On his way home from celebrating another case win, Mickey Haller - the Lincoln Lawyer - is stopped by an L.A. police officer. At first it seems that this is a routine pull over, his rear licence plate seems to be missing. But then the truculent cop spots something else – is that blood dripping from the boot of his car onto the asphalt? When the boot is opened the body of a man can clearly be seen, Haller’s day has turned bad.

Mickey finds himself in lock-up and more bad news quicky follows: his bail is set at an unmanageable figure by a judge he’d crossed sometime in the past. It looks like here he’s going to stay. He’s facing a murder charge and as evidence is gathered it becomes clear that Dana Berg, known by members of the downtown defence bar as Death Row Dana, is going to live up to her reputation for seeking the maximum available penalty. Moreover, Haller has decided to defend himself in court and he’s claimed his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial, but how is he going to pull his defence case together whilst locked up in jail?

To me there’s nothing more comforting than settling down with a Michael Connelly novel. I trust him implicitly to nurse me through a complex narrative without getting me lost in a mire of names or confused by the fine detail. He’s truly the master storyteller. And I do love a good courtroom yarn! Haller pulls together a team that will ultimately comprise a bunch of characters regular readers will be familiar with, including two ex-wives and his half-brother Harry Bosch. I found this to be a truly immersive experience, I was totally captivated from the start and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about the story and wishing time would pass more quickly so I could get back to the book. I’m not the fastest reader but I was done in half a dozen sittings over the course of a few days.

I suppose I knew we'd end up where we did but not how we'd get there. And that's the case with most crime fiction, which means that for me the enjoyment is primarily in the journey more than the destination. Connelly manages to maintain both pace and suspense whilst sprinkling the tale with some nifty surprises and top end dialogue. As you'd expect, his set piece courtroom scenes are terrific. Yes, this is another book fans of the genre really should not miss.

Some afterthoughts:

1. It’s another quality book from a writer at the top of his game. In my mind he’s never written a bad book - and I can think of few other writers I’d grant the same accolade.

2. The power of television and film was demonstrated to me by the fact that when I thought of Haller he wore the head of Matthew McConaughey and when Bosch arrived on the scene I saw and heard Titus Welliver. I think it’ll ever be thus.

3. A few new release books I’ve read recently are haunted by the menace of COVID-19 lurking in the background. It’s here too.

4. I remain fully in awe of how well MC has manages to have his key series characters – Haller, Bosch, Jack McEvoy, Renee Ballard and the late Terry McCaleb - maintain lead status in their own books whilst merging seamlessly into each other’s lives. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

If there is one line which could sum up the current times, it is this one-

''This year proves that anything can happen.''

And who should know this better than J.Michael Haller, or Mickey as he is known to friends and family. Stopped by police on his way back from an alcohol free celebration of his latest case, because his licence plate is missing,he finds himself both his own client and defence attorney when a dead body is found in the boot of his Lincoln.

First appearing in 'The Lincoln Laywer' and with several cameos in the Harry Bosch canon, this latest novel takes us from the original stop and arrest in October 2019, through to late Spring 2020. This is not a police procedural or court room drama as you or I might know it, this is about a man's reputation and attempts to prove the law of innocence. In order to be proved innocent, Mickey has to find and prove who murdered Sam Scales and set him up.

This is about right and wrong in the current climate of police injustice,the right of trial by jury and what happens when you find yourself on the wrong side of the law and the only person you can trust to step up to the bat is yourself. Or so Mickey thinks...

Marking a welcome return to characters from past novels, they are greeted like old friends as they step onto the page and into the action. And, most thrilling of all, Bosch appoints himself as an investigator into who, what, where and why. Sometimes Haller comes across as morally grey but if Bosch is in his corner, then his strict code of right and wrong is enough to have the reader place all their bets on Haller getting acquitted.

The symbolism of his missing licence plate (customised to read 'not guilty') , his being seen as one step short of a con man by the justice system and the sense of right versus wrong is just how you argue a case, is not lost on the reader. And creeping into the background, I think in the first novel I have read which has touched on this, is the impending corona virus.

It really made me think, after almost a whole year of working in a hospital, our sense of 'normal' has been eroded by the onslaught of the pandemic. And going back to a time when it was whispered about online, mentioned in passing as a problem specific to an area a million miles away from our own, feels like a lifetime away. What this will mean, for a world which is waiting in bated breathe for facts, figures and science to prove right and wrong, especially in light of the recent election, reflects on our sense of justice, responsibility and morality. As Haller gears up for the fight of his life against a system he knows inside and out, except from the other side of the courtroom, he needs a two pronged attack-find out the culprit and clear his name.

