Cover Image: The Law of Innocence

The Law of Innocence

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Member Reviews

Oh my another brilliant book by Michael.
I now only have one book by him left to read and then I need more. I have loved everything I've read so far, and this was no exception.

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What’s not to love? A Michael Connelly Lincoln Lawyer book which also includes Harry Bosch. I’ve died and gone to heaven with this one.
Mickey Haller is arrested for murder after a corpse with a gunshot wound to the head is found in his car boot. This time Mickey is on the other side of the desk, as he and his team must prove his innocence.
Maggie, Cisco, Lorna, Jennifer, they’re all here and Bosch too.
The usual brilliant Connelly writing that keeps you hooked and a subtext of what’s about to happen in the real world as early on Bosch says “ where the hell is Wuhan”

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Great to have a new Michael Connelly page turner.
He has a great talent of putting you right in the room as the story progresses.

Connelly brings many of the long running characters into the story, and weaves in current issues as Covid begins to impact the Californian legal system.

The end feels slightly rushed but you forgive this, as you have so much good will with the characters.

If you're new to the series or a regular Connelly reader I recommend The Law of Innocence.

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I had heard a lot about Michael Connelly and thought it was about time I read one of his books myself. Jumping into a series that is well established is not aways a good idea but this book stands alone very well and while I could have probably benefited from reading earlier books, it did not detract from my enjoyment. All the characters were naturally introduced and Haller’s personal life was seemlessly blended into the story. The story itself was fast paced, a dead body found in the boot of lawyer Mickey Haller’s car was the shocking introduction to a lengthy procedure to prove his innocence. Although primarily a court case, this book was never boring and all the legal argument was explained well and with interest. There were many developments that instilled fear and shock and I fully expected a traditional ending to the court case. Without spoilers, I enjoyed the way it played out. I would definitely seek out further books by this author - I see there a quite a lot! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

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Why is Micky in jail? Did he do it? or is he being set up? A page Turner from start to finish. Michael Connelly just gets better and better

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I'm a huge fan of the Bosch series on Netflix, and always visualize Michael Connelly's characters accordingly. I love his writing, and can't wait for the next book in the series.

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As usual in my reviews, I will not spoil the book by rehashing the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already if that's what you're looking for).

I enjoyed this book - which without giving too much away - features Harry Bosch as well as "The Lincoln Lawyer" himself, Mickey Haller. The pace was good, the plot was interesting, and there are some excellent supporting characters as well as the main players. It's always interesting to gain an insight into the workings of the legal system in other countries too - quite different from the UK.

I can envisage this becoming a movie or part of a TV series - Bosch has his own series, so maybe one will follow for the Mickey Haller stories too?

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

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A dead body in the truck of his car is the last thing Mickey Haller expects when pulled over by the police.
The body turns out to be a former client and he’s is arrested for murder.
Locked away in prison Mickey has to build his case while watching his back, as not everyone is a fan of the Lincoln Lawyer.
Haller knows the law better than most and will have to use all his ability to prove himself innocent.
With help from inside and out, can Haller prove his innocence and find the killer at the same time?
Michael Connelly has truly become a master of everything he does and this novel is a perfect example. His writing is outstanding. The characters are intriguing and the storyline is just so enticing you can’t put this book down.
Another outstanding book by one of the best crime writers around today and one I highly recommend.

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Michael Connelly is probably my favourite author and certainly the best writer of legal thrillers. This book is the latest in the Lincoln Lawyer series featuring the defense lawyer Michael/Mick/Mickey Haller. It's great to dive back into a series read where you are already familiar with the characters - Haller, his ex-wife Maggie, daughter Hayley, investigator Cisco and even half brother Harry Bosch. I loved the fact that Bosch plays a part in this investigation!

The book is pretty much in two halves. The first half is about the investigation and the second half is the court case. All of it is great. There are loads of twists and turns - I certainly didn't guess how it would end. I liked the first person narration throughout, the mix of new characters and old favourites and familiar themes such as working out of the car.

Covid is woven through the story in a very clever way. At the beginning, there are mentions of a mystery virus in Wuhan and in the epilogue there is a piece about panic buying in the supermarkets. All very well done and gives the novel an authentic time stamp which will become part of our recent history in just a few years.

I loved this book. Highly recommended either as a standalone or as part of a series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

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In the most recent book in the ‘Lincoln lawyer’ series, defence counsel Mickey Haller can at last be convinced of his client’s innocence… because he IS the client. He’s been brilliantly done up like a kipper, when a very dead body is discovered by a police patrolman in the trunk of his town car.

