The Fifth Witness

I don't like courtroom/lawyer stories as a rule, but there is something about Connelly that keeps you wanting more. So many people told me this was a 5 star book that I had to try it and am Glad I Did. There is something about his writing that won't let you go once you get started. If I had known that this was courtroom oriented I probably would have passed and missed a great book. The narration and story fit perfectly. The mix of Haller's personal and professional life was a really good mix and done beautifully. Don't miss this one.

Michael Connelly is one of the best mystery writers today. He not only can tell a story but he gives you characters you want to return to again and again. Harry Bosch is as good a detective as you can find. Cassie West almost makes you forget about Lisbeth Salander. And if you ever need a good lawyer, there is none better than Mickey Haller.

Haller has appeared in four Connelly books but does his best work in The Fifth Witness. The story is fast paced and has enough twists and turns for even the most demanding mystery reader. He give you plenty of characters to cheer and a few to boo. The end is not only satisfying but sets us up for a future Haller adventure. My only regret is that I can't give this book six stars.

Following Haller trying to work towards victory and the facts as they surfaced was more than fun, it was mentally engaging. I found myself formulating the questions I wanted Haller to ask. He didn't always ask them. It really ticked me off, but I imagine that's this is the way it really is. This book kept me captured and wanting to to read more to get the next revelation. If you like good stories, good people, and how it all works you'll enjoy this.

The percussive consonants, especially the "t's" and "d's" makes listening a bit tiring to the ears. A good start would be to move the mic away from his mouth.
All sentences are delivered with maximum impact, rather than with subtlety based on the rhythm of the story. This reader would be perfect for commercials. I felt like I was being "sold" through the entire book.
Good story, tiring narrator.

Mick is my favorite MC character. 5th Witness was not as good as the previous 2 Mickey books but still a great listen. It gets an extra star due to the great performance by Peter Giles. Giles once again does an excellent job bringing Mick to life. How anyone think Giles doesnt do a great job with Mickey is beyond me.

Few of the 300 books I've listened to on Audible make it to my "driveway" list but this is certainly one of them. My "driveway" list consists of books that 5 stars will not accurately describe how addictive the book really is. "Driveway" books leave me sitting in my car LONG after arriving home from my commute. "One more chapter" usually turns into two, three, and sometimes four additional chapters before I walk into my house. Certainly, in my opinion, this is the best of Connelly's "Haller" novels. The Lincoln
Lawyer was great but this one had a certain courtroom strategy aspect that just kept you wanting more. The ending was one of his best yet and although I can't say much about it without giving too much away, I can say you will
need 30 minutes to just sit and contemplate the entire book after realizing
what just occurred. If you are a Connelly fan, a courtroom drama fan, or just a fan of really good, addictive novels, you will love this read. Highly recommended.

This book keeps you wondering, what will happen next. Its good to listen to while driving, because it keeps you alert and on the edge about what happens next,

It's really very good. It would be hard to say enough about this book without divulging important points. I will say that the end will blow you away -- not because it's a surprise, but because of the visceral upheaval you may (I did feel) racing to the conclusion. The beauty of this kind of writing is that everything that occurs is there, hidden in plain sight in the tiny details so that the end is relief but not a shock. The shock comes from the recognition that we share Mickey Haller's joys, pains and disappointments during his discoveries. The satisfaction comes when we agree with his final acts and decisions.

Okay, let me say I have liked Connelly since his days with the Times. I have liked Harry, was amazed with the Poet, but Haller is so real as an LA criminal attorney I was hooked with the first in the series. Nevertheless, the key to this novel is having a protagonist that you feel a bit uneasy with his ethics (which was not really true with the first two), as well as having a defendant that you really get to distrust to the point of almost disliking. Add to that a contemporary social ill which should have set up the good guy/bad guy dichotomy (and yet never really does in black and white terms). So the imminent reality Connelly sets is kind of like riding the rapids in an inner tube--fun and exciting but never a moment when you can get ignore that next curve.

The story line, the suspense and the narrator made the story really great. Peter Giles voice just seemed to fit the Mickey Haller I had in my mind.

I really liked the fact that with Michael Connelly's books, you don't anticipate who the bad guy is, or even sometimes know where the story is going all together. The story line is not preditctable.

His narration brings life each character. He doesn't over do it with his voice when it comes to the female characters and make them seem unreal, like I've heard with some narrators.