The Late ShowThe Late Show
Score Modern
What it's about
Renée Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, starting investigations and handing them off each morning, a punishment after she filed a harassment complaint against a supervisor. But one night she catches two cases she won't give up: a brutal beating and a nightclub shooting.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It introduced Renée Ballard, one of Michael Connelly's best characters.
You'll love it if you liked
Dark Sacred Night
The Night Fire
The Wrong Side of GoodbyeGood to know
It's the first Ballard book and the best place to start with her.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #189 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #709 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1335 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Brass Verdict
The Crossing
The Law of InnocenceIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
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Quick answers
Is The Late Show worth reading?
Yes. It spent 2 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #1,335 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Late Show about?
Renée Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, starting investigations and handing them off each morning, a punishment after she filed a harassment complaint against a supervisor. But one night she catches two cases she won't give up: a brutal beating and a nightclub shooting.
How long does it take to read The Late Show?
About 8 hours (325 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Late Show?
If you liked it, try Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly, The Night Fire by Michael Connelly or The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly.