Abandoned by Booklikes

I have been so busy that no new books have grabbed me. I have tried a few and abandoned them all. I finally picked this book up in order to finally move off the BL space that I have been on for I think 3 weeks now. I am so glad that I read the first book in the Mickey Haller series. This book is fire. I loved every part of it and it was just what I needed right now. 

Mickey Haller is a defense attorney in Los Angeles. He has not had much luck in getting what he calls a "franchise" case these days. Meaning he is trying to get a client that is going to mean big money to him down the line. When he is unexpectedly called to handle a very rich client who is accused of attempted rape and assault, he wonders if he finally found what he is looking for. However, not is all that it appears, and then Haller has to think about justice and what you would do to make sure the innocent don't pay for what others have done.

I loved Haller as a character. Very complicated and not similar to Harry Bosch at all. We find out that Haller's father died when he was five and was a world famous defense attorney. With two failed marriages behind him, and a nine year old daughter he wants to get close to, he is doing what he can to track down his white whale, his franchise client that will put him over the top. 

I liked that Connelly took a look at defense attorneys. Haller has a lot of crap spewed his way by the prosecutors and cops he goes up against in this book. And honestly, I liked his point of view. He is there to do what he can for the best of his clients. Even though we may not like that people get defended for all matters of things, I like a book that made the point that everyone should be treated the same under the law, even if they are guilty as sin. If the prosecutor or cops mess up, there are repercussions to that. With many cases in the news right now that are disheartening to me as a citizen, it made me feel good that we just had Haller out there swinging away to make sure he did what he was supposed to do in his branch of the justice system. 

We also get a look at some other characters that I managed to like in such a short time. Haller's two ex-wives are total opposites, but both definitely still care/love him. He doesn't have a terrible relationship with women at all it seems. He respects them and I loved how he was not here for his one ex and her disparaging going out of his way to keep helping a troubled prostitute that he saw sliding away into a life she was never going to get out of. There's a throw away line there about Haller doing what he can to help these women like his father did which is a nice callback to a Bosch novel. I won't spoil anything for readers who haven't read a Bosch book, but when I read "The Brass Verdict" I will happily spoil away. 

We have a tightly constructed plot that I don't want to give too much away about, but ultimately Haller realizes that he is in between a rock and a hard place according to the law. And I loved how Connelly resolves the whole thing. I don't know if it would be true to life, but whatever, I loved the ending. 

The writing was really good and I think the story being told from Haller's POV is what made the story pop for me. Also doesn't hurt that I kept imagining Matthew Mcconaughey talking the whole time in my head. 

The flow was excellent from beginning to end. I loved how little legal tidbits got included in what Haller was saying to you the whole time. And a look at some of his cases was pretty great too. 

Cannot wait for the next book!

Bank:
April 15: $20
April 17: $23. I read "The Wangs Vs the World", electronic pages 368.
April 24: $28. I read "Dream Wedding", electronic pages 512.
April 25: $28. Landed on BL and had to post a vacation photo or tell a story about a vacation.
April 29: $31. Read "Whitethorn Woods", 354 pages Kindle edition, $3.00
April 29: $34. Read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", 256 pages;$3.00.
May 4: $37. Read "The Ghost Brigades" Paperback, 346 pages; $3.00
May 8: $42. Read "American Gods" Hardcover, 465 pages; $5.00.
May 8: $45. Read "Moon Called" 298 pages Kindle edition; $3.00.
May 13: $50. Read "Solitude Creek" 434 pages electronic; $5.00.
May 14: $53. Read "No Country for Old Men" 320 pages Kindle edition; $3.00
May 19: $56. Read "The Witches: Salem, 1692" 384 ebook; $3.00
May 30: $59. Read "The Good Earth" 372 pages ebook: $3.00
June 4: $62. Read "The Wind in the Willows" paperback edition, 256 pages: $3.00

June 27: $67. Read "The Lincoln Lawyer" kindle edition, 528 pages: $5.00.