The Gods of Guilt

Publisher's Summary

Defense attorney Mickey Haller returns with a haunting case in the gripping new thriller from number-one New York Times best-selling author Michael Connelly.

Mickey Haller gets the text, "Call me ASAP - 187," and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.

When Mickey learns that the victim was his own former client, a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on the straight and narrow path, he knows he is on the hook for this one. He soon finds out that she was back in LA and back in the life. Far from saving her, Mickey may have been the one who put her in danger.

Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey must work tirelessly and bring all his skill to bear on a case that could mean his ultimate redemption or proof of his ultimate guilt. The Gods of Guilt shows once again why "Michael Connelly excels, easily surpassing John Grisham in the building of courtroom suspense" (Los Angeles Times).

©2013 Michael Connelly (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"The combination of this fast-paced courtroom drama and Giles's steady and consistent narration makes for an engrossing listening experience…Giles's rich portrayals help listeners differentiate the multiple characters as Haller becomes convinced that his client is not only innocent but also the victim of an elaborate setup involving local police and DEA agents." ( AudioFile)

"Connelly knows when to put his foot on the gas and when to take it off. Once he has you on board, turning the pages, you won't want to climb off." ( Boston Globe)

"Haller is the kind of slick, cynical showman who can't resist making high drama out of every legal procedure....There's always something deadly serious behind Connelly's entertaining courtroom high jinks" ( New York Times Book Review)

God of Scribe

After reading all 5 Mickey Haller novels, I have come to 1 definitive conclusion. Michael Connelly has both a boundless and an immeasurably creative mind. I have read many 'courtroom' thrillers, and i would firmly place Connelly at the top of the list of authors in this genre. Whats crazy is this isn't even his bread and butter. Mickey Haller is the cherry to the Hieronymus Bosch sundae. Simply put, this man can write. All 5 Haller novels are easily worth a credit.

74 of 77 people found this review helpful

Good court Drama

A good court drama that has several different threads that are part of the same line of corruption that leads deep into the cartel and police dept. After the death of a young escort her handler contacts her attorney to defend him against false charges brought against him in the case of her death.

I always enjoy Michael Connelly's writing, this is my first in the Mickey Haller series and I can understand why people like it so much. Great characters, fast pace and excellent narration will bring me back for more in this series.

41 of 43 people found this review helpful

Good Reader/Good Story

Good story line with plenty of twists to keep you interested. The reader could be understood. He had a pleasant voice and did a good job with all the different characters. Recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery.

29 of 31 people found this review helpful

Connelly Connects Again

Michael Connelly has always been dependable in delivering a top notch Harry Bosh or Mickey Haller story. His detective and lawyer yarns have been so good, I never bothered to write a review in this forum. Most everybody loves chocolate, so why rave and try and convince more people to partake in this pleasure.

I've noticed a number of reviewers indicating that this book about the lawyer is not up to the standards of one or more previous books. My only question for them is - did they really read the same book that I did!

I was fascinated by the intricacies of the trial, I got choked up near the end of the book (good thing I was alone in my car at the time and nobody saw that), and was blindsided by how a major witness ended up testifying. This was very entertaining from start to finish.

The neat thing about a Mickey Haller book is you never know if his client is really guilty or innocent until you are well into the story. Mr. Connelly is willing to expose that person you have been rooting for as a villain. This author is also willing to show our hero lawyer as not so praiseworthy in defending and freeing obviously guilty criminals.

You will have to read "The Gods of Guilt" to find out if he pulls any of those stunts in his latest book. I'm sure the majority of you will be glad you did.

37 of 40 people found this review helpful

Definitely entertaining. I had some smiles.

Boy can this author write. I can’t believe after doing so many books, he still comes up with such a good story, and well done, and entertaining. He does NOT use artificial devices to create mystery and suspense. He does NOT use flashbacks, jumping around in time, stopping scenes in the middle to create temporary cliffhangers. There’s no stupidity or characters doing things out of character to create conflict. It’s just a good story, in chronological order, good characters, good dialogue, and I loved the COMPLETE ENDING. It wrapped up well, questions were answered. I had a smile on my face all during the last chapter. Yes that means it was a happy ending. YAY!

I mention things he does NOT do because I am tired of other authors using those gimmicks. And in my opinion the best writing does not use them. And Connelly should be a role model for any suspense author (including romantic suspense which I love but frequently is not well done).

Some fun things in this story: I was intrigued with a scene where two characters were making their way into an unspoken agreement, acting it out on the fly, in front of others, without letting others know what they were doing, and also unsure of it themselves. I chuckled at Mickey’s comments about his clip on ties. I liked this neat character Legal Segal.

I normally do not like first person stories. But Connelly’s I do.

