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    The Brass Verdict: A Novel
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    The Brass Verdict: A Novel
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    The Brass Verdict: A Novel
    Audiobook (abridged)5 hours

    The Brass Verdict: A Novel

    Written by Richard Powers

    Narrated by Peter Giles

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of wrong turns, Haller is back in the courtroom. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his biggest case yet: the defense of Walter Elliott, a prominent studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next.

    Enter Harry Bosch. Determined to find Vincent's killer, he is not opposed to using Haller as bait. But as danger mounts and the stakes rise, these two loners realize their only choice is to work together.

    Bringing together Michael Connelly's two most popular characters, The Brass Verdict is sure to be his biggest book yet.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateOct 14, 2008
    ISBN9781600243981
    Unavailable
    The Brass Verdict: A Novel
    Author

    Richard Powers

    Michael Connelly is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. His books have been translated into 36 languages and have won many awards. He lives with his family in Florida.

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    Reviews for The Brass Verdict

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    • 5/5
      This is an excellent book and seemed to read itself! Very difficult to put book down and plenty of twists and turns. Feels quite different to other legal thrillers.
      Now read the first two in the series and have enjoyed them both - a lot! A good reading style, a good story, good characters, twists and turns, pace in the story, good courtroom action, clever story lines and flawed main character. What more could you want?
      I look forward to continuing with this series.
    • 4/5
      This was an interesting addition to the Harry Bosch series because we finally get to see Bosch interact with Mickey Haller (from the Lincoln Lawyer book and movie). And we learn that Bosch and Haller are half-brothers. In fact most of the action revolves around Haller with Bosch popping in and out.Haller has been on a year's sabbatical when he gets a call to appear before the Chief Judge. He is told that a friend and sometime associate, Jerry Vincent, has been murdered and he left the continuance of his practice to Haller. There are a number of cases but the biggest one is the murder trial of Hollywood mogul Walter Elliott who is accused of murdering his wife and her lover. It is due to start shortly and the client agrees to go with Haller providing there is no delay in the trial. Harry Bosch is one of the detectives investigating Vincent's murder and he wants to know what is in the files that could help with the investigation. Haller agrees to work with him providing it doesn't breach client confidentiality. Haller and Bosch plant a news story that could put Haller in danger so Bosch assigns people to watch him. There isn't much evidence against Elliott and he says he is innocent. Haller finds a way to counter the gunshot residue found on his client's hands and it looks like Elliott will get off. Then fireworks explode and Haller learns something about the jury allocation process that points to tampering. Haller seems to be permanently off practising criminal law but we'll see.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: A lawyer is murdered and Haller inherits all of his cases. However, there is also someone out to kill whoever defends a particular case, and this puts Haller in the killer's sights. Review: Interesting story in which Haller and Bosh meet; they realize that they are half-brothers.
    • 4/5
      Mickey Haller meets Harry Bosch and, in several ways, it gets personal.This is Michael Connelly’s second novel featuring Mickey Haller, known as the Lincoln Lawyer because of his predilection for working from the back of his Lincoln Town Car, rather than from a conventional office. The opening chapter is set in 1992 and presents Haller acting as defence attorney for a client facing two murder charges. The prosecuting counsel is Jerry Vincent, an Assistant District Attorney well known to Haller. They have faced each other in court several times and have even occasionally socialised together. This time, although the case should really have been a slam dunk for the prosecution, Haller lights upon a convincing line of defence, and secures an astonishing acquittal. Vincent is left so devastated that he throws in the towel as a prosecutor, setting up instead as a defence attorney in his own right.Fifteen years later, Vincent has a fairly thriving defence practice, and has come to view his embarrassing defeat at Haller’s hands as an epiphany. Indeed, not only does he hold no grudge towards Haller, but has entered into an unofficial pact whereby they both stand in for each other in case either should be indisposed. However, as he prepares for his biggest ever case, the defence of Walter Elliott, a prominent and immensely wealthy film producer accused of murdering his wife and her lover, he is murdered outside his office. As a consequence of their pact, Haller, who had been on a sabbatical for a year following the climax of his previous case in which he ended up being shot by his client, finds he has inherited Vincent’s caseload.Initially this galvanises Haller, and he throws himself at the work with renewed vigour. As he reviews the caseload, however, he discovers certain anomalies in some of the cases, and in particular that of Walter Elliott. He also finds himself being interviewed by the detective leading the investigation in Vincent’s murder – a certain Hieronymus ‘Harry’ Bosch.This allows Connelly to drop into a new gear. Previously we have encountered Bosch as the protagonist of his own novels, with everything focused around him. Indeed, two of them were even narrated in the first person by him. Here we get to see him from a new perspective. Connelly handles this well, and Bosch, already decidedly plausible as a character, solidifies even further.Connelly also shows his ability to switch sub-genres within the crime field. While there is a murder investigation wound throughout the book, it is principally a courtroom drama, and Connelly manages this with the same adroitness as John Grisham. He also manages to throw in several wholly unexpected twists, including the final resolution of the story, which I didn’t spot coming at all.Another fine addition to a fine series.
    • 4/5
      Another solid legal thriller with Mickey Haller defending a murderer.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic read...surprising ending. Reflection of life in it's truest sence. This book reminds me of a line in Ceelo Green's song Sometimes, which goes like this...."sometimes getting evil will get you even".
    • 4/5
      Excellent! Fast paced, great story.
    • 5/5
      This is a book primarily about attorney Haller, not detective Bosch. It is a book about a lawyer, about putting together a court case, and picking a jury. If you are looking for live action and Mickey Spillane type shoot-outs and fistfights, this isn't the book. Most lawyer dramas are written by guys who eeked their way through law school and then never found the time or the heart to actually practice law. That generally shows in their writing. Connelly is not a lawyer. He is a crime reporter or, at least, has worked as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Coincidentally, the Times Building on 1st and Broadway is a block from the Criminal Courts Building and Connelly shows his familiarity with the building with his descriptions of how crowded and impossible the elevators are. His descriptions of picking a jury and examining witnesses seem to be based not merely on seeing courtroom drama movies, but on his watching actual trials and interviewing actual trial lawyers.

