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The Lincoln Lawyer
by Michael Connelly

The Lincoln Lawyer reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 86 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.4 out of 10
based on 16 reviews
read critic reviews
how did we calculate this?
based on 15 votes
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The bestselling crime novelist returns with a story about a Los Angeles defense attorney (who operates out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car) who finally lands his dream case, representing a real estate broker charged with murder.

Little, Brown, 416 pages
10/03/2005
$26.95

ISBN: 0316734934

Fiction
General Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers

What The Critics Said

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

Chicago Tribune Dick Adler
Connelly has stepped up to the plate in the overflowing ballpark of legal thrillers and blasted a grand slam his first time at bat. [2 Oct 2005]
Los Angeles Times Eugen Weber
Beware of picking up Michael Connelly's "The Lincoln Lawyer." You won't want to put it down until you've navigated its rapids to the end. [30 Sep 2005, p. E28]
Publishers Weekly
Heart-stopping twists and topflight storytelling. [5 Sep 2005, p. 36]
San Francisco Chronicle David Lazarus
Connelly's work has it all--sharply drawn, engaging characters, snappy dialogue and a plot that moves like a shot of Red Bull.
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The Globe And Mail [Toronto] Margaret Cannon
The Lincoln Lawyer is everything a great novel ought to be. [8 Oct 2005]
USA Today Carol Memmott
The Lincoln Lawyer is Connelly's first legal thriller and is one of the best novels he has written, if not the best.
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Boston Globe Hallie Ephron
Legal thrillers don't get better than this, and Connelly is at the top of his game in this departure from his usual PI/police procedural.
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Chicago Sun-Times Gary Dretzka
Ethically blind lawyers lead a famously blind justice system through a maze of misplaced values, all in the service of morally blind clients and politicians blinded by power.
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Wall Street Journal Tom Nolan
A tense and surprise-filled story that does justice to both halves of the phrase "legal thriller."
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Washington Post Jonathan Yardley
If the best of Grisham's legal novels grade in at a solid A, The Lincoln Lawyer gets an equally solid B+, which isn't exactly bad for the first time out.
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Daily Telegraph Susanna Yager
There are moments of real tension before Connelly, the master storyteller, comes up with a solution worthy of John Grisham. A fine start to a welcome new series.
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The Guardian Maxim Jakubowski
Connelly has risen to the challenge of reinvigorating the legal thriller in this, probably his best book since The Poet.
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The New York Times Janet Maslin
Mr. Connelly hurtles into the realm of the legal thriller with excitingly renewed energy and a full bag of tricks.
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Entertainment Weekly Thom Geier
While the book's villain turns out to be a tad too one-note, Connelly presents a fascinating look at how defense lawyers below the Johnnie Cochran level operate--as well as a compelling mystery that has more sudden turns than Mulholland Drive.
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Kirkus Reviews
Contains everything readers have come to expect from powerhouse Connelly. [1 Aug 2005, p. 803]
Library Journal Jeff Ayers
Connelly, author of the best-selling Harry Bosch police procedurals (e.g., The Closers), proves he can handle even the legal thriller genre with this intricate and cynical look into the criminal justice system. [1 Oct 2005, p. 64]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this book is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

sebastian s gave it a10:
good

DJ J gave it a10:
Could not put this book down!

Daz gave it a10:
Better than Grisham - an amazing book!!

Dave H gave it a10:
Best book I've read in years. I dare you to put it down. Can't wait for the next "Haller" book.

james c gave it a10:
Great read.

Bill B gave it a9:
Fast-paced, good story, well-done, not spellbinding

Wes M gave it a9:
From a criminal defense attorney's perspective, this book is clearly well researched as it sets forth a realistic and accurate depiction of Haller's practice. Connelly does a great job of developing the characters and moving the story along. By the time you reach the final several chapters, it is impossible to put the book down. Overall excellent book. Highly recommended.

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