The Waiting cover art

The Waiting

Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch, Book 6

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The Waiting

Written by: Michael Connelly
Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Titus Welliver, Madison Lintz
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About this listen

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 twenty years 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).

©2024 Michael Connelly (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company
Crime Thrillers Detective Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Crime Exciting Murder

What the critics say

“A Hawaiian coda provides the best news of all: This distinguished series has plenty of miles to go. Aloha, and hooray.”—Kirkus Reviews

What listeners say about The Waiting

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Story and Narrator are among the absolute best!

Michael Connelly' Bosch and then Bosch and Ballard series are by far my favourite; the stories, plot, action, are so engrossing and captivating. The narration brings it all home!
Titus Welliver was one of my favourite Audible narrators, but Kristen Laken, just as Ballard, is a worthy successor!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The Waiting doesn't keep you waiting

An overall good book. Great to see an introduction to Maddie Bosch. I did however, find the ending a bit weak and it could have been done a bit better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved

Loved the storyline. Wished that Bosch would have been more involved but loved that Maddie was brought in the story!

Hate the ridiculous music! Please get rid of it! It adds nothing to the story, it’s just annoying.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved every minute of it

I have had a bit of a dry spell listening to formulaic mysteries and also some lighter fare and needed a smart suspense novel that kept me interested. This is definitely it. It adds to the multifaceted story that current events are lightly woven into it and that the women protagonists know how to deftly sidestep the still ever present misogyny they have to factor into their work. Never mind, it's a really great story, so well told and the suspense is unrelenting. The one thing I personally don't like in any audio book is the elevator music that plays for each beginning chapter. But that's a pet peeve that in no way reflects on the story or the excellent performance in this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I didn’t want it to end

Enjoyed this book. I can’t wait for the next book( please tell me there is next book)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unpredictable twist and plots

A great inception into crime thriller genre. I love the characters and looking forward to their day starting when someone else ends

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Many audio books put me to sleep.This one didn't...

Non stop believable action sequences. Loved it. Kept me awake! Highly recommended. I'm a fan of the TV series too.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Barely Bosch

I really enjoyed the Bosch books and I'm sad they are coming to a close. Bosch was barely present in this novel. He's such a great character that has evolved over time. The female characters that Michael Connelly comes up with just don't work as well as the male counterparts.

The mysteries in this book were ok but were a bit anti-climatic compared to his previous novels.

My favourite Bosch books were when Haller and Bosch worked together. They are awesome characters and even more awesome when teamed up!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story!

The story is amazing as always - so many great story lines. Love Titus, Christine and Madison reading the novel. Makes it even better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another one of Michael's excellent adventures

I found this novel to be one of Michael Connolly's best books. it had an intreaging plot with well described side adventures. I enjoyed it immensely. it was well worth waiting for.

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