The Night Fire is classic Connelly, featuring in part all three of our favourite characters- Bosch of course who is forever imprinted on my memory as one Titus Welliver, but also Ballard and a kind of cameo from Mickey Haller.

As such it is utterly absorbing, an author at the height of his writing power – The Night Fire is modern noir at its very best, a quietly compelling and complex crime story that hooks you in before you know it and remains addictive, unpredictable and intelligent from first page to last.

There isnt a lot more that can be said, if you don’t read Connelly then you certainly should, there is a plethora of wonderful novels to choose from and one can only hope there are many more to come.

Highly recommended.

I have read each and every book by Michael Connelly, and once again this book doesn't disappoint. This was great read, and I can't wait for more. Recommended.

Connelly puts you straight back into Harry Bosch’s world, now retired from the LA police, he again teams up with Renee Ballard to solve two cases, one new, one an old cold case.

The chapters fly past, with smart pacing and great story telling.

Connelly still has it, as does Harry Bosch.

Recommended if you’re an old fan or new, you’ll enjoy being back in LA.

Love every book Michael Connelly has written and this is no exception. Ballard brings a fresh perspective to the universe Connelly has created, and to have her, Bosch and Haller in the same book is a real treat. As ever, a real grit to the setting and a plot methodically put together that keeps a tight grip on your attention right till the bitter end.

This is a welcome return to the world of retired detective Harry Bosch and serving Detective Renée Ballard .

Renee's latest case on the graveyard shift is that of a homeless man who has been burnt alive .
Harry meanwhile is working two cases ….one paying case for his half brother Mick Haller acting for the defence in the murder of High Court Judge and one personal case , a cold case file left for him on the death of his mentor .
The action is fast paced and full of danger and complications ………………… culminating with all their cases being linked.

This is crime thriller writing at its best , with great characters and storylines ….. I look forward to reading more books by the Author in the future .

I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review .

I’m a big fan of Michael Connelly and always enjoy his Harry Bosch books. Bosch is now retired, recovering from a knee operation but still keen to investigate crimes.
He teamed up with Detective Renee Ballard in a previous novel. Renee works the night shift in Hollywood and is keen to help Bosch when he is given an old police murder book found in the house of his mentor and former colleague, John Jack. His widow finds the book and hands it to Bosch after the funeral.
It is an unsolved murder case from several years back and Ballard and Bosch resolve to look into it and find out why John Jack took it when he retired.
Meanwhile Ballard is working on an arson case in which a homeless man is burned to death in his tent and Bosch helps his half brother, lawyer Mick Haller, investigate the murder of a high court judge where Haller’s client appears completely innocent and wrongly arrested.
There is a lot going on in this novel with many strands to the plot but Connelly brings it together well. The reader is drawn in from the beginning and the action is relentless until all the crimes are solved. Ballard and Bosch work well together- they are both like dogs with a bone when it comes to solving crimes and will not give up until the bad guys are caught and the crimes solved. An enjoyable and escapist read and recommended if you are a Michael Connelly or Harry Bosch/ Renee Ballard fan.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Michael Connelly writes another gripping Bosch novel. I've been hooked on these novels from the very first one 'The Black Echo' all those years ago and I wasn't disappointed with this one. Great characters, intriguing plot, a real page turner. Looking forward to the next installment.
Many thanks for NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review honestly

I missed the hardback publication and so am very pleased to have the opportunity to review this on its paperback publication. I’m pleased to report that Michael Connelly remains on excellent form. We know Bosch so well by now that it’s a little painful to discover that his health is not all it once was. A knee operation has him using a cane for the early part of the book and other health issues occur and lurk in the background. I worry that Connelly is marking Bosch’s time, but hopefully not quite yet.

At least we have Renee Ballard in the frame, sleeping (though not for long) on the beach with her dog. She is in a distant but still contentious professional relationship with her boss, Olivas. For reasons I’m not yet clear about Harry is concealing from her his relationship with his brother, Micky Haller, who also features in the book.

Bosch attends the funeral of his mentor, John Jack Thompson, the man who taught Bosch everything he knows including the first rules of working a murder. Thompson’s wife gives Harry a murder book which Thompson had at home, against the rules. It’s not clear why Thompson had the file, an old case concerning the murder of John Hilton, a drug addict and ex-con. Bosch takes the file and, deciding to work it as a cold case, convinces Ballard to come in on it with him.

Ballard meanwhile has signed off on a fatal tent fire that has killed a homeless man, Edison Banks Jnr. Initial signs were that it was an accident, but later pathology proves it was murder.

