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Harry Bosch #26
The Hollow
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26When Harry Bosch was eleven years old, his mother was murdered and he became a ward of the state, housed in MacLaren Children's Center, a notorious facility where abuse was rampant. Decades after its closure, a massive class action lawsuit has resulted in a multibillion-dollar settlement for former residents. But when Bosch's half-brother, defense attorney Mickey Haller, brings him word that Harry is entitled to $400,000, Bosch says he doesn't want the money. He wants justice.
News of the settlement awakens his memories of a place he had hoped never to revisit, and a boy named Chops, a fellow inmate who wound up dead. Chops's body was found in a hidden space under a staircase that the staff used to discipline their charges. The kids knew it only as "the hollow." But Chops's death was covered up and never solved. Now Bosch knows he must reopen the investigation and learn the truth, even if the killer is long dead.
As Bosch digs into the files, he picks up the trail of a predator who not only survived, but went on to a life of vicious crime. Forced to face a history that both scarred him and launched him on his mission as a cop, Bosch must bring down a sadistic criminal and finally put to rest the demons of his past.
News of the settlement awakens his memories of a place he had hoped never to revisit, and a boy named Chops, a fellow inmate who wound up dead. Chops's body was found in a hidden space under a staircase that the staff used to discipline their charges. The kids knew it only as "the hollow." But Chops's death was covered up and never solved. Now Bosch knows he must reopen the investigation and learn the truth, even if the killer is long dead.
As Bosch digs into the files, he picks up the trail of a predator who not only survived, but went on to a life of vicious crime. Forced to face a history that both scarred him and launched him on his mission as a cop, Bosch must bring down a sadistic criminal and finally put to rest the demons of his past.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Michael Connelly
542 books36.6k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.
After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.
After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.
Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .
Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance copy for review purposes.
Five stars.
Harry Bosch is back in this dark crime thriller from Michael Connelly, and I very much welcome it. This is an excellent book.
Over 60 years ago, Harry Bosch spent some of his childhood in a notorious children’s home. One of his fellow inmates was murdered, but nobody was ever caught. Bosch is determined to find out who killed him. His investigations lead to him stumbling into an active FBI case, an organisation with which he has a complicated history, and Bosch must navigate his way through a politically sensitive investigation.
This is another fantastic addition to the Harry Bosch series, and unlike recent books, the focus is fully back on Harry this time. There are cameos from Renee Ballard and Mickey Haller, but this is very much a Bosch novel, and that makes me happy. Harry has had a few health issues recently, and had just had knee replacement surgery which slows him down a bit, but his mind is as sharp as ever, and he is on top form here (as is the author).
As always, the characters in the story, both old and new, are really well drawn out, and even for long standing characters, there are always new things revealed and new layers uncovered.
I love how Michael Connelly plots and writes. His stories are a bit like jigsaw puzzles. He starts with different pieces of information that seem random, but then a connection is found between two pieces, and then those link to other pieces. From a reader point of view, I find it immensely satisfying as everything methodically comes together to form a final resolution.
Very highly recommended. This is the second Michael Connelly book of the year - Ironwood, set on Catalina Island but in the same universe, is also excellent. Not many other authors can produce two five star books in a year.
You might like this if you like Ian Rankin, Peter James, Lin Anderson or Steve Cavanagh.
Five stars.
Harry Bosch is back in this dark crime thriller from Michael Connelly, and I very much welcome it. This is an excellent book.
Over 60 years ago, Harry Bosch spent some of his childhood in a notorious children’s home. One of his fellow inmates was murdered, but nobody was ever caught. Bosch is determined to find out who killed him. His investigations lead to him stumbling into an active FBI case, an organisation with which he has a complicated history, and Bosch must navigate his way through a politically sensitive investigation.
This is another fantastic addition to the Harry Bosch series, and unlike recent books, the focus is fully back on Harry this time. There are cameos from Renee Ballard and Mickey Haller, but this is very much a Bosch novel, and that makes me happy. Harry has had a few health issues recently, and had just had knee replacement surgery which slows him down a bit, but his mind is as sharp as ever, and he is on top form here (as is the author).
As always, the characters in the story, both old and new, are really well drawn out, and even for long standing characters, there are always new things revealed and new layers uncovered.
I love how Michael Connelly plots and writes. His stories are a bit like jigsaw puzzles. He starts with different pieces of information that seem random, but then a connection is found between two pieces, and then those link to other pieces. From a reader point of view, I find it immensely satisfying as everything methodically comes together to form a final resolution.