He is given a perspective that has not ben afforded him in other novels, he acknowledges his own weakness and misjudgements in a way that Harry, his literary counterpart constantly holds himself to. It's surprising to see the ever confident Haller keep his public face plastered over his worries and it is only when we, the readers, see him through the lens of his acquaintances that we realise he lost a shocking amount of weight, skin tone and his bravado .Though he would like to think he has not been affected by his time in prison, and has kept his mind sharp, being incarcerated has had an effect which is notable. As he moves forward to the his trial and his day on the stand, the words he says early on in 'The Law Of Innocence' carry a significant weighting-

''You know,'' I said,''being innocent is no guarentee of a not-guilty verdict.Anything can happen in trial.''

Michael Connelly is not just good, he is brilliant, a conoisseur of current affairs and societal issues filtered through the gaze of his characters, he simply is one of the very best at what he does. And I defy readers not to visualise Matthew McConnaughy (who Haller in 'The Lincoln Lawyer)and Titus Welliver  (Prime's Harry Bosch) as you flip the pages...now there is a on screen duo I would love to see one day!

I’ve read and enjoyed many Michael Connelly’s novels over the years. mostly from the Harry Bosch and Jack McEvoy series, but The Law of Innocence is my first novel in the Mickey Haller series and it’s a fantastic introduction to this series as the protagonist, a defense lawyer, is accused of murder.

Mickey Haller is known as the Lincoln Lawyer because he often works from his Lincoln car. One night, he is pulled over by the police while returning home and, for once, he finds himself on the other side of the law, arrested after a body is found in the trunk of his car. The victim is a former client. The prosecution is convinced that Haller is guilty. Haller, incarcerated in the Twin Towers Correctional Centre, knows that a lawyer should never represent himself, but he also knows that he and his team are the best chance he has to prove that he’s been framed.

I love Michael Connelly novels, his twisty plots, his attention to details, and his incredible protagonists. Mickey Haller is the kind of lawyer every criminal would want on his side. He knows every trick, every subterfuge in court. He is smart, brash, assertive. He knows when to push, he knows when to stop. He knows where to look for the truth. I loved him!!!

Harry Bosch makes an appearance as Mickey’s half-brother and there are other characters that I enjoyed, from Mickey’s law partner Jennifer to his ex-wife Maggie, Mickey is surrounded by a cast of brilliant characters.

The Law of Innocence is a terrific legal thriller. The court room scenes were my favourite part because we see Mickey Haller at his best, but I also enjoyed the behind the scene, the investigation to prove Mickey’s innocence, and the few glimpse we got into his personal life.

The Law of Innocence is a gripping, brilliantly-plotted novel that kept me glued to the pages and I will definitely keep following this series, catching up on the books already published and looking forward to the next installment.

4.5 Stars

Crime writing virtuoso Michael Connelly is back with a compulsively readable page-turner that sees his iconic creation Mickey Haller – The Lincoln Lawyer – facing his toughest case yet – only this time he is the one in the dock with everything to lose!

Having just won yet another case, Mickey Haller is on top of the world. The Lincoln Lawyer is keen to celebrate his success with his colleagues in the legal profession and he heads to a bar close to the courthouse where the celebrations are soon in full swing. The alcohol is flowing and there is plenty of damage done to Mickey’s credit card, but he doesn’t care. Mickey does not need the high alcohol brings as he feels absolutely invincible at that moment. Driving home in the early hours of the morning, he is surprised when he is stopped by a traffic cop. Thinking that this cop has been tailing him because he thinks he is driving while under the influence, Mickey might feel put out, but he is not the slightest bit worried – until the cop asks him to open the boot of his car where a dead body is revealed!

Mickey is shocked to his very core. Someone is trying to frame him and Mickey has no idea who. In his long and illustrious career, his enemies outnumber his admirers, but charged with murder and sent to prison, the future for him looks bleak and uncertain yet Mickey refuses to be deterred. As somebody who knows the law inside out, he will build his case from prison and defend himself in court in what promises to be the trial of his life. The stakes have never been higher for him, but with his reputation and his freedom on the line, Mickey has to stay alert, focused and pull out every trick in the book to prove his innocence.

As the evidence against him stacks up, Mickey knows that his will be no easy feat. But he simply mustn’t give up because in order to prove that he is being set-up he must turn detective and find out who is framing him. Can the Lincoln Lawyer win the most important case of his career? Or will he end up losing everything?

