Hachette The Night Fire: A Ballard and Bosch Thriller

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.

This is another Bosch book which offers an interesting start but ultimately falls down by trying to fit several threads together. The story begins well with an old case but what follows is an outline of LA police procedures and glaring errors by Police and judiciary which are difficult to believe frankly). Ballard and Bosch's stories lack any jeopardy and risk and everything seems to go to plan (just like real life .... or rather NOT). So still a decent bedtime read but not one of his best.

I have loved so many of Michael Connelly's books - duds are few but this one is awful. Where shall I start - far too many characters for anyone to remember who is what, why and when. Chapters that bear no relevance to the story are inserted bearing absolutely no relevance to the plot which is pretty weak anyway. Long before the end of the story - such as it is - it just tails off into boring nothingness. Usually I cannot put a Michael Connelly down - but before I was a short way through I found myself putting it down and thinking it was not going to be worth the bother. When I tried to pick up some sort of plot I struggled to get some enthusiasm but it took a lot of effort to struggle towards an obvious end that was the same as lots of other ends and not worth the bother. Why do this to us Michael?

I've come to the Connelly novels relatively late, because my wife liked them - she now uses Audible for her 'reading' - so I've largely opted for those published more recently. I enjoy the characters - Bosch, Haller and Ballard - and the knowledge of police procedure, but it took me a little while to settle into his style. I bought 'The Night Fire' to read before, on and finish after a recent staycation, and enjoyed the plotting; but for some reason the books generally lack the suspense of the best crime fiction for me, even (occasionally) in the courtroom. Still, I dare say the next Ballard-&-Bosch will go on my book list!

I have been an avid Michael Connelly fan for many years and I looked forward to Bosch and Ballard second outing. But I was sadly disappointed, it didn't have the page turning pace I have come to love from Connelly and it appeared to me as series of short stories stitched together in a less than average patchwork of a novel. I fear that with Bosch will become a bit part in future and new books will feature characters from the past such as his ex wife and old detective partners..