The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Jack Batten, Toronto Star critic, didn't like the novel “The Brass Verdict” but I found it to be very good. Firstly, I like Michael Connelly; secondly, I like the character Mickey Haller (whom we met in “The Lincoln Lawyer”). As an added bonus, we have Connelly's main protagonist, Harry Bosch, in the story too.
When we left Haller in “The Lincoln Lawyer”, he was in intensive care suffering from an abdominal gunshot wound. His subsequent recovery and addiction to painkillers precluded him from practising law. He has now completed rehab and is summoned by a judge to take over all the cases of murdered lawyer Jerry Vincent. Mickey and Jerry had had a reciprocal agreement to handle each other’s cases in the event of an untoward event.
One of the cases is a very high-profile multiple murder case involving movie mogul Walter Elliot, chairman/owner of Archway Pictures. He stands accused of murdering his wife and her paramour in their Malibu beach house. The case is now complicated by the murder of Vincent himself and the supposition he died because of something connected to the Elliot case. Enter Harry Bosch and an assortment of other police and FBI investigators looking at corruption charges within the L.A. court system.
We are also re-introduced to Haller's two former wives, one of whom is his office manager, Lorna Taylor, and her significant other, Dennis Wojciechowski, aka 'The Cisco Kid'.
The story hums right along and the court room scenes are riveting. The complete novel is a great read right up to the surprise revelations at the end. It’s thoroughly enjoyable. Readers of Robert B. Parker and Lee Child will enjoy this latest novel by author Michael Connelly.
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Doug Elmslie is a City Councillor and a member of the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library Board.