Top-notch crime fiction does not get any better than this! The Law of Innocence is a wholly captivating thriller where the stakes are high, the action relentless, the suspense heart-pounding and the twists and turns absolutely jaw-dropping. Mickey Haller is, as always, charming, charismatic, intelligent, forensic and intuitive. Readers cannot help but cheer him on and will be turning the pages with bated breath hoping against hope that he can get out of this sinister predicament he has found himself trapped in.

Michael Connelly is a writer at the height of his powers and The Law of Innocence is an unmissable and unputdownable thriller that will satisfy old fans and new admirers alike.

Another compelling novel from this well known author. Whilst it could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, I think readers of Connelly’s previous work will especially enjoy it. If you’re new to Michael Connelly, I urge you to treat yourself and read all of his previous books.

Having read all of Michael Connelly’s books, I found this one particularly ‘unputdownable’. The start of the coronavirus pandemic also unfolds during the book, adding to the tension and atmosphere.

The Lincoln Lawyer returns, defending arguably his most important client yet - himself. Mickey Haller must utilise all his skills as a defence lawyer to uncover the truth when he is arrested and charged with murder. One of Connelly’s other great characters, Harry Bosch, makes an appearance in the book, helping Mickey and his legal team to investigate the case. I especially enjoyed being on the ‘other side’, seeing the case from the defence side, pitted against police and prosecutors.

Read this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. I actually did a little dance of happiness when my approval came through, as I knew I was in for a treat.

The Law of Innocence is the 6th book in Michael Connelly's massively popular Lincoln Lawyer series.
A dead body found in the boot of a car that is pulled over by the Police proves to be one of Mickey Haller's trickiest cases,not least as it's his car and he's driving it. To make matters worse the deceased is a former client that Haller had parted company with on less than friendly terms after a disagreement over money.

With everything against him Haller has to defend himself with the prospect of a life behind bars unless he can break the prosecution's seemingly airtight case,led by the vindictive Dana "Ice" Berg ,who appears to have a very personal dislike of him.

With his back to the wall Haller desperately tries to clear his name as the case gets murkier and murkier, aided and abetted by employees and friends,including Harry Bosch and no less than 2 ex-wives. Also making an appearance is an ex=partner suggesting that Haller hasn't quite got the hang of the relationship thing.

This is a very involving tale,part thriller,part courtroom drama. Connelly ably explains various facets of the American legal system so readers can keep up with the drama and also points out part of that system that are blatantly unfair. A few characters from previous Haller books also make appearances but this can be read as a standalone.

As the title suggests "Innocence" is a theme here with Haller very aware that being found Not Guilty in a Court of Law is not necessarily the same as being innocent.

This is a great addition to the series,all the old favourite regular characters are here as well as a new addition who may or may not become a trusted member of the team.

Another winner from Michael Connelly.

Another nail biting thriller from this well known author. The Lincoln Lawyer is back and this time the client he is defending, the client who has been falsely accused of murder is himself.
Mickey has to use all his skill as a defence lawyer to uncover the truth when the DA’s office and the police seem to be convinced of his guilt and this leads to a real rollercoaster of a read which I couldn’t put down.
Mickey has to prove his innocence by finding the real murderer and this proves to be difficult as the evidence is truly stacked against him. Will he manage to do it and prove he is not a cold blooded killer?
I’ve read most of Michael Connolly’s books and as I love a good legal thriller, I think the Mickey Haller books are my favourites. I was in for a real treat with this one as the storyline was excellent and the court scenes were incredibly exciting.
Harry Bosch makes an appearance in “ The Law Of Innocence “, helping Mickey and his legal team to investigate the case.
I’m not sure when Mr Connolly wrote this but his allusions to the start of the Pandemic made it seem very realistic. I would love to know whether he added these after he finished the book or whether he actually wrote the whole book in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis. It also made me think that we will have a whole lot of books in the future, which will include the virus albeit as part of the background as in this book or as a major part of the plot.
Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a welcome return for Micky Haller and I highly recommend it to all you legal thriller fans out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

It's a Michael Connelly book so you know it's going to be awesome but oh my word, The Law of Innocence is THE best Michael Connelly book I have ever read. I'm a huge fan of the Harry Bosch novels and I'm still in the process of reading them but I haven't read any of the Lincoln Lawyer series. Despite The Law of Innocence being the seventh book in The Lincoln Lawyer series, you can most definitely read it as a standalone, which is what I did and absolutely loved it.

Mickey Haller is The Lincoln Lawyer and when he is pulled over on an apparently routine traffic stop a body is discovered in the trunk of his Lincoln. All of the evidence points to Mickey being guilty and he wants the best lawyer in town to defend him. He is that lawyer. Knowing that a not-guilty verdict will still tarnish his reputation, he sets out to prove his innocence by finding the real killer and, to my delight, enlists Harry Bosch to help him.