      This book is a good, quick read. Haller is finishing a year off, much of that spent in recovery. The chief judge calls him in and tells him another attorney was killed and Haller just inherited his caseload, including a whale of a case involving a movie producer accused of a double murder, the producer's wife and her lover. The producer is used to calling the shots and is a difficult client. He wants the trial done with so he can get on with his life. Never mind that Haller has barely a week to prepare.
    • 3/5
      Great, fun read.
    • 4/5
      I enjoy Mr Connelly's books, particularly the Harry Bosch novels. However, I felt about this one, the same as I felt about The Lincoln Lawyer. It was a bit dull.In the Bosch books, it's "just another chapter before sleep". I didn't feel that way about this. Enjoyable enough but I think most US authors struggle with sympathetic defence lawyer characters, simply because the clients are pretty much always guilty and the reader loses sympathy with the person trying to get them off.Only Perry Mason ever got away with his clients always being innocent!Interesting to see Bosch from another point of view though and he's pretty scary.
    • 4/5
      Michael Connelly is one of my very favorite writers, so I was very excited to get his latest in my hands.

      "Starring" Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer), with second chair inhabited by Harry Bosch, this courtroom procedural is full of surprises and thoroughly enjoyable.

      Haller, fresh off a voluntary sabbatical from the practice of law, inherits the caseload of a friend of his who has been murdered. The biggest case involves a studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover, and Haller is off and running.

      The only real problem I had with this one is that having Bosch in a secondary role was disconcerting to me!

