How to Read All the 'Lincoln Lawyer' Books in Order
So, you’ve been sucked into The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix and want to sink your teeth deeper into fictional defense attorney Mickey Haller’s world. Or maybe you’re just thinking about Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (the actor who plays him) a little too much. Who could blame you? Once you’re done binging the two-part second season (the first half is out now; the second half drops Aug. 3), you can start the bestselling Michael Connelly series on which the show is based. That should hold you over until Netflix green lights Season 3, right? Here's what you need to know.
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How to read the Lincoln Lawyer books in order
1. The Lincoln Lawyer
In the first book of the series, which came out in 2005, we meet Mickey Haller conducting criminal defense cases out of his Lincoln Town Car. Although he’s known for defending the worst of the worst, it seems he’s finally landed a client who’s actually innocent. But looks aren’t always what they seem.
The franchise's debut is not technically the book on which the Netflix show is based (more on that soon), but a diehard fan would recommend reading it for stage-setting purposes anyway—and you wouldn't regret it if you did.
2. The Brass Verdict
This is the book on which the first season of The Lincoln Lawyer is largely based. There are some notable differences between the source material and its Netflix adaptation, however, the big one being that Haller's half brother, LAPD Detective Harry Bosch, appears in the book but not on the show. That's because The Lincoln Lawyer book series is actually a spin-off of Connelly's Bosch series, and Amazon owns the rights to the latter.
On Netflix, The Lincoln Lawyer fills its Bosch-sized hole with an entirely new character, LAPD Detective Griggs, as well as an expanded role for investigator Cisco (husband to Haller's ex-wife), who features in the books.
So, what's the plot of The Brass Verdict? The book begins with Haller inheriting a case-load from an old colleague who was murdered himself. One case involves the high-profile trial of a Hollywood big-shot accused of murdering his wife and her lover. As Haller delves into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption, deceit and conspiracy involving both the legal system and the criminal underworld.
Related: Lincoln Lawyer Star Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Shares What He Learned from Matthew McConaughey
3. The Reversal
The third book in Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer series follows Haller as he reunites with Bosch to prosecute a man accused of killing a child. The stakes are high, as Haller fears the accused might kill again—and it seems that he and Bosch are the only ones who can stop him.
4. The Fifth Witness
The fourth book in the series, The Fifth Witness, is where much of the plot for the second season of The Lincoln Lawyer comes from. Without spoiling the ending, the story follows Haller's defense of Lisa Trammel, a teacher accused of killing a mortgage banker (on the show she's a chef accused of murdering a real-estate developer). Is she guilty? You'll have to read the book and/or watch the second half of Season 2 when it drops Aug. 3.
5a. The Gods of Guilt
The Gods of Guilt is probably the spookiest installment of the book of the series. The plot: Haller is haunted by his past as he takes on a case where one of his former clients is the person who was murdered. Wracked with guilt, but determined to do right by the deceased, Haller takes on one of his most dangerous cases yet.
5b. The Crossing
Fans debate whether this is in The Lincoln Lawyer series proper, or if it’s purely a Harry Bosch book. Either way, it features Haller prominently, as he calls upon Bosch to help him defend one of his clients in a murder case. Bosch is hesitant to help at first, but agrees to come to his half-brother’s aid, and gets into way more than he bargained for.
Related: Can't Get Enough of Bridgerton? How to Read All of Julia Quinn's Books in Order
6. The Law of Innocence
Haller is on a high after winning a case, but when he gets pulled over, cops discover a body in the back of his car. Our protagonist is put to the test as he defends himself in court, just as he’s done for so many clients in the past. How will he prove his innocence, despite the piles of evidence against him?
7. Resurrection Walk
The latest thriller in The Lincoln Lawyer series is due out Nov. 7, 2023. Haller and Bosch team up once again, this time to defend a woman who insists she didn’t kill her husband, a sheriff's deputy, despite her conviction. Should be, well, thrilling!