Criminal defense attorney Michael Haller is cool, cocky, quick-witted, and takes his clients wallets to the cleaners while defending them, yet with his over bearing confidence (and a few tricks up his sleeve) the repeat offenders come back to him time and again. Michael’s father was a legend in law and left Michael with this advice:
“The scariest client a lawyer will ever have is an innocent client. Because if you screw up and he goes to prison, it’ll scar you for life.”
When rich kid Louis Roulet requests Michael as his lawyer, Michael is thrilled as this is going to add significantly to his bank roll. All he has to do is get Louis off and Louis seems to be a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, an innocent guy. Yet as the holes get bigger and bigger in Louis’ story, Mickeys defense is ripped to shreds. As Michael tries to find a way to bury the proof, to bring in enough of a gray area to cause reasonable doubt, he starts to get a few reasonable doubts of his own.
I have not read Michael Connelly in quite a while. He writes like John Grisham but with more of an edge to his books…
AND in this case…. I went to the movie with hubby (his pick) LOVED the movie… had to read the book.
Good grief – that is the second time I have done this recently.
I have to say – this audio blew me away just as much as the movie and I have to add that Matthew McConaughey is a perfect Michael Haller. As I listened to the audio I thought, “this is so a McConaughley role”…. cocky self assured…. yup.
And author Michael Connelly (not to be confused with Michael Haller or Michael McConaughey – yes… a LOT OF Michael’s in this review) writes a compelling, clean and not gory mystery that left me high on the “WOW” factor. Well written characters, I loved the twists and the turns and recommend both book and movie.
Note about the movie: Ryan Phillippe plays the rich Louis Roulet and he is cast perfectly too…. he gives off an arrogant vibe and does creepy well.
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include Lincoln Lawyer
I grabbed this little jewel of an audio from my local library
Book Journey 
I always have to read the book before watching the movie, you can ruin a movie, but you can’t ruin a book.
I agree with you Kristin…. I dont know why but I would have never thought to read this book even though I like Connelly as an author. I think … (and this is soooo shallow) it is the title. It sounds very Grisham…. who I also enjoy, but find him a bit light.
Terrific review Sheila!!
I have been eyeing this book for quite a while now. I learned of the movie first and then discovered the book. Looking forward to both!!!
I did not even know it was a book until I seen the movie come out. 😛
I’ve seen and LOVED the movie…haven’t read the book yet. Haven’t read anything by Michael Connelly…I was afraid that he might be like some of the other male authors that I haven’t enjoyed…I won’t name them!
Now that’s probably unfair…I can think of some really awesome male writers, like Tom Perrotta (Little Children, The Abstinence Teacher, and NOW, coming soon…The Leftovers). I also enjoy Jonathan Kellerman’s books.
And there are more….
I may have to read this one.
I have read neither of these authors… I know… how I have never read Kellerman I do not know…. just has not happened.
I read the book right before seeing the movie and liked the book better, but totally agree with you that Matthew McConaughey is perfect as Mickey!
As I listen to the audio Kathy I do have to laugh because it is easy to picture Matthew M as this character.
I think this book has my interested in reading Connelly for the first time. I usually like Grisham …
I have spent many years reading Grisham but nothing recently except a few years back he had the non fiction come out…. about the gut wrongfully accused.
So how many Connellys have you read?
Not many – Nine Dragons, The Scarecrow (a bit creepy), I think maybe another one but can not think of what it was…
I think I remember a couple blog reviews of The Scarecrow. But creepy isn’t really what I look for.
Right – creepy isnt really my thing any more…. (used to be in my teens – loved to be scared) I can not remember what is was now – I had listened to that one on audio and while the mystery was really good…. I remember something creeped me out.
I want to read and watch this one too…thanks for the fun post!
Yes and Yes Staci – experience them both 😀
I’m so eager to read this book and to see the movie as well. Terrific review!
Thanks Beth 😀
I love Michael Connelly’s novels and have added this one to my list of must reads. Thanks for your review.
Steve
I bet you will like this one Steve… I am super impressed with it.