Best books by Michael Connelly
Mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels, and whodunits fall into the crime fiction category. This genre is among the most popular in the western world, accounting for almost 40% of all fiction book sales.
Crime keeps the readers on their toes, and it’s engaging to read because most of us, luckily, aren’t criminals. However, it’s no secret that people have always been intrigued by criminal behavior, and this genre gives the reader an insight into the characters’ questionable actions.
One of the best storytellers in the industry is Michael Connelly. He offers his readers the thrill and sensation to discover whodunit and why.
Who is Michael Connelly?
Michael Connelly is a rock star in crime storyteller. He is a bestselling author of 37 novels and one non-fiction work. With over 8 million copies sold worldwide, he is one of the most successful contemporary writers.
Michael Connelly was born in Philadelphia, PA, on July 21, 1956. At age 12, he moved to Florida with his parents for school. While attending college, Michael decided he wanted to pursue a career in writing.
To kick off his career, he chose a minor in creative writing and majored in journalism.
After graduating, Michael worked for a newspaper in Daytona and Fort Lauderdale, where he wrote about crime during the peak of violence and murder in Florida in the 1980s. He specialized in the crime beat at the time.
Connelly’s breakthrough came after he and two other journalists wrote a magazine story on an airline crash and its survivors. The story helped Michael climb the ladder in journalism. He soon became a crime reporter for The Los Angeles Times.
Here are some fun facts about Michael Connelly:
- His first novel was The Black Echo.
- Matthew McConaughey starred in the movie adaptation of the bestselling novel The Lincoln Lawyer.
- He also wrote short stories on crime fiction, reintroducing his famous characters.
- He won the Anthony, Grand Prix, and Nero awards for his works.
Michael Connelly’s best books
If you’re a true fan of crime novels, you should look into these top-rated Michael Connelly books.
The Lincoln Lawyer
In The Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Hailer is a criminal defense attorney who operates out of his Lincoln Town Car. He takes whatever the system throws at him and knows how to work the cases. The novel’s plot follows the arrest of a Beverly Hills man after brutally beating a woman. As the case starts falling apart, readers learn that neither of the two main characters is who they seem to be.
The Black Echo (Harry Bosch Series)
The Black Echo follows an LAPD detective, Harry Bosch, a private investigator in California, who, one day, gets a call on his pager. A body in a drainage tunnel has been uncovered, and it looks like a classic overdose. At first, it looks like a cold case, but the plot begins to unravel when Harry discovers that he knows the victim.
The case gets personal as soon as Harry Bosch finds out that the murdered man is his fellow “tunnel rat” from his days serving in Vietnam.
This Harry Bosch novel will have you on the tips of your toes until the last page.
The Brass Verdict
After two dreary years, things are finally looking up for Mickey Haller. Following the murder of Jerry Vincent, Mickey inherits the huge case. Before closing it, however, he finds that Jerry’s killer might be coming for him next. LAPD detectives Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller must work together to get to the bottom of this case.
The Brass Verdict is also the basis for Season 1 of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix.
The Last Coyote
The Last Coyote is Michael Connelly’s fourth novel, and it focuses on solving a 30-year-old case: his mother’s murder. The main character, Harry Bosch, is a mess. As he’s investigating the murder, he’s going through an array of emotions and still trying to seek justice for his mother.
The Poet
The suicide of his policeman brother sends Jack McEvoy, a Denver reporter, into a furious rage. As he starts flipping through similar cases of suicides, he starts suspecting that this might not be a clear-cut case of suicide. As the case moves forward, Jack becomes increasingly lonely. The Poet is a chilling story of an investigation of a lifetime.
A Darkness More Than Night
A Darkness More Than Night is the 10th novel by Michael Connelly. It features LAPD detective Harry Bosch and an FBI profiler Terry McCaleb. The novel’s plot follows a movie director who’s been accused of murdering his fellow actress during sex.
The Concrete Blonde
In The Concrete Blond, detective Harry Bosch is after a serial killer named “The Dollmaker” who uses makeup to paint all his victims as his unique calling card. When Bosch shoots a suspect, the city thinks the nightmare’s over, but it’s only just begun when a new body with the same calling card is found.
The Late Show
In The Late Show, the story follows detective Renée Ballard, a young and ambitious detective trying to make a name for herself in the LAPD who works the night shift in Hollywood. When two cases fall into her lap, she pushes herself day and night to solve them. As the cases overlap, they open the door to her own demons and why she’s so desperate to prove herself.
The Narrows
In The Narrows, an FBI agent, Rachel Walling, and former LAPD cop, Harry Bosch, finally confront a serial killer nicknamed “The Poet” as he leads them down the twisted path of his previous crimes.
Trunk Music
Harry Bosch, an LAPD detective, is the novel’s main character again. This time, in Trunk Music, he follows the murder investigation of a man whose body is found in a Roll Royce’s trunk.
Honorable mentions
Other titles by Michael Connelly that might pique your interest include:
- Desert Star
- Dark Hours
- The Night Fire
- Fair Warning
- The Crossing
- The Wrong Side of Goodbye
- The Law of Innocence
- The Gods of Guilt
- The Burning Room
- The Drop
- The Closers
- Echo Park
- The Reversal
- Dark Sacred Night
- The Scarecrow
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FAQ
What is Michael Connelly’s bestselling book?
The Lincoln Lawyer is Michael Connelly’s bestselling book. This was the first Mickey Haller novel adapted into a 2011 film starring Matthew McConaughey.
Who else should I read if I like Michael Connelly?
If you liked Michael Connelly’s novels, you should check out Joseph Wambaugh, Robert Crais, Archer Mayor, T. Jefferson Parker, and Chelsea Cain.
What order do I read the Harry Bosch books?
Here is the order you should follow:
- The Black Echo
- The Black Ice
- The Concrete Blonde
- The Last Coyote
- Trunk Music
- Angels Flight
- A Darkness More Than Night
- City of Bones
- Lost Light
- The Narrows
What is Michael Connelly’s latest novel?
Michael Connelly released his newest novel in 2021, titled The Dark Hours. It’s based on a killer that strikes on New Year’s Eve, forcing two LAPD detectives to work together and seek justice for the victims.
What is the name of Michael Connelly’s daughter?
The name of his daughter is unknown.
What is the best book by Michael Connelly?
Many argue that The Lincoln Lawyer is the best book by Michael Connelly; however, it’s up to the reader’s preferences.
How many Michael Connelly books have been made into movies?
Blood Work and The Lincoln Lawyer have been made into movies so far.
