The Lincoln Lawyer
 | |
| Author | Michael Connelly |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Crime fiction, mystery |
| Publisher | Little, Brown (USA), Orion (UK) |
Published in English | October 3, 2005 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 404 |
| ISBN | 0-316-73493-4 |
| OCLC | 60311867 |
| 813/.54 22 | |
| LC Class | PS3553.O51165 L56 2005 |
| Preceded by | The Closers |
| Followed by | Echo Park |
The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2005 novel, the sixteenth by American crime writer Michael Connelly. It introduces Los Angeles attorney Mickey Haller, half-brother of Connelly's mainstay detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch.
Plot summary
Moderately successful criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller operates around Los Angeles County out of a Lincoln Town Car (hence the title) driven by a former client working off his legal fees. While most clients are drug dealers and gangsters, the story focuses on an unusually important case of wealthy Los Angeles realtor Louis Roulet accused of assault and attempted murder. At first, he appears to be innocent and set up by the female "victim."
However, Roulet's lies and many surprising revelations change Mickey's original case theory, making him reconsider the situation of Jesus Menendez, a former client serving time in San Quentin State Prison after pleading guilty to a similar and mysteriously related crime.
In the end, Haller outmaneuvers Roulet (revealed to be a rapist and murderer) without violating ethical obligations, frees the innocent Menendez, and continues in legal practice, though not without much self-examination and emotional baggage.
Characters
- Mickey Haller - criminal defense lawyer
- Margaret McPherson - Haller's ex-wife, prosecuting attorney
- Louis Ross Roulet - the accused
- Ted Minton - prosecutor in Roulet's case
- Jesus Menendez - former client of Haller
- Dwayne Corliss - jailhouse snitch
- Reggie Campo - alleged victim of Roulet
- Martha Renteria - Menendez's alleged murder victim
- Raul Levin - Haller's investigator and colleague in Roulet's case
- Lorna Taylor - Haller's manager and ex-wife
- Cecil C. Dobbs - the Roulet family Lawyer
- Mary Windsor - Louis Roulet's mother
- Detective Howard Kurlen - the lead detective on the Jesus Menendez case
- Detectives Lankford and Sobel - two cops who investigate Levin's murder
Film adaptation
A film adaptation, starring Matthew McConaughey as Haller and Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson, was released on March 18, 2011. The film was directed by Brad Furman from a screenplay by John Romano, and produced by Stone Village Pictures. Lionsgate holds the US distribution rights, and Lakeshore Entertainment holds international rights.[1][2]
Awards
The novel received a lot of attention from the mystery community. It won the 2006 Shamus Award and Macavity Award for "Best Novel".[3][4] It was also nominated in the 2006 Anthony Awards for the same honour.[5] Additionally, in 2010 it was nominated in the "Best Mystery Novel of the Decade" category of the Barry Awards, although lost to Stieg Larsson with his The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.[6]
References
- ↑ McDonough, Molly (30 March 2009). "Matthew McConaughey to Star in Legal Thriller". ABA Journal. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ↑ "The Lincoln Lawyer Movie Adaptation". michaelconnelly.com. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ↑ "The Private Eye Writers of America and The Shamus Awards". Thrillingdetective.com. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
- ↑ "Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards". Mysteryreaders.org. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
- ↑ "Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. 2003-10-02. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
- ↑ "Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine- Barry Awards". Deadlypleasures.com. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2012-04-05.