The Brass Verdict

Michael Connelly's twentieth novel as narrated by newcomer Peter Giles is a humdinger. The plot brings together the morose detective Harry Bosch and his stepbrother, Mickey Haller, the cynical criminal defense attorney first seen in THE LINCOLN LAWYER. Haller inherits a high-profile murder case from a colleague who was also murdered. When Bosch investigates, the two brothers immediately clash. Giles is proficient at marking the differences between these two opposites. He portrays Bosch as a dark, deep-thinking person while his characterization of Haller is glib. Giles's hoarse, whispery voice crackles when he's Bosch and is authoritative as Haller. Despite their differences, the story resolves in a way that makes listeners eager for the next installment, especially if it's performed by Peter Giles. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 18, 2008
Bestseller Connelly delivers one of his most intricate plots to date in his 20th book, a beautifully executed crime thriller. When L.A. lawyer Mickey Haller, last seen in The Lincoln Lawyer
(2005), inherits the practice and caseload of a fellow defense attorney, Jerry Vincent, who's been murdered, the high-profile double-homicide case against famed Hollywood producer Walter Elliot, accused of shooting his wife and her alleged lover, takes top priority. As Haller scrambles to build a defense, he butts heads with LAPD Det. Harry Bosch, the stalwart hero of Connelly's long-running series (The Black Echo
, etc.), who's working Vincent's murder. When Haller realizes that the Elliot affair is bigger than simply a jealous husband killing his cheating wife, he and Bosch grudgingly agree to work together to solve what could be the biggest case in both their careers. Bosch might have met his match in the wily Haller, and readers will delight in their sparring. 10-city author tour.

November 24, 2008
Arguably this country's best crime yarn spinner, Connelly has not only concocted an extremely clever plot for the second novel featuring Lincoln lawyer Mickey Haller, he has included his longtime series hero Harry Bosch as a supporting player in the who- and whydunit. The one less-than-perfect ingredient on this audio version is its reader, who, unlike former Connelly interpreters Len Carriou or Dick Hill, is not quite able to match the author's noir mood naturally. Peter Giles, an actor who has appeared in enough TV detective episodes to know better, starts off trying much too hard to sound hard-boiled. Haller is a lawyer, not Mike Hammer. But as the tricky tale plays out, with Haller and Bosch on the hunt for a homicidal jury manipulator, Giles tones down the toughness and settles in on a smartly paced and considerably more satisfying delivery. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 18).

Starred review from September 1, 2008
Mickey Haller, last seen in "The Lincoln Lawyer", returns to the courtroom in an unusual way here. Former colleague Jerry Vincent is murdered, and his caseload is dropped in Haller's lap. One of Vincent's high-profile cases involved a movie mogul accused of killing his wife and her lover in a jealous rage. As Haller prepares the mogul's defense, he discovers that Vincent's killer might have chosen him as the next target. Haller must trust Harry Bosch, the police officer investigating Vincent's murder, if he is going to survive and trust his instincts if he is going to succeed in convincing a jury of his client's innocence. Connelly is firing on all cylinders in this epic page-turner. The intriguing story line, the chance to view Bosch from another perspective, and Haller's reappearance as a main character add up to a fantastic read. One of the best thrillers of the year and a mandatory purchase for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 6/15/08; $1 million marketing campaign.]Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2008
It hasnt gone well for L.A. lawyer Mickey Haller since the events described in The Lincoln Lawyer (2005). The recovery from being shot was slow, and the addiction to prescription drugs was worse than the recovery. But Haller has kicked the pills and is ready to practice law again when his friend and fellow attorney Jerry Vincent is murdered, and Mickey inherits all Vincents cases, including a career-maker: the trial of a studio executive accused of killing his wife and her lover. Quickly, Mickey realizes hes caught in the middle: defending the mogul requires concealing facts that could help solve the Vincent murder. OK, Mickeys used to playing fast and loose with the cops, but the investigating officer, Harry Bosch, knows when hes being played. Careful Connelly readers will know that theres a connection between the authors two heroes, Bosch and Haller, even though this is the first time the twocostarred together(see The Black Light, 1993). Connelly plays the dueling characters off against one another effectively, especially for those familiar with the previous books, but it isnt all about backstory. Like Lincoln Lawyer, this is a fine legal thriller, full of both electric courtroom scenes and fascinating behind-the-scenes stuff about the business of lawyering. Connelly is justly celebrated for his characters and his ability to create mood from the sights and sounds of L.A., but hes also a terrific plotter, and that skill is in high relief here. Essential for fans; a great read for anybody.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)