Who writes the best legal thrillers? John Grisham, Scott Turow, Lee Harper or Michael Connelly? John Grisham has written some classic novels but he is not consistent – especially of late. Opinions will be divided and other authors will be thrown into the mix for sure. Michael Connelly may be more famous for his Bosch books (and TV series) but for my money, his legal thrillers with Mickey Haller are the tops.
Summary of The Law of Innocence
Defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a client in the trunk of his Lincoln. Haller is charged with murder and can’t make the exorbitant $5 million bail slapped on him by a vindictive judge.
Mickey elects to defend himself and must strategize and build his defense from his jail cell in the Twin Towers Correctional Center in downtown Los Angeles, all the while looking over his shoulder–as an officer of the court he is an instant target.
Mickey knows he’s been framed. Now, with the help of his trusted team, he has to figure out who has plotted to destroy his life and why. Then he has to go before a judge and jury and prove his innocence.
As always, Connelly’s research is thorough, with attention to detail, and an in-depth review of the legal process in the American justice system. The courtroom shenanigans are riveting. Haller is not only chasing a not guilty verdict, but he needs to apply the law of innocence, which states you not only have to prove you are innocent but reveal the actual guilty party of the crime. Haller gets locked up in jail and his experience inside is shocking. Not for the faint-hearted. Of course, preparing a defense in jail is inordinately difficult.
I love Connelly’s characters – love or hate them – they are alive and thoroughly believable. Some reviews have castigated Connelly with his comments about jury selection. He requests the removal of a Trumper from jury selection. He implies that Trump supporters are dumb. What does that say about Trump supporters and freedom of speech? Trump wants freedom of speech on Twitter, etc but authors are not allowed to make passing comments on a fictional story?
No thriller is complete without a final twist, and Connelly does not disappoint. In summary, a riveting novel with plenty of courtroom action.
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Go behind the scenes with the master of American crime fiction and executive producer of the acclaimed television series “Bosch”, Michael Connelly. He is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of thirty-five novels, which have sold over 80 million copies sold worldwide.