Double The Thrills: Michael Connelly's TWO Explosive New Books For 2025 Revealed

Crime fiction fans, prepare for an unprecedented year: Michael Connelly, the master of the modern procedural, is set to release not one, but *two* major novels in 2025, promising a thrilling expansion of his literary universe. This double-barreled release schedule for the upcoming year confirms Connelly’s relentless pace and his commitment to developing both his iconic characters and introducing fresh, compelling voices to the genre. As of December 13, 2025, the highly anticipated titles are officially confirmed, with one featuring the return of a fan-favorite lawyer and the other launching a brand-new series.

The two books—one a late spring release, the other a major fall event—will showcase Connelly's versatility, moving from the high-stakes courtroom drama of the Lincoln Lawyer to an atmospheric, brand-new setting with a new protagonist. This deep dive provides all the essential details, including titles, release dates, and the intriguing new plotlines that will dominate the crime thriller landscape in 2025.

Michael Connelly: A Brief Biography & Literary Profile

• Full Name: Michael Joseph Connelly
• Born: July 21, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Education: University of Florida (Journalism).
• Career Start: Began as a crime reporter for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and later the Los Angeles Times. His experience covering the LAPD and the city’s complex criminal justice system heavily influenced his fiction.
• Debut Novel: The Black Echo (1992), which introduced Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch.
• Key Characters: Harry Bosch (LAPD Detective), Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer, Bosch's half-brother), Renée Ballard (LAPD Detective, Bosch's protégé), Jack McEvoy (Crime Reporter), and Cassie Black (Thief).
• Major Awards: Edgar Award, Macavity Award, Anthony Award, and the CWA Diamond Dagger.
• Literary Style: Known for his meticulously researched police procedurals, legal thrillers, and a strong sense of place, particularly Los Angeles. His novels often explore themes of justice, morality, and the long-term impact of crime.
• Adaptations: His work has been adapted into the successful Amazon streaming series Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, as well as the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer.

The Two Major Michael Connelly Books Scheduled for 2025

For dedicated readers of the Bosch Universe, 2025 will be a landmark year, not only for the sheer volume of new material but also for the introduction of a completely fresh narrative thread. Connelly is effectively doubling down, giving fans a classic legal thriller while simultaneously launching a new series with a new cop in a new setting.

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1. *Nightshade* (A Catalina Novel #1): The Spring Launch

The first major release of the year marks a significant departure for the author, as he shifts the focus away from the familiar streets of Los Angeles to the seemingly idyllic, yet deeply complex, world of Catalina Island. This novel is not a traditional Harry Bosch or Mickey Haller crossover, but the beginning of a brand-new series, promising a new protagonist and a unique atmosphere.

Key Details for *Nightshade*

• Publication Date: May 20, 2025.
• Series: A Catalina Novel, Book 1.
• Protagonist: A new, unnamed cop character. The book description teases a new detective relentlessly following his mission in the Catalina Island setting.
• Topical Authority Focus: The novel is expected to leverage the unique setting of Catalina Island—a small, insular community off the coast of Southern California—to explore crimes where everyone knows everyone, heightening the tension and paranoia. This change of scenery will offer a fresh perspective on the procedural genre that Connelly has mastered.
• LSI Keywords: Catalina Island crime, new Connelly detective, procedural thriller, island mystery, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (likely jurisdiction).

The introduction of a new cop and a new location in *Nightshade* is a bold move that speaks to Connelly's desire to keep his writing fresh and exploratory. Fans of the atmospheric and tightly-plotted standalone novels, like *The Poet*, will likely find this new series a compelling addition to the author’s body of work.

2. *The Proving Ground* (The Lincoln Lawyer, #8): The Blockbuster Fall Return

The second, and traditionally larger, fall release brings back one of Michael Connelly’s most beloved and commercially successful characters: Mickey Haller, the defense attorney who works out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car. *The Proving Ground* is the eighth installment in the core Lincoln Lawyer series, and it tackles a highly relevant, cutting-edge topic: the intersection of artificial intelligence and criminal justice.

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Key Details for *The Proving Ground*

• Publication Date: October 21, 2025.
• Series: The Lincoln Lawyer, Book 8.
• Protagonist: Mickey Haller.
• Plot: Haller takes on a high-profile case defending a tech company whose artificial intelligence product is implicated in the murder of a teenage girl. The novel will explore the legal and ethical complexities of assigning culpability when an algorithm is involved in a death.
• Topical Authority Focus: This book directly addresses the contemporary debate surrounding AI ethics, corporate responsibility, and the difficulty of applying established legal frameworks to futuristic technology. It promises to be Connelly’s most relevant and compelling legal thriller of the decade, as it captures the courtroom drama of the digital age.
• LSI Keywords: Mickey Haller AI case, Lincoln Lawyer 2025, artificial intelligence murder, tech company lawsuit, courtroom thriller, legal ethics, Harry Bosch universe crossover (potential).

The return of Mickey Haller is always a major event, and the plot of *The Proving Ground* is perfectly timed. By pitting the old-school, street-smart lawyer against a cold, calculating AI company, Connelly sets the stage for a dramatic conflict that is both deeply personal and universally significant. While a direct crossover with Harry Bosch or Renée Ballard has not been confirmed for this specific novel, the interconnected nature of the Bosch Universe suggests that supporting characters may make appearances.

The Future of Harry Bosch and Renée Ballard

While 2025 is dominated by Mickey Haller and the new Catalina Island series, the enduring partnership of Harry Bosch and Detective Renée Ballard remains central to the Connelly canon. The previous novel, *The Waiting* (which had a release date in late 2024 or early 2025 depending on the source), continued their collaboration, with Bosch acting as Ballard's unofficial partner and mentor.

The absence of a dedicated Harry Bosch or Ballard novel in the fall of 2025 suggests that Connelly is strategically rotating his main characters. This ensures that each series gets time to breathe and that the narrative arcs for Bosch, Haller, and Ballard remain distinct and impactful.

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• Harry Bosch’s Status: The former LAPD detective continues his work as a private investigator, often consulting with Ballard on cold cases. His presence, whether in a cameo or as a background influence, is always felt across the shared universe of the books.
• Renée Ballard’s Role: As the inheritor of Bosch's legacy, Ballard is the future of the police procedural in the Connelly universe. Her next confirmed appearance is in the 2026 novel, *Ironwood*, which is listed as featuring her alongside the new detective from the *Nightshade* series.

Fans can be assured that while the spotlight shifts to Haller and the new Catalina cop in 2025, the overarching Bosch Universe continues to expand, setting the stage for even more complex character crossovers in 2026 and beyond. This careful planning solidifies Michael Connelly’s reputation as a master storyteller who manages multiple, interconnected narratives with seamless precision.