I love courtroom thrillers and you really do feel like you're in court when reading The Law of Innocence. Michael Connelly writes a courtroom thriller that isn't just up there with the best of them, it blows them out of the water. It's filled with suspense and tension as we see the tactics employed by the defense and prosecution as they both try to come out on top and win the case.

The plot is beyond exceptional as the story goes in directions that nobody could predict; it kept me riveted from start to finish and I simply couldn't put the book down, reading later into the night than I planned. It has certainly piqued my interest to start reading the Lincoln Lawyer series without feeling like I'm being disloyal to Bosch, as I suspect that Bosch may make an appearance in one or more of the previous books too.

Absolutely brilliant, The Law of Innocence is an outstanding courtroom thriller and I loved it so much that I could read it all over again right now. Reading perfectly well as a standalone, Michael Connelly has certainly scooped up a new fan for his Lincoln Lawyer series. So very highly recommended and without doubt a 5 star read.

Many thanks to Compulsive Readers for sending me an ebook to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

There are a lot of Michael Connelly books. As a fan I consider this to be a very good thing, my relationship with Connelly’s characters has been developed and nurtured over many books and many years. So when I discovered The Law of Innocence was a Mickey Haller story my anticipation heightened. Haller is The Lincoln Lawyer and this suggested a courtroom drama was heading our way.

Not just any courtroom drama – a huge drama as it is Haller himself that is the accused. Of murder. And despite knowing he is innocent Haller will need to be at the very best of his game to ensure he can also convince a jury of his innocence. Who else is at the very best of his game? Michael Connelly is too as The Law of Innocence is one of his best yet (possibly even THE best).

If you enjoy a courtroom drama then The Law of Innocence is your essential read – I can’t think of a legal thriller I have enjoyed more. Haller is everywhere in this story and we see everything unfold as he does. From the point he is arrested to the time he spends in jail awaiting a bail hearing we are there experiencing Haller’s predicament with him.

Connelly has crafted this so well. Readers get to see Haller and his team building his defence. The frustration at tricks which the prosecution will pull to hamper his case. We will cheer when the judge reprimands the prosecuting attorney and laugh as Haller scores points at their mis-steps. You cannot help become anything but wholly immersed in this story.

As the case draws closer Haller and his team begin to peel back layers of lies and secrets which suggest Haller has been unwittingly dragged into something far bigger than he originally anticipated. For someone Haller is a useful and expendable distraction. If he gets too close to the truth then Haller cannot be allowed the opportunity to take the stand and present his defence…now it is not just his freedom which is at risk.

The Law of Innocence breezes straight onto my Best of 2020 selections – few books are more befitting of the title “page turner”.

Loved it.

I have a confession to make- yes yet another one. Although I have all of Michael’s books, I haven’t actually read one yet…………..until now that is. Having enjoyed reading ‘The Law Of Innocence’ as much as I did, I am now rather cross at myself for having left it this long to discover how flipping fantastic Michael’s books really are. I loved ‘The Law Of Innocence’ but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this book. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I was going to be in for one hell of an addictive read and then some. I love legal dramas and I have an addiction to anything with Law & Order in the title (I particularly love Jack McCoy played superbly by Sam Waterston). I found this book to be equally as good as any television drama. I made the fatal mistake of picking up this book shortly before I went to bed. Let’s just say that bedtime was delayed and I had a ‘lack of sleep’ hangover the following day. I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough as my desperation to find out what happened to Mickey Haller steadily grew and grew. I read ‘The Law Of Innocence’ over the course of a few days. If I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I was like an addict in need of her next Mickey Haller fix. I soon reached the end of the book and had to say au revoir to Mickey. I soon cheered up when I realised that I had the other books on my ‘to be read’ pile to get through. Happy days just as we go into the second lockdown in the UK.
‘The Law Of Innocence’ is superbly written. For me, the story hits the ground running and maintains a fast pace throughout. Michael certainly knows how to grab your attention and then keep it for the remainder of the story. Reading ‘The Law Of Innocence’ was like being on one heck of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. I found ‘The Law Of Innocence’ to be a tightly plotted and gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short I absolutely loved reading ‘The Law Of Innocence’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Michael’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

An enjoyable courtroom drama. This is the first Lincoln Lawyer book I have read but didn't feel it was as good as the Harry Bosch series. Mickey Haller, the lawyer is accused of murder and decides to defend himself. I thought the plot was pretty tenuous. Maybe if I had read the previous novels it might have helped. Unfortunately, I didn't like Haller's smug character not helped by the fact he was the narrator.

