December 21, 2009

‘The Brass Verdict’ – Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly is my favorite contemporary author, and I was taken aback when I saw one of his newest novels in Phnom Penh. I bought it, of course, and a few days later, the deed was done... the book had been read.

This is his 19th novel, and it is just as good, if not better than the preceding ones. 'The Brass Verdict' brings back defense lawyer Mickey Haller for the second time. He has taken a year or so off after being involved in a near fatal case (read: The Lincoln Lawyer). As the novel starts, Haller is planning a return to law practice. However, he is surprised to hear that a fairly close colleague of his has been murdered, and as a result, Haller has inherited his case load. At the top of the pile is a high profile case involving the head of a Hollywood movie company that has been accused of killing his wife and her lover.

As Haller is getting started with taking over the cases, he is quickly confronted by Connelly's classic character, Detective Harry Bosch. Bosch has been in over a dozen of Connelly's, but never in the same book with Haller. Bosch is investigating the death of the other lawyer, as well as trying to get Haller to help.

I give 'The Brass Verdict' 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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