Harry Bosch Books in Order

Harry Bosch is Michael Connelly’s legendary Los Angeles homicide detective and one of the most enduring characters in American crime fiction, appearing across more than twenty novels over three decades. The series ages in real time, as Bosch moves from active LAPD detective through retirement, cold case work, and beyond, with each book reflecting his actual age and the evolution of LAPD.

This page lists the Harry Bosch novels in publication order, plus short stories and other Michael Connelly books where Bosch appears, so you can follow his journey across the wider Bosch universe. For all Michael Connelly books in order, including the Lincoln Lawyer and Renée Ballard series, see our full Michael Connelly reading order page.

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Harry Bosch Series (Books in Order)

The Harry Bosch series follows Los Angeles homicide detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, later a cold case investigator working for the San Fernando Police Department and eventually as a volunteer detective, across more than two decades of his life and career. The series is grounded in the day-to-day reality of LAPD work and the many sides of Los Angeles. Bosch’s past as a Vietnam veteran and his childhood as an orphan help explain the intensity he brings to every case, sometimes at great personal cost. Each novel moves forward in real time, making this one of the few long-running crime series where the protagonist genuinely ages and changes.

Reading Order

  1. The Black Echo, 1992
  2. The Black Ice, 1993
  3. The Concrete Blonde, 1994
  4. The Last Coyote, 1995
  5. Trunk Music, 1997
  6. Angels Flight, 1999
  7. A Darkness More Than Night, 2001
  8. City Of Bones, 2002
  9. Lost Light, 2003
  10. The Narrows, 2004
  11. The Closers, 2005
  12. Echo Park, 2006
  13. The Overlook, 2007
  14. Nine Dragons, 2009
  15. Suicide Run, 2011
  16. The Drop, 2011
  17. Angle Of Investigation, 2011
  18. The Black Box, 2012
  19. Switchblade, 2014
  20. The Burning Room, 2014
  21. The Crossing, 2015
  22. The Wrong Side of Goodbye, 2016
  23. Two Kinds of Truth, 2017
  24. Dark Sacred Night, 2018
  25. The Night Fire, 2019
  26. The Dark Hours, 2021
  27. Desert Star, 2022
  28. The Waiting, 2024
  29. The Hollows, 2026

Reading notes:

  • The Harry Bosch novels are best read in publication order, as Bosch’s career, age, and relationships move forward in time along with each book.
  • The Narrows also continues plotlines from The Poet and ties Bosch into Michael Connelly’s wider universe.
  • Several books are crossovers:
    – Nine Dragons, The Crossing, The Wrong Side of Goodbye and Two Kinds of Truth also feature defense attorney Mickey Haller.
    – Dark Sacred Night, The Night Fire, The Dark Hours, Desert Star and The Waiting also feature detective Renée Ballard and are key to their shared storyline.
  • If you’re following the entire Bosch Universe (Bosch + Haller + Ballard), it’s worth reading the crossover titles in the order above, then branching into the separate series pages.
  • The Narrows also continues plotlines from The Poet (a Jack McEvoy novel) and is the point where Connelly’s wider universe begins to converge.

Other Michael Connelly Books Featuring Harry Bosch

Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) Novels Featuring Bosch

These novels are part of the Lincoln Lawyer series, but Bosch plays a significant investigative role, and in several entries he functions as co-protagonist rather than a cameo. The half-brother relationship between Bosch and Haller is important in both characters’ arcs.

Renée Ballard Novels Featuring Bosch

These novels are simultaneously main Bosch books and main Ballard books, and represent the most recent phase of Bosch’s career. Reading them in order is important as the Bosch–Ballard partnership develops significantly across the series.

Other Cameos and Appearances

Harry Bosch makes minor appearances or background cameos in a small number of other Connelly novels. These are not essential reading for the Bosch arc but complete the picture for readers building a full Bosch universe read-through; for a complete Bosch Universe experience, see the full Michael Connelly books in order page.

Where to Start with Harry Bosch

New to Harry Bosch? Start here:

  • Best starting point: The Black Echo – Bosch’s debut, and the first book in the series. Ideal if you like watching a character evolve from the very beginning.
  • Alternative for modern readers: If you’re mainly interested in the Bosch + Ballard era, you can start later with Dark Sacred Night and then circle back to earlier Bosch books once you’re hooked.
  • Full-universe approach: Follow the main publication order list above, don’t skip the crossover titles, and use the dedicated Lincoln Lawyer and Renée Ballard pages to pick up threads that continue after Bosch steps back.

Related Michael Connelly Series

Related reading in the Bosch Universe:

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.
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65 Comments

  1. just finished watching the bosch series and loved it … didn’t think i would like titus welliver in the lead … i have seen him in a lot of roles and it seems he always played a guy you didn’t like … as harry bosch he is perfect …

  2. I have read all the Harry Bosch books and love them. I have just finished The Burning Room and wonder when the next in the series will be available.

    Thank you.

  3. I would put the book “The Narrows” into the Terry McCaleb series because his presense is felt throughout the book. Also Bosch finishs what Terry & Rachel began so many years before. The final McCaleb chapter is closed in this book. Also Buddy pesters Bosch in the same way he dogged Terry.

  4. Hi

    Where does Blood Work fit in? Terry McCaleb starts I guess. Just starting it today.

    Ciao

    John

    1. Blood Work is the first in the Terry McCaleb series (which is listed at the bottom of this page, right after the Mickey Haller series). It contains only 2 books, and the second one, A Darkness More Than Night is also Harry Bosch #7.

  5. Love the Harry Bosch series . . . I’m rereading them now!

  7. Jusst finished The Reversal. I mentions Harry’s daughter’s mother as having been killed and Mattie is now woth Harry. In which book was her death featured?

    1. In Nine Dragons (Harry Bosch #15) in Hong Kong where she was living after separating from Bosch.

  8. I’ve read the first 13 books in order (Harry Bosch). It seems from reading the first few pages that the “Brass Berdict is more Haller than Bosch book. I know they will team up eventually in the book but should I save the Brass Verdict as a Haller series book and move on to 9 Dragons? I just finished the overlook.

    Thanks,

    Steve

    1. In the Brass Verdict Mickey is the main character, but Harry Bosch is there to help and only appears now and then – at crucial moments, mind you.

      If you’re also reading the Mickey Haller books later on, then yes, I think it’s better if you pick this one up as the second Mickey Haller book, as it’s more about him than Harry Bosch.

    2. Nine dragons is more Bosch than Haller. Overlook is Bosch. Read nine dragons with the Bosch series.

    1. Yes, as Harry Bosch doesn’t really appear in the book, which is all about his half-brother, Mickey Haller. I initially intended to create a second page about Mickey Haller, however on second thought I added the books in the series on the same page, below Harry Bosch, so now The Lincoln Lawyer is also featured.

  10. I’m not sure I agree with you of who should portray Bosch on film.
    looks like I’m not going to like the actor you guys choosed.

    Will see, guess!

    1. I agree with you in a way I guess. I tried to turn my son on to Connelly a long time ago! We are a family of readers!! But my son prefers reading Azimov and I, not so much! But I had an idea of Bosch in my head after following the series. The the character in my head evolved when I started listening to the series on CD read by Len Cariou. And out of nowhere my son turns me on to “Bosch” on Amazon! Not exactly my idea of Bosch( in my head) but Titus does a pretty good job after I watched a couple of episodes. I like the show and it gives my son and I something more to talk about!

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