THE LAW OF INNOCENCE is seventh in Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer series, a sequence which has become one of the best legal thriller series around and truly the equal of Connelly's Harry Bosch series. The books have a different feel to the Bosch novels, both through the first person narration of Mickey Haller, the eponymous Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch's half-brother, and by Mickey's less strict 'code' than that by which Bosch lives. Mickey is a fast talking dealer, a man with a sense of right and wrong but who is prepared to bend the rules, muddy the waters, when necessary to get the right verdict. This time his task is made much more difficult as Haller is the accused, whose decision to defend himself is further hampered by a prohibitive bail leading to his incarceration.

The real joy of the series, as with all great series, is the characters, the interactions between Haller and his team, including his investigator, Cisco, Harry Bosch, and two (!) ex-wives. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, the plot moves like a snake, the threat to Haller, from the dogmatic prosecution and from fellow prisoners, feels real and has the potential for lasting consequences. The courtroom scenes are truly thrilling.

While there are callbacks to previous novels, the book can be read as a standalone, although those who start here should be prepared to devote some considerable time in going back to the start and catching up - I don't believe you could read this and not want more...

While it doesn't play a huge part in the plot, this novel is the first that I have read, especially by a renowned authors, in which Covid-19 appears. As the plot develops, Haller becomes aware of news stories about a virus in Wuhan, he starts to see people wearing masks in the street and then in the jail. It is well done and adds to the verisimilitude. It is ironic that I am reviewing the book on a day when America is counting votes in an election so affected by Coronavirus.

THE LAW OF INNOCENCE is a fine addition to a fine series. I really enjoyed spending time with Haller, Cisco, Maggie McFierce and the rest. I love the Harry Bosch books, and it is close, but the Haller novels may now be Michael Connelly's preeminent series. Can't wait to find out what happens next.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

a chance pullover by the police see mickey haller in prison after the police officer found a dead body in hallers boot

an obvious setup but who by...

with the prosecution wanting haller put away for years on a crime of murder it takes all of hallers resources to try and get a fair trial.....hampered with him being incarcerated in jail...where he has to be on alert for any attacks

a court room drama that will keep you on the edge of your seats...and another book that will keep you from sleep....

brilliantly written with believable characters.. cant wait for the next one in this series

Another blisteringly brilliant offering from Michael Connelly. I'm late to his work and so am not that familiar with some of his famous characters. Frankly that doesn't matter - the beauty of his writing is that his work is strong enough to satisfy us readers as standalone offerings. Right, The Law of Innocence. What a read, this one flew by. The Lincoln Lawyer defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by a traffic cop and a dead body is found in the boot/trunk of his car. The action kicks off as, incarcerated, he has to begin building a seemingly impossible case to prove he isn't just "Not Guilty" but also innocent of murder. He has fast tracked his case to happen within three months - the lock is ticking too find out who did kill the murder victim found in his car. I particularly enjoyed the court room scenes between Haller (defending himself much of the time) and the prosecution. The forensic details are mind boggling. It's always in the minute detail how a case can be unpicked - a brilliant read.

This was a gripping read nearly all the way through. It’s quite a while since I have read a Lincoln lawyer book and I had forgotten how much I enjoy Michael.Connelly’s writing. I know I won’t be the only one but I always visualise Michael McConnaghy as Mickey. The storyline was a really excellent page turner, but I did feel that the ending of the case was very much an anti-climax. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to raise any spoilers but I was expecting more of a big showdown at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

Like many people, I have really struggled to read a lot of the time during the various iterations of lockdown. Not so with this book which was rather like wearing a comfortable pair of running shoes. Slip them on and you are ready and raring to go.

Connelly makes everything seem effortless. A consummate storyteller who writes protagonists you get to know and love. Mickey Haller is no exception. He knows that only a fool has himself as a client, but just the same he’s going to defend himself against the most awful charge of murder. It looks like the prosecution has a slam dunk case and with Haller behind bars, his team, including Harry Bosch, is working day and night to find the threads that will lead to his ability to prove his innocence.

But it’s not just the prosecution who are out to get him. Incarcerated in the Twin Towers Correctional Centre, unable and unwilling to find the $millions of bail money demanded, his life is under threat every moment he is locked up. He has to pay for protection and that doesn’t come cheap. Haller knows he didn’t do it, he just has to find out who did, because that’s the only way he gets to walk free without a stain on his character.

