An Amazon Best Book of the Month, December 2013: What distinguishes Connelly's Lincoln Lawyer books from the average legal thriller (in the same way his Harry Bosch series transcends "cop story") is the complicated likeability of his flawed hero, Mickey Haller, a criminal defense lawyer who works mostly from the backseat of a chauffeured Lincoln Town Car. In The Gods of Guilt , Haller agrees to defend a former client's pimp on a murder charge, and his messy past comes back to taunt him--an ideal introduction to Haller for newcomers, and catnip for fans. As a former newspaper court reporter, I've always appreciated Connelly's attention to the messy particulars of the legal system, and his ability to convey real courtroom drama, the humanity and inanity of bringing criminals to justice--or not. (The title refers to the imperfect judgment of a jury.) Like his peers, Laura Lippman and George Pelecanos , Connelly writes crime fiction verging subversively on literature, and Haller is becoming an increasingly complex literary figure, cruising LA's darkest corners in a style that feels like a modern twist on Chinatown . (Think Clint Eastwood-Dirty Harry-San Francisco, but in LA, and without the big guns and the unresolved anger.) Incredibly, Connelly just keeps getting better. -- Neal Thompson From Booklist *Starred Review* When we last saw Mickey Haller (The Fifth Witness, 2011), the hot-shot maverick attorney who works out of his Lincoln Town Car was fed up with defending bad guys and had decided to run for district attorney. Well, that didn’t work out. Too much politics. Now Mickey’s back with the bad guys, defending a high-tech pimp accused of killing one of his “girls,” who happens to be a former friend of Mickey’s. Naturally, the case has multiple levels, involving a bent DEA agent and requiring an unholy coalition with a drug lord. As he’s done throughout the Haller series, Connelly shows a remarkable ability to bring the courtroom alive—not just the details of the case at hand and the procedural machinations but also the personal drama simmering below the surface of the thrust and counterthrust of legal strategy. There is tragedy along the way to a verdict this time, and Mickey must confront his personal “gods of guilt” just as he does the jury in the courtroom. Connelly’s Harry Bosch series has typically dug deeper into personal demons and questions of existential identity than the Haller novels, but this time the fast-talking attorney is forced to look inward, where his tricks of the trade do him little good. A gripping novel, both in the courtroom and outside of it, and a testament to the melancholy maturing of Mickey Haller. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: As always, a national media campaign will support the launch of Connelly’s latest, as it climbs best-seller lists. Connelly’s books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. --Bill Ott PRAISE FOR MICHAEL CONNELLY:"Haller is the kind of slick, cynical showman who can't resist making high drama out of every legal procedure....There's always something deadly serious behind Connelly's entertaining courtroom high jinks."― Marilyn Stasio , New York Times Book Review "Connelly knows when to put his foot on the gas and when to take it off. Once he has you on board, turning the pages, you won't want to climb off."― Boston Globe "Connelly continues his streak of telling stellar crime stories."― Associated Press "Connelly's work has it all---sharply drawn, engaging characters, snappy dialogue, and a plot that moves like a shot of Red Bull."― San Francisco Chronicle "Michael Connelly may be the best thriller writer we have."― Jane Henderson , St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Connelly excels....the consistency of his excellence is remarkable."― Richard Rayner , Los Angeles Times "Any new book by Michael Connelly is a cause for celebration....Connelly is one of the best crime story writers on the scene today. Each new novel refines his talent and makes its story one to be remembered."― Jackie Cooper , Huffington Post Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-eightxa0previous novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Desert Star, The Dark Hours, and The Law of Innocence. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than eighty million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He is the executive producer of three television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He spends his time in California and Florida. Read more
Features & Highlights
Defense attorney Mickey Haller is forced to bend the law until it breaks when he is hired to defend a man accused of killing a prostitute in this novel of courtroom suspense, the "best one yet" (
The Washington Post
).
Mickey Haller gets the text, "Call me ASAP - 187," and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.When Mickey learns that the victim was his own former client, a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on the straight and narrow path, he knows he is on the hook for this one. He soon finds out that she was back in LA and back in the life. Far from saving her, Mickey may have been the one who put her in danger.Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey must work tirelessly and bring all his skill to bear on a case that could mean his ultimate redemption or proof of his ultimate guilt.
