The Waiting by Michael Connelly Summary
Overview of The Waiting
Michael Connelly's latest #1 bestseller tackles LA's most notorious cold case - the Black Dahlia murder. With three narrators and three investigations, "The Waiting" proves why this master storyteller, whose works have sold 85 million copies worldwide, remains crime fiction's undisputed king.
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The Stolen Badge: When a Detective Becomes the Victim
Detective Renee Ballard's peaceful pre-dawn surf session-her sanctuary from the grinding demands of police work-shatters when she returns to find her vehicle burglarized. Not just any theft: her badge, service weapon, phone, and wallet are gone. This isn't random; it's targeted and strategic, executed by thieves who watched her from the elevated parking area while she surfed below at Staircases beach-a location with multiple escape routes and limited security cameras. A detective without her badge faces a crisis of both identity and function. Ballard must now sneak into her own workplace through back entrances, crafting excuses and maintaining a facade of normalcy to hide her compromised status. Each interaction threatens exposure. Rather than reporting the theft and facing suspension, she investigates independently, discovering similar burglaries targeting surfers at beaches with parking lots hidden from the water. The pattern reveals a sophisticated operation specifically targeting law enforcement credentials-suggesting something far more sinister than simple theft. The stolen badge creates a ticking clock that runs beneath the entire narrative: how long can Ballard function without her credentials, and what happens if her badge is used in a serious crime? Each passing day increases both her professional risk and the potential for her stolen identity to enable violence.
The Cold Case Unit: Justice Through Persistence
The Pillowcase Rapist: DNA Unlocks the Past
Haunted by Absence: The Detective's Personal Demons
Sovereign Citizens and Stolen Badge: A Terrorist Plot Unfolds
Cold Case Breakthroughs: The Black Dahlia Mystery
When Justice Arrives: The Price of Pursuit
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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