Author of the Month

Name: Michael Connelly

First book: The Black Echo

Most Recent Book: The Lincoln Lawyer

“…by far the best book by Connelly yet! “

Synopsis:

They're called Lincoln Lawyers: the bottom of the legal food chain. The criminal defence attorneys who operate out of the back of a Lincoln car, travelling between the courthouses of Los Angeles county to take whatever cases the system throws in their path. Mickey Haller has been in the business a long time, and he knows just how to work it. How to grease the right wheels and palms, and how to keep the engine of justice working in his favour. When a Beverly Hills rich boy is arrested for brutally beating a woman, Haller has his first high-paying client in years. The evidence mounts on the defence side, and he is sure this is going to be a slam-dunk. He might even be in the rare position of defending a client who is actually innocent! But, as Haller knows, criminal cases can turn on a dime. When the case starts to fall apart and neither the suspect nor the victim are quite who they seem, Haller quickly discovers that when you swim with the sharks, it's easy to wind up as prey…

Review:

Moving away from Harry Bosch, Connelly now introduces a new main character who is thought of in the legal profession as the lowest of the low, a ‘jobbing’ defence attorney. A defence attorney who is more concerned with ‘working’ the system than the innocence of his clients.

The book is a real legal/courtroom thriller, rather than being based from the side of the police. A move that Connelly has made effortlessly and very successfully.

The book has the pace and a twist of Grisham at his best and, in my opinion, is by far the best book by Connelly yet! This one I would definitely recommend. I certainly hope to see Mickey Haller in another story.

Reviewed by: H.A.

CrimeSquad Rating

Questionnaire:

1) How would you describe the kinds of books you write?

I think they would obviously fall under the category of crime fiction but there is some variety in there. For the most part I write police procedurals, but I have written a caper novel, at least a couple of thrillers, and now a legal thriller.

2) What is your favourite crime read of all time?

It would be hard to pick one. The Long Goodbye was probably most influential on me and Red Dragon was probably the best page turning experience I have had.

3) Would you describe yourself as a Crime fan and if so, which authors do you most admire and why?

I think you have to be a crime fan first before you can be a crime writer. I read pretty widely but in recent years have really enjoyed a lot of hardboiled writers from across the pond. Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson, Val McDermic and John Harvey are sort of the old stand bys but lately for me I have added writers like Denise Mina, Mo Hayder and Mark Billingham to that list. They all write dark, tough stories that build momentum with character.

4) Who, in your eyes, is pushing the boundaries of crime fiction today – and why?

People like George Pelecanos, Dennis Lehane, Denise Mina, Mo Hayder and many others. They impress me because they are doing their own thing without apparent thought to the world outside their writing room. They keep their head down and don’t care about the considerations of the marketplace. They write the story they want to tell.

5) Without giving away the plot, which book included your favourite plot twist of all time?

I operate so much on character that plotting comes after that. So I recall the great characters not the twists. I don’t have a ready answer for that one.

6) What is your favourite movie adaptation of a crime novel?

That’s tough. When they work they really work. It would be hard to choose between Silence of the Lambs and L.A. Confidential.

7) Blood Work was adapted for the big screen. What did you think of this adaptation and were you involved with making of the film?

I wasn’t involved. There were things I liked and even treasure and things that I thought were the wrong moves to make. But I also understand that a story in a book is something completely different than a story in a movie. I knew changes would be made and I accepted that. I have no regrets about the project.

8) Have you ever thought of doing a film adaptation of one of your books? If so, which one do you think would look good on the big screen?

I already have adapted three of my books into screenplays, but I guess I didn’t do such a good job because the projects never went anywhere.

9) Your new novel is not a Harry Bosch. What made you write a standalone novel about a Lincoln Lawyer? Or is this a possible series?

I think the character of Mickey Haller will be back but I stop short of calling him a series character. I wrote the book because I was inspired to by a real Lincoln Lawyer and because I needed to take a break from Bosch so I could avoid Bosch burn out.

10) Of all your novels, which one is your favourite and why?

I can’t pick one out. There are things I like about all of them. Its like asking to choose a favourite child.

11) Where do you see Crime fiction going next?

I think it has become the best form of social reflection in literature and I expect that to continue. This in turn will continue to draw the best writers to the genre.