Michael Connelly

“Connelly remains a master at constructing plots that, like contrapuntal themes in music, echo one another. ”
— Bill Ott, Booklist * Starred Review

“Smooth prose and plausible characters—even the secondary figures—elevate this several notches above the standard cop vs. serial-killer thriller.”
— Publishers Weekly * Book of the Week

“Connelly offers a stellar demonstration of why, as Harry says, “taking it straight to the heart is the way of the true detective,” whatever the costs to himself and others.”
— Kirkus Reviews, * Starred Review

“Connelly’s plots are never straightforward, and he keeps us guessing until the exciting and bitter conclusion to this latest episode in a splendid series.”
— Susanna Yager, The Daily Telegraph (London)

“Echo Park is by far the best mystery I have read in a long, long time including past great efforts by Connelly.”
— Richard Lanoie, TheMysterySite.com

“admirers of Connelly’s Bosch novels will know that his depiction of his dedicated hero always has the ring of authenticity. And, amid the excitements of his vertiginous plot, Connelly takes the time to consider whether Harry’s determination to get his man is worth the sacrifices he makes.”
— Jake Kerridge, The Daily Telegraph (London)

“Connelly has produced another blindingly good plot which, mixed with spellbinding action, takes us deep into a corrupt world. Not for the first time do we discover that there is a very fine line indeed between criminals and the police. This is crime thriller writing of the highest order.”
— Matthew Lewin, The Guardian (London)

“This is Connelly doing what he does best: delivering a beautifully structured, richly atmospheric crime novel.”
— Barry Forshaw, The Express (UK)

“Connelly showcases the beautiful and ugly sides of the City of Angels, sometimes “the city of angles.” Right now, three novels are vying for my top mystery of the year. “Echo Park” is one of them.”
— Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“If any living author is channeling Raymond Chandler, it has to be Michael Connelly.”
— Robin Vidimos, The Denver Post

Echo Park received the following honors:
—The Globe and Mail (Canada) Top 100 Books In 2006
—The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Oline Cogdill,  Best of 2006
—The New York Sun, Otto Penzler, 10 Best Mysteries of the Year
—The Mirror (London), Henry Sutton, Best of 2006
—Echo Park won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize For Best Mystery/Thriller

Warner Bros Studios released the film adaptation of Blood Work in August 2002. Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood produced and directed the movie through his Malpaso Productions company. He also stars in the movie as Terry McCaleb. Other cast members include Wanda De Jesus as Graciela Rivers, Jeff Daniels as Buddy, Anjelica Huston as McCaleb’s cardiologist, Dr. Fox, and Tina Lifford as Jaye Winston. Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential) adapted the screenplay. 

The movie is available now on DVD and download.

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Lakeshore Entertainment present’s The Lincoln Lawyer movie, starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller, Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson, and Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet. With Brad Furman directing from a screenplay by John Romano. Also co-starring William H. Macy, Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Michael Pena, Trace Adkins, and Katherine Moennig. This movie was released on March 18, 2011.

The movie is available now on DVD and for download. One version of the DVD includes 2 bonus features with Michael Connelly.

Video Part 1: Michael Connelly and Matthew McConaughey talk about the book and film while on the set of The Lincoln Lawyer movie.

Video Part 2: Michael Connelly and Matthew McConaughey talk about the book and film while on the set of The Lincoln Lawyer movie.

Video: Michael Connelly Discusses The Lincoln Lawyer Movie (2/16/2011)

Characters and Cast
Mickey Haller – Matthew McConaughey
Louis Roulet – Ryan Phillippe
Maggie McPherson – Marisa Tomei
Frank Levin – William H. Macy
Ted Minton – Josh Lucas
Earl – Laurence Mason
Mary Windsor – Frances Fisher
Val Valenzuela – John Leguizamo
Jesus Martinez – Michael Pena
Reggie Campo – Margarita Levieva
Cecil Dobbs – Bob Gunton
Judge Fullbright – Reggie Baker
Hayley Haller – Mackenzie Aladjem
Detective Sobel – Michaela Conlin
Detective Lankford – Bryan Cranston
Detective Kurlen – Michael Pare

Photo Below: Michael Connelly on the set of The Lincoln Lawyer movie. (L to R) Seated Michael Pare, Michael Connelly, screenplay writer John Romano, Ryan Phillippe, Bryan Cranston. Photo Credit: Saeed Adyani.

