The Night Fire

A Ballard and Bosch Thriller

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Titus Welliver, Christine Lakin

SOME CRIMES LIGHT A FIRE THAT NEVER GOES OUT...

A JUDGE MURDERED IN A CITY PARK

Mickey Haller, the Lincoln Lawyer, defends the man accused.

A HOMELESS PERSON BURNED ALIVE

Detective Renée Ballard catches the case on the LAPD's notorious graveyard shift.

AN UNSOLVED HOMICIDE FROM A LIFETIME AGO

Harry Bosch is left a missing case file by his mentor who passed away. He was the man who taught Bosch that everybody counts, or nobody counts. Why did he keep the case all these years? To find the truth - or bury it?

IN L.A. CRIME NEVER SLEEPS

But in Ballard, Bosch and Haller: the fire always burns. Will it light the way - or leave their lives in ashes?

CRIME DOESN'T COME BETTER THAN CONNELLY.

©2019 Michael Connelly (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

'One of the most eagerly awaited books of the year.' The i newspaper, Best Crime Books for 2019

'There's something for everyone in this jam-packed plot' New York Times

Most enjoyable

Yet another intriguing and enjoyable Michael Connelly. I've read or listened to all of them and not sure what the negative critics are on about!

Dynamic Duo

Harry and Rachel rock. looking forward to the next installment Titus makes Bosch seem easy

Still a Bosch story, but way too many coincidences

Trouble with evaluating a Connelly story is that the benchmark is only another Connelly, right?

I am enjoying this series from Michael Connelly

I am enjoying this series from Michael Connelly and the narration from Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin. This one intertwines a number of stories and murders featuring Bosch, Ballard and Mickey Haller. Thanks to Bosch's assistance Haller pulls off another magical courtroom acquital and later Ballard saves Bosch from execution by a hired killer while she is critically stabbed and almost bleeds out in the attempt. A top tier effort and looking forward to the next one.

Another Fantastic Connelly Book

Bosch is once again paired with Renee’ Ballard… a late career co-mingling series… and I must say that this episode… is ONE-HUNDRED-PER-CENT more enjoyable and more intelligently written than the others. In the prior story the author made Ballard out to be a combination of Superwoman and the Terminator. I believe that was to make sure she could be viewed through the lens of gender equality. This episode takes a much better approach. Ballard is simply a terrific… hard working… intelligent cop… with the perfect mix of human empathy. She’s good and she’s nice… on and off the job. Without giving away any spoilers… “old”… hobbling… Harry… attends the funeral of one of his early homicide training officers John Jack Thompson… and the widow presents a twenty-year-old murder book mysteriously… with no real audit trail that was in Thompson’s possession. Harry hands it off to his secret partner Ballard… and we’re off and running. Meanwhile the “senior” Bosch hobbles into the back of the courtroom to watch his half-brother (and favorite background character) Mickey Haller handle a case of a murdered judge… something feels fishy to the “seasoned” Harry… and guess what?? Mickey gives him the murder book of that case for Harry to investigate. Of course simultaneously… and intermittently… other crimes are handled in quick order with machine gun like precision.

Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin were superb with the delivery of the story

A great combo listen.

A new Harry Bosch arrives..a nod to diversity? Excellent acting from both readers. A series of 'solves' all intertwined. It is too easy to recommend this one

Disappointment on history.

History is developing quite well. The plot is quite gripping, but the ending scenes are completely unrealistic and to be honest - idiotic. Probably the worst ending in a whole series of books about Bosch.
Very good production, Titus Welliver and Christine Lakin voices are amazing but as I said before unfortunately the ending destroys the book.