The Reversal

Harry Bosch, Book 16 (Mickey Haller, Book 3)

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Peter Giles

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Longtime defense attorney Mickey Haller is recruited to change stripes and prosecute the high-profile retrial of a brutal child murder. After 24 years in prison, convicted killer Jason Jessup has been exonerated by new DNA evidence. Haller is convinced Jessup is guilty, and he takes the case on the condition that he gets to choose his investigator, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch.

Together, Bosch and Haller set off on a case fraught with political and personal danger. Opposing them is Jessup, now out on bail, a defense attorney who excels at manipulating the media, and a runaway eyewitness reluctant to testify after so many years.

With the odds and the evidence against them, Bosch and Haller must nail a sadistic killer once and for all. If Bosch is sure of anything, it is that Jason Jessup plans to kill again.

Impressed? Ace detective Harry Bosch is also on the case in other exciting Michael Connelly crime-fiction novels.

©2010 Michael Connelly (P)2010 Hachette Audio

I loved it!

I've read (listened to) all of Michael Connelly's novels and I felt this is one of his best. I couldn't stop listening. I hope the next novel in this series is in the works to come along soon.

Team of Legends

Assistant District Attorney Maggie McPherson, Mickey Haller’s ex-wife, is known as Maggie McFierce. She’s always been relegated to prosecuting crimes at the Van Nuys Courthouse, and Haller wants to jump start her stalled career.

Van Nuys is no backwoods court. In real life, there have been some very high profile cases tried there - like ‘The Bling Ring’. For prosecutors, though, the Holy Grail is the downtown Los Angeles Criminal Court.

In “The Reversal”, Haller is asked to serve as a Special Prosecutor on a case reversed and remanded for new trial. Haller seizes the opportunity to work with Maggie, whom he has never fallen out of love with, hoping to help her career secure her transfer downtown.

Haller selects Harry Bosch, whom he met in “The Brass Verdict” as his investigator. Bosch is, as always, resourceful and intuitive.

Haller is prosecuting the two-decades old murder of a girl. The evidence still exists, because Defendant Jason Jessup’s appeals preserved it. However, witnesses have died, and forgotten things. The main prosecution witness, the victim’s older sister, fell into despair so deep that she disappeared.

Michael Connelly’s description of the Los Angeles as a whole, and the area surrounding the Courts, is spot on. It’s one of the reasons I love these books - he is a modern day Raymond Chandler.

The point-of-view of “The Reversal” is part Haller, and part Bosch. As an audio book, that was hard to follow at times. Adam Grupper does a good job distinguishing Bosch’s voice from Haller’s voice, but I just wasn’t always sure if I was hearing Bosch’s thoughts as he listened to Haller, or if Haller was talking. Or the reverse.

I really liked the story the story, and I really like the series. This is the third one in a row I’ve listened to, so this is my Haller Review, 3 of 4.

On to #4, “The Fifth Witness” then . . .

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captivating enough to stand a PeterGiles narration

Loved the dream team, not sure how I feel about the ending though. As for the narrator, thank God Connelly is a great writer, Peter Giles somehow manages to get the Lincoln lawyer sounding whiny, Maggie sounds like a scared teenage girl, and Bosch sounds incompetent.

Classic Connelly

The John Nash "Prisoner's Dilemma" allusion/silent witness (and its disastrous repercussions) is powerfully constructed. The dungeon episode classic Connelly. The Haller-Bosch interaction no bromance. Haller's turn as prosecutor no walk in the sun either. What is there not to flip over? Well, maybe Peter Giles.

Another excellent novel

Connelly and Giles performs them. I could not put this audio down. Thanks for the rich entertainment.

Mickey+Harry+Maggie+Rachel

Compelling Connelly, kept me listening an 1.5 hours past bed time! The climax scene actually felt rushed through a little too quickly thus losing the drama and tension created throughout the rest of the book. Hope there is more Mickey Haller to come.

Harry and Mickey - great grumpy guys

I think I read all the Harry Bosch books and loved them. Now I find Mickey Haller and love the listens. Peter Giles is perfect, he sort of groans Haller to life. Story was great and characters better. I hope Connelly continues with the Haller books with a little Bosch thrown in from time to time.

The villan was nasty, Harry climbs out on a limb and there were plenty of "Oh no"s throughout the book. Good listen.

Another masterpiece!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, another edge of your seat thriller!

What does Peter Giles bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He read the book well and gave voices to each character. His voice, pitch, tone and reading was enjoyable!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Peter Giles brought Connelly's story through with excellent skill!

good read

I've read several of the Connelly "Harry Bosch" series and thought I would try this series out as well. Enjoyable - I will read more of this series. I was a bit let-down by the ending, but even so, I liked the characters and story development until the last 2 chapters. Felt kinda like Connelly just got tired of writing the story and so ended it abruptly. Maybe that's just me though - I don't see other folks with that same take on it as I read other reviewers.

Loved this story

Peter Giles isn't my favorite narrator, but this was, by far, my favorite Michael Connely book. It wasn't as suspenseful as others but the story was well written and Mickey Haller's character continues to captivate me. Great book.