Very highly recommended. This is the second Michael Connelly book of the year - Ironwood, set on Catalina Island but in the same universe, is also excellent. Not many other authors can produce two five star books in a year.
You might like this if you like Ian Rankin, Peter James, Lin Anderson or Steve Cavanagh.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is absolutely my favourite book series. When Michael Connelly retired Harry Bosch from the LAPD in 2014 I was worried that the series would come to an end. 12 years later, this is a stunning book, I loved it!
In this novel we are taken back to Harry's time in a notorious children's home, Maclaren, in the 1960s. In the current timeline, Harry picks up a cold case investigation of a murder at Maclaren of a childhood friend. Of course it's not as simple as that, a breakthrough in the case gets him involved with a taskforce looking at a much bigger investigation involving stolen weapons.
I loved the dual timeline aspect of this book. I have been reading about Harry Bosch for many years, so to get a bit more of his back story is always a good thing. I like that the author explained that some of the things I would have assumed were fictional, were actually real and factual.
I liked the crossover with other Michael Connelly characters. The Lincoln Lawyer has a cameo role and Ballard is there throughout much of the narrative.
This was a great crime thriller read - fast paced, topical, lots of twists and turns - and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre (but read the rest of the series first!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this novel we are taken back to Harry's time in a notorious children's home, Maclaren, in the 1960s. In the current timeline, Harry picks up a cold case investigation of a murder at Maclaren of a childhood friend. Of course it's not as simple as that, a breakthrough in the case gets him involved with a taskforce looking at a much bigger investigation involving stolen weapons.
I loved the dual timeline aspect of this book. I have been reading about Harry Bosch for many years, so to get a bit more of his back story is always a good thing. I like that the author explained that some of the things I would have assumed were fictional, were actually real and factual.
I liked the crossover with other Michael Connelly characters. The Lincoln Lawyer has a cameo role and Ballard is there throughout much of the narrative.
This was a great crime thriller read - fast paced, topical, lots of twists and turns - and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre (but read the rest of the series first!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
‘The Hollow’, by Michael Connelly, is the latest Harry Bosch thriller .The main man may be officially retired as a Detective yet he refuses to simply rest easy while there’s honest work still to be done in the search for the truth.Despite the real challenges of aging his instincts and drive remain as strong as ever.
There are still some open unsolved investigations for him that dig deep into his soul’s desire to achieve resolution in the memory of the victims.
The intense personal trauma of his time as an orphaned boy spent in the horrendous MacLaren institution combined with freshly jolted memories of the very poorly investigated murder of a close friend he met there ,inspires him to seek justice despite the gap of so many years.
The at times intertwining complex investigations including criminal activities from the more distant past and the present make this feel like one of the most compelling Bosch stories ever,as he ensures no valuable time is wasted despite the passing decades.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group , for an Advance Readers Copy for review.
There are still some open unsolved investigations for him that dig deep into his soul’s desire to achieve resolution in the memory of the victims.
The intense personal trauma of his time as an orphaned boy spent in the horrendous MacLaren institution combined with freshly jolted memories of the very poorly investigated murder of a close friend he met there ,inspires him to seek justice despite the gap of so many years.
The at times intertwining complex investigations including criminal activities from the more distant past and the present make this feel like one of the most compelling Bosch stories ever,as he ensures no valuable time is wasted despite the passing decades.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group , for an Advance Readers Copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For a few years before and after his mother was murdered Harry Bosch was a ward of state and lived at the MacLaren Children's Centre. The Centre was notorious for the abuse and mistreatment of the children housed there. Following a class action lawsuit settlement Harry is in line for a huge pay out; but tells his lawyer, his brother Mickey Haller, that he's not interested in the money - he just wants justice. While Harry was housed at MacLaren he became friends with another inmate, Charles Lamb, who was known as Chops. Charles was killed while at the Centre and his murder was covered up; now Harry wants to reopen the investigation and find out who the killer was. The investigation brings back bad memories for Harry but he persists and finds himself investigating a fellow inmate who is now head of a large organised crime organisation.
