Book of the Month - By Kathleen Thorne

The Lincoln Lawyer
By Michael Connelly

Published By Orion
Cost €15.99

If you ever felt the legal process had little to do with the pursuit of truth, then this novel will confirm your worst suspicions. The story is told from the perspective of an American defence lawyer, Michael Haller. In the course of his work he represents a motley crew of clients in their various courtroom dramas. They are mostly poor and can seldom pay him well.

Haller is an interesting character. He is a complex mixture of hard-nosed lawyer, loving father, loyal friend and highly skilled manipulator. He is also a risk-taker who manages his legal business out of the back seat of his Lincoln car - hence the title of the book.

This particular story is about the defence of a rich young man, Louis Roulet, who is accused of a serious physical attack on a prostitute after she admits him to her apartment. At first we have some sympathy for the defendant. He emphatically and convincingly denies that he has committed the crime.

Then the plot takes an unexpected turn. It brings us back in time to the case of Menendez, whom Haller once defended. At the time Haller believed that he was guilty. He encouraged him to plead guilty and thereby landed him in jail for a considerable period of time.

Later it transpires that Menendez is innocent. Haller is appalled and is reminded of his late father's dictum, "there is no client as scary as an innocent man."

The two cases become inextricably linked. Things turn out to be quite different from what they first seemed. Haller finds himself in a courtroom defending the indefensible in order to achieve justice. At this point the reader is drawn into the proceedings to the extent that one is left gasping at the horror of it all. The anticipation of the outcome provides us with suspense writing at its best.

There is no doubt we are presented with lots of evidence of unadulterated evil. However, the story also forces us to think about parent/child relationships. The interactions between Louis Roulet and his mother lead us into muddy waters, where the nature of evil becomes very unclear indeed.

This book can be annoying at times in that it introduces so much extraneous material that does not connect well with the main story. Nevertheless, it is an absorbing tale. If you are looking for a good holiday read that will draw you in and take you to a world which is different and a bit scary, then you will enjoy The Lincoln Lawyer.

Back to Chill-out Homepage »