      Other than that -- a solid read!
    • 5/5
      Mickey Haller ( Lincoyln Lawyer) is back and inherits cases that belong to Jerry Vincent that was murdered. Harry Bosch enters the seen. Mickey Haller And Harry Bosch worked together to find out who and why Jerry was killed.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book! Can't believe it'd just been sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Couldn't turn the pages fast enough and luckily I was on vacation and could just enjoy. I sure hope that Mickey Haller comes back for more and I'd love to see more with he and Bosch teaming up.
    • 4/5
      The 2nd Mickey Haller book by Michael Connelly gets off to a rather slow start with lots of background trial stuff and some revelations about Haller's life between book 1 (The Lincoln Lawyer) and this book. However, around half way through the book, things start to pick up and the plot starts to thicken. The introduction of Connelly's other 'her' - Harry Bosch livens things up and the story twists and turns to an interesting conclusion. The book is probably 150 pages too long and you do sometimes feel that there is too big a jump from book 1 to this book, but apart from that, a good read. Connelly is clearly grooming the Mickey Haller charachter to take over from Harry Bosch as he appears to be in his last story or two now before retirement
    • 5/5
      I watch thrillers about lawyers and court every now and then, some of them are really good. I liked the Runaway Jury, though, not being American, and really unfamiliar with jurisdiction practices, I could hardly follow the jury selection part. But now I know what happened, because I have red The Brass Verdict, and it explained the process in details. Which was not boring at all, if you might think. Besides that, there are plenty of other details about the judiciary processes and work, really well integrated into the story, without being too educative.If you are into very fast paced action with dead bodies on every second page, then this book is not for you. But if you enjoy suspense built page by page, I recommend this novel. The characters are alive, well drawn, likable. The narrative and the dialogues are well written. The story unfolds in a good rhythm. Sometimes I found out the next step by myself, but later it turned out that something entirely else was at stake, and the story took a twist. And there is a twist at the end, you can bet.
    • 4/5
      My second Connelly book and my first with Harry Bosch. Great distraction for a hot weekend. Connelly can write a page turner and it's full of moral ambiguity. I have not read any of the Bosch books but now I will. For what this book is, a thriller, a distraction, it's very well done. It doesn't have the complexity of Tana French or Asa Larssen but it's a great read.
    • 5/5
      Michael Connelly is a pessimist; most of his books are pessimistic in many ways, and sometimes I suspect the author is depressed. But all his books are interesting. Brass verdict, in my opinion, is the best: there is hope in this book and I am sensitive to moods. It is a great book because it has a great subject, it is a thriller, nothing is questionable or beyond belief. It is well constructed. In fact, you get all the facts that the narrator gets, no tricks, and it progresses in unpredictable ways.The best Connelly...
    • 4/5
      This was the 2nd book about Mickey Haller. Actually, this is listed primarily as a Harry Bosch story, but Mickey Haller really takes over all the action. I've read 4 books now featuring Haller, and this is my least favorite. Partly it's because of his addiction history that is suddenly spring upon us. He was shot at the end of the previous book, and now we suddenly find that he has had a year away from the law. During that time he had surgery, became addicted to pain killers, became totally irresponsible and screwed up his relationship with his daughter and ex-wife, went to rehab, and is now trying to get back into the law. I'm sure that would have been a fascinating story. It would have been a good one for Connelly to write. However, just springing it on us as an aside in this book was too big of a leap for me. It didn't sound at all like the guy I got to know in book #1. That spoiled things for me a bit, but it was still a very compelling read. Great travel book.
    • 5/5
      After seeing the movie version of The Lincoln Lawyer (which I really enjoyed), I picked this up. Don't know how I missed it earlier because I am a big Michael Connelly fan. Great, fast paced legal thriller! Highly recommend it.
    • 3/5
      I couldn't get Matthew McConaughey's voice out of my head while reading this and it made it a really trying read. That's why I hate it when authors big screen their work mid series--if the casting is wrong (nothing against McConaughey ,I think he's a great actor just not right for this character) then it can't help but affect the books that come after. Moving on, the story was interesting, but Connelly should have made a book about Haller's fall from grace as it were, instead of just piecing it in this story. I think it would have been quite an interesting book. No spoilers here, but a very surprise twist at the end makes you wonder about not one but two characters futures.
    • 4/5
      First Line: Everybody lies.Mickey Haller is just about to make his courtroom conduct when fellow defense attorney and friend Jerry Vincent is murdered. Vincent names Haller as the attorney he wants to take over any open cases he may have, and Vincent has one case that could put Mickey on Easy Street: the defense of Walter Elliott, a Hollywood studio head accused of murdering his wife and her lover.As Haller prepares for this case, he learns that certain facts aren't adding up, and Vincent's killer may be after him, too. The person determined to find Vincent's killer is one LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, who has to fight his natural distrust of lawyers when dealing with Mickey. Bosch thinks nothing of using Haller as bait, but it doesn't take long for the two of them to realize that they are going to have to work together. "That's my job, to forge the blade. To sharpen it. To use it without mercy or conscience. To be the truth in a place where everybody lies."Haller's belief that "everybody lies" has the same ring to it as Bosch's "Everybody counts, or nobody counts." For years Haller has wanted just one thing: to defend a client who is really innocent. Walter Elliott may be that innocent client.I enjoyed Connelly's intricate plotting of the book, of the way Haller took over a dead man's cases, made sense of everything, and began putting together his defense for his new clients. His handling of the egomaniacal studio head was classic at times, since Elliott was used to being the one who called all the shots. Haller didn't let him get away with anything.I always have been-- and always will be-- a Harry Bosch fan, and there just wasn't enough of Harry in this book. He seemed to be brought in more for the shock value at the end than anything else. But setting aside the insufficient time with one of my favorite characters, The Brass Verdict is a smooth, brilliant legal thriller that shouldn't be missed.
