Michael Connelly Books In Order – The Complete Series

Michael Connelly is one of America’s favorite crime fiction authors and his collection of novels featuring detective Harry Bosch has captivated readers for decades. In all, Connelly has written 25 books – some stand-alones and others part of a series. But sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of the order in which they were published or if you want to binge read them from start to finish! Here we’ve compiled an easy-to-follow Michael Connelly Books In Order list so that you can begin reading his work with ease.

Who Is Michael Connelly?

Michael Connelly is a bestselling American author known for his thrilling crime novels, which have been adapted into hit TV shows and feature a variety of compelling characters. His first book, “The Black Echo”, was published in 1992 and introduced readers to the character of detective Harry Bosch. Since then, Connelly has written more than 25 books – some of which are part of a series and others that stand alone.

How to Read Michael Connelly Books in Order

It may seem hard to study all these novels in any particular sequence, yet it is really doable. Henry Bosch’s novels are a great place to start because of the engaging narrative style. Some individuals swear by picking any old book as their launch pad; maybe kick things off with Renée Ballard’s or Mickey Haller’s.

Unfortunately, the mysterious Harry Bosch guy will soon enter your life. If you don’t begin reading with Harry Bosch at the beginning of the book, you won’t be able to appreciate it as much as you would have if you did.

Michael Connelly Books In Order

All Of Bosch’s Books In Publication Order

• The Black Echo (1992)
• The Black Ice (1993)
• The Concrete Blonde (1994)
• The Last Coyote (1995)
• The Poet (1996)
• Trunk Music (1997)
• Blood Work (1998)
• Angels Flight (1999)
• Void Moon (1999)
• A Darkness More Than Night (2000)
• City of Bones (2002)
• Lost Light (2003)
• The Narrows (2004)
• The Closers (2005)
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2005)
• Echo Park (2006)
• The Overlook (2007)
• The Brass Verdict (2008)
• The Scarecrow (2009)
• Nine Dragons (2009)
• Blue on Black (2010)
• The Reversal (2010)
• Angle of Investigation (2011)
• The Fifth Witness (2011)
• Suicide Run (2011)
• The Drop (2011)
• The Black Box (2012)
• The Gods of Guilt (2013)
• Switchblade (2014)
• The Burning Room (2014)
• The Crossing (2015)
• The Wrong Side of Goodbye (2016)
• The Late Show (2017)
• Two Kinds of Truth (2017)
• Dark Sacred Night (2018)
• The Night Fire (2019)
• Fair Warning (2020)
• The Law of Innocence (2020)
• The Dark Hours (2021)

Harry Bosch Books In Publication Order

• The Black Echo (1992)
• The Black Ice (1993)
• The Concrete Blonde (1994)
• The Last Coyote (1995)
• Trunk Music (1997)
• Angels Flight (1999)
• A Darkness More Than Night (2000)
• City of Bones (2002)
• Lost Light (2003)
• The Narrows (2004)
• The Closers (2005)
• Echo Park (2006)
• The Overlook (2007)
• Nine Dragons (2009)
• The Drop (2011)
• The Black Box (2012)
• Switchblade (2014)
• The Burning Room (2014)
• The Crossing (2015)
• The Wrong Side of Goodbye (2016)
• Two Kinds of Truth (2017)
• Dark Sacred Night (2018)
• The Night Fire (2019)
• The Dark Hours (2021)

Harry Bosch Short Stories/Novellas In Publication Order

• Blue on Black (2010)
• Angle of Investigation (2011)
• Suicide Run (2011)

Mickey Haller Books In Publication Order

• The Lincoln Lawyer (2005)
• The Brass Verdict (2008)
• The Reversal (2010)
• The Fifth Witness (2011)
• The Gods of Guilt (2013)
• The Law of Innocence (2020)

Renée Ballard Books In Publication Order

• The Late Show (2017)
• Dark Sacred Night (2018)
• The Night Fire (2019)
• The Dark Hours (2021)
• Desert Star (2022)

Jack McEvoy Books In Publication Order

• The Poet (1996)
• The Scarecrow (2009)
• Fair Warning (2020)

Terry McCaleb Books In Publication Order

• Blood Work (1998)
• A Darkness More Than Night (2000)
• The Narrows (2004)

Standalone Novels

• Void Moon (1999)
• Chasing the Dime (2002)

Short Stories/Novellas In Publication Order

• The Safe Man: A Ghost Story (2012)

Short Story Collections In Publication Order

• Mulholland Dive (2012)

Children’s Books In Publication Order

• Filbert Nutberry’s Grand Christmas Adventure (2017)

Non-Fiction Books In Publication Order

• Crime Beat (2004)
• 26 Miles to Boston (2020)

Mysterious Profiles Books In Publication Order

• Hieronymus Bosch: A Mysterious Profile (Mysterious Profiles) (2022)

Anthologies In Publication Order

• Measures of Poison (2002)
• In the Shadow of the Master (2003)
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2003 (2003)
• Murder in Vegas: New Crime Tales of Gambling and Desperation (2005)
• The Penguin Book of Crime Stories (2007)
• Mystery Writers of America Presents The Blue Religion (2008)
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2008 (2008)
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2009 (2009)
• Hook, Line & Sinister (2010)
• The Rich and the Dead (2011)
• Mystery Writers of America Presents Vengeance (2012)
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2013 (2013)
• FaceOff (2014)
• In the Company of Sherlock Holmes (2014)
• The Best American Mystery Stories 2015 (2015)
• The Highway Kind (2016)
• In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper (2016)
• Alive in Shape and Color (2017)
• The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2022 (2022)

Best 5 Michael Connelly Books In Order

The Lincoln Lawyer

The Lincoln Lawyer was originally released on October 3, 2005, and is one of numerous crime novels written by Michael Connelly.

