Michael Connelly is back with “The Night Fire,” his latest teaming of Los Angeles detectives Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard. 

Harry is attending the funeral of his mentor John Jack Thompson when John Jack’s widow tells him her husband had an old murder book that she’d like Harry to have. Harry learns the case involves the murder of a young man who was shot execution-style in an alley in 1990. 

Harry knows some police detectives are haunted by cases they weren’t able to solve during their time on the job, so when they retire, they take the notes from the “murder book” – which contains all the information regarding the case and how it was investigated – to work in their spare time. But Harry can’t figure out why John Jack would have been interested in this case, since it’s one he never worked. That’s just one of the reasons why Harry decides he needs to solve the cold case. 

Since Harry is retired himself, he doesn’t have access to the police files he needs, so he enlists the help of Ballard who works the night shift, aka the Late Show, in Hollywood to help him. They both know they have to be careful working a cold case off the clock, but as they get deeper into the investigation, they wonder if Thompson took the murder book to work the case, or make sure it never got solved. 

Just as their joint investigation gets some traction, Harry uncovers a twist that rocks him to his core and makes him question everything about his mentor – and see his own life in a whole different light. 

Connelly is still on top of his game in “The Night Fire,” his 22rd Bosch novel and his 33rd novel overall. I’ve always liked Harry Bosch and I like Renee Ballard better when she teams up with him. 

Ballard likes working the Late Show; it gives her freedom to do her job and watch out for the people who live in and work the night hours. Going into the office means she has to dodge an old nemesis, but it’s necessary to get the information she needs for a case she caught: a homeless man died when his tent caught fire. Was it an accident or did something from his past catch up to him?

Harry is facing some medical issues; he’s just had knee surgery and he resents the cane he has to use to get around. He’s helping his half-brother, lawyer Mickey Haller, on another murder case – Harry uncovers information that makes him think the man accused of murdering a judge didn’t do the deed, which leads Harry to try to find the real murderer himself. He makes sure to carve out time for his daughter Maddie, who is about to graduate from college and is trying to pick a career.

Connelly takes two very different, but equally independent, personalities and forges a powerful detecting team. Bosch and Ballard have a similar philosophy to crime-fighting: get to the truth, no matter where it takes you or who doesn’t like it.

Connelly is one of my favorite writers because he solves the mystery with clean prose in a psychologically compelling and satisfying way. Some of his books feature other protagonists – “Lincoln Lawyer” Mickey Haller is one of them – but I like the Bosch books best.

Connelly combines an exceptional talent for keeping the storyline moving at a good clip even as he works fine details into the narrative. I like Connelly’s way of telling a good, solid story while leaving room to spring surprises on the reader along the way.

If you haven’t picked up Connelly yet, or if you’re a longtime fan, now’s the time to read “The Night Fire” because he’s got another novel coming out in May, called “Fair Warning.” For more information on Connelly or his books, visit michaelconnelly.com online.