The Law of Innocence

By: Michael Connelly

Narrated by: Peter Giles

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller is back on the job in this heart-stopping thriller from a renowned number one New York Times best-selling author.

"One of the finest legal thrillers of the last decade. (Associated Press)

On the night he celebrates a big win, defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a former client in the trunk of his Lincoln. Haller is immediately charged with murder but can’t post the exorbitant $5 million bail slapped on him by a vindictive judge.

Mickey elects to represent himself and is forced to mount his defense from his jail cell in the Twin Towers Correctional Center in downtown Los Angeles. All the while he needs to look over his shoulder - as an officer of the court he is an instant target, and he makes few friends when he reveals a corruption plot within the jail.

But the bigger plot is the one against him. Haller knows he’s been framed, whether by a new enemy or an old one. As his trusted team, including his half-brother, Harry Bosch, investigates, Haller must use all his skills in the courtroom to counter the damning evidence against him.

Even if he can obtain a not-guilty verdict, Mickey understands that it won’t be enough. In order to be truly exonerated, he must find out who really committed the murder and why. That is the law of innocence.

In his highest stakes case yet, the Lincoln Lawyer fights for his life and proves again why he is “a worthy colleague of Atticus Finch...in the front of the pack in the legal thriller game” (Los Angeles Times).

A CBS The Doctors Book Club Pick
A People Book of the Week Selection

©2020 Michael Connelly (P)2020 Little, Brown & Company

Critic Reviews

"The Night Fire offers more than a few incendiary surprises." (Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times)

"A virtuoso performance...The Night Fire glows with the instincts and intelligence Bosch and Ballard bring to their pursuit of the truth." (Collette Bancroft, Tampa Bay Times)

"One of the greatest crime writers of all time...Connelly continues to deliver winner after winner, year in and year out...reading one of his books is an experience unlike anything else the genre has to offer." (Ryan Steck, Crimereads)

Mickey is back

The Law of Innocence is book number 7 in the Lincoln Lawyer series of courtroom mysteries by the #1 New York Times Best-Selling and Award-Winning author Michael Connelly. I am a huge Connelly fan, as you may remember, and I was thrilled endlessly by this latest novel. With his most recent books featuring Harry Bosch and earlier this year Jack McAvoy, it was quite the time to check in on Mickey.

Well, he is not doing that great. Our favorite defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by an LAPD officer for what at first seems to be a routine traffic stop, but, when blood starts to drip from the Linconln's trunk, things are getting ugly fast and he finds himself in jail. To clear his name, Mickey must defend his own person, playing double roles, as the defendant and council.

A question still stands, we all know that Mickey is a great lawyer and a decent father, but, is he also a cold-blooded murderer?

After his excellent performance of Fair Warning, talented actor, narrator and voice-over artist Peter Giles steps back into Mickey's shoes and delivers another strong narrative experience for the listener. He infuses the story with urgency and intensity, he reads, he acts, he is 100% involved and fights for his life, just like Mickey does.

The Law of Innocence is another eloquent example for why Michael Connelly is one of the most respected and loved authors out there. With the stakes set so high right from the beginning, we are left almost breathless for the rest of the story, rooting for Mickey and trying to understand how he got himself in this particular situation.

If you like this review please consider giving it a Helpful Vote below. You can find more of them here and on theAudiobookBlog. I also post reviews at the author / narrator / publisher’s request. Get in touch with me for more details.

Unnecessary Politics

We now live in an era when even our fictional characters have a political position on President Trump and COVID. The story is good and at times even had my heart rate elevated! I was immersed in the story and then suddenly brought back to the real world as Mickey referenced the impeachment proceedings of President Trump. Then the timeline of the pandemic began cropping up in the story. Then during jury selection we are given insight into Mickey’s reason for dismissing a juror: she has a Trump sticker on her car, went to a conservative Christian university and wouldn’t be able to weigh the facts of the case because she has “blind allegiance” since she supports a president whom CNN has outed on several occasions as a liar. The inclusion of 2020 political issues in the story was clunky and forced. The author went out of his way to let us know his political leanings and that he considers the other side idiots in all walks of life. This will alienate some of his readers. The character’s political “insights” did nothing for the story, if they had been left out it wouldn’t have changed the storyline one bit. The reality is the underlying story is decent, well-paced and intense, however that world is shattered by the awkward insertion of 2020 real life. **Note to author** - fiction is one of the last bastions we have to take a break from daily reality, it is a shame to lose that place of respite.

Sick of the politics

I love Michael Connelly’s books and have read all of his books. I was very disappointed when this jumped on the anti-Trump bandwagon. I don’t care what the author’s personal views are but they detracted greatly from my enjoyment of the book.

Disappointed in Connelly

I don't understand why authors can't keep their political opinions out of their work. It isn't necessary to the story line.
As always I looked forward to his latest book only to get insulted. If it weren't for this I would have given 5 stars.

Lost a fan

I read books to be free of all the political bias It has no place in the book and ruined a less than okay book

Wont buy another from connellly ever again

Anti Trump Rhetoric Detracts from a good story

Ironic it's identified as fact within the context of a fictional story. Very disappointing Connelly

A little disappointed

I really enjoyed this book but did not like the political references. The Bosch and Heller series are my favorite. I listen to books to get away from all the political opinions that are everywhere. I want to be entertained not persuaded in a political view.

Very disappointing... the very political verbiage/opinions were unnecessary to the storyline

Was SO disappointed that the author felt he had to ruin this book with his personal political views... I have enjoyed his books for years, but has me feeling that I will not purchase another! At a time when we so need people to just calm down all the blaming/name calling, the author’s unnecessary political verbiage did the opposite.... very disappointed as was the 15 members of my book club

1 star because of the addition of personal politic

It would have been a good book but you just had to add personal political beliefs. I just wanted to enjoy a good read.

Politically motivated book

I have been a great admirer of Michael Connelly until this novel, but the placing of political statements in this latest book is offensive.