Product Description

A young woman finds herself caught up in a scam which may cost her the one thing she values more than her life... Cassie Black has been lured back to the criminal profession she gave up by a proposition that is just too good to miss. The job goes as planned, except that the target has too much money. It can only mean someone very powerful is going to be very angry indeed. Cassie finds herself on the run from a killer who seems to know her every move in advance. Worse still, he is closing in on the one thing Cassie will do anything to protect.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19714 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-11
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Penzler Pick, January 2000: once again, one of the brightest stars of the New Generation of mystery writers doesn't disappoint. Here is a story that, seemingly without effort, calls to mind such masters as Elmore Leonard, Donald E. Westlake and Lawrence Block, with just enough Raymond Chandler. Michael Connelly temporarily abandons his LAPD homicide detective, Harry Bosch, in favour of the law's other side--the underworld. In the bright sunshine of Los Angeles, dark impulses and shadowy evildoers appear even more menacing, and their stop-at-nothing violence even more ghastly, to a young woman whose maternal desires serve to put her squarely in their sights.

Cassidy (Cassie) Black has been working at a Porsche dealership; as an ex-con, she's keeping as many secrets as she possibly can. Besides, she knows all too well that there are as many suckers with warped egos buying expensive cars as there were marks to rob back in Las Vegas, where she and her love, Max, were set up. The worst part of the fall they were forced to take was that it involved Max plunging to his death from an open window and Cassie getting the rap for the push.

Now she's out on parole and trying to stay within comfortable eye-shot of the daughter she bore--her only memento of the adored Max--and whom she gave up for adoption. Asking nothing more than to be able to see her from a distance and know she's safe, she suddenly must come up with a considerable sum of money to be able to follow the little girl to Europe where her family is planning to move.

That kind of money can only be realised quickly by means that she has supposedly foresworn. The situation becomes even more heart-pounding when she and a psychopathic enforcer wind up on opposing sides of a two-million-dollar package. Brought up by a magician father, the crafty, creepy Jack Karch is the sort of primal-slime villain who can use his sleight of hand to amuse a child one minute and deliver a murderous blow the next.

How Cassie struggles to stay one step ahead of him--while watching her allies fail at the same game--is what makes this tense, clever narrative ultimately sentimental in the best way. As a formula, the "tables turned" plot can never be beat, while Michael Connelly proves once again that neither can he. --Otto Penzler

About the Author
A former police reporter for the LA Times, Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of the Harry Bosch thrillers. His books have been translated into 35 languages and have won awards internationally, including the Edgar and Anthony. He lives in Florida with his family.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining read
This is a worthwhile but not riveting read. Maybe it's me, but Connelly's non-Bosch books are not in the same class as his detective hero. Unusually for crime novels it's hard to work out initially who the baddie is, you take your pick between the thief and the investigator chasing her.
Set in the world of Las Vegas casinos with references to the Mob and a sting operation,Cassie Black has stolen more money than the owners can afford to forget about.Her daughter(given away for adoption at birth) becomes drawn in as Cassie realises she will not get away with the loot and a last-gasp showdown looms in an Hotel penthouse(scene of her lovers demise from a previous job)There is an exciting climax when the plot behind the original theft is unfurled, and Cassie battles to turn the tables on her pursuer, and his employer. Very solid writing but not as good as Bosch.

Mr Connelly gives us emotion and violence
Michael Connelly is an excellent writer of crime novels. His Harry Bosch series, in particular, have given me hours of pleasure reading about the disgruntled LA detective. However, throughout Connelly career he has also written several standalone titles and 'Void Moon' is one of these.

The lead is an ex-con named Cassie Black who decides to go on one last job so that she can start a new life. However, things do not go to plan and she finds herself on the run from a PI who is on her tale. This is no ordinary PI but 'The Jack of Spades' a man who always finds a way of burying people in the desert.

The story is fast paced and very enjoyable. You soon get to like the character of Cassie and do root for her throughout. The story is told from both her and Jack's POV and it is Jack's character that proves the most interesting as he works the case in the darkest ways possible.

It is this dark nature that reduces the book to 4 stars as the character of Jack becomes too violent. It is unlikely that someone with his psychotic tendencies could remain out of jail for long. He begins as a believable character but by the end your suspension of disbelief will be blown.

I recommend this to Connelly fans as an interesting aside from his Bosch novels but for a superior stand alone novel try 'The Poet' instead.

Void Moon
This book is not typical of Michael Connelly's style of writing. His Harry Bosch series is dark and foreboding much like his main character. Void Moon is somewhat lighter fare but every bit as compelling, the characterisation of Cassie Black is well done and her nemesis Jack Karch is fantastic. Also the vision of Las Vegas is vibrant, threatening and exhilirating all at the same time.

Give this a try and if you come with an open mind, you won't be disappointed.