The Night FireThe Night Fire
Score Modern
What it's about
Back when Harry Bosch was a rookie homicide detective, his mentor, J.J. Thompson, taught him to take every case personally. Now Thompson is dead, and his widow gives Bosch a murder book Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD: the unsolved killing of a troubled young man. Bosch teams up with Detective Renée Ballard to find out why his mentor took it.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It pairs Bosch with Ballard, one of Michael Connelly's best recent characters.
You'll love it if you liked
The Crossing
The Law of Innocence
The Brass VerdictGood to know
It's a late Bosch and Ballard book; start with The Black Echo or The Late Show for each character.
By the numbers
- Readers81 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #65 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #383 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #758 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln LawyerThe Brass VerdictThe CrossingThe Law of InnocenceIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
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Quick answers
Is The Night Fire worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #758 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Night Fire about?
Back when Harry Bosch was a rookie homicide detective, his mentor, J.J. Thompson, taught him to take every case personally. Now Thompson is dead, and his widow gives Bosch a murder book Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD: the unsolved killing of a troubled young man. Bosch teams up with Detective Renée Ballard to find out why his mentor took it.
How long does it take to read The Night Fire?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Night Fire?
If you liked it, try The Crossing by Michael Connelly, The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly or The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly.