Those who love Harry Bosch! discussion
What to read AFTER Harry Bosch?
I can relate. You started with the best, so most others will be disappointing. However there are some nearly as good: the Reacher series by Lee Child, the Prey series by John Sandford, the Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwall. Those are the top tier in my opinion. Not L.A. but good crime fiction.
Oh, definitely try Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole series.A *lot* like Harry Bosch, but he's a policeman in Oslo. A loner, a loose cannon, fond of booze sometimes, some relationships but what remains after and between is just Harry and his insane search of justice. Corrupt police force, insane criminals, exotic locations, a lot of action from page one to the last page... you'll love the other Harry.
In the last few books he's even in Hong Kong...
But please read in order for best enjoyment;
http://www.goodreads.com/series/51155...
1. The Bat (avail. in UK and Canada, not in US yet)
2. Cockroaches (not avail. in English yet)
3. The Redbreast (this is where you start if you're in US... you can get the first two books later when they are available)
4. Nemesis
5. The Devil's Star
6. The Redeemer
7. The Snowman
8. The Leopard
9. Phantom
10. Police (probably with that title; not available yet)
I love the Myron Bolitar books by Harlan Coben. Not as heavy as the Harry books, but just as enjoyable in a different sort of way.
I completely agree about Nesbo, I've read all the books (in English) and loved them. Probably should have included him in my top tier. I have read two books by an Icelandic author, Arnaldur Indradason, and really liked them very much. They are complex, very emotional stories, but with a full compliment of police procedure and detection. I recommend The Draining Lake and Hypothermia.
If you like Arnaldur, you might like Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series too. Good, but not quite as much action as in Bosch.If you like LA and the many sides of it and quite a bit of action, perhaps Faye or Jonathan Kellerman could hit the spot. I've read most of Faye's Peter Decker series; they can be quite enjoyable once you get used to the characters.
Some more of darker, with enough action stuff series: Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus perhaps (happens in Edinburgh), James Thompson's Kari Vaara (in Helsinki, read in order), Helene Tursten's Inspector Huss (Sweden). Karin Fossum's and Fred Vargas' books are good too (enough everything in them)... and there are several that are good but with with either a bit less action, or just more of a mystery type than procedural or thriller. Of those, Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano series always makes me happy. If any of those would be of the type you like, or some of the type you don't like, maybe they'll help nail down a bit better what else you might like. E.g. I really don't like any cozy mysteries, or mysteries/thrillers/procedurals where the persons are flat, where it doesn't seem to make a difference if the story happens in LA, Ouagadougou, Shanghai or Kentucky, and where too much of story and action is dialog driven. Or where there just doesn't seem to be happening anything and you wait for hundreds of pages for anything to happen.
Anna wrote: "If you like Arnaldur, you might like Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series too. Good, but not quite as much action as in Bosch."Thanks for the great note listing many authors I wasn't aware of. I have essentially the same criteria you listed, although I do like Indridason, and not a lot happens in his books. I like action ala Reacher, but I also really like police procedural and forensic investigation, as in Connelly, Cornwell, etc. I read the first Rebus book and wasnt wild about it, but maybe I'll go back and give him another try. Another author I like very much is Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache.) I've read a good bit of the Wallander series, but they get on my nerves after a while.
Yea, I can do a Wallander every now and then. Like one, then read something with more action. Some Wallanders are good. Skip Troubled Man, the last one, as it's put me off the series for a while (I read about half of the first ones, then that, and will resume one day from where I left earlier in the series. Wallander just gets old really badly in the last book).When it seems I'm out of procedurals with enough action (as in read all the ones I like, like now Connelly, Nesbø etc), occasionally I'll even have a classic Robert Ludlum (not the Covert One series), or a Lustbader, Clive Cussler or something similar. Just classic manly conspiracies and adventure. :)
I really Dana Stabenow books... Kate Shugak series is just as good as Harry Bosch, just a female lead. The setting is interesting as well. The books are very well written and have nice paced stories with real characters...I also like John Lescroart' s Dismas Hardy series and Louise Penny Inspector Gamache series...all very good reads!
