BOOK REVIEW: THE LINCOLN LAWYER

If someone had not left a copy of Michael Connelly’s THE LINCOLN LAWYER in our vacation condo, I would have missed out on an exciting read.

Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car.  His practice takes him all over the city of Los Angeles, defending drug dealers, drunk drivers, con artists, prostitutes, bikers, and the like. For Mickey it is not about guilt or innocence, it is about manipulation and the bottom line---money.

He is beginning to think that he has lost his ability to recognize actual innocence. When he is hired by a wealthy playboy accused of attacking a woman that he picked up in a bar, Mickey feels that this may be the one. This might be his “franchise case”, enough evidence to get his client off, a client worth a large amount of money, and the chance at more clients from wealthy Beverly Hills.

After someone very close to him is murdered, Mickey finds himself facing real evil and he must use all of his instincts and talents as a lawyer to protect himself and his family.

What follows is page after page of plot twists, action, and courtroom drama at its best. I was hooked enough to stay up until 3:00 a.m. to find out what happens.

This was the first Michael Connelly book that I have read and I am glad that it was THE LINCOLN LAWYER. The author leaves the door open for future stories involving Mickey Haller and the colorful characters around him. For me to continue with a series, the main characters have to capture my interest and this book was full of well done, interesting characters; I want to learn more about them.