Our club enjoyed the Lincoln Lawyer, much becasue it stepped outside our usual fare, and because the redemption of Mickey Haller was so sweet in the end.

Despite a slow start, the book speeds up after the first third. It isn't until you get near the middle, that you realize that what you thought was the story is really only part of the picture. A good suspenseful ending too!

THE LINCOLN LAWYER’s ”Lincoln lawyer” is so named because his office is the back seat of his Lincoln. His real name is Michael (Micky) Haller.

This defense lawyer believes everyone is guilty but defends them just the same. And his clients almost always get away with it or at least have their sentences greatly reduced. But he worries that he will not recognize innocence when he sees it.

Haller thinks his current client, Louis Roulet, will bring him lots of money. Roulet is very rich and is accused of rape and attempted murder. He insists he’s innocent in spite of evidence to the contrary and will not agree to plead guilty for a reduction in his sentence.

So it looks like this case will go to trial. Haller loves it; that means more money.

In the meantime, though, Haller not only finds more evidence of Roulet’s guilt; he also sees the difference between guilt and pure evil. And he finds there was a time when he did not, in fact, recognize innocence.

This Michael Connelly book is so different from his other two books I read, I wouldn’t have thought they were by the same author. I wouldn’t have bothered reading this one except that this movie was coming out. I enjoy movies based on books I’ve read.

I was more pleased with THE LINCOLN LAWYER than I expected. So now I’m anxious to see the movie, out now.