This is really the first book I have read that references the current situation. Not in a heavy handed way, though. As the book begins, stories of the virus are beginning to filter through. By the time it has ended, people are wearing masks and panic buying. This novel takes place in contemporary America and we know what is to come, even if Haller doesn’t.

I love these books because of the characters, certainly, but also because Connelly plots beautifully and sets up the situations so well. Tight corners, judges who won’t make the rulings Haller needs, and above all, the requirement to be one step ahead of the prosecution so that he can see the ambushes coming. Trial psychology is explained by the Lincoln Lawyer and we lap it up.

This is such a good legal thriller. Nail-bitingly tense, seriously twisted and with an up-to the-wire timetable attached, the reader is poised on the edge of their seat, unable to put it down until you know how it ends.

I do love a courtroom drama and here Connelly’s grasp of the legal system, warts and all, is second to none. From procedural motions to cross examination, every word is gold and every action unmissable. It takes a lot of hard work to make a book as easy to enjoy as this one and a great deal of skill to make it entertaining and still deliver surprises right up to the end.

Verdict: If you like a great thriller and love a courtroom drama, they really don’t get much better than this. Bang up to the minute, a hugely enjoyable read, this book is a sure fire winner.

This book, the latest in the hugely popular Lincoln Lawyer series, is crammed full of scumbag con artists, seriously mean gangsters, heart-stopping action and fascinating insights into the American legal system. I loved it.

Yet again, Michael Connelly has upped the ante. How does he manage to keep coming up with winners? The Law of Innocence is an edgy, feisty, ingenious crime thriller as, with his own life at stake, the Lincoln Lawyer faces the most crucial trial of his career.

Michael Connelly brings two of my favourite characters together again in this book: the Lincoln Lawyer (aka Mickey Haller) and homicide detective, Harry Bosch. The best thing this author ever did was to hook them up! And in this compelling thriller, both play critical roles.

The Law of Innocence is both thrilling courtroom drama, full of intrigue and subterfuge, and nail-biting detective work as The Lincoln Lawyer faces the fight of his life.

I loved the drama of the trial with its (often dirty) tricks of the trade and both sides doing their damnedest to win at all costs. I enjoyed seeing Haller skirt the edge of legality in his desperate attempts to win the jury over (and, indeed, get the right jury selected).

A body is found in Haller’s trunk. Despite the fact that the way it’s discovered reeks of foul play, the Lincoln Lawyer finds himself in prison and on trial for murder. His close-knit team immediately rallies around, and Haller calls upon his half-brother, Bosch, with his police connections and investigative skills, to help as well.

I find it hilarious that charismatic Haller has all his ex-wives on his team. Despite his seeming arrogance and confidence, as well as a propensity to do whatever it takes to win, those around him are fiercely loyal and never question his innocence. An ex-girlfriend even reappears to be at his side during the trial. All are all prepared to put personal differences aside to ensure Haller gets the best possible defence.

I’ve always been fascinated to know whether Connelly planned for Bosch and Haller, each of whom features in his own series, to end up as half-brothers, and feature in each other’s books. After reading The Law of Innocence, I decided to Google this.

According to a Q&A that appears on Michael Connelly’s official website (www.michaelconnelly.com) about The Brass Verdict ( in which the two first meet up), the fact that the two are related was not all part of a long-range plan. According to Connelly, “When I needed a story and didn’t have one, I went back to the previous books and dug out the idea of Harry Bosch having a brother he didn’t know. So it kind of started there.”

Sheer brilliance, as it turns out.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE LAW OF INNOCENCE ABOUT?
On his way home from celebrating a win in court—a precious finding of "NG" (Not Guilty), Mickey Haller is pulled over in a traffic stop that quickly goes south and Haller finds himself in the back of the patrol car while the officer opens his trunk to discover a dead body—it turns out to be a former client of Haller's who happens to owe his former defense lawyer a hefty amount of money.

It's clearly a frame-up. There's no reader who will buy Haller committing the crime in this way—sure, it's possible that Haller would be driven to murder by something (for the sake of argument), but he wouldn't do it this way. He's too slick, too clever for that. Thinking like that is well and good for readers of Crime Fiction, it's not how the police think. If you get all the evidence pointing at someone, they're likely to be guilty, especially if there's no evidence pointing in another direction.

Which is what happens here. So from his cell in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Haller has to plan his own defense. Sure, he knows all the conventional wisdom and jokes about defending yourself, but defending people in court is what has defined Mickey Haller for his adult life and there's no way he can let someone else take the lead on this. It's the fight of his life—literally a fight for his life—and Haller has to be the one doing the fighting.