It turns out that the deceased was indeed murdered in Haller’s garage and they were well acquainted in a professional relationship which turned sour some years back. The dead guy, a class-act conman, still owed Haller a substantial sum of money. All of which adds up to means, motive and opportunity…

What follows is a first-class legal thriller, stuffed full of procedural shenanigans, lawyerly misdirection, genuine tension as Haller endures incarceration among a prison populated with hard-timers who may not have an entirely high opinion of him. He must plan and execute his defence strategy – and the only way he’s going to secure a ‘not guilty’ verdict is if he can point a credible finger at Some Other Guy who actually did the dirty deed.

Author Michael Connelly is a practised hand at balancing the slow-grinding gears of the justice system with a galloping plot and complex characters. He mixes the intricacy of jury selection and the bait-and-switch of evidence discovery with genuine jeopardy, a sprinkle of snappy chat to lighten the moment, and familiar faces crossing over from his other long-running detective series (hallo, Harry).


This time, it’s made all the more believable by the background hum of the rising pandemic. There are offhand mentions of the president, of the virus spreading in China, people starting to wear medical masks in public – and all this puts further pressure on Haller to bring his own trial to verdict as rapidly as possible.

Unusually, there’s no Hollywood ending to this cut-and-thrust courtroom battle of morality. Initially I felt a little bit cheated that we didn’t get a stirring final speech from Haller, effectively pleading for his life in front of an uncertain jury. In retrospect, Connelly chose a more credible solution – with a lot less grandstanding and a lot more gravitas.

Easily up to his usual standard, and easy to read in these troubled times, too. You don’t need to have read all the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one – in fact, if you’ve seen the superb Lincoln Lawyer film then you can probably dive right in.

8/10

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This is a really great book for Connelly fans who've met Haller (aka the Lincoln Lawyer) before. It's probably still good if you haven't, but it's definitely improved by having seen his sterling legal work in the past.

Because this time there's a tense but hugely enjoyable role reversal. Pulled over by a cop one day, Haller's alarmed to hear they've found a body in the trunk (boot!) of his car - a murdered ex-client of his! Thrown into jail, awaiting trial for murder, Haller must now conduct his defence from behind bars. There's a lot of evidence against him - blood in his garage, for example - so someone's gone to a lot of effort to frame him. But who, and why?

The story rolls along quite nicely as his team (including half-brother Bosch) dig deeper into the murdered man's life and who might be holding a grudge against Haller.

I love legal thrillers so I thoroughly enjoyed the court scenes too (I think having zero legal knowledge always helps with this). The only thing holding me back from five stars was the ending - it was fine, honestly fine, just not as dramatic/exciting as some others I've read.

Will always come back for more when there is more Haller to read!

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THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!

Michael Connelly is one of those authors who breaks all the rules. "Show, don't tell" for example. Well, in this Mickey Haller novel (Harry Bosch does have a bit part but there is no room for Renee Ballard here) there is a lot of telling. An awful lot. However, Connelly has the skill, the plotting expertise and the writing credentials to get away with it. And he does. Wonderfully. This is a fabulous, tightly plotted book. PLOT POINT COMING UP. Mickey Haller is arrested for murder and incarcerated before his trial.

If there is one thing I would change, it is that I didn't feel there was any real jeopardy. Haller is incarcerated before his trial and pays for protection - this appears to just be a device to bring a new character into Haller's business. After Haller is attacked, he recovers remarkably quickly. I was also disappointed with the abrupt writing off of one character whose disappearance was dealt with in a single sentence, despite Haller's earlier comments regarding them.

Connelly does manage to weave in the Covid pandemic quite skilfully and the very end of the book sets up a very interesting starting point for the next in the series.

Another winner from Connelly.

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I have read all of M.C’s books over the years and always look forward to them. Well written, excellent detail and familiar, engaging characters. This one has Haller AND Bosch which is a bonus. As a legal, courtroom thriller it is brilliant. As usual the story carried me reading (too quickly!) to the end but I did have some doubts about aspects of the plot. However it certainly didn’t stop me enjoying it - and how clever to include the pandemic. He really is the master of the crime thriller and I hope there are many more to come.

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Michael Connelly, along with his creations, Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch, have long been favourites of mine. This book is no exception. But this time Mickeys client is himself. Framed for murder, it seems as if the Prosecution have a slam dunk case. But Mickey knows he’s been framed, and has to prove it, even when it’s from a prison cell.

As I would expect from this author, this is very well written, draws the reader in from the first page, and continues at break neck pace. It has everything you want in a book, likeable main characters, mean spirited Prosecutors, an even handed judge and plenty of clear villains dotted throughout. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I wished I hadn’t read it quite so quickly but well worth it. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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It had been a long wait for another Michael Connelly, but as they say, good things come to those who wait and that is certainly true with The Law Of Innocence.
This is Connelly at his best, a courtroom drama to keep you turning the pages, whilst not wanting that final page to come.
If you have read Connelly you will know what to expect, if you haven’t, then it will make you want to read more.
Unfortunately I am unable to give it more than five stars.
Needless to say it is recommended.

