The Lincoln LawyerThe Lincoln Lawyer
Score Modern
What it's about
Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles defense attorney who works out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, representing the city's least savory clients. When a wealthy real estate agent accused of assault hires him, it looks like the high-paying, possibly innocent client he's been waiting for. But the case leads Haller toward something far more dangerous, and to a link with a past client he couldn't save.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was an Edgar Award finalist. It's one of the best legal thrillers ever written, packed with courtroom detail.
You'll love it if you liked
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Gone Girl
The Silent PatientGood to know
It's the first Mickey Haller novel and stands alone. It has been adapted as both a film and a TV series.
By the numbers
- Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #22 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #155 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #298 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Michael Connelly
The Brass Verdict
The Crossing
The Law of Innocence
The Night FireIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
The Martian
2666
Gideon the Ninth
PiranesiExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is The Lincoln Lawyer worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #298 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lincoln Lawyer about?
Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles defense attorney who works out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, representing the city's least savory clients. When a wealthy real estate agent accused of assault hires him, it looks like the high-paying, possibly innocent client he's been waiting for. But the case leads Haller toward something far more dangerous, and to a link with a past client he couldn't save.
How long does it take to read The Lincoln Lawyer?
About 10 hours (405 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lincoln Lawyer?
If you liked it, try The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.



