Haller can't count on a "reasonable doubt" defense. It won't be enough to get a "Not Guilty" verdict, not if he wants to be a defense lawyer ever again, he can't go into court with the world thinking he got off on a technicality. Haller has to prove he's innocent, and the only way he can do that is by finding out who's guilty, and proving that in court.

The prosecuting attorney is no slouch—frequently in legal fiction, you get someone who's clearly there to play Washington Generals to the series protagonist's Harlem Globetrotters, putting up a token case for the defense attorney to use as a way to show off all his tricks. But Dana Berg, star prosecutor for the Major Crimes Unit is hard, smart, and utterly convinced that Haller is guilty. So convinced that she's not above using as many tricks and sneaky moves as Haller. She's a worthy opponent which makes it all the better.

HAIL, HAIL, THE GANG'S ALL HERE
Mickey's friends and family won't believe this accusation—he's not a killer. They know this and show up to help—many of them probably would if they had some doubt about his guilt, but we all know that Haller's half-brother. Harry Bosch, wouldn't have anything to do with him if Bosch thought there was a chance he was a killer. But Bosch is as involved as Cisco, Haller's own investigator is. Lorna's there, as well as Jennifer Aronson. I wasn't terribly impressed with Aronson the last time we saw her in The Gods of Guilt, but she's come a long way since then and is key to Haller's defense.

It keeps going, Maggie "McFirece" McPherson, his ex-wife, and his daughter, Haley, are stalwart supporters, too—and Maddie Bosch even pops in. I've always liked Haley and enjoyed her a lot here. You'll never see me say anything against Maggie's character, either. Connelly created a great family for Haller back in The Lincoln Lawyer and they continue to pay off here.

While it's great to see everyone show up to support and help—and Haller needs all that he can get—it's his novel, it's his fight, it's his life in the balance and the novel's focus is solely on him. With a character like Bosch, he's a constant threat to steal the reader's (and likely the writer's) attention—but he doesn't even come close. It's all about Mickey Haller.

ISN'T THIS JUST LIKE FAIR WARNING?
I was slightly afraid of that when I read the blurb for this—do we really need two books from Connelly in 2020 where the protagonist is suspected of a murder that there's no chance at all that he committed? I figured Connelly would pull it off, but, yeah, there was a degree of trepidation on my part going into it.

Here's where they were different—in Fair Warning, McEvoy being suspected is just his way into the mystery, and the shadow of suspicion may linger over him, but it's never really much more than that. But here, Haller being the suspect is the whole novel—he's only the suspect for a couple of days (which we don't even see), he's the accused for all but the first chapter. That makes all the difference, there's no way to compare the experiences of McEvoy and Haller.

CURRENT EVENTS
This book takes place at the close of 2019 and over the first few months of 2020, and through news reports in the background and some conversations between characters we get glimpses of what's going on in American culture at the time—specifically, the impeachment and reelection bid of Donald Trump and the early days of the spread of COVID-19. Neither makes a significant impact on the plot, but they act as part of the background, nailing the events of the novel to a specific moment.

I wondered for a while if this would make the novel dated in years to come, making it too "of the moment" to last. But the more I think about it, the more I think adds some flavor, some perspective to the novel, and the way that Connelly uses the current events to ground the novel. I ended up really liking the way he did it. Sure, Haller's very few and quick comments about the President may put off some readers, if they couldn't have guessed Haller's political leanings, they haven't been paying attention.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LAW OF INNOCENCE?
If I hadn't been approached to be on this tour, what would've likely happened is this: I'd buy The Law of Innocence on release day and had been really excited about it, but would've set it aside so I could catch up on some backlog—and it would've ended up languishing away on my shelf unnoticed. I'd have probably have made it my last book of 2020 or first of 2021 as a little treat to myself. And I would've been mad at myself for that once I got to about the 20% mark (if not earlier). For this to be available and unread would be just wrong.

There's a one page (or so) introduction/foreward that's just dynamite, followed by a really strong first chapter, and then starting in chapter 2, we're off to the races. It's just unrelentingly good, gripping, fast-paced, smart, and tension-filled from that point through to the jaw-dropping end. Sure, you may be confident that Haller would prevail, but you can never be sure for a moment how that might come to pass—and any time you start to think you know? You quickly discover that was hubris.

Connelly is one of the best in the business, but he's not satisfied with coasting on his reputation or his laurels, he's constantly striving to prove that he's one of the best around—and usually succeeds at it. The Law of Innocence has him doing just that. The prose is lean and tight, the characterizations are spot on, the pacing is perfect and you just can't put this down. I had a lot going on last week when I read this and several things I needed to accomplish—and I ignored almost every single one of them just so I could finish this. I gave myself five days to read this and finished it in two. Between the story, the characters, and the way Connelly put this together, I had no choice.

