An American author of crime novels.
Michael Connelly is one of the authors whose books I've been reading very often, but somehow he is not very famous except in a very small crime novels community. I don't even remember how I got into his novels many years ago, but it might have been at an airport bookshop, because they usually have his latest book in stock.
His novels are usually set in Los Angeles, in the world of police investigations and journalism. This doesn't come as a surprise when looking at Connelly's background: He was a journalist covering the crime cases, first in Florida and then in California. He started writing fiction, and has written more than 30 novels so far, with more than 60 million copies sold worldwide.
His heroes are numerous, but the most famous one is Harry Bosch, the lead detective in a number of cases. He is a kind of modern Sherlock Holmes in L.A., solving cases with his brilliant mind and following his instincts, while making enemies everywhere due to his stubborn behaviour. He always fights for the week and vulnerable, and is never afraid to pick a fight with political figures and influential figures in the LAPD. His novels are thrilling, suspenseful and at the same time also often funny. Great for a holiday novel or a distraction from being stuck at home.
There is a number of great novels, but if you're new to the world of Connelly I recommend starting with an early Bosch novel or one introducing one of his other protagonists. Here are a few suggestions:
If you prefer checking out the world of Michael Connelly on the screen, there are two good films and a series (on Amazon) that is still ongoing:
Blood Work (2002) by and with Clint Eastwood
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) with Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Philippe
Bosch (2014-) with Titus Welliver and Lance Reddick
A TV series based on The Lincoln Lawyer is actually in pre-production, so there will be more from the world of Michael Connelly in the future.
(Images: IMDB)