The Gods of Guilt
shows once again why "Michael Connelly excels, easily surpassing John Grisham in the building of courtroom suspense" (
Los Angeles Times
).
Customer Reviews
Rating Breakdown
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Most Helpful Reviews
★★★★★
4.0
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Mickey Haller is back, and the way we like!!!
The title of Connelly's latest Mickey Haller novel refers primarily to the jury. Paraphrasing can't do justice to how Connelly explains it, but you'll like it.
As it begins, we are brought up to speed on the nightmare that has become Haller's life. The failed campaign. The drunk driver case. The estrangement from his daughter. Add these to Haller's regular issues, and yikes! There are some Guilt Gods at work here as well, perhaps!!
Then, Haller has a murder case dropped in his lap, and off we go. We find out shortly that the victim played heavily in Mickey's past. And it involves characters on both sides that Haller has had run-ins with.
Some people think making Harry Bosch a half-brother to Haller was a bit too convenient. Actually, Connelly's genius in this move is to create two sides of the same coin. If you are a faithful reader of both series, you already know this. If you're new, you'll get it. Both Haller and Bosch understand the cost of doing business as they do, on all fronts. He also gives Harry a fairly significant cameo.
A big difference in the two series is that Haller's stories require a much heavier dose of process, usually in the form of courtroom events. Connelly excels at creating these moments, resulting in excitement, character development and, occasionally, actual knowledge! I'm sure there are a lot of "legal thriller" writers creating more complex and perhaps more accurate courtroom stuff, but Connelly has the right blend.
Connelly shows he's not afraid to wink at himself, with an amusing reference to the hit film of The Lincoln Lawyer, and the effect of its' popularity on the way Mickey rolls.
The case goes forward in typical Connelly style.....fast-paced and informative. And tragic, as we lose a valued character in a brutal murder. This provides some righteous motivation to Haller and his team as they attempt to exonerate their client, who frankly, is not that great a person to begin with, but clearly innocent of this particular crime.
Connelly sets up conflict right up there with the best. Every time Lee Lankford enters the picture, your hairs rise. Their courtroom scene is the thematic nexus of the story, and it's also incredibly exciting.
The Gods Of Guilt takes Mickey's story forward, creating both hope and concern for our fave lawyer's future. It's a pretty good starting point for new readers as well, so no matter where you stand on that continuum, you need to genuflect to The Gods Of Guilt.
51 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
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If they make this book into a movie it will be a certain Academy Award nominee.
And hopefully Matthew McConaughey will return as the Lincoln Lawyer and earn one too.
In Gods of Guilt, a pimp is charged with murdering one of his “employees” after she fails to give him his portion of the night’s proceeds. The reason for the non-payment is disclosed as the trial takes place.
The pimp hires Mickey Haller based on the recommendation of the murdered woman who it turns out was a client of Mickey’s some years ago. Other main characters include the leader of a drug cartel, a rogue DEA agent, the prosecuting attorney’s investigator, and the rest of Haller’s usual crew. Sadly, one of Mickey’s team does not make it to the end of the book.
The plot is intricate but not to the point where you have a hard time following it. Almost every question you ask yourself is answered as the courtroom drama unfolds. I sincerely hope the few left open questions form the basis of another Connelly masterpiece.
The trial judge, a hotel security man, and a couple other “escorts” form a terrific supporting cast. Harry Bosch even makes a cameo appearance in this not to be missed novel.
16 people found this helpful
★★★★★
4.0
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Will Mickey Haller Ever Grow Up?
Michael Connelly never practiced law a day in his life, but his fiction best approximates the gritty reality of the private practice of law better than any other writer of legal thrillers. His Mickey Haller series continues to amaze me. I repeatedly find myself underlining sentences in the book that capture exactly the sense of creative chaos and desperation that defines a criminal defense lawyer's life. Even so, he takes great liberties with the law, and, were Haller to actually practice, he'd soon find himself in hot war with bar ethics cops.
