The Lincoln Lawyer Books in Order
The Lincoln Lawyer series follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates his practice from the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car. Known for defending the guilty, Haller occasionally takes on cases that challenge his conscience. The series is set in the same universe as Connelly's Harry Bosch novels, and Haller is revealed to be Bosch's half-brother. The series was adapted into a feature film starring Matthew McConaughey and later a popular Netflix television series.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Mickey Haller is a defense attorney who runs his practice from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car, driving between courthouses across Los Angeles. He picks up a case defending a rich kid accused of assault, and the case turns out to be connected to something Haller wishes he hadn't found. Connelly writes Haller as a scrappy, morally flexible lawyer who's smarter than he looks. The courtroom scenes are the highlight.
Published: 2005
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The Brass Verdict
Haller inherits a murder case from a dead colleague and ends up defending a man accused of killing the colleague's wife. The conflict of interest is obvious but Haller takes it anyway. Connelly brings Harry Bosch into the story as the investigating detective, putting the two half-brothers on opposite sides of the case. The legal maneuvering and the family tension work together.
Published: 2008
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The Reversal
Haller switches sides and works as a prosecutor for the first time, handling a retrial of a man convicted of murder. The experience of arguing for the state instead of against it changes how Haller sees his career. Connelly plays with the role reversal effectively, and Haller discovers being on the prosecution's side has its own moral complications.
Published: 2010
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The Fifth Witness
Haller defends a woman accused of killing a foreclosure banker, and the case becomes a referendum on the mortgage crisis. The courtroom scenes are Connelly at his most detailed, and Haller's identification with his client blurs the line between legal strategy and personal belief. The economic backdrop gives the book more weight than a typical legal thriller.
Published: 2011
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The Gods of Guilt
Haller takes on the defense of a man accused of murdering a prostitute, and the investigation reveals connections to a Mexican cartel. The case gets dangerous fast, and Haller has to balance protecting his client with protecting himself. Connelly pushes Haller into territory where the lawyer's usual charm and courtroom skills aren't enough.
Published: 2013
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The Law of Innocence
Haller is arrested for murder and has to defend himself from prison. The tables are completely turned, and Haller experiences the system from the defendant's side. Connelly uses the premise to strip away Haller's usual advantages and force him to rely on his legal knowledge from behind bars. The book is one of the series' strongest.
Published: 2020
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Resurrection Walk
Haller takes on a wrongful conviction case, representing a man who's been in prison for years. The investigation reopens old evidence and old wounds. Connelly gives Haller a case with genuine moral stakes and the appeal process provides a different legal framework from the usual trial format.
Published: 2023
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The Proving Ground
The latest Haller entry continues his legal practice in Los Angeles with a new case that tests his abilities. Connelly keeps the Lincoln Lawyer series running alongside his Bosch and Ballard books, occasionally crossing characters over. Haller remains a compelling protagonist because Connelly writes lawyers the way he writes detectives: obsessive, flawed, and impossible to stop.
Published: 2025