Plot
Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles who works out of the back of a chauffeured black Lincoln Town Car. He gets a call from bondsman Fernando Valenzuela about a lucrative client, Louis Ross Roulet. Roulet is a wealthy Beverly Hills real estate agent who was arrested for assault.
Before meeting Roulet, Haller goes to court for another client, a man in a motorcycle club. He pushes for his pay by acting like he will slow down the trial. Only a short time later, men from the club stop Haller on the road. Their head man pays him ten thousand dollars to keep going with the case. Haller tells his driver he will say the police plane broke the law by looking into a private yard.
In Van Nuys, Haller meets Roulet, who says the woman, Regina Campo, lied. Haller sees that the city lawyer is his first ex‑wife, Maggie McPherson. He points out a legal mismatch that forces her out, though she shows him a photo of the woman's face before leaving. In court, Haller gets Roulet out on a one million dollar bond. He meets Roulet's mother, Mary Alice Windsor, gets a large pay check, and takes the case. To watch the news, he buys video of the day. He also helps a woman named Gloria in exchange for news on her drug man.
At a meeting, Roulet tells Haller and a man named Raul Levin his account of what happened. He says he met the woman at a bar and she told him to come over. When he got there, she hit him from behind. He says he woke up with blood on him and was set up. Levin looks at the police report. It says the woman called 911 and said Roulet beat her and used a knife. It says she hit him with a bottle to get away. Police found a knife with Roulet’s name on it.
A few short weeks later, Levin finds a video from the bar showing that the woman knew Roulet. This shows she lied to the police. The video also shows a man she was with earlier, a "Mr. X," who is left‑handed. This fits the injuries on her face. Levin also finds that Roulet lied about his past. Roulet says he was going to pay for sex but did not want his mother to know. Haller says the news is needed, because it gives a reason for the woman to sue for money. Haller meets the new city lawyer, Ted Minton. Minton says the report Levin found was a trick. The real report says the knife was custom made. Minton also says a man in jail will say Roulet told him he did it.
Haller asks Roulet about the knife. Roulet says he carries it for safety because his mother was hurt years ago. Haller visits an old client, Jesus Menendez, who is in prison for a killing from two years ago. Menendez sees a photo of Roulet and says he is the man who was with the dead woman that night.
Haller looks at the old file. The weapon was a knife like Roulet’s. He sees that Roulet is a killer and Menendez did nothing wrong. Haller feels bad for making Menendez take a deal. Then, Raul Levin is killed. Police think Haller did it because his gun was used. The gun belonged to his father. It is gone from his house. Haller sees that Roulet took the gun to set him up and make him stay quiet.
The trial starts with a Minton shows the city's case. Regina Campo tells her story. Haller uses the bar video to show she lied. Mary Windsor says her son carries a knife for safety. Roulet says he did not do it. Minton calls the man from jail. The man says Roulet told him he hurt the woman and killed a dancer. This is what Haller wanted to happen.
Haller shows the man is a liar. He shows a video that proves the man never spoke to Roulet. He shows the man's lies put a man in prison before. The judge is mad. The city drops the case because they look bad.
In the hall, police take Roulet for the old murder. Haller had called them to watch. Roulet says he will hurt Haller's girl. Levin had found a ticket showing Roulet's car was at the old murder. But the city lets Roulet go. They say the proof is not enough. Haller gets the motorcycle club to watch his house. That night, Mary Windsor comes to his home and shoots him. She says she killed Levin. Haller shoots back and kills her. The police were watching and saw it all.
Five months later, Haller is getting better. Jesus Menendez is out of prison but sick. Roulet is going to trial for two deaths. By the end, Haller cannot work for a while, but he is getting ready to go back. He is a different man after seeing such evil and by his failure to see an innocent man.
