The Lincoln Lawyer

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The Lincoln Lawyer
Lincolnlawyer.jpg
Author Michael Connelly
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesMickey Haller, #1
Genre Crime fiction, mystery
PublisherLittle, Brown (USA), Orion (UK)
Published in English
October 3, 2005
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages404
ISBN 0-316-73493-4
OCLC 60311867
813/.54 22
LC Class PS3553.O51165 L56 2005
Followed by The Brass Verdict  

The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2005 novel, the 16th by American crime writer Michael Connelly. It introduces Los Angeles attorney Mickey Haller, half-brother of Connelly's mainstay character Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch.

Contents

It was adapted as a 2011 film of the same name, starring Matthew McConaughey. It has also been adapted into a television series starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, which premiered in 2022 on Netflix.

Plot

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 of his 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".

Roulet's lies and many surprising revelations change Haller's original case theory. He reconsiders 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.

Haller outmaneuvers Roulet (revealed to be a rapist and murderer) without violating ethical obligations, frees the innocent Menendez, and continues in legal practice. He also conducts much self-examination and acquires some emotional baggage.

Characters

Reception

The New York Times wrote: "Mastering the [legal thriller] on his first try, Connelly delivers a powerhouse drama fueled by cynicism and driven by a criminal defense lawyer named Michael Haller ('People call me Mickey') who works for the scum of the earth and makes no apologies." [1]

In other media

Film adaptation

The novel was adapted as a 2011 film of the same name, starring Matthew McConaughey as Haller and Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson. 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. [2] [3]

Television series

On June 25, 2019, it was announced that David E. Kelley had developed and written a television series based on the Haller series with a commitment from CBS. [4] However, on May 2, 2020, it was announced that the pilot would not be moving forward. [5] Netflix subsequently picked up the series and ordered a 10-episode series of The Lincoln Lawyer, with Kelley, on January 11, 2021. Despite the same name of the eponymous novel, the first season of the series is based on Connelly's second Mickey Haller novel, The Brass Verdict . [5] [6] Filming for the series began on March 31, 2021. [7] On April 6, 2022, the series was given a May 13, 2022, premiere date. [8] It was renewed for a second season in June 2022. [9] Based on the fourth novel in the Haller series, The Fifth Witness , the second season is released in two parts, on July 6, 2023 and August 3, 2023, respectively. [10]

Awards

The novel received much attention from the mystery community. It won the 2006 Shamus Award and Macavity Award for "Best Novel". [11] [12] It was also nominated in the 2006 Anthony Awards for the same honor. [13]

Additionally, in 2010 it was nominated in the "Best Mystery Novel of the Decade" category of the Barry Awards, although it lost to Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Connelly</span> American author (b. 1956)

Michael Joseph Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. Connelly is the bestselling author of 38 novels and one work of non-fiction, with over 74 million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into 40 languages. His first novel, The Black Echo, won the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly's 1997 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of Connelly's novel The Lincoln Lawyer starred Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. Connelly was the President of the Mystery Writers of America from 2003 to 2004.

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References

  1. Stasio, Marilyn (October 9, 2005). "'The Lincoln Lawyer': One L" via NYTimes.com.
  2. McDonough, Molly (30 March 2009). "Matthew McConaughey to Star in Legal Thriller". ABA Journal . Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  3. "The Lincoln Lawyer Movie Adaptation". michaelconnelly.com. 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (June 25, 2019). "'The Lincoln Lawyer' Drama From David E. Kelley & A+E Studios Gets CBS Series Production Commitment". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2020). "'The Lincoln Lawyer' Drama Series From David E. Kelley Not Going Forward At CBS". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  6. Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2021). "'The Lincoln Lawyer' Drama From David E. Kelley Lands Netflix Series Order; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. "#1238". Production Weekly. March 18, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  8. Mitovich, Matt (April 6, 2022). "The Lincoln Lawyer: Get First Photos, Premiere Date for Netflix Series Adaptation of Michael Connelly Novel". TVLine. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  9. Otterson, Joe (June 14, 2022). "'Lincoln Lawyer' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix, Dailyn Rodriguez Joins as Co-Showrunner". Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  10. Rice, Lynette (June 6, 2023). "'The Lincoln Lawyer': When To Expect Return Of Netflix Drama". Deadline. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. "The Private Eye Writers of America and The Shamus Awards". Thrillingdetective.com. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  12. "Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards". Mysteryreaders.org. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  13. "Bouchercon World Mystery Convention : Anthony Awards Nominees". Bouchercon.info. 2003-10-02. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  14. "Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine- Barry Awards". Deadlypleasures.com. 2008-10-09. Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-04-05.