The Night Fire: A Ballard and Bosch Novel: Harry Bosch, Book 22

I am mystified by all the 5 star reviews. I've read and enjoyed almost all of Michael Connelly's novels. Some I have read multiple times. I think he's a great crime novelist. That being said, this is absolutely one of his worst books. He uses a plot device that John Sandford used in a novel 20 years ago. That book is one of my all-time favorites. Connelly's attempt is mediocre and lackluster. Harry is shoehorned into the plot and again we are reminded (several times) that he is old and his health is an issue. He and Renee Ballard make numerous boneheaded mistakes while tracking a killer. It's so disappointing to see a favorite character treated this way. There are also a few ancillary cases that aren't interesting, as well as a long portion of the novel devoted to Mickey Haller's courtroom antics. Also, Renee Ballard is just not compelling enough to carry a series and her continued animosity for Olivas is boring. Her lifestyle choices are ridiculous. An LAPD detective sleeping in a tent on the beach? Just can't suspend disbelief about that. Ballard's case work on the late show isn't interesting and takes up a lot of pages in the book. If Connelly has lost interest in writing novels because he's been working on the Bosch TV show and his podcast then maybe it's time to take a break. I know I will be taking a break from buying his books.

When I reviewed the previous Renee Ballard/Bosch book I gave it one star and stated that I would not be buying any more of these books. I lied. I decided to try one more. That was a mistake. This book is as bad if not worse than the previous book. Please, please, drop Ballard. That character is boring and annoying.

I thought I was incapable of leaving less than a 5 star review for anything Michael Connelly does. But here we are.Just before this one came out, Connelly described in an interview the effect that writing the Amazon series had had on structuring his novels. For the series, he said he learned to write several different story lines at once, and he decided that was a good thing to impose on his novels. This one shows that is a bad decision.The power of the Bosch novels, and in fact all of Connelly's novels until now, is the relentless through-line of the main plot. It usually tips off on the first page and is tied up on the last. It builds tension and involves the reader in the main character's challenges. There are other intrusions -- Harry's search for his mother's killer, intrigue with his daughter, relationships, conflict with other cops, and even other investigators and other cases. But in these other novels our main character -- even when it isn't Harry -- is laser-focused on the main storyline.The Night Fire is not that. It's almost "A Day In The Life" as our characters, both of them, dart around from here to there, often for no plot-related reason at all. There is a subplot with Harry's daughter which has nothing whatsoever to do with the story. If it were cut along with the other subplots that weave throughout, there would not be enough left to publish. I wouldn't mind if the main story had the same power as in the other novels, but here it is just another plot line lost in the shrubbery.I think the book probably deserves four stars because it is well-written and diverting, but it is so far below my expectations of this author that I just can't. He's raised my standards, and I'm sticking by them.Connelly fans will not be deterred by this mis-step. For new readers, please start with any of the other novels, any one, but leave this one for last.

I have not read a detective story for over a year so was glad to see this one written by Michael Connelly. The chapters alternate between Harry Bosch and LAPD Detective Ballard. Detective Ballard shows that she is one bad a** detective and can also hold her own in the male dominated world of police work.An unsolved murder case was given to Harry Bosch when his mentor, John Jack Thompson passed away. This case was at least 30 years old when Harry received it...So, the investigation is on with both Bosch and Ballard on board. And, yes the plot does indeed thcken.Toss in an arson case of a homeless man and also the murder of a Superior Court Judge...just in case you need a little more excitement and mystery!The entire novel is outstanding as it is full of good old 'pounding the pavement' detective work.. Toss in the Black Widow for that extra adrenaline rush.Excellent character development, solid plot and a strong female lead character. Doesn't get any better than that for me when reading a novel.Most highly recommended.

The Night Fire is Michael Connelly’s third novel featuring LAPD detective Renée Ballard, and his second pairing Ballard with Harry Bosch. I like the pairing for many reasons. Ballard is a great character, as is Bosch. But Bosch is aging, so Connelly—who is my favorite murder mystery author—needs a new lead character. Thankfully, he’s got Ballard.The novel begins with an arson-related death that Ballard is assigned on Hollywood Division’s “late shift.” It looks accidental, so she files a report and hands it off to day detectives. Bosch’s story begins when John Jack Thompson, his mentor as a young detective, dies and leaves him with a murder book that he had “stolen” from LAPD when he retired. The murder is a cold case from 1990. At the same time, Bosch helps his half-brother Mickey Haller question the guilt of an alleged a confessed murderer whom the police have dead to rights because of DNA, leaving open the question of who the “real killer” is. Ballard and Bosch co-work these cases, leading them into surprising discoveries…and danger.The Night Fire is a slow burn. The danger part doesn’t really come in till the last 30 pages of the book. So, if you’re looking for explosive action, this isn’t your book. But as a police procedural—carefully following the evidence where it leads—this book kept me turning pages, which is my number-one criteria for whether I like a murder mystery.

