Slow at first, but then moves pretty fast. An somewhat engaging yet run-of-the-mill murder/crime novel. ( )

SUMMARY:
Print:2000 (Little Brown & Company; pp. 410); Audio: 9/1/2009 (Hachette Audio; 10 hours, 59 min.); Movie: Not that I’m aware of.
SERIES: No. Not yet anyway, though I believe there are references to the characters in subsequent Bosch novels.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Cassidy (Cassie) Black=Paroled convict
Jack Karch=Casino security
Leo Renfro=Criminal job coordinator
Thelma Kibble=Parole officer
SUMMARY:
Cassie Black is out on parole, trying to go straight, but is feeling a tremendous pull back into the life she’d meant to leave behind by forces larger than herself. The last thing she wants is to go back to prison, and that may not be the only risk.
AUTHOR:
Michael Connelly (7/21/56) was, according to Wikipedia, born in Philadelphia, transplanted to Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 12, and then moved on to Los Angeles, California in 1987. Initially focusing his education on building construction, among other things I'm sure, Wikipedia tells us that it was a movie called “The Long Goodbye,” based on the Raymond Chandler novel of the same name, that inspired Connelly to change his educational focus to journalism and creative writing. And then, Wikipedia implies that it was also a personal experience of encountering and reporting criminal activity, which sparked his interest in crime. Hence, he became a crime beat journalist first for the "Daytona Beach News Journal," then for the "Fort Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel", and lastly, for the "LA Times".
Ever curious about my favorite author's inspirations, I read Raymond Chandler’s first novel a couple of months, or so, ago entitled "The Big Sleep". Imagine my delight then, to be in the know, when Cassie Black uses a code name, “Dog House Reilly” that Chandler’s character, Phillip Marlow, uses when he meets the wild young Carmen Geiger.
NARRATOR:
This novel is narrated with all the right inflections and nuances of character by L. J. Ganser, who, according to his website, started narrating books as a volunteer for the Jewish Guild for the Blind, which led to narrating for the Library of Congress’s American Foundation for the Blind, which led to narrating for several major publishers. The number is so large, that he can no longer recall how many books he has narrated.
GENRE: Crime
ACTION: Yes
FOUL LANGUAGE: Some
VICES: Gambling, crime
SEX: Not that I recall
LGBT FRIENDLY: Neutral
VIOLENCE: Yes
POLITICS: Neutral
LOCATIONS: Los Angeles, Las Vegas
SUBJECTS: Video Technology, Theft, Casinos, Sports Cars, Kidnapping
FUN REFERENCES:
As mentioned earlier, “Dog House Reilly”; Void (of Course) Moon (this title alluding to a belief one of the characters has in an astrological event is basically given the same interpretation as astrologers give, but the character’s astronomical explanation of what is taking place in the skies is slightly off—I’ll assume it was poetic license.)
DEMOGRAPHICS The main characters are young to middle-aged adults and there is a 5 year old child. Characters are primarily Caucasian.
EVALUATION: I became sympathetic to this character, despite her criminality, right from the outset. I felt all of the characters were developed to the extent they needed to be. I thought the pacing was good, although I admit, I always want to rush through the scary or violent parts and see justice prevail.
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
“She turned. Laura LeValley stood in the doorway. Cassie had not heard her on the steps. She wondered if the broker had been suspicious of her and intentionally sneaked up the stairs to catch her stealing or doing something else.
‘Cute kid,’ LeValley said, giving off no sign of suspicion. 'I met her when I first took the listing. I think she’s six or seven.’
‘Five. Almost six.’
‘Excuse me?’
Cassie quickly pointed to the photo on the bureau. ‘I would guess. I mean, if that photo’s recent.’
She turned and raised a hand, taking in the whole room.
‘I also have a niece who is five. This could be her room.’
She waited but there were no further questions from LeValley. It had been a bad slip and Cassie knew she was lucky to have gotten away with it.”
RATING: I gave this book 4 stars because I felt it was well written and kept my interest. ( )

Not a Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, or Jack McEvoy book.
Void Moon is about Cassie Black an expert thief hoping for the big score. Unfortunately the score is too big, and she winds up with the wrong people after her.
The first half is rather slow which is why it is only 4 stars. The second half is non stop action. ( )

I quite enjoyed this standalone. Sometimes I find Connelly's details tedious, but this time it worked for me. I also appreciate the nuanced psychology of both the "good guys" and the "bad guys." It helps the characters seem more real and three-dimensional. ( )

Excellent! Unexpected turns. ( )