The Brass Verdict, by Michael Connelly

In The Brass Verdict, Michael Connelly gives the reader another Los Angeles-based fictional crime story, this time its one that brings together two of Connelly’s most intriguing characters, veteran Los Angeles Police Department detective Harry Bosch and “Lincoln Lawyer” Mickey Haller. The two are (naturally) brought together by a crime, the murder of Haller’s acquaintance and fellow lawyer Jerry Vincent. Following Vincent’s murder, a Judge orders Haller to take over Vincent’s caseload, which includes a high profile murder trial where a prominent movie studio owner is accused of murdering his wife and her lover. While Haller attempts to familiarize himself with his new clients and their cases, Bosch investigates Vincent’s murder. Both Bosch and Haller suspect that Vincent’s murder is related to his representation of the movie mogul, suspicions that prove well founded. Haller’s trial preparations reveal evidence of bribes, jury tampering, and eventually, a judicial jury rigging conspiracy. In telling the apparent small story of a murder and a trial, Connelly reveals a larger story a legal and judicial conspiracy. Haller’s discoveries are not disclosed to Boschs due to attorney-client privilege, but Bosch, we’re led to believe, somehow knows already, but is seeking proof. To add further intrigue, Haller’s movie mogul client is murdered, and an attempt is made on Haller’s life, an attempt foiled only through the intercession of the vigilant no-nonsense Bosch.

The Brass Verdict again demonstrated Connelly’s skill as a natural storyteller of crime thrillers. He engages his readers by bringing together two engaging but believable characters in Bosch and Haller. He takes nothing for granted and provides sufficient back-story for new readers of his fiction, as well as regular readers of his past works. Connelly knows Los Angeles, and knows how it courts and police department operate. In typical Connelly fashion, the story is fast-paced, engaging, and peppered with numerous twists and turns, and surprise detours. Even though this book is engaging, it is somewhat bleak in that it’s regularly punctuated with death, crime, corruption, violence, cynicism, and the hard-nosed characters that seem comfortable with the grime of crime. The book is somewhat notable for its absence of joy, humor, fun or delight. Such are the live of Connelly’s stern committed, driven principle driven characters. But this should be expected in any crime novel; anything other than this would be unusual at least, if not inauthentic. Nonetheless, The Brass Verdict is very well written, and is a fine example of crime writing and legal/court room storytelling, that is further proof of the assertion that Connelly is one of America’s finest crime fiction writers.