Mickey Haller is introduced in The Lincoln Lawyer, the first book in the Lincoln Lawyer series. Haller, Harry Bosch’s half-brother, practices criminal law and defends his clients all throughout the country.

When Haller gets a top client, a Beverly Hills kid who was jailed for beating a lady, he assumes he has a straightforward case. On the other hand, Mickey quickly realizes that this case has “taken him face to face with evil , pure as a flame.”

The Poet: A Novel

Michael Connelly’s fifth novel, The Poet, is a thrilling adventure set in Colorado. Jack McEvoy works with the Rocky Mountain News as a crime reporter and has an identical twin brother who also happens to be a police officer named Sean. Unexpectedly, Sean commits suicide triggering Jack to investigate his death which leads him on an unprecedented investigation uncovering three other suicides related cases that are not what they seem – but rather connected murders orchestrated by one killer! With this new discovery comes danger for our hero throwing himself straight into the lion’s den facing grave peril at each turn of the page until he finds out just how far down this twisted rabbit-hole goes…

The Last Coyote

Everything in Harry Bosch’s life is a mess. His home was deemed uninhabitable, his partner abandoned him, he started drinking heavily, and he was placed on indefinite suspension for assaulting his superior officer.

Bosch, who is now on administrative leave, decides to look into the 1961 killing of the a prostitute who happens to be Harry’s mother.

As Harry delves further, he finds evidence that someone is actively working to suppress the truth. He also learns that this person has considerable power and is… rather lethal.

The Black Echo

Harry Bosch, a Vietnam veteran and ex-L.A police detective with experience in the Robbery-Homicide Division, is dragged back into action when his old war buddy Billy Meadows is killed mysteriously. Harry suspects that something bigger than money was at stake after uncovering an elaborate bank heist linked to tunnels under Los Angeles – so much more than meets the eye! Determined to get justice for his fallen comrade, Harry teams up with the FBI in pursuit of those responsible for killing them both during their time as tunnel rats overseas…

Concrete Blonde

When LAPD detective Harry Bosch believed he had finally slain the serial murderer known as “the Dollmaker,” who had been targeting only women, he discovered another corpse that had been murdered in the same way.

Now that he’s murdered the wrong guy, he realizes he has to continue his search for LA serial murderer who colors his victims with makeup.

Will he be able to track down the murderer before he can take another life?

Summary of the Renée Ballard Books in Order

The Late Show

Every morning, Renée Ballard hands over the cases she started during her night shift to the day shift detectives in Hollywood. She was on the rise as a detective until she filed a complaint of sexual harassment against her boss and was demoted to this assignment.

A prostitute is brutally attacked and left for dead in a parking garage, and a young lady is shot and killed at a nightclub, both instances she doesn’t want to let go of. Ballard is not going to quit at first light.

Dark Sacred Night

Renée Ballard, a night-shift detective at Hollywood Station, quickly discovers an intruder going through the station’s file cabinets. The culprit is none other than retired Detective Harry Bosch and he’s on the hunt for answers to a cold case that has haunted him since his retirement – which draws out strong feelings of both empathy and rage in Renée as she embarks on her own investigation into this unresolved puzzle.

The Night Fire

While Harry Bosch really was starting out as a homicide investigator, he was mentored by an impressive individual who instilled in him the importance of treating each case as if it were his own and of being persistent in his pursuit of justice. Now that Thompson has passed away, Bosch receives a murder book from his wife detailing the unsolved death of a disturbed young man in a drug alley that Thompson had taken with him after he left for LAPD 20 years before.

Bosch gives Renée Ballard a copy of the murder fiction and wants her to assist him figure out what it was about the case that so intrigued Thompson. So that’s where they’ll begin.

The Dark Hours

On December 31st, Hollywood erupts into utter mayhem. While the clock strikes midnight, LAPD Detective Renée Ballard takes refuge from the annual shower of lead by hiding at the conclusion of the countdown as hundreds of revelers fire their firearms into the air. While Ballard is investigating allegations of broken windows and other damage, he learns that a dedicated auto shopkeeper has been shot and killed in the midst of a lively street celebration.

Desert Star

Together, LAPD investigator Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch go after the murderer who is Bosch’s “white whale” after he murders a whole family.

After a year of facing sexism, demoralization, and bureaucratic red tape as an LAPD detective, Renée Ballard decided to leave the department. However, after being told by the head of police that she may “write her ticket” inside the department, Ballard gives up her position on “The Late Show” and returns to the specialized Robbery-Homicide Division to recreate the cold case section there.

