The Reversal

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

Brilliantly executed

Connelley's newest brings his two most well known characters together in a masterfully crafted story of legal gamesmanship and investigatory prowess very much in the style of Law and Order that is more heavily written as a Mickey Haller courtroom procedural than a police thriller. Harry Bosch plays a significant role, maybe as much as 40% of the story --and provides much of the action in the book, but it is the interaction of the two that adds some real personal interest. The half brothers are getting to know each other a little as are their daughters and these relationships promise avenues for some terrific storytelling in the future.

I think what impressed me the most about how Connelly executed this work was what he didn't do. There were at least half a dozen times in the book where he'd left the opportunity open for fairly obvious plot devices that authors over use to manipulate the reader or force a dramatic turn of events. Connelly's skill is in understanding that jaded readers expect these things and cynically predict them as we're reading. Just as we get to the point where we expect to turn the page to find the predictable forced plot twist, the story resolves in beautiful simplicity that feels far more real than any contrived t.v. show style drama. Bravo to Connelly for resisting the obvious. That said, there were some missed opportunities here that I think hint at future stories. For example, I look forward to some adventures that feature the newly acquainted cousins. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. It was a good story and well executed, but may have left a little too much of the sub plot on the editing room floor.

40 of 40 people found this review helpful

Loved it

I made excuses to listen to this - my wife loved it because my "honey-do" list was more than completed - I found other stuff to do while listening. I have read or listened to every Michael Connelly book - and I just love his style and keeping his old characters fresh.

26 of 26 people found this review helpful

I really wanted to like this more than I did

I will echo some of the previous reviewers; the ending seemed abrupt thus not giving credit to the developed plot, the narrator although competent,was flat and in fact sometimes it was difficult at first to tell whether it was Bosch or Haller talking, and overall the book lacked a bit of heart. I did like the team of Bosch, Haller and Maggie McFierce, especially the courtroom drama bits. I just wished for more though, and would have given a 3.5 if I could. So overall.... not terrific but also no bad.

28 of 29 people found this review helpful

Haller and Bosch Together

This story features the defense attorney Mickey Haller and the LAPD Homocide Detective, Harry Bosch. Bosch is usually he principle character in these stories, but he clearly plays a supporting role in the case. This is too bad as Mickey Haller is not a particularly likeable character and is usually quick to judge and often wrong.

The premise of the story is a bit improbable as the Haller is talked into being a prosecutor against a Jason Jessup who is being retried for a crime he was convicted of years earlier, To complicate the story, he choses his ex-wife as his second chair.

However, once you accept this set up, the story is interesting and face paced and you will likely not want to stop listening. It is one of those books that makes you drive around the block a couple of extra times or just sit in you car so you can listen to a few mintues more.

The only sligthly confusing issue was taht when Haller was speaking, the story was in the first person. For everyone else, the story was in the third person. I found this switch awkwatrd on several occassions.

The ending did not tie up all the loose ends left in the story. In fact, there were more unsolved crimes at the end of the book than at the beginning. This leaves room for a sequel or two.

If you are Michael Connelly fan, you are likely to enjoy this as much as the others.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Left me feeling a bit empty...

I've read all of Michael Connelly's books and love all the main characters, especially "Harry Bosch", however this book seemed like an outline...not as rich. Good storyline, however it just moved straight through to the end without much depth to the characters. What about the relationships between Harry and his half-brother; between Holler and McFierce?; the new cousins? What's the story with Jacobs? The ending fell flat and left loose ends... If Connelly would have just spent a few more hours adding some flavor to the story and giving us a more finished ending this would have been a 5 star review, instead of 3 1/2. Kind of like roast chicken without seasoning... mashed potatoes without gravy; waffles without a topping... all good, but not great...

16 of 17 people found this review helpful

Strangely Unsatisfying Ending BUT Recommended

Okay, it's a spell binder. I had total trouble turning it off. Normally I listen at the gym. This one I snuck into a Sunday afternoon. The characters work well together (although I wondered occasionaly about the tension between the half brothers. It seemed to intrude without useful purpose). Regardless, the plotting is swift, strong, and oozes energy. Clever how Connelly melds this ensemble with twin protagonists. From a very personal standpoint, I'd wished for another ending. But... but... it still works with effortless power. I recommend this experience. It was enjoyable.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Connelly is superb.

I have read or listened to all but 1 of the author's works and I have never been disappointed. The Reversal is a different type of mystery, we know all along who is good and who is bad, but it is a really fun ride.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Flat, where is the ending?

I have enjoyed the other Bosch books, but I really thought the ending was a total bust, dud, silent thud. The story deserved better.

24 of 27 people found this review helpful

Ending is Disappointing

This story had good court room drama and I loved that Mickey and Bosch were in the story together along with their daughters. However, the ending to this story was more than disappointing. There was no hint of "trouble in paradise" to justify the ending. The ending was too abrupt. The story deserved a better ending. All that said, I am an avid Connelly fan and although I do not like all of his stories, to date I have listened to 13 of them. The first five or six novels are his best work, and Dick Hill and Len Cariou are the best narrators in that order. Giles does not do Mickey and Bosch justice... there was no difference in tone of voice used for them, and he could not give an adequate tone of voice for the women in the story.

I have listened to Reversal twice. The story holds my interest well enough until the last hour or so. The suspense is building and I am ready for a spectacular ending instead I am left disappointed and wondering what happened (???). Did I miss something?

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Almost as if it is two books!

I rarely feel like giving up on a book, a Connelly offering in particular. But the first half of this one had my "Romance Novel Sensor" ringing gently on the periphery. Not glandular but boring. Then we got a bit of complexity and intrigue plus some courtroom hi jinx and the day was nearly saved.
What made this effort mediocre for me was the reader's performance. Flat, monotone are a couple of words that come to mind. Hieronymus just didn't have that famous edge as he came across a bit like Robert Young.
Finally, I must apply the dreaded "formulaic" as well. Connolly, if he actually authored every word, didn't seem to have his heart in this one.

32 of 38 people found this review helpful