The Gods of Guilt opens with an ethical ruse involving a fake blood capsule that is humorous and does serve to illustrate how far Haller will go to make just the right sort of record. But I found myself shaking my head; no lawyer would ever do that, I thought.
But Clarence Darrow did engage in just this sort of hijinks. His apparent bribery of jurors in the McNamara case involving the bombing of the Los Angeles Times building nearly got him imprisoned. And new evidence suggests Darrow may have manipulated an appellate court record on behalf of Italian anarchists in Milwaukee. Haller seems somehow untroubled by the ends used to obtain the results he seeks, just as Darrow did.
Or is he?
The Gods of Guilt is a double entendre: the term refers not just to the jurors evaluating the parties at trial, it refers also to the sources of conscience operating in each of us. We each serve, or seek to appease, our own gods.
I kept thinking of Scott Turow as I read Connelly. Turow, a lawyer, draws more complex characters in his legal fiction. I wonder what Turow would make of Haller? I wonder if Turow can conceive of a figure like Haller, a street lawyer living by hustling fees out of ordinary chaos?
Connelly's latest book is, as are all his works, a fun read. His plot may not move at the break neck pace of a John Grisham novel, but it has enough twists, turns and surprises to keep you engaged and guessing to the end. Haller moves through the trial, and the plot, almost detached, an observer who struggles not so much with what the law is doing to him, as with what it, and he, can do to others.
Yet the topic of guilt emerges again and again. Haller has failed in love, and in fatherhood. He seeks redemption in the law. Yet the means he uses yields a subtler condemnation. At the end of the novel, Haller gets some small measure or peace, but no real insight into the bars of the cage he calls home. As in so many legal thrillers, he is saved from ruin by a big fee -- the too common deus ex machina of legal fiction..
I love Michael Connelly and I know Mickey Haller. But both still live charmed lives. The practice of criminal law is far more harrowing that Connelly reveals. I put down The Gods of Guilt with a sense of sorrow. I know Haller will be back in the next year or two. He'll be broke again. He'll still be fretting his failed marriages, and his tenuous relationship with his daughter. Then he'll be retained by someone without enough money. He'll struggle, almost fail, and then through cunning, improbably succeed, enjoying a windfall reward as he regroups between rounds.
Haller's life is far easier than the lives of the lawyers I know. Realistic as Connelly's portrayal of Haller can be, Connelly still sees the law through rose-tinted glasses. Perhaps he has to if his books are to sell. But I suspect Haller is aching to break out of the formulaic mold into which he has fallen. Perhaps he will emerge with more nuance in the next novel Connelly writes.
I'm a true fan, awaiting the next episode, and hoping for more.
10 people found this helpful
★★★★★
3.0
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An Empty Procedural
I set out to give this novel 4 stars. It's pleasant enough to read, and Connelly is a good enough writer not to make any mistakes of logic or continuity. As I thought about it more, though, I couldn't find anything really positive to say about the book.
Mickey Haller is the half-brother of Connelly's best creation, Detective Harry Bosch. In many ways, Mickey is an ambulance-chaser, an attorney more interested in collecting fees from his morally bankrupt clients than in seeking justice. In "The Gods of Guilt", Mickey is contacted by a computer pimp (he designs web pages for prostitutes) accused of murdering one of Mickey's former clients, a prostitute whom he thought had left the "business". Intrigued, and insulated by prepayment of his fee with a gold bar, Mickey takes the case.
It soon becomes clear that the dead prostitute had deceived Mickey years ago, and that her death may well be tied to the earlier case. The book becomes a standard legal procedural, with Mickey trying to overcome the prosecution's advantage and deal with the standard crooked cops.
My problem with the book is that there is virtually no development of any of the characters in the book. An example: Mickey is disillusioned with his lot in life, and has lost the respect of his daughter because of what he does. Coincidentally, he meets a former prostitute with whom he begins a relationship. One would think these circumstances would provide a platform for growth of the two characters who share a history of unfortunate choices, but it never happens. Mickey's client remains undeveloped, the prosecutor is portrayed as a doofus, and even the corrupt cops are never developed beyond their "bad guy" roles. This book could have been an episode of Law and Order without losing any of its emotional impact. A novel should provide more.