    • 5/5
      Good story, throws you right into the middle of the action and the pace and characters are great, the plot is good too, although unfortunately I guessed it pretty early on, but the ride was still enjoyable. This was my first Connelly book, and now I"m backtracking through some of the others because I enjoyed his style.
    • 4/5
      Great to be back with Michael Connelly. Nice resolution.
    • 4/5
      If you can't decide if you prefer Mickey Haller or Harry Bosch - I like both of them - you should read The Brass Verdict. Buy one, get two (or even three if you count Jack McEvoy, too). It's like a family meeting (literally), and it doesn't last long until you think you're part of this family. The story is intelligently designed with a lot of suspense, a big surprise at the end of the book and the solution is absolutely plausible and logical. For me there is only one open question after reading the Verdict: As a colleague of Mickey's and as a European lawyer I cannot quite understand his scruples with (allegedly) guilty clients. On the one hand he points out several times that the guilty client needs a good defender too and that he doesn't want to know of his client is guilty or not, but Mickey doesn't stick to his own rules without explaining why.
    • 5/5
      The murder of his old colleague Jerry Vincent is a stroke of luck for defense lawyer Mickey Haller. Jerry has left instructions that Mickey should take over all his clients. There are over 30 cases on Jerry's books including a very high profile murder case: a Hollywood film mogul accused of the double murder of his wife and her lover.After a bout of drug addiction and 12 months rehabilitation and slow recovery Mickey has been considering whether he is ready to go back to work, but now he has to hit the ground running. As he takes up the reins, he finds LAPD Harry Bosch sniffing around the edges. But is he interested in Jerry Vincent or Walter Elliot, the movie mogul?This is a book full of twists and turns. There is no doubt that Mickey Haller is a clever lawyer. A slight complaint I have is that though it is written from Mickey's point of view, the reader is not entirely in his confidence. Connelly uses Harry Bosch to sling a few other arrows into the mix, and so right until the end you don't really know the full story.THE BRASS VERDICT is #14 in the Harry Bosch series (even though for the most part Harry's role seems minor) and #2 in the Mickey Haller series. #1 was THE LINCOLN LAWYER, and my mini-review is below. The pair will meet again in NINE DRAGONS.In 2009 THE BRASS VERDICT won the Anthony Award for Best Novel, and all I can say is that I can really see why: interesting story tightly plotted, good characters, keeps the reader interested right to the end.
    • 5/5
      Another outing for Mickey Haller the Lincoln Lawyer, this time with several appearances from Connelly's famous LA cop Harry Bosch in a supporting role. As always the detail seems immaculate and authentic (I say seem as I have no expertise to judge), both in terms of legal process and geography, with all the characters sharply drawn and believable. Mickey Haller, recovering from a period of pain-killer addiction and slowly easing back into law practice, suddenly finds himself taking over someone's else's case load following their murder. What follows is an excellent plot woven around Haller, his new clients and their former lawyer. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      "The Brass Verdict" returns Michey Haller who was last seen in "The Lincoln Lawyer." As the action begins, Mickey is recovering from a gunshot wound. He is a criminal defense lawyer and is summoned to the office of Judge Mary Townes Holder where he learns that his old courthouse competitor and friend, Jerry Vincent, has been murdered. Jerry's laptop is also stolen.Jerry named Haller in his legal documents as his successor in all legal matters, in event of Jerry's death.The judge determines that Haller is fit to work after his injury. He promises the judge to give weekly updates on his progress.The biggest and most lucerative case is that of Walter Elliot, a movie studio owner, who is scheduled to go to trial for the killing of his wife and her lover, in one week.Haller must put together an administrative team, research the case and find a way to defend the wealthy and unlikable client.Along the way, Haller also takes the case of a down and out prior surfer who becomes Haller's driver in order to pay his legal fee.The court scenes are believable and cleverly depicted. It is fun to be reacquainted with Det. Bosh from previous Connelly novels. Bosh is in charge of the murder investigation and believes that the killer will now go after Haller because of what he knows.The characters are well drawn and having Haller's young daughter witness her father's achievements in court adds warmth to the plot.
    • 5/5
      I must have been in the mood for a clearly written, good mystery with lots of twists and turns, and characters I could care about, because I found this book to be excellent, a real page turner. A bonus is the insight you get into the legal system and jury selection and the motivations of defense lawyers. Michael Connelly is a step way above the usual best-seller thriller genre.
    • 5/5
      Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of wrong turns, Haller is back in the courtroom. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his biggest case yet: the defense of Walter Elliott, a prominent studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next.Enter Harry Bosch. Determined to find Vincent's killer, he is not opposed to using Haller as bait. But as danger mounts and the stakes rise, these two loners realize their only choice is to work together.
    • 5/5
      Michael Connelly writes a great mystery. I don't know how he manages to do it, but he delivers every single time. His primary series character, Detective Bosch, hooks up with his newest character, Mickey Haller from The Lincoln Lawyer in his latest book.Like all of Connelly's books the writing is uncomplicated & well-paced with an emphasis on both plot AND character. I suspect it's this that makes his books so enjoyable. This one is less a police procedural & more a courtroom drama & as such the trial sequences are the strongest part of the book.Some may think that Bosch has too small a role here, but the intersection is believable & successfully sets up these two men (& their underlying connection) for future interaction.I also appreciate the fact that Connelly writes L.A. so well. Often writers pay lip service to their setting, but Connelly obviously considers his setting to be a player in the story in much the same way that James Lee Burke writes south Louisiana (although Burke is the master of this). For a fun, quick read you can't get much better than this. It's refreshing to read a writer of a mystery series who doesn't seem to be running out of steam. Can't wait for the next one!