The Waiting

Tom Petty said it best in his song: The Waiting is the hardest part. The anticipation is a killer, and the clock seems to tick slower. This same theme pervades this wonderful street poem, featuring Renee Ballard in her sixth appearance in the crime sagas of Michael Connelly.

Early on, she was mentored by the LAPD’s infamous homicide detective, Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch.

She has since grown into her own formidable place in Connelly’s cohesive oeuvre of crime fiction.

Connelly expertly weaves three plotlines together into an explosive denouement that will satisfy any crime fiction aficionado. Ballard is now the head of the Open-Unsolved Unit, a position once held by Bosch. She is the only badge holder among a hand-picked group of talented volunteers. Her current team includes a retired FBI agent, a twenty-year veteran of the Las Vegas police, a former prosecutor from the DA’s office, and a self-trained specialist in genetic genealogy (“a relentless warrior on the keyboard”). On average, they clear three cold cases a month—a drop in the bucket compared to the six thousand unsolved murder cases haunting the archives. With recent advances in forensics and technology, they hope to bring many more perpetrators to justice and provide closure to victims’ families and friends.

The book opens with Renee enjoying her early morning surf, riding the waves while momentarily putting her constant demands on hold. She returns to her car, only to find it broken into. The thief has absconded with her detective shield, service weapon, phone, and wallet. Renee must conduct her own private investigation to recover her badge and gun. Some within the department would see this loss as an opportunity to relieve her of her detective position, if not push for suspension or dismissal. She will eventually need to rely on Harry in a sting operation targeting an insurrectionist group.

Meanwhile, their unit is notified of a DNA hit from a recently arrested twenty-three-year-old man in a domestic abuse case. When arrested, he was swabbed, and his DNA turned out to be a familial match in the murder of Abby Sinclair, the last victim of the Pillowcase Rapist, who terrorized the city for five years. Dozens of women were assaulted in their homes, waking up with pillowcases over their heads before being raped, choked into unconsciousness, and hog-tied with plastic snap ties. Abby’s case ended in murder. After she was strangled to death, the attacks stopped in 2005. Although a task force was formed, no arrest was ever made. Renee remembers this case vividly, as she was at the murder scene as a patrol officer. This young man is likely the son of the Pillowcase Rapist, and somewhat perplexing is the fact that he is the son of presiding Superior Court Judge Jonathan Purcell.

What secrets will this investigation uncover?

It has always been a challenge for Renee to be the only badge holder on the team, but she breathes a sigh of relief when Maddie Bosch offers her assistance. Maddie, a patrol officer working the late shift at Hollywood Division, would like to help during her free time. It’s no secret that Maddie aspires to be a detective like her father. Her status would enable her to make arrests, testify in court, obtain search warrants, and provide Miranda rights, unlike the other volunteers. Additionally, Maddie has a deep interest in the infamous Black Dahlia case—the most famous unsolved murder in Los Angeles history, involving the 1947 torture and murder of Elizabeth Short. Maddie may have stumbled upon evidence that could lead to the discovery of the perpetrator of this savage crime. But politics and egos will inevitably get in the way, threatening the closure of this iconic case.

Michael Connelly masterfully intertwines these three plotlines with twists, red herrings, escalating tension, and intrigue. Through skillful plotting and rich character development, he turns this fast-paced page-turner into a tour de force crime drama. Connelly never disappoints!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.