The Lincoln Lawyer

Moderately successful criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller operates around Los Angeles County out of a Lincoln Town Car (hence the title) driven by a former client working off his legal fees. While most clients are drug dealers and gangsters, the story focuses on an unusually important case of wealthy Los Angeles realtor Louis Roulet accused of assault and attempted murder. At first, he appears to be innocent and set up by the female "victim".

Roulet's lies and many surprising revelations change Haller's original case theory. He reconsiders the situation of Jesus Menendez, a former client serving time in San Quentin State Prison after pleading guilty to a similar and mysteriously related crime.

Haller outmaneuvers Roulet (revealed to be a rapist and murderer) without violating ethical obligations, frees the innocent Menendez, and continues in legal practice. He also conducts much self-examination and acquires some emotional baggage.

• Mickey Haller - criminal defense lawyer
• Margaret McPherson - Haller's ex-wife, prosecuting attorney
• Louis Ross Roulet - the accused
• Ted Minton - prosecutor in Roulet's case
• Fernando Valenzuela - The Bondsman
• Jesus Menendez - Haller's former client
• Dwayne Corliss - jailhouse snitch
• Reggie Campo - Roulet's alleged victim
• Martha Renteria - Menendez's alleged murder victim
• Raul Levin - Haller's investigator and colleague in Roulet's case
• Lorna Taylor - Haller's manager and ex-wife
• Cecil C. Dobbs - the Roulet family lawyer
• Mary Windsor - Louis Roulet's mother
• Detective Howard Kurlen - the lead detective on the Jesus Menendez case
• Detectives Lankford and Sobel - two cops who investigate Levin's murder

The New York Times wrote: "Mastering the [legal thriller] on his first try, Connelly delivers a powerhouse drama fueled by cynicism and driven by a criminal defense lawyer named Michael Haller ('People call me Mickey') who works for the scum of the earth and makes no apologies."[1]

It was adapted as a 2011 of the same name, starring Matthew McConaughey as Haller and Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson. The film was directed by Brad Furman from a screenplay by John Romano, and produced by Stone Village Pictures. Lionsgate holds the US distribution rights, and Lakeshore Entertainment holds international rights.[2][3]

On June 25, 2019, it was announced that David E. Kelley had decided to develop a television series based on the novel, writing for the series, while Ted Humphrey would serve as executive producer, and Adam Bernstein would direct the potential pilot,[4] which CBS ordered on February 3, 2020. That same year, Logan Marshall-Green,[5] Kiele Sanchez,[6] and Angus Sampson[7] and Jazz Raycole were cast to star, but on May 2, 2020, it was announced that the pilot would not be moving forward.[5]

On January 11, 2021, Netflix ordered The Lincoln Lawyer to series with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo replacing Logan Marshall-Green as Mickey Haller.[8] On February 1, 2021, Neve Campbell joined the cast as Mickey Haller's ex-wife Margaret "Maggie" McPherson.[9] On February 2, 2021, Becki Newton replaced Kiele Sanchez as Lorna Taylor, Mickey's second ex-wife and his office manager with returning cast members Angus Sampson as Dennis "Cisco" Wojciechowski, a former biker gang member who now serves as Mickey’s investigator, friend, and when necessary, bodyguard and Jazz Raycole, as Izzy, Mickey's client.[10]

The novel received much attention from the mystery community. It won the 2006 Shamus Award and Macavity Award for "Best Novel".[11][12] It was also nominated in the 2006 Anthony Awards for the same honor.[13]

Additionally, in 2010 it was nominated in the "Best Mystery Novel of the Decade" category of the Barry Awards, although it lost to Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.[14]