The Late Show by Michael Connelly (Rene Ballard #1)

For the first time following 20 books in the Harry Bosch series, Michael Connelly has developed a new character … introducing Renee Ballard, a fierce young detective fighting to prove herself on the LAPD’s toughest beat.
Here’s a quick description of The Late Show:

“Renee Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood–also known as the Late Show–beginning many investigations but finishing none, as each morning she turns everything over to the day shift. 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 assignments 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 partner’s wishes, she works both cases by day while maintaining her shift by night. As the investigations 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.” [Amazon]

It took me a while to warm up to Renee, but she is an interesting character with a markedly different background. I’m sure Connelly will continue to flush out her features as this series continues.