The Brass Verdict: A Novel

Connelly's The Brass Verdict brings together two of his most interesting characters -- Mickey Haller (from The Lincoln Lawyer) and Det. Harry Bosch, with Haller being the primary character. The plot involves defense attorney Haller back in the courtroom after a two year hiatus. This comes about after Haller inherits the practice of a former colleague who is murdered. Part of this inheritance results in Haller's biggest case yet -- the defense of a prominent movie studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. This inheritance come with a price for Haller, as he soon learns from Bosch that his former colleague's murderer may be coming for him next. Bosch's role focuses on his determination to find the killer of Haller's colleague at any cost -- even if it means using Haller as bait. While not Connelly's best work, The Brass Verdict is definitely a page-turner with fully developed characters, believable prose and its share of surprises. Typical of a Michael Connelly book, The Brass Verdict is well worth reading. Enjoy!

Michael Connelly is a safe bet. Pick up one of his crime novels and you're going to get a tight-plotted caper with colorful characters, riveting dialog, and a satisfying conclusion.

That's why Connelly is a blockbuster author and New York Times bestseller. He's consistent - consistently good.

But after more than 20 novels, this consistency may be starting to become something worse: predictable. Case in point: "The Brass Verdict."

"The Brass Verdict" is the second novel in Connelly's new series about Mickey Haller, a defense lawyer in Los Angeles. Haller is an interesting character - a former addict to painkillers who keeps his emotions tightly contained. He's a brutal realist, but with a soft spot for certain hard luck cases.

The character (and the series) shows a lot of promise. Connelly has a great eye for criminal case detail and understands how to create courtroom suspense. The best parts of "The Brass Verdict" are all in the courtroom.

It's unfortunate that Connelly didn't feel confident enough to allow Haller's case to unfold. The story is a good one. Haller, recently out of rehab, inherits the caseload of a fellow defense attorney. One of the clients is a rich and powerful movie mogul accused of murdering his wife and her lover.

Walter Elliot is an arrogant, oily tycoon with a likability score of less than zero. But did he shoot and kill two people?

Haller isn't interested in guilty or innocence - only in building a case that can win. This razor-thin line that Haller walks as he investigates the homicides makes for a fascinating look at his character and at how our criminal justice system works.

This is how Connelly opens the novel: "Everybody lies. Cops lie. Lawyers lie. Witnesses lie. The victim lies. A trial is a contest of lies. And everyone in the courtroom know this."

If only Connelly let Haller build his case and kept us in the courtroom as he argued and maneuvered. The novel would have been even better.

Unfortunately, "The Brass Verdict" gets the same treatment as Connelly's first breakout bestseller "The Poet" (1996). There are more twists here than an Olympic high-platform dive - and in the end - there's just too many to keep the story believable.

Part of the problem is the presence of L.A. Police Detective Harry Bosch. Bosch is Connelly's primary series character (and if you haven't read any of the books featuring Bosch - you really should).

Bosch really doesn't have a role in "The Brass Verdict" - except as a crossover concept (and for a surprise coincidence at the end). Bosch's investigation into Elliot's alleged double homicide is more of distraction than an addition. It keeps us out of the courtroom - where the real action is.

But even with Connelly's decision to use Bosch and play twister at the end - "The Brass Verdict" is better than most of the mainstream crime fiction out there. You have to hand it to Connelly - his formula for consistency keeps him selling books.

It would be nice to see him take some risks and move away from his modus operandi, but then again why mess with success?

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I ordered this book, and it came so quickly, I was amazed!! Very prompt and courteous service. Thanks!!

A Brass Verdict is apparently one where the verdict with respect to a "defendant" is rendered by gunshot rather twelve and true. Such a verdict in Michael Connelly's novel of the same name is rendered after some 400 pages of great story telling by a masterful writer of crime fiction; and for what it is worth my verdict on his book is that it's a great read written by a man who has obviously walked the walk and talked the talk of the courtroom and you should buy it and give it to your Dad or Grandfather or favorite uncle to read by the fire over the Holidays.

His words on how to pick a jury should be read by every lawyer who wants to be a "trial lawyer". They are just as true today as they were when I picked my first jury in 1941 (no that's not a typo); and the courtroom, the competition, the way the lawyer deals with the jury (carefully) and the judge (how far can I go?) are exactly the same now as Connelly tells it when he has Mickey Haller try his case - what looks like the up and down case of a double murder carried out by the angered husband who finds his wife and her lover in the bedroom of his home - and deal with Detective Bosch.

Both Haller and Bosch are back between the covers of this book; and, while having met them in previous books by Connolly, they are welcome back as old friends of those of us who like a good story once in a while. And this is just what the book is - a good story. Doesn't increase your knowledge of world affairs, doesn't have any literary pretense. Just a good story well told.

The joining of two old characters... the twist of complicated mysteries... the depth of character development..., again lead to a great read. BUT... IMHO some readers miss the fact that beyond the story of an enjoyable mystery is an excellent work of LITERATURE that goes beyond the work of most authors in this genre. Check out the wonderful descriptions of people and places with a wonderful choice of words and writing style. I enjoy his ability to go beyond just another mystery (and I love mystery books)and to present this high level of quality writing. You owe it to yourself to read this at a pleasant speed and without skipping to the next clue. Try it and you will notice the creative writing too. Enjoy!