After James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly is my favorite crime author. But I can't recommend this book. Not even for die-hard Connelly fans like myself. It's really just awful. And I don't just mean awful compared to past works, I mean it's just awful by any standard. It starts with a lot of promise, but falls apart quickly. What I'm guessing should have been surprises are transparent. Its the first time I knew what was going to happen before Bosch told me. The absolute low point is a series of twists that are so far-fetched that it's impossible not to be insulted. I've already re-read all of Connelly's books and will just continue re-reading them. For the first time, Ill wait and check the reviews before buying any subsequent books by Connelly. Never thought I would have anything bad to say about a Connelly novel, but here we are.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with this Bosch novel. I absolutely love the books in the series but this is not as fulfilling as others. The story is disjointed and too convenient for me. Markers have been set for the next book but clearly Bosch is on the way out! I'm sad that Ml Connolly is going about retiring the greatest detective! Decided I will reread the entire series!!

The Night Fire has received a mixed bag of reviews with some people loving it and others finding it not to their liking when compared with earlier stories featuring detective Harry Bosch. For the record, I am firmly in the 'loved it' category and here's why:1. It is a story that focuses as much on character as it does on plot. Harry Bosch is nearing 70 years old and his health is clearly deteriorating. However, he has lost none of his desire to see justice done even if it means reappraising colleagues he has respected for most of his working life and putting his life on the line in the course of duty. We also get insights to a more personal and reflective side of Harry's character, which, as someone who has just become a Septuagenarian, certainly stuck more than a few chords with me!2. The story has a gripping plot. There are three separate story-lines, or threads, each one featuring characters who have appeared in earlier novels ... Bosch's half brother, the 'Lincoln Lawyer' Mickey Haller, who defends a man accused of murdering a judge in a city park; Detective Renee Ballard, a young detective who works the night shift and investigates the murder of a homeless man who had been burnt alive while sleeping; and Harry Bosch who, on the death of his mentor, is left the murder book of an old unsolved homicide. We follow the development of each of these cases and, not surprisingly, Bosch ends up being involved one way or another in all three!3. The story can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel even though it features characters from earlier books by Michael Connelly. 'The Night Fire' is a quick and easy read and contains lots of page-turning drama and intrigue.4. For long-standing Bosch fans, such as myself, I sense we are being prepared, in the nicest possible way, for the closure of the Bosch series. Looking back over the series, we have accompanied the former Vietnam tunnel rat and maverick detective Harry Bosch through the twists and turns of his very long and varied career as he pursued justice, but like the rest of us will in time, he is approaching the twilight years of his life. So this novel is, in a way, a continuation of a shift first seen in the other recent novels 'The Late Show' and 'Dark Sacred Night' where we have the young detective Renee Ballard not only interacting with the older, experienced Harry Bosch but also portraying some of Bosch's behaviour and values, such as his mantra of 'everybody counts or nobody counts'.So, for me, these are the reasons I enjoyed this novel, and should you decide to read it, I hope you find it as gripping and engaging as I have.

Sorry not impressed with this one. I wondered if he had used a ghost writer as it did not seem like the Harry Bosch we know and love. Ending a bit rushed. Certainly not as good as the earlier books in the series.

Connelly deserves his reputation as a writer of superior crime novels with only a few misses in a long line of books. And this book is most certainly one of his best which, makes it very good indeed.First off it's obvious that Connelly is looking for life after Bosch. He has allowed Bosch to get old and suffer the inevitable ailments that age brings and I'm quite sure that this character will stop being written in line with age and fictional reality. But, clearly a replacement needs to be found and cleverly Connelly has introduced Ballard who is working with Bosch on the QT. This is like handing over a project or job at work to a new colleague when retiring. It means that we get used to a new character whilst still buying the Bosch books. My gut feeling is that there will be another one or two Bosch-Ballard combo's then it will be all Ballard from then on.Anyway, it works well and allows a tangled web to be developed in an engaging way that never becomes too confusing but allows enough intrigue to keep you page turning.As ever, the writing is faultless with superb pacing, great character development and a solid whodunit story.Bosch is getting old and can't be allowed to be the young vigorous policeman running around because that would stretch credulity, thus Ballard fills that role.Bosch is of course the better known fictional character and I'm quite sure that many of us have read all of the stories and thus are very familiar with him. This book builds upon that history in a logical way.Ballard is new(ish) and Connelly is fleshing her out and adding depth to the character in a way that will inevitably lead her to becoming his major on-going story lead character. The development in this story works well and he has made her engaging and interesting.Overall this is another winning book that I finished all too quickly.