Bosch has contacted Haller because he wants Haller’s help in dealing with a health insurance matter and as a quid pro quo he is doing some work looking into Haller’s current case, unusually for him a murder trial where the defendant has confessed to murdering a Superior Court Judge.

Three cases, each seemingly distinct from the other, but Connelly will take the slimmest strands from each and make the connections that turn these separate threads into a richly woven tapestry.

The Night Fire has all the hallmarks of the taut plotting and the suspenseful writing that we have come to expect, together with the richly detailed atmosphere of the police station, the immersion in and authentic feel of police procedure,the courts and especially the streets at night.

Bosch and Ballard work together really well, but still there are things that each hides from the other; both however are committed to work their cases until they get to the truth, however unpalatable that may be. I enjoyed the introduction of a new villain, too; one who holds out the promise of a return in a future book.

Verdict: Bosch and Ballard are two sides of the same coin. They have the same focus and intensity that drives them to work their cases hard, often without regard for their own safety. Though elements of this book had a degree of predictability about them, I still contend that Connelly writes the most addictive books and he has absolutely mastered the art of mixing the different worlds he has created. I’ll keep reading as long as he keeps writing.

Michael Connelly continues to pair Harry Bosch with his newest Detective Renee Ballard of LAPD's Late Show, the Hollywood police night shift, whilst bringing back lawyer, Mickey Haller, Harry's brother in this latest instalment. As a rookie cop, Bosch was mentored by John Jack Thompson, the man who instilled in him that every case and everyone matters, igniting the fire that drives a police detective to solve and close a case. Thompson is now dead, and Harry has come to pay his respects at his funeral. Thompson's wife gives Harry a murder book that Thompson had taken home, against all procedure, on a decades old murder of drug addict and ex-con John Hilton. Assuming that Thompson was working the case in his retirement, Bosch persuades Ballard to join him in working the cold case.

Ballard is called out to a fatal tent fire at night that kills a homeless man, Edison Banks Jnr, that looks like a tragic accident, that later proves to be anything but. However, the case is taken over by Robbery and Homicide, lead by Robert Olivas, responsible for Ballard's move to the Late Show, now looking for a quiet time until he retires, although he is looking for opportunities to reach a higher rank and better pension. Bosch has worries about the health issues he is facing that can be traced back to a long ago case, his concern is for his daughter, Maddie, whom he wants to ensure is financially secure and that her education is paid for. To this end, he asks Haller to fight for him and take his case on. Bosch is working as a private investigator on Haller's latest court trial, where he is defending Jeffrey Herstadt, who has confessed to murdering Superior Court Judge Walter Montgomery, and has left behind DNA evidence on the body. But is Herstadt really guilty of this heinous crime?

Once again Connelly gives us a tight and intricately plotted crime thriller, full of suspense and tension, and impressively researched with all the rich details of established legal and police procedures. The relationship between his protagonists, Bosch and Ballard, continues to develop as their trust in each other continues to grow. Both are lit by the fire within, the determination to get to the truth, even if they have to manipulate the circumstances to ensure they get a result. I am not sure for how much longer Connelly is going to be able to keep Bosch going, and it appears that he may well be laying the ground to reduce his future appearances. This continues to be a brilliant series, and the partnership of Bosch and Ballard is working out incredibly well, its remarkable how many characteristics the two of them have in common. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

A new Michael Connelly is always something to look forward to: one of the best US police procedurals for me. Nice spare writing, good characters. I like the new addition of Renee to Bosch's plotline, and the change in pace works nicely for me. Recommended.

Review3.5 stars


I remember not being overly fond of Ballard in a previous book,I felt like she was goofing my Bosch time.
In this book too,she feels like the major character... but I've warmed to he a great deal.
She's smart,she's likeable and she doesn't suffer fools.
This is a great mix of cold case and current cases that as always,get tied up nicely.
A good gripping read,that you can just loose yourself in.

Thank you to Orion Publishing and NetGalley.
What can you say about Michael Connelly that hasn't been said before. His ability to draw a reader into the story is unsurpassed. His attention to detail is unrivalled. To have all 3 of his main characters in one novel - brilliant.
A page turner of a book. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.

#TheNightFire #NetGalley
This novel will put Amazon on fire definitely. Its so addictive. I didn't put it down till I read it from cover to cover.
Michael is a born storyteller and proved it again with this novel.
Go for it and give it a read. I bet you won't be able to put it down.
I loved the character of Harry Bosch. My favourite detective so far.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advance copy.