“Last week I spent a couple nights on the set of The Lincoln Lawyer and I have to say I am excited about this project beyond words. I thought that from what I saw this story is in very secure hands. The acting and direction were fantastic, the sets real and the momentum of the story intact. I think Matthew McConaughey brings a great spirit and accuracy to Mickey Haller. I can’t wait to see what they have when it’s completed.”

— Michael Connelly, August 2010

Print these questions and use them to lead a discussion about The Lincoln Lawyer. Spoiler Warning! This guide does address the entire book.

1. “There is no client as scary as an innocent man.”
This is the very first line of the book, spoken by J. Michael Haller, a famous criminal defense attorney and the father of Mickey Haller, the main character in The Lincoln Lawyer. Did you understand what this meant? Why would an innocent man scare an attorney?

2. “Don’t do the crime if you can’t pay for my time.”
When we are first introduced to Mickey Haller, we find out that he is a criminal defense attorney who knows how to play all the angles. He has been in trouble with the California Bar. His clients are gang members, drug dealers, prostitutes and con men. He does his best for his clients as long as they can pay his bill.  He seems to be the kind of lawyer that we all love to hate. How did you feel about this character when you first began reading about him?

3. “I don’t know many people who have ex-wives who still like them.”
Later we find out that Mickey has two ex-wives, both of whom are still close to him. One even works for him. He has business associates that are also loyal longtime friends. He has longtime clients who he continues to work for, even when they can’t pay him. What does this reveal about his character? Did your feelings toward him as a character change the more you read about him?

4. “There was nothing about the law that I cherished anymore.”
Mickey says that: “the law was not about truth. It was about negotiation, amelioration, manipulation. I didn’t deal in guilt and innocence because everybody was guilty. Of something.” It seems like a very cynical statement. Yet at the same time, Mickey does believe in a justice system based on checks and balances. He feels like he is an important cog in the wheel and that everybody is owed a right to defend themselves. Do you agree with Mickey’s view of the law and the justice system? Would you describe him as a cynic or a realist? Can you understand the value of defense attorneys within our legal system? Did this book change your opinion of the justice system?

5. “A lot of these new people just don’t get it.”
Mickey and his ex-wife, deputy district attorney Maggie McPherson, appear to have a different view of the law. To her it is a calling and about justice. She views what he does as sleazy. Mickey says that her calling may have cost them their marriage. They seem to love each other but can you understand why their marriage didn’t work? Do you think they will end up together again?

6. “He looks like a babe in the woods.”
What was your initial impression of Louis Ross Roulet? Did you think he was innocent or guilty? How did your feelings change for him as you read the book?

7.“I was always worried that I might not recognize innocence.”
Roulet’s defense was based on the theory that Reggie Campo was after his money and that he was set up. We are meant to believe that she allowed herself to be severely beaten in order to score a big payoff.  Did you believe this at first? Is our society so litigious that we could easily believe that someone would do that?

8. “Any case, Anytime, Anywhere.”
Did you respect Mickey’s skill as an attorney and his ability to work within and use the justice system?

9. “He grew up knowing he was going.”
Many of Mickey’s clients were drug dealers who viewed prison as an anticipated part of life. Mickey’s job was to get them the best deal possible. He felt like these young men never had a shot at anything but thug life. He listened to rap music as a way of understanding their lives. Do you think Mickey felt that he had a calling too — to work for people that he views as the underdog? Did his attitude surprise you?

