5 Michael Connelly Books Better Than Bosch

Published Aug 24, 2026, 4:17 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Michael Connelly’s most celebrated works are the Bosch books, but these five books from the author are better than those centering on the titular detective. With 43 fiction books under his belt, Connelly has gained a reputation for writing top-notch crime novels. He not only creates compelling stories that are virtually impossible to put down but also includes a mostly accurate depiction of the legal system, from policing to the courtroom. His longest-running book series centers on Heironymous “Harry” Bosch, an LAPD detective and, later, private investigator. There’s no doubt that the Bosch books are amazing. They are always the starting point I recommend to new readers if they want to get a feel for Connelly’s unique writing style. Plus, the Bosch TV show and its spinoffs on Prime Video are wildly successful. However, popularity doesn’t mean the Bosch books are the best that the author has to offer. These five books are better than the Harry Bosch series. 5 The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) The Lincoln Lawyer Books Series While Harry Bosch might be the best-known Michael Connelly character, Bosch’s half-brother, Mickey Haller, is a renowned defense attorney who leads his own book series called The Lincoln Lawyer, a movie starring Matthew McConaughey, and a Netflix TV show. In the titular first book, Mickey Haller defends Louis Roulet, a real estate mogul who’s arrested for beating and attempting to rape a woman. As Mickey dives into the case, he finds that there’s more to the case than it seems. Bosch has been celebrated as one of the most accurate police procedural series, and Connelly’s thorough research carries over to The Lincoln Lawyer, which is one of the most accurate legal series. Like Bosch, it’s cynical of the system in which the story exists. However, a few key elements place The Lincoln Lawyer above the Bosch books in ranking. While the Bosch books are slow-paced and often heavy, The Lincoln Lawyer has a much quicker and more consistent pace. Mickey has a great sense of humor, and he is extremely theatrical in the courtroom, which adds levity to the story. Bosch is largely a solo act, but Mickey has a team working with him, providing interesting character dynamics. Plus, the book introduces his first ex-wife, Maggie, as a prosecutor, adding another layer to the tension in the courtroom. 4 The Poet (1996) The Jack McEvoy Series Before he became an award-winning author, Michael Connelly worked as a crime reporter, and this experience contributes to every series. However, the most notable is The Poet, which focuses on Jack McEvoy, an investigative crime reporter, as he looks into the death of his twin brother, Detective Sean McEvoy. While others write it off as a suicide, Jack discovers multiple deaths across the United States with similar signatures, taking him down a dangerous path. This book really captures that journalistic drive and translates it for a wider audience. Unlike the Bosch books, The Poet is also a cat-and-mouse psychological thriller with a unique angle. Because the victim is Jack’s twin brother, the stakes are high from the beginning. The connection to the victims also occurs in the Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer books. However, the scope is much wider in The Poet because the serial killer is murdering all across the United States. The killer in this case stages their murders as suicides and leaves Edgar Allan Poe quotes at every crime scene. This is the most unique calling card I’ve ever seen in a crime book, and I’ve read many. Connelly also creates such high tension that it’s virtually impossible to set The Poet down, moving at breakneck speed without ever feeling rushed or overstuffed. 3 The Waiting (2024) The Bosch And Ballard Series Michael Connelly’s series primarily focuses on men, but his Bosch and Ballard series adds a badass woman to the mix. This series is separate from the Bosch books, often getting shortened to the Ballard books even though Harry Bosch appears in most of them. By far, the most interesting of that series is The Waiting, which flips expectations by featuring Harry’s daughter, Maddie Bosch, as the main “Bosch” part of the equation. The book ties together three storylines. Firstly, the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit gets a hot shot DNA hit on a serial rapist case. This investigation is the anchor. The second plotline is the theft of Renee Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID. Ballard can’t report this because it would end her career, so she asks Harry Bosch for help. The third thread is Maddie Bosch's attempt to solve the most infamous unsolved crime in Los Angeles. The Waiting successfully fleshes out each storyline, making them feel like their own stories with connecting threads. When it comes to the character ratio, it’s about 70% Ballard, 25% Maddie Bosch, and 5% Harry Bosch. This allows Renee Ballard to really shine. On top of that, Connelly’s bold choice to take on the Black Dahlia case anchors The Waiting in true Los Angeles history. 2 The Gods Of Guilt (2013) The Lincoln Lawyer Series Although I love a good Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller team-up, I cannot include The Brass Verdict on this list. It might technically be a book in The Lincoln Lawyer series, but the story has just as much of a claim to the Bosch series label. Luckily, another series in The Lincoln Lawyer series also rises above the Bosch books. The Gods of Guilt puts Mickey Haller in a precarious ethical situation. He takes on a pimp named Andre La Cosse, who is accused of representing Mickey’s former client Gloria Dayton. The Lincoln Lawyer Books Book # Title Release Year 1 The Lincoln Lawyer 2005 2 The Brass Verdict 2008 3 The Reversal 2010 4 The Fifth Witness 2011 5 The Gods of Guilt 2013 6 The Law of Innocence 2020 7 Resurrection Walk 2023 8 The Proving Ground 2025 The Gods of Guilt is the first book where Mickey really has to face the consequences of his morally gray legal tactics. Besides the obvious complication in this case, Mickey realizes that he may have inadvertently been the one who put Gloria in danger. He has to question everything he does throughout this book, including the person he’s defending. This introspection is enjoyable and doesn’t come at the expense of the legal drama aspect, which isn't a balance Bosch always strikes well. The courtroom scenes are just as suspenseful as in other The Lincoln Lawyer books. In addition to crafting a fantastic story, The Gods of Guilt is also a good middle point between Bosch’s slow burn and The Lincoln Lawyer’s rapid pacing. It consistently builds speed, leading to a shocking ending that comes out of left field without feeling contrived. 1 The Law Of Innocence (2020) The Lincoln Lawyer Series Unlike the Bosch books, which mostly use a third-person point of view, The Law of Innocence puts us directly in Mickey Haller's head with first-person narration, which is particularly impactful because Mickey is both the lawyer and the defendant. In this The Lincoln Lawyer story, Mickey is framed for the murder of his former client, conman Sam Scales. The body is found in his trunk. Evidence is found in his garage. Someone is truly out to get him. Mickey has the highest stakes he’s ever faced, and for the first time, we really see him start to break. If he wants to save his career, he can’t just get a not guilty. He has to explicitly prove his innocence, which means solving the case. He’s not all laughs and theatricality. He’s terrified. He’s distraught. Plus, prison does a number on him, causing him to lose weight, become depressed, and isolate himself from his loved ones. While I hated Mickey suffering, it was interesting to see the positions flipped. What’s more, The Law of Innocence streamlines the police procedural process. The book does include Harry Bosch supporting his half-brother, but his investigation mostly takes place offscreen. This gives more time to explore Mickey’s mental state and his courtroom proceedings. Perhaps the most interesting twist is that the story puts Maggie on the defense team, giving her insight into Mickey’s job. Bosch TV Show(s) Bosch, Bosch: Legacy First TV Show Bosch Cast Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Madison Lintz, Mimi Rogers, Paul Calderon, Jason Gedrick, Sarah Clarke, Jeri Ryan Created by Eric Overmyer Latest TV Show Bosch: Legacy Upcoming TV Shows Ballard