Book Nerds Across America: Michael Connelly

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Brass Verdict - By Michael Connelly

Jacque's Review:

The Brass Verdict is the second installment in the The Lincoln Lawyer series. When we left Mickey Haller at the end of The Lincoln Lawyer he was recovering form a gun shot wound to the abdomen. We learn at the beginning of this book that Haller took over a year off work to recover from his injuries and a resulting addiction to pain killers. He spent some time in rehab and has gotten his life back in order. He is planning a slow return to work when he is called into the office of the Chief Judge. Judge Holder tells him that his friend and colleague Jerry Vincent was murdered and that he was named in his will as the beneficiary of all of his cases. So much for his plans for a slow comeback. He now has over 30 active cases, one of which is a high profile murder case that is being billed as the case of the decade.

The detective that is investigating the murder of Mr. Vincent is none other than Harry Bosch, the lead character in another series written by Michael Connelly. Bosch and Haller work together to help solve Vincent's murder and eventually come to the realization that there is another link between them in addition to this case.

Haller tells us multiple times that everyone lies. "The cops lie, lawyers lie, witnesses lie, and the victims lie. A trial is a contest of lies and everybody knows this." He believes his high profile client Walter Elliot isn't telling him the whole story. Once Haller thinks he has it all figured out something else develops that completely changes his opinion of his client and the case. I never would have guessed how the ending played out.

I really enjoy Connelly's style of writing and the characters he has developed. I am constantly amazed by Mickey's brilliant and cunning legal skills and I can't wait to see what is in store for him both personally and professionally in The Reversal, which is the next book in the series. I think we will also have to include a Harry Bosch book in one of our future Sunday Mystery Corners to further explore his character. (Hint Hint.)

Flo's Review:

Michael Connelly wants to kill me, y'all. Granted, I don't read a lot of legal thrillers (or any kind of thrillers for that matter), but I truly think Connelly is a Master of Suspense. I think the majority of my Goodreads status updates were, "I'm so scared for Mickey!!" Michael Haller (Mickey) is a character I came to love in The Lincoln Lawyer and that love grew in The Brass Verdict. Haller is clever, knowledgeable and compassionate. Lorna, Mickey's case manager, is always one step ahead and compliments Mickey's working style perfectly. Walter Elliott is the defendant in the big case that Mickey acquires, and he is an interesting character as well. The relationship and dynamics of his relationship with Mickey are ever-evolving as two men who both like to be in charge and have to figure out how to work with each other. I love putting the pieces of the mystery together with Mickey, who again, is brilliant. Finally, I guess I should comment on Bosch...I didn't really like him. He came off to me as too demanding the whole time without giving anything up on his end. Mickey does that too, yes, but he always explains why and is not short and snippy about it. Perhaps I will grow to like him more in The Reversal, the next book in The Lincoln Lawyer series? At any rate, The Brass Verdict is a wonderful second book in the Mickey Haller saga, and I look forward to more.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sunday Mystery Corner - The Lincoln Lawyer

Mary's Review

It is true that I love a good thriller/mystery novel. I like the thrill of the "hunt" and the all the questions: "Who did it?" and "Why did they do it?". This book selection was no different. I had not heard of this book until I saw the movie trailer.

Mickey Haller is an attorney who will represent just about anyone. That is anyone who can pay and that is what Mickey needs right now. That is when Louis Roulet comes along. He is accused of attempted rape and attempted murder on a young female. Mickey thinks that he will be able to get Louis a great trial and a very good payday through it too. However, there are twists and turns (some that even I did not see) that Mickey and his team have to get through in order for everyone come out of this trial alive and well.

This was a quick read for me because the second Mikey began putting the pieces of the case together is the second I could not put the book down. I know that there are more books in this series and I would like to see how Mickey handles himself further.

I would recommend this book to others.

Jacque's Review:

The Lincoln Lawyer was recommended to me quite some time ago, but I have to admit, the fact that the movie was released starring Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe is what ultimately got my attention.

Mickey Haller is a defense attorney in LA who represents a questionable group of clients. Drug dealers, prostitutes, etc. He will represent anyone who can pay his fees, but when he lands his "franchise case" (a case that will pay him six figures and will allow him to comfortably pay his bills for a while) he begins to question his choice of profession.

Louis Roulet is a wealthy young real estate agent accused of attempted rape and attempted murder. For the first half of the book I actually felt sorry for Louis as the defense attempted to prove that he was the victim of a setup. As the book progressed and Mickey's investigator discovered additional information that connected this case to one of his previous clients, the truth behind the case became apparent. Mickey ends up putting himself and his family in danger as he strives to do the one thing his father taught him about the profession, to always identify and protect the innocent. "There is no client as scary as an innocent man."

I have always enjoyed the John Grisham legal thrillers. The one thing his books lack is a common element that makes you look forward to the release of his next book. That is what drew me to the Kay Scarpetta series, which is next month's Sunday Mystery Corner. When there is a character I can connect with that develops throughout a series, I am always excited to see what happens next. This series is no exception. Michael Connelly established a great character that we can continue to follow. There are currently four books in the Mickey Haller series, which I hear only get better.

What I liked most about this book is fact that the reader is able to unravel the mystery along with Haller. Clues are exposed throughout the story and we can slowly see how Mickey plans to address the ethical dilemma that he is in. With many legal mysteries, the reader is often blindsided with an unexpected ending. Connelly left enough of a mystery to hold my attention, but provided enough clues to make me feel like I was an active participant in the discovery of the truth.

Flo's Review:

I was the last of the Book Nerds to finish The Lincoln Lawyer, amidst Mary and Jacque's "Keep reading!" Every time a new twist was introduced I frantically sent them messages with multiple exclamation points. I finished the book on Friday night and a few hours later I went to the see the movie.

As Jacque and Mary mentioned, one of the strengths about this book was that the reader was able to put the pieces together with Mickey Haller. And the more Mickey discovered, the more you wanted to read to see what else he'd discover and what he'd do about it. I think Mickey himself was the biggest strength of the book. No matter what was revealed or thrown at him, he always managed to have a great reaction, or redirect, if you will. This is evident in his actions both in the courtroom and outside of it. In the book, we also go to understand Mickey's motivations -- why he acted the way he did, and ultimately, why he was the was the man he was.

Unfortunately, it is always hard to translate inner dialogue to the big screen. Thus, I felt that all this personalization of Mickey was left out of the movie. Without the book, I would have come away from the movie not really knowing the character or his motivations. To me, the movie played as a series of events. It was a story, yes. It unfolded as it did in the book, with few and minor variations, but none of the background was there.

I'm curious to hear a review of the movie from someone who has not read the book. Is that any of you?