10 people found this helpful
★★★★★
1.0
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Gods of Watching Paint Dry
I have read nearly every Michael Connelly book and love his work. His characters are flawed but likable, his plots are suspenseful, and his writing style is clear and sparse.
This book is horrible. So horrible that I had to make myself finish it. It's like he fell asleep at his laptop and had to hurry upon waking to finish the manuscript from an outline. There are no plot twists or major character development. The "romance" between Haller and the new girl is barely addressed and inconsequential. He kills off a Haller team member but never really explores the consequences.
I am positively floored by the positive ratings I see here. Dudes, Lincoln Lawyer and the original Harry Bosch novels blow this one out of the water. How can you possibly rate this five starts if you use another one of his novels (or any worthy novel, for that matter) as a comparison?
9 people found this helpful
★★★★★
2.0
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May not be what you're looking for
Generally, once I pick up a Mickey Haller novel, I can't put it down. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good legal thriller/ legal drama.
Unfortunately, I can't say that The Gods of Guilt lived up to my expectations. To be honest, this was the first book of Connelly's that I actually put down midway, so that I could get back to something "more interesting." It wasn't necessarily a disappointment, but, well, perhaps I should just lay it all out. (I will avoid spoilers)
The Good: The story is tightly written, as per usual. Connelly's style is well developed and fast paced. The plot itself is complex and really requires our protagonist to stop wallowing in self-pity and follow his gut instinct. And of course, there is the classic Mickey Haller maneuvering. Oh how I love the combination of danger and comic relief
The Meh: The voice, for me at least, was lost. In previous books Mickey Haller's voice is riveting, you can hear it leap off the pages. In Gods of Guilt--not so much. Instead, it seems that Connelly is writing to cater to his audience, rather than writing for the character. While this can be an effective marketing tool, it didn't hook me. Luckily there were occasional moments when "Haller's voice" reappeared, and "Connelly's voice" faded into the background.
The Bad: What I'm about to say doesn't apply to everyone. This really depends on the reader, and what the reader is looking for in Connelly's latest Haller book. The long and short of it is, this book is a story of redemption. It really exposes another side to Haller, adds depth to his character, sends him swinging from an underdog position, and digs into his past. Unfortunately, this development did not appeal to me and likely will not appeal to all readers. I suppose it's because I'm more invested in Haller's legal battle to save his clients than I am in Haller's need to reconcile himself with what he does/ the sort of man that he is. Don't get me wrong, the personal struggles of Haller are interesting and well developed. But they also take over the book, which frankly, was not something I enjoyed.
In sum, the Gods of Guilt is a decent read and depending on what you are looking for, it may be best to stick to paperback .
9 people found this helpful
★★★★★
1.0
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Horrible, Beyond Belief!
It is so hard to believe that Michael Connelly wrote this drivel! It is amazing how far he has fallen!! Granted, it is hard for an author to surpass his best writing, book-after-book, but this book is not a novel, but a preliminary Hollywood script that needs lots of polish. His first Harry Bosch novel, 'The Black Echo,' is my all-time favorite, followed by the sequel, 'The Black Ice;' and I do not believe anything else written by Michael Connelly, except maybe 'The Poet,' has come close to those books. He just wanted the money, and this novel screams it. There is no character development or exploration of the characters and what drives them. Michael expects this book to go to Hollywood...what a shame, it is so bad in so many ways. The ending of the novel shows how far he has plummeted. Not knowing how to end this book, Michael just used a Hollywood ending: he encapsulates everything into rumor that finishes the antagonist. What he should have done, I believe, was written a sequel that would have explored how all the characters meet their fates and, or, continued with their lives. I can not scream loudly enough just how horrible this drivel really is. Amazon NEEDS 'Below Starrs Rankings' to allow reviewers to really show displeasure. One star reviews does not do that.
6 people found this helpful
★★★★★
4.0
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Not the Best in the Series, But Still Good
Jurors are the gods of guilt in Mickey Haller’s world. They decree the fate of the accused. As this story opens, Haller feels as if his personal jurors have tried him in the balance and found him wanting. When his daughter’s friend is killed by a drunk driver—a client of Haller’s—she cuts off all contact with him. His burgeoning relationship with his ex-wife implodes. And he loses the election for Los Angeles district attorney.