Adding those to my book shop shopping list. ;)So far I have not found many female detectives or inspectors I'd really like, as none are just quite as deep, troubled, and intense as Harry (Bosch or Hole). So finding some leads for some stories, and in exotic locations is perfect.
I just finished the first Jack Reacher book that someone recommended here. It was pretty good although very different from Harry. I just downloaded the second book in the series. Since there are at least 14 books in the series, that should keep me busy this summer.
J.A. Jance. I really like her characters in the Joanna Brady Mysteries and the J.P. Beaumont Mysteries.I have to ask a question, How can Harry Bosch be "tall and slim" and be a tunnel rat??
I see Harry as no taller than 5' 10" or 11". Ialso see him as a well built strong but compact. If Harry has curly hair who would know because he keeps it close cropped?
I like Chris Noth as an actor but he doesn't seem to me to be gritty enough.
Who ever it turns out to be they would have to be believable listening to Jazz and Tupac Shakur.
Now I am going to goggle the actors some of you have suggested. I hope one of them jumps out at me because I have racked my brains about this for years. Many of whom I once considered are too long in the tooth now, LOL
I am really enjoying the Jack Reacher series. Bad Luck & Trouble is set in LA and I just got to a part where Jack Reacher was being tailed by an LA detective and I thought, 'It'd be so awesome if it was Harry!' They'd make a great team!' But, sadly, no... sigh
Thank you all for your posts. I just posted in the Michael Connelly forums about book recommendations after Bosch.For me, Harry is special. He carries the pain of his mother's loss, the pain of his time in the orphanage, the pain of lost friends and colleagues, and the pain and sadness of so much cruelty and abuse in the world. But all of this only makes him quietly more determined to find truth and justice, to speak for the dead and abused, to fill his life with The Mission.
Add to that, Connelly's commentary ( see favourite quotes thread below ) on the deep reality of being human, and you have a truly special Author and Protagonist.
This is what I want, this is what I need, and yes - the TV series on Amazon are fantastic and wonderful.
I have tried many other authors, some whose first works are good but who rapidly fade by book #3 or #4 etc.
May I ask where I might find another character and author to even be 3/4 of what Harry and Michael are?
Recommendations please, as close as can be to the personna of Harry, and the human insight of Michael Connelly. Read these first, please.
see my Favourite Connelly Quotations thread in this group
Note: I have read/seen all the Wallander TV plus the BBC versions, mostly wonderful stuff. I have noted most of the authors you have all suggested here. Thank you
For complex Female lead Detective. I really enjoy J.D. Robb's in Death series. 
It's murder mystery, and romance. I skip over the sex scenes. I enjoy the mystery and character very much.
You might give Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series a shot. While Elvis is a PI and not a member of the police the majority of the novels are set in LA.
I read his Suspect, and it was very good. See my review
I was just wondering that, I started at the newest and working my way backwards, which I enjoy, well the bottom line is I have 11 left plus there will be some new ones coming out this year, and there are also some other Connoly books that are not Bosch. Also hoping for some more Lincoln Lawyer (Hayler).
I am not fond of law and courtroom stuffI always recommend reading series in order of publication, to see the characters develop, as well as the author
well that's me I don't follow the norm and I love the bantering of court rooms. Maybe I should have studied law.
I can't get enough of Harry Bosch. Enjoyed the series which I streamed through Netflix. 3 Seasons. Hope there will be more. Have you read Lawrence Sanders, The McNally Series? He's a playboy private eye. Makes me think of Kelsey Grammer
Hahaahahahaa Kelsey Grammer!
Actually, he does have the range to do it, perhaps
William wrote: "Hahaahahahaa Kelsey Grammer!
Actually, he does have the range to do it, perhaps"
Yes, it is funny! Glad you got a laugh. :)
Thanks for the link to NetGalley.comHadn't heard of this site
It's incredible. So many wonderful new books, early preview. But be prepared for often poor layout and typos, etc.