A lot of the legal thrillers I've read over the last couple of years save some of their best moments for things the lawyers get into outside of the courtroom, The Law of Innocence doesn't do that. Yes, there are some good moments with Haller and the team investigating things, or while Haller is incarcerated. But the best moments of the novel take place in the arena that Haller comes most to life—in the courtroom, facing off against a good prosecutor, in front of a smart judge and a jury that he can only hope to persuade. Haller's good at putting the pieces of a puzzle together (especially when Bosch and Cisco give him the right pieces), he can get a witness to give up just the right information, but he shines when he's using the rules of the court, rules of evidence and the laws of California to further his own ends.

If you've been through the wringer with Haller before, you have an idea of what to expect—and you won't be disappointed. If you've never spent time with the Lincoln Lawyer before this, you're in for a treat. Either way—The Law of Innocence is one of the best thrillers of 2020 and you need to get your hands on it.


Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Orion via NetGalley and Compulsive Readers in exchange for this post—thanks to all for this, but the opinions offered above are solely mine.

The Law Of Innocence is not only my first read in the Mickey Haller series, it’s actually my first Michael Connelly read full stop. I don’t know how that’s happened. A genre that I love. A critically acclaimed author in that genre with a huge back catalogue. It is what it is. Better late than never they say, and it certainly applies here.

In this 7th instalment of the the Mickey Haller series, we find Mickey being framed for murder and having to defend himself from a life behind bars.

While leaving a bar and driving home, Mickey gets pulled over by a police car for having no rear number plate. Mickey thinking it was one of the guys at the bar playing a joke on him doesn’t fret but when the cop spots liquid dripping from the boot(trunk)of the car, he puts Mickey into the back of his police car before going to investigate. On closer inspection the liquid looks like blood and, when the cop opens the boot(trunk) he finds a dead body. Mickey is arrested and charged with murder.

He decides to defend himself and builds a team around him to get to the bottom of what happened including his half brother Harry Bosch! The more they investigate the more it looks like Mickey is being purposely set up and, after initially thinking it may be simply a revenge set up, one of Harry’s ex clients from the past, the team uncover connections to possible large scale fraud, the FBI and the mob. Can Harry and his team unravel the truth and find out who is setting him up and why? Faced with a prosecutor who believes 100% that Harry is a murderer and will stop at nothing to convict him, Harry’s whole defence strategy is to find who did murder the victim, to prove his innocence.

Well I absolutely loved this one. From the first page until the last I was all in. I couldn’t read it quickly enough. There’s a large cast of characters, most legacy characters from previous books but that no way lessened my enjoyment of this book. It worked great as a stand-alone and you were given enough information about the other characters back stories to not feel you should have read the other books.

This is largely a courtroom drama and a fantastic one at that. All the scenes set in court were riveting. Real turn the page stuff. There’s also the outside investigation as well as Harry’s relationships between his colleagues and family. All beautifully written. So much crammed into this book but so cleverly put together. The pacing is perfect. No filler here. No lags in momentum or unnecessary tangents. It’s just pure quality from start to finish.

I’m kind of annoyed it’s taken me so long to read a Connelly book but on the flip side, I have a huge back catalogue to look forward to!

Whether you are new to this series and author or have read them all, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s an absolute gem.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for and honest review.

I have a confession to make…. I am guilty.

Guilty of coming late to the party of Mickey Haller and guilty as charged of only recently watching the film The Lincoln Lawyer and finding out it was based on a book. I’m banged to rights, it’s a fair cop and one I will rectify especially as the writing is impeccable.

Now because I am new to the books I have yet again started a series out of order. This reads perfectly fine as a stand alone but to get the full effect of the relationships featured it is probably best to not do what I did and start at the beginning. Which I will definitely now do.

I love Mickey as a character, he’s bent just enough to play the system and smart enough to know the rules. So how will he fare in prison with both criminals and the staff against him? Luckily he has a few friends including his law partner Jennifer, investigator Dennis, ex wife Maggie and recently retired Detective half brother Harry Bosch on his side believing his innocence.

With this book the villain doesn’t seem to be behind bars but instead is the prosecutor Dana Berg. This will be the trial of his life as the case against him is air tight and with the judge even against him the odds are not in his favour.

Due to it being set in current times Covid makes an appearance later on in the book, but is handled just right for those that are avoiding it.

With an expertly crafted plot and a terrific line up of characters this is one powerful legal thriller that packs a punch.