Michael Connelly brings back Harry Bosch and LAPD Detective Renée Ballard in a mesmerizing police procedural, THE NIGHT FIRE, his 22nd book featuring the former detective. The narrative opens with Bosch attending the funeral of his long-ago mentor, John Jack Thompson, whose widow gives him a 20-year-old murder book detailing a case that was never solved. The crime took place in an alley known as a drug hangout. Both Bosch and Ballard make up their minds to try to find out what really happened by working together.

"Fans of Connelly’s work will truly enjoy this latest installment of the Ballard/Bosch series, as the pace of the plot is stunning in its finesse."

Also appearing in the story is Mickey Haller, Bosch’s half-brother who is a successful lawyer. He used to work out of his car but now has a snazzy office and a good reputation. Bosch confers with Haller during his investigation with Ballard, who works the midnight shift, “affectionately” known by the squad as “the late show.” She was sent there as punishment for crossing the powers that be when she had accused her boss of sexual harassment. No one believed her. But it all turned out to be a good thing for her because she loves the freedom of working nights.

This time, Ballard is called to the scene of a fire among the homeless community on a city street. “The smell of kerosene mixed with that of burned flesh was overpowering…but she stood her ground. She was in charge of the scene until the fire experts arrived.” The body was encased in “the nylon tent [that] had melted and collapsed on the victim.”

As the narrative moves along, Bosch gives Ballard Thompson’s legacy murder book, telling her, “I’d say he took over the investigation of a case nobody was working.” She is staggered by the news that Thompson had the book for nearly 20 years. The victim was named John Hilton, and the crime scene photos “showed the body of the young man slumped across the front seat of a car, a bullet hole behind his right ear.” The case obviously was never solved.

Bosch and Ballard eventually come up with a suspect in the arson murder of the homeless man, and readers will be surprised. They identify this person of interest by the way the individual walks.

Fans of Connelly’s work will truly enjoy this latest installment of the Ballard/Bosch series, as the pace of the plot is stunning in its finesse. Newcomers will find themselves compelled to get their hands on all of his books and be grateful to have come upon him at his finest.