A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEARA CrimeReads Best Crime Novel Notable selection Harry Bosch and LAPD Detective Renée Ballard come together again on the murder case that obsessed Bosch’s mentor, the man who trained him—new from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly Back when Harry Bosch was just a rookie homicide detective, he had an inspiring mentor who … Michael Connelly
Back when Harry Bosch was just a rookie homicide detective, he had an inspiring mentor who taught him to take the work personally and light the fire of relentlessness for every case. Now that mentor, John Jack Thompson, is dead, and his widow gives Bosch a murder book, one that Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD twenty years before — the unsolved killing of a troubled young man.
Bosch takes the murder book to Detective Renée Ballard and asks her to help him discover what about this crime lit Thompson’s fire all those years ago. As she begins her inqueries — while still working her own cases on the midnight shift — Ballad finds aspects of the initial investigation that just don’t add up.
The bond between Bosch and Ballard tightens as they become a formidable investigation team. And they soon arrive at a disturbing question: Did Thompson steal the murder book to work the case in retirement, or to make sure it never got solved?
Written with the intense pacing and masterful suspense that have made Michael Connelly “the hard-boiled fiction master of our time” (NPR), The Night Fire continues the unofficial partnership of two fierce detectives determined not to let the fire with burn out.
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Michael Connelly does it again! He writes the very best police procedurals — and does it over and over again. Each new entry is better than the fantastic one that preceded it.
The Night Fire is the latest Michael Connelly book, the third in the Harry Bosch-Renee Ballard series. I’ve waited months for this book and it finally released. I wasn’t disappointed. Detective Renee Ballard picks up a case involving the arson murder of a homeless man. Meanwhile, Bosch gains possession of a ‘stolen’ murder book from his recently deceased mentor, Jack Thompson. Bosch is working the thirty-year-old cold case. Bosch is also involved with his half brother Mickey Haller and then there’s the murder of a Superior Court judge added to the mix. A lot of things going on in another great Michael Connelly read.
I am a huge fan of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, having read every one. “The Night Fire” builds on his introduction of Renee Ballard, a strong woman and a skilled detective who works the Late Show. Renee unwinds by surfing, and sleeping on the beach with her faithful dog.
She is called to the scene of a fire in which a young homeless man is burned to death in his tent. Meanwhile Bosch is aiding Mickey Haller in a defence case, which leaves him pondering who the real murderer might be…
He teams up with detective Ballard to unravel the truth, and to investigate a 20 year old murder that his deceased mentor John Jack Thompson wishes him to pursue.
There are many twists and turns in the plot, which the author skilfully blends to provide another first class crime thriller.
Highly recommended.
Adding the character Ballard has expanded this world of Bosch to the delight of all his followers. I adore this series.
Michael Connelly nails it again in The Night Fire. This story features Harry Bosch, Renee Ballard coming together to crack and solve a decades old cold case. Toss in an appearance by Mickey Haller and you have a fast-paced and compelling crime story. Enjoy.
I really enjoyed The Night Fire by Michael Connelly. The author didn’t disappoint with his wonderful characters and police procedural details.
Not the usual Bosch entry. However, the author’s new character together with Bosch and the plot work very nicely into the novel. I found it very entertaining.
Police procedural. I like the Renee Ballard Character. This is the 3rd book with Renee in it. Who couldn’t like a woman who holds her own in a male dominated arena, lives in her van and sleeps in a tent?
Bosch never lets me down. I hope he continues taking down bad guys for another 20 years.
Bosch has a new knee and an old case he wants Renee to help him with. Not the best of Connelly’s books, but not a bad read.
Chalk up another great read from the creator of Harry and Renee.
Written in 2019, The Night Fire is a crossover story and the third in the Ballard and Bosch series by Michael Connelly. A former mentor of Harry Bosch dies, leaving him with a murder book and an unsolved twenty-year-old case. Harry decides to seek Renee Ballard’s assistance in solving the young man’s death in a drug alley. Questions arise and they begin to wonder whether the murder book was taken so the crime would never be solved? An excellent police procedural and two of the favourite Connelly characters in a joint investigation, with a five-star rating. The fourth adventure, The Dark Hours will be released later this year.
You can never go wrong with Michael Connelly.
Very clever!!! Michael Connelly never disappoints. Great read. Big fan of Bosch. With Ballard, great duo.
Love this author and wait for every book he writes to come out.
4.5 stars rounded down for another great police procedural by Michael Connelly. All of of Connelly’s books just flow so evenly as you are caught up in the ongoing cases. In this book, Bosch, now retired from LAPD, again teams up with LAPD Detective Renee Ballard as they work on 2 separate cases that converge at the end of the story. Although this book is 405 pages, I sped through it in 4 days.
Ballard’s case is a homeless man who is burned to death in what initially appears to be an accident. Bosch’s case starts when he goes to the graveside funeral of his mentor, John Jack Thompson. Thompson’s wife asks him to come to her house. She tells him that she has something from John for him. It is a murder book from an unsolved 30 year old murder case. Thompson took the murder book with him when he retired in 2000. A LAPD murder book has all the information complied by the detectives who worked the case. It was illegal for Thompson to take it home and keep it for almost 20 years.
If you like police procedurals, this is one of the best series available.
This was a library book.
When I was looking for this novel on Amazon, I made the mistake of reading the most recent review, which was a brutal pan. Big mistake, and as an author myself, I should have known better. I nearly didn’t buy this book, and it turns out it’s my favorite Ballard and Bosch so far!I
There are several cases in play here, and I loved every second of watching Ballard and Bosch unwind and eventually solve them. Unlike the naysayer I read prior to buying The Night Fire, I think Ballard is a great character and a wonderful compliment for Bosch. She’s also got a DA friend who’d make a compelling partner in the future.
All in all, another terrific read that proves Connelly is still at the top of his game. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
I love everything Michael Connelly writes!
Great character development. It’s like reading about members of your family.
Quick easy entertaining read.