Hachette The Law of Innocence: The Brand New Lincoln Lawyer Thriller

The book is worth reading

Nach einigen wenigen nicht ganz so befriedigenden Romanen trifft Connelly mit diesen Justizthriller wieder ins Schwarze. Toller Plot, Spannung garantiert: Mickey Haller ist wegen Mordes angeklagt, die Todesstrafe droht. Es wird ihm ganz übel mitgespielt, und er muss sämtliche Anwaltstricks auspacken, um die Intrige aufzudecken. Einen Punkt Abzug gibt's dafür, dass Harry Bosch offensichtlich nur reingeschrieben wurde (vielleicht sogar nachträglich), damit der Verlag ein Verkaufsargument für die Fans hat. In der Geschichte hat Bosch leider keine Funktion, ist nur Staffage.

I'm a huge fan of Michael Connelly and while I may have missed a book or two from the Haller series (must catch up), I was quickly immersed in Haller's fight to clear his name after being charged with murder. It's not enough just getting and NG (Not Guilty) for him, he wants to prove his innocence. Much of this book reads like a 'how to conduct a murder trial' right down to all the tricks and traps used on both sides of the table. This is an engaging read with plenty of twists and turns as Haller literally fights for his life. It's also a more detailed read than your average legal thriller and Connelly also introduces the beginning of the Covid-era, making everything very real-time. 4.5 stars.

Buena novela y amena, recomendada

First, I am a great Michael Connelly fan and have read all of his novels and his nonfiction book, CRIME BEAT. I particularly like the Mickey Haller books because there is a dearth of good courtroom dramas, now that Steve Martini has switched genres. Mickey is the only serious game in town and much of THE LAW OF INNOCENCE (beautifully titled and explained) consists of courtroom drama. MC's ability to command the necessary knowledge of the law, of legal maneuvers and courtroom niceties is very, very impressive. Mickey is in a world of hurt. A body of a previous client has been found in the trunk of one of his Lincolns and blood and ballistic evidence have been found in the garage of his home. He is arrested for murder, jailed in the Twin Towers and forced to fight under reduced circumstances for his liberty and life. Fortunately, he has a good team, a jailhouse associate to watch his back, and the assistance of his half brother, Harry Bosch. Harry's role is more than a cameo appearance in the novel, but he stays on the peripheries of the action. MC cleverly makes this a story about friends and family, not just crime and the law. The family dimensions (with Mickey working with two ex-wives and being rejoined by a former girlfriend) are sweet and engaging. The book also has a contemporary feel since it is set at the outset of the Covid pandemic and ends with people wearing masks, face shields and rubber gloves. Unfortunately, the pandemic is largely irrelevant for the story and is a tad distracting. I know that this would not happen, but the book feels as if some eager and inexperienced editor has persuaded MC to make the book 'a little more current'. As readers of the other Amazon reviews will know, there are two problems with the book. The most serious one concerns the ending, which I will not spoil (though another reviewer has). Suffice to say that the principal plot arc prepares the reader for a crescendo ending which is muted. The ending is plausible, more or less satisfying and probably inevitable, but it throws off the rhythms of the book. The second problem is more of an annoyance than a flaw, but the Amazon reviews point up how important it is to many readers. Mickey is not a Trump fan and he goes out of his way to eliminate a Trump voter from his jury. There are incidental criticisms of DJT which are not essential to the story. Note that the novel is one with first person narration. Mickey is criticizing DJT, not Michael Connelly. This is annoying because it is largely gratuitous. This is not a full-on assault, as in Carl Hiaasen's recent novel, SQUEEZE ME. As other reviewers commented (and as I noted in my review of the Hiaasen book) it is not particularly shrewd to antagonize half of your potential readers, and as one reviewer noted, we come to crime fiction for escape, entertainment and inspiration. Our culture is suffused with politics and many of us would prefer to have far less of it. Personally, I love a good political novel but prefer to be spared politicized novels. In THE LAW OF INNOCENCE the political commentary is incidental and, as I said above, more of an annoyance than a mortal flaw. My considered judgment is that this was, potentially, the best of the Lincoln Lawyer novels, but its plot rhythms were such that the great ending never fully materialized. Hence 4 stars.