genetic link must be familial: His father was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the City of Angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.
Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department ammunition to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her mission draws her into unexpected danger. With no choice but to go outside the department for help, she knocks on the door of Harry Bosch.
At the same time, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit: Bosch’s daughter Maddie, now a patrol officer. But Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls—a case that may be the most iconic in the city’s history. Complex, satisfying, and full of dexterous twists, The Waiting demonstrates once more that “you can’t do better than Michael Connelly” (Forbes).
Reviews
Disappointing
1By alliwantismymedicinesI’ve read just about everything Connelly has written and I’ve enjoyed them. But on this occasion the author decided to wade into far left misinformation. The side story involving “the assault on the Capitol” revealed disturbing bias from the author. He went way too far writing that “They’ll be martyrs for the cause like that woman at the Capitol”… I’m done with this writer.Disappointing, a betrayal of great talent.
2By JJDUNBERGIt’s disappointing that Connelly’s books have become stripped down versions of his earlier work. This book features Rene Ballard, LAPD detective heading up the Open Unsolved department. She’s never appealed to me — Connelly doesn’t write women at all well, and someone probably told him he good at it. Except there is no clear sense of a difference between the various women’s manner of speaking or behavior. The bulk of the book is a chain of text messages and phone calls, people coming and going to several locations, and confusing exposition of the several cases involving Ballard and the unit. They are hard to follow, interspersed as they are with a private investigation of Ballard’s. I know it has to be hard to keep up with contracts demanding a book a year, particularly if you’re juggling three characters. Concentration must be under pressure. Maybe it’s a stretch to expect the books to take pride of place when multiple TV series are competing for time. I wish Mr. Connelly would go back to his earliest titles to remember how good he is. Maybe he could be inspired by his earlier writing to refresh his work today.Typical Michael Connelly, and That’s a Good Thing
5By MinRayI know some reviewers were negative because of the right wing domestic terrorism theme, but they need to lighten up. This is typical Michael Connolly with surprising plot twists and wonderfully drawn characters.Too Woke
3By Cat mandu 2015The author goes on about few hours of Jan 6 toad riot but the BLM riots that terrorized the country about the same time are not mentioned at all. Sadly, we had to live through the 9 months of terror and the lawlessness that followed. Enough with the dishonest fake woke fantasy, it would be nice to return to reality, where all people are equal under the law.Read This Series
5By Scott_A_Miller5 Stars. Connelly is incredible. He keeps writing great characters and stories. This one was right up there with his best. I’m way behind on his work. I kind of started reading him with this series after the first or second Bosch book. I have to get moving on them. Connelly has officially become my Robert B. Parker follow up. This story had just about everything. Highs and lows, excellent mystery and great characters. This series can be read on its own I think. Give it a try if you haven’t. I think this is going to get the TV treatment. I can’t wait.The Waiting
5By DenverTwinI didn’t really warm up to Renee Ballard until this book. She now has more focus and common sense. I like how she interacts with Maddie. This was one of those books where the end snuck up on me. I turned the page and it was over! That is a sign of a good book for me. I get so engrossed in the story that the fact I read it all surprises me. I am definitely recommending this to family and friends. Thank you Mr. Connelly, for another great book!Another Case Solved
5By Eyerish21Another great story from Michael Connelly in the Bosch/Ballard saga.Renee Ballard a worthy successor to Harry
5By rlschuldjrExcellent. Was sorry when Connelly retired Harry Bosch, but he has created an equally engaging character in Renee Ballard. His stories are excellent and he offers great insight to human characterGREAT
5By AtomicCougas always.Loved it
5By Marzipan24Rachel Ballard has become a favorite of mine. I love her surprising solutions to the problems she gets in to. She, along with Harry Bosch, resolve issues with the established LAPD and the politics surrounding every case in ways that satisfy me and are not predictable. Rachel is, like Bosch complicated with unresolved issues from her personal background. I’m always rooting for her to get through her scrapes to fight another day, and ride the waves.Very disappointed
1By Autocorrected2deathSeriously? I have read everything Connelly has written and I hope this was ghost written. CNN crack photo source proves cheap fakes of Biden freezes at functions to solve the Black Dahlia murders? Marauding bands of Jan 6th White Nationalists plotting a massacre at the Malibu Pier, a place with only three roads for a getaway? Get back to stories anyone can enjoy.An Outstanding Read
5By C. KreuzGreat story! One of his best books.Enjoyable
5By IanEnglish24Probably the best Ballard book to date. Really enjoyable.Solid Connelly read
4By DanularityGood plot and character developmentBack in top form
5By Tim DwightWell done and thanks again Michael Connelly. Best one yet for this duo—or trio now.Another good one.
4By anthonydaleAnother great story. Hard to put down once you get going because you want to find out what happens next. I’m glad they have introduced Maddy Bosch more into the stories, look forward to seeing and reading more about her adventures with Renee Ballard.Disappointed
2By phone 8954331890Too many logic flaws. Seemed simplistic. Writing wasn’t up to past books’ quality.Couldn’t put it down
5By snearoneEnjoyed the book very much. I like the continuation of Rene Ballard, Maddie Bosch and her dad. I also liked the side stories of personal issues and how Michael blends them into the main direction of the story linesHo Hum . . .
2By EllebeebeeHave become inured to best selling authors shoving their politics at readers. They can do it with impunity as they’ll still sell lots of books. So, I’ll skip that bit and just say that this book was rather formulaic and demanded a lot of the reader, including buying that Ballard is really clueless at times. Even old cars can be retrofitted with key code or fingerprint entry systems at a very reasonable price (as I know from personal experience), so what’s up with an ambitious and purportedly smart detective who surfs every day amongst beach bums thinking that hiding a key in a wheel well magnet is OK when a badge and gun are inside? That “mistake” as the premise for the entire book is pretty lame and colored the rest of it for me.
