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Michael Connelly

Master of Los Angeles crime fiction — creator of Detective Harry Bosch, the Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller, and a linked crime universe spanning 30+ years.

Crime Fiction Police Procedural Legal Thriller

About Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly worked as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times before publishing The Black Echo in 1992 — introducing LAPD detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch. It won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and launched one of crime fiction's great careers. Connelly has since published over 25 novels, most interconnected through shared characters and a meticulously realized version of Los Angeles.

Harry Bosch has been adapted into an Amazon Prime series (Bosch, 2015–2021) and its sequel Bosch: Legacy. The Lincoln Lawyer was adapted as a Netflix series. Connelly is one of the few crime writers whose later books consistently match his early work in quality.

Harry Bosch Mickey Haller LAPD Los Angeles Amazon/Netflix

Harry Bosch Series

The Black Echo cover
Bosch Book 1 — Start Here
The Black Echo
1992
LAPD detective Harry Bosch investigates the murder of a Vietnam vet found in a drainage tunnel. The trail leads to a daring bank heist. Introduces Bosch fully — his war service, his lone-wolf mentality, and his unflinching belief that everyone matters. Edgar Award winner.
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The Black Ice cover
Bosch Book 2
The Black Ice
1993
A cop found dead in a motel, an apparently open-and-shut case — but Bosch can't let it go. Leads him to the Mexican border and a brutal drug war. Builds brilliantly on the first book while expanding Connelly's LA universe.
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The Concrete Blonde cover
Bosch Book 3
The Concrete Blonde
1994
Bosch is on trial for shooting a suspected serial killer — while a new murder suggests he may have killed the wrong man. Simultaneous courtroom drama and active investigation. One of the best in the series.
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The Last Coyote cover
Bosch Book 4
The Last Coyote
1995
Bosch is on suspension and forced into therapy. He uses the downtime to investigate his mother's unsolved murder — a 30-year-old cold case. The most personal Bosch novel. Essential for understanding who he is.
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Trunk Music cover
Bosch Book 5
Trunk Music
1997
A Hollywood producer found dead in his car trunk — classic mob hit. But the trail leads to Las Vegas and a case that stretches across FBI and organized crime jurisdictions. Returns Bosch to his classic territory with renewed energy.
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Angels Flight cover
Bosch Book 6
Angels Flight
1999
A prominent civil rights attorney is murdered on the funicular railway that overlooks downtown LA. Bosch gets the case that nobody wants — too high-profile, too politically charged. Connelly at full command of his material.
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City of Bones cover
Bosch Book 8
City of Bones
2002
A dog brings a child's bone home from Laurel Canyon. Bosch discovers a decades-old murder — a boy who was killed and never reported missing. Why? One of the most emotionally devastating entries in the series. Skip to this if you want to see Bosch at his finest.
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The Burning Room cover
Bosch Book 17
The Burning Room
2014
Bosch and new partner Lucia Soto investigate a cold case: a man who finally died from a bullet lodged in his spine for ten years. The decade-old shooting leads to a sprawling conspiracy. Representative of later Bosch — slightly mellower but still riveting.
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Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) Series

The Lincoln Lawyer cover
Haller Book 1
The Lincoln Lawyer
2005
Mickey Haller is a defense attorney who works from his Lincoln Town Car between courtrooms. He takes on a wealthy client accused of assault — and slowly realizes the case is more dangerous than it appears. Adapted into a film (Matthew McConaughey, 2011) and a Netflix series. A great standalone entry point into Connelly's universe.
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The Brass Verdict cover
Haller Book 2 / Bosch crossover
The Brass Verdict
2008
Mickey Haller inherits another attorney's caseload — and a murder investigation running alongside it, conducted by none other than Harry Bosch. The first major crossover between the two series. Essential for fans of both characters.
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Reading Guide

Where to start

Start with The Black Echo — the best introduction to Harry Bosch and Los Angeles as Connelly's fictional stage. Read the Bosch series in publication order; the character development accumulates meaningfully.

For a standalone entry, The Lincoln Lawyer works perfectly — especially if you've seen the Netflix series. It connects to the Bosch universe but requires no prior knowledge.

The Bosch TV series (Amazon Prime, 7 seasons) covers roughly the first 8-9 books with heavy reshuffling — the books and show are worth experiencing both, separately.