Summary of the Jack McEvoy Books in Order

The Poet

Jack McEvoy, a writer on the Denver criminal beat, has made his specialty writing about murder. McEvoy’s sole method of coping with the suicide of his brother, a murder investigator, is to kill himself. He makes up his mind to put pen to paper.

However, his investigation has led him to believe a serial murderer is at large, one who is targeting police officers and leaving behind cryptic lyrical clues. If he can obtain the story without being killed, it will be the biggest news story of his career.

The Scarecrow

Jack McEvoy’s career as a war correspondent has come to an end. Since Los Angeles Times is experiencing financial difficulties, he has been offered a buyout and given just a few days to find other employment. Was this his last mission? Preparing a low-cost reporter fresh so out journalism school to take his position.

Fair Warning

When the lady with whom veteran writer Jack McEvoy had a one-night affair is brutally killed, McEvoy believes he may be up against a criminal unlike any he has ever faced.

A Harry Bosch Book Summary

The Narrows

Rachel Walling, an FBI agent, receives the call she has feared for years: the Poet has reemerged. She will never forget the serial murderer whose atrocities were like lines of poetry to her, and he has evidently not forgotten her either.

Also, Harry Bosch, a former LAPD investigator, receives a call from the widower of a buddy. There seems to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her husband’s death, but Bosch is intrigued by his possible connection to the search for the Poet.

Summary of the Terry McCaleb Books in Order

Blood Work

After receiving a heart transplant, ex-FBI agent Terrell McCaleb has been avoiding any stressful activities while in retirement. That is until Graciella Rivers steps onto his boat and reveals the gruesome details of how her sister Gloria was murdered. With no other choice than to take action against this cruel killer who disregards every rule that he learned as an FBI agent, Terry knows that he only gets one chance to get justice for Gloria’s death – but it might also cost him another shot at life if things don’t go according to plan.

A Darkness More Than Night

After the LAPD is stumped by a string of killings, they turn to former FBI agent Terry McCaleb for assistance. McCaleb is unwillingly lured from his quiet new life into into the horrors and thrill of hunting down a horrific homicidal madman, since these crimes are the kind he excelled in investigating with the FBI.

Conclusion: Michael Connelly books in order

If you are looking for thrilling crime novels with complex characters and gripping plots, then the michael connelly books in order might be the perfect read for you. From gritty detective stories to nail-biting murder mysteries, these books feature some of the best writing in the genre and will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. So why wait? Pick up one of michael connelly’s books today and dive into a world of thrilling crime fiction!

FAQs: Michael Connelly books in order

What is Michael Connelly’s best-selling book?

Clint Eastwood produced and starred in Blood Work in 2002. Matthew McConaughey starred as Mickey Haller in the 2011 film adaption of the #1 bestselling novel The Lincoln Lawyer.

What is the latest Michael Connelly?

As the clock struck midnight and chaos ensued on New Year’s Eve, a determined killer lurked in the shadows of Los Angeles. Detective Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch form an unlikely alliance to solve this heinous crime amidst a city crippled by fear and tension. With Michael Connelly at its helm, it’s sure to be another thrilling masterpiece from this #1 NYTimes Bestselling author!

Which Michael Connelly books are the Bosch series based on?

Amazon brings Michael Connelly’s hard-boiled detective novels to life with the television series “Bosch,” created by Eric Overmyer. The first season draws on storylines from three of his works – City of Bones, Echo Park and The Concrete Blonde – taking viewers through a gripping mystery involving murder, corruption and justice.

How many Michael Connelly books have been made into movies?

Two of Michael’s novels are movies. Clint Eastwood directed 2002’s Blood Work. Matthew McConaughey starred in 2011’s The Lincoln Lawyer.

Which Michael Connelly books are the Bosch series based on?

The first season was inspired by Michael Connelly’s City of Bones (2002), Echo Park (2006), and The Concrete Blonde (1994).

How Many Books Has Michael Connelly Written?

Connelly has published 37 novels and 2 nonfiction works. He’s sold 75 million books globally.

Which Of His Books Is Michael Connelly’s Favorite?

Not one. He liked everyone. He feels each novel has distinct merits. He enjoys The Concrete Blonde’s narrative and suspense and The Last Coyote & Angels Flight’s characters.

Do The Books In Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch Series Have To Be Read In Order?

Michael Connelly’s works are’standalone’ Some things or situations spill over into subsequent volumes. It’s OK to study them in standalones, although it may be more fascinating to read these in sequence.

What Time Of Day Does Michael Connelly Like To Work?

Michael Connelly is a master of keeping his days balanced; during the typical work week, he rises early for creative projects, then spends the afternoon completing mundane tasks. When it comes to weekends though, Michael saves himself energy by only squeezing in some morning creativity before enjoying an entire day off all-together.

Are Michael Connelly’s Plots Inspired By Current Events?

Michael Connelly constantly employs truth in his tales. He exploits real-life occurrences from his time as a writer and his childhood working at beachside hotels.