City of BonesCity of Bones
Score Modern
What it's about
On New Year's Day, a dog finds a bone in the Hollywood Hills, unearthing a murder committed more than twenty years earlier. For Harry Bosch, the cold case stirs memories of his own childhood as an orphan, and he can't let it go, even as a romance with a rookie cop complicates his present.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar Award finalist. Many readers consider it one of the best Bosch novels.
You'll love it if you liked
The Black Box
The Burning Room
The DropGood to know
It works on its own, but the series is best in order.
By the numbers
- Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #283 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #920 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1707 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Michael Connelly
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Brass Verdict
The Crossing
The Law of InnocenceIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
Gideon the NinthExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is City of Bones worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #1,707 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is City of Bones about?
On New Year's Day, a dog finds a bone in the Hollywood Hills, unearthing a murder committed more than twenty years earlier. For Harry Bosch, the cold case stirs memories of his own childhood as an orphan, and he can't let it go, even as a romance with a rookie cop complicates his present.
How long does it take to read City of Bones?
About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after City of Bones?
If you liked it, try The Black Box by Michael Connelly, The Burning Room by Michael Connelly or The Drop by Michael Connelly.