When a murder case comes his way, Haller takes it. (What else is he supposed to do?) What begins as a relationship with paying client quickly becomes a desperate attempt to clear a wrongly accused man, get justice for a dead friend (who happens to be his client’s alleged victim, and put the real killer on the stand.
The Gods of Guilt is not the best novel in the Lincoln Lawyer series. That’s a bit like saying someone’s the second tallest starter on an NBA team, however. Michael Connelly is a great mystery writer, and I turned the pages on this one like I have on the previous ones—just not as fast. Still, this novel goes deeper in the psyche of Mickey Haller, giving us a window on his hopes and dreams, as well as his doubts and failures. What the story lacks in narrative punch, compared to the other novels, it makes up for in emotional pathos. The reader feels sorry for the downturn in Haller’s personal life, even as it cheers him on in the courtroom.
5 people found this helpful
★★★★★
2.0
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Connelly phoned this one in...
'Lincoln lawyer' was a good twist on the time-tested legal procedure genre. Our hero Mickey Haller is damaged but sensitive, jaded but romantic, and more importantly, willing to think outside the proverbial box to get (pardon my French) s*** done. Unsurprisingly it was a big hit and was also made into a successful movie starring Matthew McConaughey. Subsequent books in the series - 'Brass verdict', 'Reversal' and 'Fifth witness' - were all slam dunk hits. Intricate but well-planned plots, decently developed characters, and the inevitable Michael Connelly trademark plot twist were what made these books enjoyable reads.
The same cannot be said for 'Gods of guilt', however. Seems like the Connelly is running out steam, quite frankly. From the outset his characters are bland and seem to perform their pre-assigned roles just because they have to. There is no heart, no soul to the plot, to the main protagonist or to the main case. Previous books all made us care about the defendants, made us want to learn more about the law, kept us on our toes about Haller and what insane trick he had up his sleeve. This time it's all drab. A high-price escort is found murdered and Mickey takes the case of the man (the escort's online pimp, as it turns out) accused and arrested for her murder. This being a Connelly novel, it is definitely not this simple. The escort was a frequent client of Haller and he has feelings for her from the past. Pretty soon this case morphs into a complicated beast: Mexican cartel, a disbarred lawyer, a supposedly rogue DEA agent are all somehow involved. I won't say more for spoiling things, but I will say that the plot rarely gets interesting. In fact it seems to drag on at times. There is the obligatory Haller love interest coupled with the obligatory plot twist near the end. Everybody feels one dimensional. Connelly never gives the readers a chance to get involved with the characters.
The term 'gods of guilt' is used in the book to refer to the jury, because the jurors are ultimately responsible for adjudicating guilt. Well Mr. Connelly, in this case I, the reader, is one of the 'gods of guilt', and I am declaring that you phoned this novel in. Pretty disappointing.
5 people found this helpful
★★★★★
2.0
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Disappointing entry
I've read every one of Michael Connelly's books and this is the first one that didn't hold my interest, so much so that I gave up when I reached Chapter 13, having already forced myself through the last few.
In The Gods of Guilt, attorney Mickey Haller defends a cyber pimp accused of murder, and that's an interesting premise in these days of computer porn. (So long, Huggy Bear!) The plot thickens when we learn that the victim, a prostitute, is one of Haller's former clients, and someone he cared about. But the reader can't see the story through the legalese. There's way too much technical hoo-ha. Not only does the jargon confuse and bore the reader, it overtakes what we've come to know and love about Haller, his original way of working, his creative way of getting stuff done, his flawed heart and restless spirit.
I'm a huge Michael Connelly fan. The Lincoln Lawyer is one of the few books I've read three times. The Harry Bosch series has incredible depth. So this entry, which I was looking forward to, is especially disappointing. Perhaps he was tired, or needed a better editor.
I'm filing The Gods of Guilt under "aberration" and when his next book comes out, I'll absolutely give it a go. I've always counted on a Michael Connelly novel for enjoyment, richness, absorption - to remind me that the flawed human condition is the normal one. And so it goes.