This was, as is usual in this series, a great read. Loved reading about Harry's back story and how the story contained some information from true crimes that occurred in Los Angeles.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Orion Publishing Group and Michael Connelly for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This was, as is usual in this series, a great read. Loved reading about Harry's back story and how the story contained some information from true crimes that occurred in Los Angeles.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Orion Publishing Group and Michael Connelly for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Readers are in for a treat when they manage to acquire a copy of Michael Connelly's latest work. Somehow the maestro manages to complete up to two books a year featuring a combination of Bosch, Haller, Ballard and Stilwell and the standard never dips.
The books are brilliantly plotted, exciting and provide a wonderful feel of time and place.
This is no exception as Harry Bosch attempts to solve a murder that has haunted him since he was a young boy in care. He ends up involved with the FBI and they do not make easy bedmates given the history between them but eventually all comes good.
Bosch is as opinionated and maverick as ever but at 75 he is slowing up and the author is brilliant in the way he depicts his growing infirmities and how Bosch is attempting to cope with them. I am pleased that Bosch is axing - if not gracefully - but in real time, and this makes for a book that is just as good as its predecessors - in other words it is outstanding.
The books are brilliantly plotted, exciting and provide a wonderful feel of time and place.
This is no exception as Harry Bosch attempts to solve a murder that has haunted him since he was a young boy in care. He ends up involved with the FBI and they do not make easy bedmates given the history between them but eventually all comes good.
Bosch is as opinionated and maverick as ever but at 75 he is slowing up and the author is brilliant in the way he depicts his growing infirmities and how Bosch is attempting to cope with them. I am pleased that Bosch is axing - if not gracefully - but in real time, and this makes for a book that is just as good as its predecessors - in other words it is outstanding.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another absolutely stellar story from Michael Connelly in the Bosch universe as the now retired Harry Bosch, upon finding out that he entitled to compensation for his time spent in a boys home where a pattern of abuse occurred, relives and rekindles old memories of his time there and the unsolved murder of his friend in that institution.
Determined to have one last look at it he soon crosses paths with the FBI and the mob and gets embroiled in a very dangerous world where he will have to tread carefully if he wants to stay alive.
Told in different timelines both in the present and the past in the boys home, but also in his early days in the police force, The Hollow is a tour de force of a book. Great characters, great storytelling and great pacing, I have nothing negative to say about it.
Connelly again proves he stands alone in the genre. A master story teller with characters to match.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC through Netgalley.
Determined to have one last look at it he soon crosses paths with the FBI and the mob and gets embroiled in a very dangerous world where he will have to tread carefully if he wants to stay alive.
Told in different timelines both in the present and the past in the boys home, but also in his early days in the police force, The Hollow is a tour de force of a book. Great characters, great storytelling and great pacing, I have nothing negative to say about it.
Connelly again proves he stands alone in the genre. A master story teller with characters to match.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC through Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Using a class action settlement brought by Mickey Haller as the catalyst, Michael Connelly weaves in Harry’s past at the MacLaren Children’s Center with the present day. Having Harry refuse the payout because he'd rather get justice for Chops in "the hollow" at MacLaren is so classic Harry Bosch. He truly never lets a case go. Using Harry’s early days at against a present-day case adds so much emotion. It gives everything he does, that stubborn drive to get justice for the forgotten a deeper foundation. His "everybody counts or nobody counts" mentality was forged in "the hollow".
I love Harry and we get to “see” most of the gang, Harry, Renée Ballard, Maddie, and Mickey, in this book. I read this book in two sittings (life required me to participate or it would have been 1 sitting). The book is dedicated to those who survived MacLaren (yes a real place and was shut down, and there was a lawsuit), and seeing that pulled on my heartstrings.
I love Harry and we get to “see” most of the gang, Harry, Renée Ballard, Maddie, and Mickey, in this book. I read this book in two sittings (life required me to participate or it would have been 1 sitting). The book is dedicated to those who survived MacLaren (yes a real place and was shut down, and there was a lawsuit), and seeing that pulled on my heartstrings.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bosch is back and though he’s no longer a detective, his ethos of “everybody counts or nobody counts”remains true as he tries to help solve the cold case of a fallen friend from his youth. Harry, now in his mid 70s, is ever as cunning, crafty, and a step ahead - albeit with a new knee - than the suspects he’s chasing.
Michael Connelly is one of the few authors whose work is consistently compelling stories and The Hollow is no exception.
Michael Connelly is one of the few authors whose work is consistently compelling stories and The Hollow is no exception.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another excellent Bosch installment that dives deeper into the character's backstory. Many cameos from other Bosch universe characters that will appeal to both readers and viewers of the many TV series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews