This is the book in which Michael Connelly introduced Michael Haller, a lawyer who works out of an "office" in the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car as he navigates the various courtrooms that dot Los Angeles County. Connelly got the idea for the character in a chance meeting at a Dodgers baseball game when he sat next to an attorney who did exactly that.Mickey Haller is a bright guy who works all of the angles. Mostly he represents drug dealers, prostitutes and other low-lifes, but except for the very occasional pro bono case, he takes only those clients who can afford the price of his services. And like all criminal attorneys, he has his eye out for the "franchise" case--the one that can pay him humongous fees.He believes he's found such a case when he's asked to defend Louis Roulet, the son of a wealthy family and of a mother who will do anything--and pay anything--to save her son from jail. Roulet is accused of assaulting a woman he met at a bar. Like all of Mickey's clients, he claims to be innocent. Specifically, he claims that the victim hit him over the head, beat herself up (or had someone else do it) and then planted evidence that would point the finger at Roulet so that after the criminal trial she could sue him for big bucks in civil court.The case quickly turns into something much more complicated and sinister than it originally appeared. Haller suddenly understands that genuine evil is present in this case, and he finds himself in an impossible situation. Watching him confront the case and attempt to produce a satisfactory conclusion is great fun. Haller, who has two ex-wives and a small daughter, all of whom still love him, is a very appealing character, which is doubtless why Connelly has turned him into a series character and why Hollywood jumped at the chance to make a movie of the book. Connelly proves himself to be as adept at writing legal thrillers as he is at writing more traditional crime fiction, and it's hard to imagine that any reader who likes either would not enjoy this book.*SPOILER ALERT* Do not read beyond this point if you want to read the book or see the movie without knowing the ending in advance.I first read this book several years ago when it was initially released, and I wanted to read it again before seeing the movie. Although Matthew McConaughey does not look remotely like the Mickey Haller I imagined in the book, he's very good in the role and after watching the movie for forty-five minutes or so, I readily accepted him as Mickey Haller. In fact, everyone in the movie is very good, particularly Marisa Tomei who plays one of Haller's ex-wives. The movie is as much fun as the book. I don't remember my initial reaction to the book's ending but while it's very exciting, both in the book and on the screen, it's hopelessly implausible and really makes no sense at all.Essentially what has happened is that Haller discovers that his client, Roulet, is actually guilty of the murder of a woman who was killed some years earlier. Haller defended the man accused of the murder and the evidence was stacked so heavily against him that Haller convinced the client to plead guilty to the crime as a way of getting a life sentence instead of the death penalty. Haller is furious when he discovers the truth and rigs the situation so that he gets Roulet acquitted on the assault charge but sets him up to be arrested for the original murder, thus freeing the former client from San Quentin.How he manages to do this makes great theater, but in the real world it couldn't possibly happen. The fact is that the police and the D.A. have a killer in prison who has confessed to the murder and who had a mountain of evidence that proved his guilt. The thought that they would ignore all of that and arrest and prosecute Roulet for the crime is laughable, especially based upon the flimsy evidence against Roulet that Haller has uncovered. One wishes that the justice system would work that fairly--that in a case like this the police and prosecutors would recognize their mistake and repair it--but sadly that's not the way the world works. All too often you read about some poor schmuck who's been railroaded into prison for a crime he probably did not commit--as often as not after a coerced confession--and then later someone else comes along and actually confesses to the crime. Even in such an extreme case, it practically takes an act of God to get the first guy exonerated, and often it doesn't ever happen. The thought that the police and D.A. would turn on a dime and act as they do at the end of this book and movie makes you shake your head.Some other equally implausible things happen at the end of the book and especially at the end of the movie, but still, if you can suspend disbelief, both are fun rides. I've enjoyed the subsequent Mickey Haller books, and I would happily see another Mickey Haller movie if it were done as well as this one.
I don't know where I will go or what cases will be mine. I just know I will be healed and ready to stand once again in the world without truth. This is my very first 5-star rating of 2015. I've finally found a novel(in 2015) that entertained me throughout the novel. No slow moments anywhere, and the ending was superb. Characters were really likable and fully developed in the end. Mickey Haller is my favorite attorney, in novels at least.This was my very first legal-crime novel, and I am ashamed to say that. Medicine and law are my favorite professions. I am currently taking up premed, but I chose between premed and prelaw in my senior year in high school. I ended up choosing medicine, but I'm still very much interested in law. Everything about those two keeps my interest no matter what I'm reading or watching. I've seen House M.D, Miami Medical(Not known well), Suits, How To Get Away With Murder, Law & Order, NCIS, and many more. All of those include at least medicine or law related plots, and all of those are among my favorite tv shows. To talk about novels though, I've only read a lot of Patterson and some Crichton novels. I haven't ventured enough to be able to say that this is the best legal-crime novel that I've read. Clearly I've yet to try hundreds more (special mention to Grisham). For now though, I have to say that this novel was fucking amazing.Mickey Haller was completely immersing. His motherfucker-I'm-an-asshole attitude was really entertaining. Lawyers are most of the time perceived like that, and I was introduced to the asshole kind years ago. I don't want to read about a saint of a lawyer, because that would be devastatingly boring. When it comes to the law genre, the asshole is needed. He proved to be a genuine asshole, and not the pretentious trying hard kind. He knew how the system worked, and manipulation was the key. And now to talk briefly of the other characters. Roulet was the accused in this novel, and he appeared weak and loser like in the beginning, but he changed throughout the novel. He was a bit annoying, but that was necessary for the novel. To be honest I actually liked the judge a lot. She was not even a major character, but I enjoyed the scenes in the near end. Before reading this I thought that plot would be predictable and boring, but boy was I wrong. Speculations were going haywire inside my head, but none of them happened. The ending caught me completely off guard and my heartbeat was a bit faster in the last 30 pages. I was even expecting a bad ending (because I've been reading a few lately), but the ending here was amazing. Complete closure from the novel, even though this is the first book of a series. Some authors would gimmick-ly write a huge cliffhanger for the readers to continue on with the series, but Connelly didn't do that. I commend him for that, because as awesome as this first book was, there would be no problem with the continuing on with the series problem that most authors blindly give to the readers. All I can say is that get your expectations straight. This is a legal-crime novel. Don't expect to read about something else other than what the author promised. For courtroom drama fans, this would appeal to you guys. I'll repeat my statement that this was my very first legal-crime novel, so I didn't find this one predictable and reused in terms of plot. I obviously haven't read a plot similar to this before, so the result was complete satisfaction.5/5 stars. Truly deserving and I will continue on with the series soon. Courtroom drama is amazing as long as executed correctly.
What do You think about The Lincoln Lawyer (2015)?
Suzanne wrote: "I thought as I commented we haven't chatted for a while. I'm on a lot. Will have to take more care. Too many books to look at here, I bet you'd agree!"Absolutely! I have a quiet determination to do something about my TBR list this years. lol. I will probably read more books than I will take time to review, but it has to get addressed. :-) Great to see you!
—Margitte
Okay...so I'm surprised. I like this book. I picked it up out of curiosity and frankly don't even recall what it was that caused me that curiosity. But, I've found a good book and plan to go on to the next in the series.This book is about a man who in many ways is nothing like me. I don't like the kind of music he likes. I probably would never espouse the belief and "ethical" system he does (view spoiler)[ though he does find himself rethinking parts of it later in the book (hide spoiler)]
—Mike (the Paladin)
A taught, courtroom drama with a flawed anti-hero at its heart. This was an engaging page-turner. The genre and writing style remind me of Grisham, but the main character (Mickey Haller) is much more flawed than most of Grisham's characters. Connelly does a great job of creating and building suspense efficiently and then rushing to a sudden and somewhat unexpected ending.Connelly clearly had a story to tell and one of my favorite things about the book is that he proceeded with effiency and directness to complete the tale. In some light fiction, the story lines take long detours into character analysis and down false paths slowly winding their way to a conclusion. With a good writer, I often enjoy the journey. But every once in a while you come across an author who you sense has a specific story to tell, a clear path to a conclusion and a desire to lead the reader efficiently to the end. That was this book. It is the first time that I've read Connelly so I don't know if all of his books are this way, but I enjoyed the directness of purpose he showed in telling this story. A good story efficiently and thrilling told. I recommend this.
—Michael Johnston