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Mickey Haller is back in The Law of Innocence accused of murder. Mickey decides to defend himself, he is held in prison denied bail so calls in favours from ex wives, employees and of course his brother Harry Bosch. It soon becomes clear that Mickey is being framed and he is galvanised to prove his innocence. As Mickey says "The only way to prove I didn't do it, is to prove who did. That's the law of innocence." The book moves through the investigative phase into the courtroom and moves along at a cracking pace.Michael Connolly is a master of his craft. Spoiler alert ***** for me the ending was not his best but I thoroughly enjoyed The Law of Innocence and couldn't read it fast enough!
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy in return for this review.

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I love Connelly's Bosch books but I'm a little behind with those featuring Bosch's half brother, lawyer Mickey Haller, so it's been brilliant catching up with him. And what a book to pick to do that as Haller has the fight of his life on his hands. And it was easy to jump back in as The Law of Innocence can easily be read as a standalone.

On the way back from celebrating a court win Mickey Haller is pulled over by a cop for a seemingly routine traffic stop until a dead body is found in his car boot. Mickey is charged with murder and remanded to jail whilst the State builds its case. And of course, Haller needs to build his own defence case, with the help of his team including his ex wife Maggie. And he has to do it from jail.

You know what you're getting with a Connelly book. Fully formed, three dimensional characters and a cracking storyline which takes you to the wire. The Law of Innocence is no different, despite being set mainly in prison and the court house. The plot is tight as Haller seeks not only to clear his name but also to identify the real killer. The story, played out mainly in the court, is detailed and well thought out, with plenty of dead ends before reaching its denouement.

I love Haller. It's hard not to see him as Matthew McConnechy, who played him in film of The Lincoln Lawyer, but I'm not sure that's quite how he is. We certainly see him go through it in this book, and we see it through his eyes as it's written in the first person. Mickey's determination is not lessened by prison - after all, his life is on the line. But I loved that we see him falter and fret, see his fragility as well. His team are all fab, but I have a thing especially for investigator Cisco. I reckon he's my mind of man! It was great to see Bosch in the mix too. It w would be fair to say I didn't like Dana Berg - you'll see why when you read it.

I found the courtroom scenes fascinating and loved the wee glimpse of prison life and how grim it was. The storyline took in corporate crime, corruption, murder and lies. It was totally absorbing and a fab read from beginning to end. Will appeal to Connelly fans and new readers alike.

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I've read all the Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch stories, and this is another cracker. Perfectly formed, the endings never disappoint and the characters are impeccable. In particular, I love that the Bosch we see through Haller's eyes is not the same as he is through his own eyes. We each bring our own filter on people in our lives and these two are no different. Recommended as always.

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This is the latest book by the Author set in the world of Harry Bosch but concentrating on his half brother , defence lawyer , Mickey Haller .
Harry finds himself framed for murder - an ex-client, con man Sam Scales , is found dead in the boot of his car . Just who is setting him up and why ?
Harry is now on the other side of the fence , just how can he defend himself whilst incarcerated in jail ?
where he has to pay for protection just to get through the day , especially as the Prosecution seem to have a rock solid case ..
It will take all his wiles along with support from the most surprising people , his ex-wife , his Law Partner , his Law student daughter Hailey and latterly Harry Bosch - he even has an ex-client willing to put up his bail .......... all of whom believe in his innocence .
This is a well thought out court room drama , full of twists and turns - Mickey has to not just prove himself 'not guilty ' but also 'innocent'.

I love this Author he always produces the goods and I cannot wait for his next offering in whichever world he is writing about .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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I’m a big fan of the Bosch tv show, but realised that I’ve never actually read the books. And it seems that Michael Connelly has written quite a few of them! The Law of Innocence is this sixth in his Mickey Haller Lincoln Lawyer series, and the 34th(!) in his Harry Bosch universe.

Seems like I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

I really enjoyed The Law of Innocence. Defence lawyer Mickey Haller is heading home after a successful case when he’s pulled over by the police in an apparent routine traffic stop. And then they find a body in the trunk of his car. The body of a former client.

Mickey knows he didn’t do it, but the evidence is stacked firmly against him and he’ll have to defend himself from inside prison.

I do love a good courtroom drama, and Connelly clearly knows his stuff inside out and backwards. Haller’s task of defending himself seems insurmountable – a Not Guilty would still leave doubts, and ruin his professional career, so he needs to track down the actual killer, whilst stuck in prison.

Good job he’s got a great team on his side, including Harry Bosch himself. Loved the mix of detective work alongside the courtroom procedural, leaving you wanting to read just one more chapter.

Taut plotting, ingenious story and great characters elevate this above most that I’ve read, and I’ll be digging into the Bosch/Haller back catalogue as soon as I can!

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