|
The Brass Verdict: A Novel | 
| Author: Michael Connelly
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $26.99
Buy Used: $9.50
You Save: $17.49 (65%)
New (55) Used (33) Collectible (13) from $9.50
Rating:  89 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5
ISBN: 0316166294
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780316166294
ASIN: 0316166294
Publication Date: October 14, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Expedited and international shipping available.
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
productF description
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 84 more reviews...
 (4.5) The lie that became the blade that ripped the case open." November 21, 2008
Luan Gaines (Dana Point, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Connelly consistently delivers in his novels and The Brass Verdict is no exception, LA defense attorney Mickey Haller returning to work with a vengeance after recovering from a serious wound and a stint in treatment for an addiction to pain killers. Rehabilitating his reputation, Haller gets an unexpected bonus that comes at the cost of another lawyer's life. When Jerry Vincent is shot and killed by an unknown assailant prior to a big murder trial, Haller is the beneficiary of all Vincent's cases. Plunging back into practice with perhaps more clients than he can successfully manage, Mickey gathers his team, office manager and ex-wife, Lorna, private investigator and Lorna's fiance, Cisco, the three prioritizing Jerry's cases, the most pressing a notorious double murder. Independent film mogul at Archway Pictures, Walter Elliot is a larger-than-life defendant accused of slaying his wife and her lover in a jealous rage.
Elliot is adamant in his innocence, wary about trusting an attorney he doesn't know, but unwilling to delay the trial. Mickey faces an uphill battle with this demanding client, controlling Elliot's outsized ego paramount if he is to deliver an acquittal: the man's lifestyle does little to engender sympathy. Focusing on this case, the others in various stages of resolution, Connelly sets up a tight scenario, a contest of strong personalities as Haller jockeys to remain alpha dog for the duration of the trial. And when veteran LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch steps in to investigate Vincent's murder, Mickey is reluctant to open the dead man's files to the police. Past retirement, Bosch is world-weary and impatient, Haller an obstacle to finding Vincent's killer. To that end, Bosch reveals enough information to scare Haller into cooperating, if only to protect himself from the same fate as the hapless Vincent.
This is a taut, perfectly paced tale, an escalating murder trial with a continuing threat that keeps Mickey off balance as the two men, detective and attorney, dance awkwardly around the issues that divide them. Neither wants to reveal too much to the other, yet Bosch needs Haller for answers and Haller needs Bosch for the questions that may ultimately save his life. Connelly skillfully provides an intimate look into the workings of the Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse, the judges, assistants, prosecutors and internal machinations of the criminal justice system. With implied menace and over-the-top personalities, this is a legal page-turner that is unpredictable and entertaining. An unlikely pair, Bosch and Haller are a curious team, their constant sparring failing to obscure a grudging friendship. Luan Gaines/ 2008.
The Brass Is Worth It November 19, 2008
Daniel Putkowski (Aruba, DWI)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney who knows the truth about his clients. He's recovering from being gut shot in a previous Connelly book when he inherits the cases of a former rival who was murdered. Taking the bull by the horns, Haller sorts the cases and quickly latches on to the most profitable one, that of a Hollywood Studio tycoon named Walter Elliot. Enter Harry Bosch, another of Connelly's characters, although in a somewhat lesser role. Still, the chemistry is good if volatile and the plot never slows down.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the honesty of Haller. So many bad things have been written about lawyers and their motivations that it was interesting to hear their side of the story. And it made me think, which is one of the things I look for in every book I read.
Thus, Connelly had me from the first page to the last, in and out of court as well as on the street. Justice is served in this book, though not always from the bench, which is a reflection of the world in which we live.
A masterful mystery November 19, 2008
Reader Views (Austin, Texas)
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (11/08)
When you start any of Michael Connelly's books, you better make sure that the rest of your schedule has been cleared for the day. Once you start, there is little - with the exception of a hurricane, fire or an earthquake - that will persuade you to put it down. From the first sentence to the last, the book pulls you like a strong undercurrent. The tension is palpable. You hold your breath till it hurts. Every sentence hits. Most of them hit hard. The story doesn't just move you, it sucks you in. The characters are brilliantly drawn. The situations - no matter how outrageous - are still believable. Every word matters. When a book is written by a master story teller, it shows.
Take these two short excerpts, which are very high on my list of totally brilliant lines:
"Everybody lies.
Cops lie. Lawyers lie. Witnesses lie. The victims lie.
A trial is a contest of lies."
"Everybody lies.
Cops lie. Lawyers lie. Clients lie. Even jurors lie."
There you have it in a nutshell. When you forget about all of the fantastic twists and turns - of which there truly are many - those five lines, those twenty-nine words condense the essence of the book better than any drawn-out description ever could. But if you are really curious about the story, I'll give you a brief description. Mickey Haller, a defense attorney, inherited all of his deceased colleague's cases. Jerry Vincent met an untimely demise, and the authorities, represented by detective Hieronymus Bosch, are pretty certain one of his clients had him killed. Mickey Haller, together with his investigator Cisco and office manager Lorna, tries to reconstruct Jerry's agenda, since some of his files as well as his laptop are missing. Mickey starts meeting the potential clients, of which the most famous - and maybe the riskiest one - is a movie mogul, Walter Elliot. Walter has been accused of killing his wife, Mitzi, and her lover, Johan Rilz; but he refuses to admit his guilt. The trial gets under way, and surprises never cease.
For those readers who have read any of the Michael Connelly's books featuring Mickey Haller or Hieronymus Bosch, "The Brass Verdict" brings in an extra bonus twist. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. If this is your first time "meeting" Michael Connelly, get ready for a superbly written mystery, with a tight and super swift plot, engaging characters and flawless language.
 Brass Verdict November 19, 2008
Ernest Mcconville (Ireland)
Have read all Michael Connelly's books and was really looking forward to this, his latest, featuring Harry Bosch. It is only at Chapter 32 - half way through- that Harry starts to appear on a regular basis. Up to this, he was only mentioned enough to let the reader know he was there somewhere in the distant background. Come on Michael, Harry is the STAR and should not be relegated to a bit-part. Perhaps things will improve in the last half - I hope so.
 Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch together.... November 18, 2008
Debra Gaynor (Hawesville, KY USA)
Michael Connelly
Little, Brown, & Co., 2008
ISBN: 9780316166294
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 11/08
4 Stars
Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch together....
Michael Connelly brings two of his famous characters together in one powerful mystery. Mickey Haller is a defense lawyer working on the biggest case of his career. Harry Bosch is a LAPD Detective investigating the murder of Jerry Vincent. When the killer goes after Haller, the two men join forces to solve the case.
Mickey is a lovable sleaze, and Bosch is abrasive; when paired together they are a dynamic duo. I do not usually read lawyer books, but I made an exception this time. I am glad I did. Connelly gives his characters depth. Their personalities are strong. The plot is multifaceted and stimulating. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending had a surprise twist. Fans of courtroom drama will not want to miss The Brass Verdict.
|
|
|
| |