One minor complaint. Someone hired or forced Sewel to stab someone. I wanted to know more about that, who and how.

The narrator Peter Giles was very good.

Genre: legal suspense

62 of 68 people found this review helpful

Luxury Vehicle… Does It All

Michael Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer, Mickey Haller is perfectly crafted to fit my tastes. What it's not? Well, great literature. What it is? Well, great fun! Connelly writes this stuff for a living. He's like a successful architect who makes a bazillion bucks by satisfying clients.

Haller satisfies me this time by working his way through a decently challenging puzzle together with a cast that fills in all the holes… both entertainment and plot holes. From the opening grabber to the no-loose-ends wrap up… I want to know how this accused digital pimp'll get out from under the ton of evidence Connelly pours over his plight.

And Peter Giles directs this cast that he creates for us in perfect synch with Connelly's craftsmanship.

33 of 36 people found this review helpful

Good ~ Twice Read!

Would you listen to The Gods of Guilt again? Why?

Yes... already listened twice! Who are the Gods of Guilt? They are the Jury, of course! I am a Connelly fan, particularly Heller and Bosch, but loved Heller in Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer. A very entertaining personality.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Heller... his character is entertaining and unconventional... his office is in his Lincoln Town Car!

What about Peter Giles’s performance did you like?

Giles is okay... nice voice but not enough acting abilities. Dick Hill is much better.

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

No..... too long

13 of 15 people found this review helpful

Not quite The Lincoln Lawyer, but still great!

Sometimes I find it hard not to be critical of one of my favorite authors, not because the book is disappointing, but because the expectation bar is set too high. Connelly sets the standard for police/crime procedural and it is very high.

The trial work in this book is phenomenally suspenseful. It kept me up late wondering how it would end. In court and in preparation Mickey Haller's is a gritty and smart strategist. My disappointment lies in Haller's shallow and empty personal life. There he is weak, foolish, and a boring, self absorbed whiner. The contrast is remarkable. Thank goodness I don't read these books for the character's personal lives!

I found the narration lacking emotion and borderline deadpan. However, it's important to note that it never took away from the story. I just wish Will Patton or Ray Porter would take over the narration of Connelly's work.

Sorry for the cynical review. The bottom line is that this a really terrific read. An easy 4 star winner!

28 of 34 people found this review helpful

suspenseful story

Michael Connelly is an excellent writer. He can grab your attention from the start of the book and keep it until the end. The book starts with Mickey Haller down in the dumps after losing the district attorney election. He got a drunk off a DUI charge only to have him kill a mother and daughter in an auto accident, friends of his daughter so now she will not speak to him at all. Suddenly things look up with a paying client charged with murder. As the case goes along Mickey determines the client is an innocent man and the murderer is rouge DEA agent. As team Haller sets out to solve the cases we have lots of action, courtroom drama, suspense and a bit of humor. This series keeps getting better with each book. I cannot wait for the next one to come out. Peter Giles does an excellent job narrating the book.

16 of 21 people found this review helpful

Alright, alright, alright

A couple of years ago, I went on a weekend long Michael Connelly Audible bender. My kids were with their Dad, and I was doing what single moms do when the kids are out of the house for a few days. No, I wasn't at Sena, the local tapas bar, drinking a cold Pinot Grigio in an oversized, delicate wine glass and eating surprisingly good ceviche on thick home made tortilla chips. I was cleaning, decluttering, and rearranging my house, accompanied by "The Lincoln Lawyer" series.

Mickey Haller's haunts are the tired courthouses of Los Angeles, with the echoes of heels in the marble tiled hallways really built for men in expensive and noiseless loafers; the soft whisper of attorneys and their clients tucked into doorways, agonizing over jury selection; and the hopeful eyes of hallways of petty criminals looking for an attorney to get them out of whatever hole they've dug. Connelly has a way of writing Los Angeles so the sad and fraught places are intimate and special.

In "The Gods of Guilt" (2013) Connelly works the same magic on people on the edges. The murder victim is a prostitute who had a chance to make it out once, but an old life cruelly clawed her back. The suspect is her technologically advanced but guilt wracked pimp, who punishes himself far more than the legal system ever could or would. Connelly's "Gods of Guilt" are nominally the jury, but perhaps they are really the voices of our conscience.

The title of this review is from an Oscar acceptance speech of Matthew McConaughey, the original silver screen "Lincoln Lawyer". Oh, I know McConaughey won for "Dallas Buyer's Club" (2013) and the term 'silver screen' is a 1940's throwback, but Connelly so reminds me of Raymond Chandler (1888 - 1959) and his cynical detective, Philip Marlowe. And Humphrey Bogart was the original Marlowe.

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36 of 49 people found this review helpful