10. “What’s the difference between a catfish and a defense attorney?”
Why are lawyer jokes so commonplace and acceptable?  Mickey said “They always blame the lawyer for making a living,” but with clients like drug dealers, prostitutes and con men, can you see why Mickey would be viewed as a pariah by many people?

11. “By then the Titanic had already left the dock.”
Mickey represented Jesus Menendez in what appeared to be a no-win case. Jesus couldn’t pay him anything but Mickey knew that he would be paid in publicity, which would help him get other clients. Jesus’ claims of innocence didn’t matter. Mickey didn’t even try to investigate the case further. He simply was there to get the best deal for his client. Was Mickey’s lack of effort simply because Jesus couldn’t pay for a good defense or was the evidence available at the time too overwhelming? Do you think you can get a good defense without money?

12. “I had been presented with innocence but I had not seen it or grasped it.”
At the time, Mickey viewed Jesus’ case as hopeless. The evidence was overwhelming and Mickey came on board the case late. If they had gone to trial and lost Jesus might have been sentenced to death. He admitted to taking the case for the publicity value only.  Given the circumstances, do you think Mickey was right to feel guilty about Jesus?

13. “There is no trap so deadly as the one you set for yourself.”
Mickey was trying to insure that Raul’s murderer would be caught, that Jesus Menendez would be released, and that Louis Ross Roulet would go to prison — all while saving his own law practice. But by doing this all on his own he put his life and the lives of others in jeopardy. Did you understand why Mickey chose to not directly get the police involved?

14. “I traded evil for innocence.”
Mickey used questionable ways to make sure that justice is was served. He tampered with a witness (Corliss); he lied to his client and to the police; he withheld information. Do you think the end justified his actions?

Behind The Writing
by Michael Connelly

“Have case, will travel.”

Five or six years ago, I was invited by a friend to join him and others at opening day for the Los Angeles Dodgers. I sat next to a man I hadn’t met before and in the exchange of pleasantries and howyadoins learned he was a criminal defense attorney. As a news reporter, I had briefly covered courts in L.A. County years earlier and knew that defense attorneys, because of the breadth and numerous courthouses in the county, usually concentrated their work in a geographic section of the county. This prevented them from having long down times while driving between courthouses.I asked which courthouses he worked and he said all of them. He said, “have case, will travel.” I asked him where he located his office and he said, “Basically, it’s my car.” He then went on to explain that, since he was willing to take cases anywhere, he made his car a working office. He used a client, who was working off his legal fees, as a driver, and he sat in the back where he had a fold down desk, computer, printer, wireless fax, etc. And, of course, he had his cell phone. While driving from courthouse to courthouse, he worked the phone, wrote legal briefs and pleadings, basically turning driving time into office time. I ended up spending more time talking to him than I did watching the game, and when I went home that day, I had an idea for a new character.

But the idea would need a lot of research. I would need to spend time with defense attorneys. The problem was that, in 2001, I moved from L.A. to Florida, and though I return often, there was not a lot of time for hanging out with lawyers. I put the idea aside, until one day in Florida when I read a story about a trial in the newspaper and recognized the name of the defense attorney as a former roommate from my first job after college at the Daytona Beach News Journal. I reconnected with my friend and spent a couple of years, off and on, watching him work and spending time after work with him and his law partner. From all of this came The Lincoln Lawyer. I wrote it using several of the experiences of my Florida friend and his partner, and then I asked the lawyer in L.A., who originally planted the idea in my head, to read the manuscript to make sure I had California laws and procedures correct. I also have a friend who is a judge in the Criminal Courts Building in L.A., and she allowed me full access to her courtroom so that I could get the sense of trial procedure and custom.

All of this took place over five or six years, which was unusual for me. Most of the time my books run only a couple of years between their inception and completion. This one was with me the longest.

— Michael Connelly, August 2005

The Lincoln Lawyer audiobook by Hachette Audio is read by narrator Adam Grupper. It is available in CD and in downloadable formats, in both unabridged and abridged editions, in the USA and Canada.

Listen to an excerpt: