Michael Connelly (b. 21 July 1956, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an author of detective novels, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, named after the Dutch painter of fantasy and horror. The Black Echo, the first book featuring Bosch, won the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992.
Connelly has written other books outside the Bosch series, including The Poet, Void Moon, Chasing the Dime, Blood Work, and The Scarecrow (though each has later been linked to the continuity of Bosch's world), as well as the five novels currently making up a series about Bosch's half-brother, Los Angeles attorney Mickey Haller. Blood Work was made into a 2002 movie directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. In 2006, The Lincoln Lawyer was selected as one of ten books to feature in Richard & Judy's televised book club, and was adapted into a film starring Matthew McConaughey.
Connelly is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1980. After graduation, he worked as a journalist in Daytona Beach, Florida and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1986 he co-authored an article which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize. Consequently, Connelly was offered a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Connelly has also written for television, co-creating the television series Level 9 for UPN with John Sacret Young and penning two episodes: "Mail Call" and "DefCon." In the Fall of 2013, Connelly co-scripted the pilot episode of Bosch along with Eric Overmyer. He later co-wrote the teleplays for four episodes of the first season: "`Tis the Season" (with Overmyer), "Fugazi" (with George Pelecanos), and "Us and Them" (with Terrill Lee Lankford).
Bibliography
Awards
Connelly has won the following literary awards:
- Edgar Award, 1st Novel (The Black Echo)
- Dylis Award (The Last Coyote, The Poet)
- Anthony Award (The Poet, Blood Work, City of Bones, The Brass Verdict)
- Nero Award (The Poet)
- Barry Award (Trunk Music, City of Bones)
- Macavity Awards (Blood Work, The Lincoln Lawyer)
- Shamus Award (The Lincoln Lawyer)
- LA Times Book Prize (Echo Park)
- Grand Prix (Blood Work)
- Premio Bancarella (Angels Flight)
- Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction (The Fifth Witness)
- RBA International Prize for Crime Writing (The Black Box)
Appearances
On 21 September 2009, Connelly appeared as himself in the second season premier of Castle, "Deep In Death." He later made a second appearance on 17 May 2010 in the second season finale, "A Deadly Game," and a third appearance on 11 April 2011 in the third season episode "The Dead Pool." Connelly has appeared alongside fellow authors James Patterson, Stephen J. Cannell, and Dennis Lehane as one of novelist Richard Castle's poker buddies.
On 6 February 2014, Connelly appeared in a wordless cameo role as an arrested Santa Claus in the pilot episode of the streaming Amazon series Bosch.