The Reversal by Michael Connelly

The Book

 This is Michael Connelly's third book in the Lincoln Lawyer Series with a crossover into the Harry Bosch series. In it we follow Mickey Haller (Jr, but that doesn't matter because Sr is dead, and has been for the entire series of both the Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer books), as he crosses the aisle to be a special prosecutor for the LA District Attorney. Motivated by his daughter's desire to see him fight the bad guys, just like her mother, the famed defense attorney reluctantly agrees to prosecute a child murderer. 

Jason Jessup hit the DNA jackpot when the semen stain on the dress of Melissa Landy are not a match for him. Since DNA was not the basis for the conviction, the DA wants to re-present the case to a jury. Mickey agrees to a one-time deal to run the prosecution, in exchange for a few things. He wants to be completely independent and he wants his ex-wife as second chair. If they're successful, she gets a promotion, if not, she's stuck where's she at until there is a new DA. Surprisingly Maggie McPherson, Maggie MeFierce as she's widely called by admirer and foe alike, agrees. But's it not without sparks. 

Mickey brings in his half-brother, Bosch to be his investigator, and that proves to be useful, since Bosch is now back in OU, with his new partner David Chu.

Mickey thinks he's all set, and when his main witness agrees to testify, it looks like team Haller is set to win. But Jessup is a guy who's spent decades in prison, and he has a few tricks up his sleeve. He's just the kind of man who will make somebody pay for wasting his life. 

My Thoughts

    This book precedes The Drop, and honestly, I should have read it first. Truth be told, while Bosch plays an important part, this is a Mickey Haller book. In the end, I like Mickey and Maggie more than I like Bosch. I find nearly everything in Bosch's story complicated and unlikeable, which I guess is Connelly's point. I get why Connelly has won so many writing awards. He work is good, very good. He draws out both his characters and his settings to entice the reader in. He has excellent scene selection and his word usage is just the right mix of everyday language and whatever other jargon he needs to put in to make it believable. He's entirely readable. I am not surprised at the success of The Lincoln Lawyer series. I just love the character. 

How Much My Library Card Saved Me

This book is a paperback which entered my library on April 24, 2018. It has definitely been well read by many people. The pages are just the right amount of loose, making the 500 pages in total easy to hold open one handed. It had an excerpt form The Wrong Side of Goodbye, a Bosch novel I will be reading in about two weeks at this pace, depending on when the other books in The Lincoln Lawyer Series were written. According to this paperback there are at least two more novels in the series. The back of the book says it cost $9.99 so that is the price I will use.  

Here is where my work as a library trustee comes in. In the state of Illinois, there is a law that says if a person does not live in a library district and that particular library is closest to their home address, they may purchase an annual library card for the same rate as what the taxpayers are taxed inside that library district. Last year, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 that rate was $222.95. So while I did check out books prior to starting this project, just this project alone has saved me more than my household paid in library taxes in this fiscal year. It only took a lucky 13 books this summer to do it. So do yourself a favor and see what your local library can do for you. 22 

This book                         $9.99

This summer                 $228.01