Ok. Thanks for the heads up on typos and such. Guess they don't take time to proofread and edit.
this is the mother of all questions 'what to read after harry bosch'over the last 3 month i read all 27 harry bosch, mickey haller, jack mcevoy books that are available in german - connelly in my opinion is really an outstanding author and no question deserves a pulitzer-prize.
at the moment i try to read lee childs first jack reacher - but i'm more than disappointed. the way he writes, the story and characters is so trashy and implausible - i'm not sure if i can manage to read the second half of the book without getting a brain freeze
so - please - are there other crime series one can can read after connelly without being sooo disappointed?
thanx in advance
tom
I found the Reacher books to be very uneven, especially the early publications Try these
Echo Burning #5, 4+ stars
Persuader #7, 4+ stars
The Enemy #8, 5 stars
One Shot #9, 5 stars
Gone Tomorrow #13, 4 stars
The Affair #16, 4+ stars
Never Go Back, #18, 5 stars
Personal, #19, 4 stars
Make Me, #20, 4 stars
Night School, #21, 4+ stars
The Midnight Line, #22, 5 stars
You can give a try to "The bat" of Joe Nesbo
It is not as good as Bosch but it is ok
It is not as good as Bosch but it is ok
William wrote: "I found the Reacher books to be very uneven, especially the early publications hi william,
thank you for the superfast response :)
that was one of the things i appreciate so much with connellys books. they were all on such a high level and none was disappointing ...
Eduardo wrote: "You can give a try to #The bat" of Joe NesboIt is not as good as Bosch but it is ok"
thanx eduardo - i'll have a look into those! the thing is i live in germany with all this grey and rainy weather and because of that i loved the californian sunshine in the connelly books too :)))
William wrote: "I found the Reacher books to be very uneven, especially the early publicationswilliam - i read your posts in this thread and saw how much you like harrys personality. i then had a look into your bookshelf and found that you haven't read those three books. i'm sure you will love the main characters too :)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
cheers
tom from bavaria/germany
Try Winslow:The Lost Hunters. Winslow thinks and solves the mystery much like Harry does but in a wilderness setting. The kindle sample is 45% of the book so you can get a good idea if you like it for free.
William wrote: "Thank you, Tom!"pleasure! and another not so well known crime series i liked a lot is andrea camilleris 'inspector montalbano series' - an italian inspector from sicily https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=in...
David wrote: "Try Winslow:The Lost Hunters. Winslow thinks and solves the mystery much like Harry does but in a wilderness setting. The kindle sample is 45% of the book so you can get a good idea if you like it ..."thank you david! in my understanding this is just one book - not a series and what i found there is no german translation up to now?
I love C.J. Box's highway quartet. It's a rural setting in Montana and North Dakota but Box really knows his territory and it feels real. You can see the location. The characters are good too.The first book in the quartet is Back of Beyond Back Of Beyond
C.J. Box
... sadly c.j. box books aren't available in german :(
Have you read the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child? He's very hard boiled like Bosch.
i tried to read the first book but lee childs prose is like from an untalented 16 year boy from middle-school ...
TomMuc wrote: "this is the mother of all questions 'what to read after harry bosch'over the last 3 month i read all 27 harry bosch, mickey haller, jack mcevoy books that are available in german - connelly in my..."
I remember liking the Arkady Renko series by Martin Cruz Smith as being very good. Like Harry he needs to solve every murder and office politics is just one obstacle that has to be overcome. Of course it is set in Moscow so you can feel perversely happy about it being even colder!
Renko was great. I read through the book set in Havana
The modern noir Sirens by Joseph Knox is 10-stars fabulous. As good as anything by Chandler. And followed by his The Smiling Man, also 10 stars.
William wrote: "The modern noir Sirens by Joseph Knox is 10-stars fabulous. As good as anything by Chandler. And followed by his The Smiling Man, also 10 stars."It looks interesting William. I put it on hold at my library and will check it out. Thanks for the tip.
Those who love Harry Bosch!
Books mentioned in this topic
No Middle Name: The Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories (other topics)Back of Beyond (other topics)
Naked in Death (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
C.J. Box (other topics)Harlan Coben (other topics)
Jo Nesbø (other topics)
I am looking for LA stuff in particular since I have partly grown up there. I would be very thankful for good recommendations!
Please note: I mostly listen to books downloaded from Audible.
Thank you very much!