Cover of THE GODS OF GUILT; photo courtesy of Little Brown and Company
THE GODS OF GUILT by Michael Connelly
When Michael Connelly writes about Harry Bosch his stories are usually solemn and ponderous (in a good way). When he writes books about Harry’s half brother Mickey Haller the stories are generally more lighthearted and character driven. But in THE GODS OF GUILT Connelly focuses on Mickey Haller and the tone is darker and more revealing of the world in which Mickey lives. Still there is humor in this latest tale of “The Lincoln Lawyer” and fun can be had in the reading.
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The book concerns Mickey Haller’s latest case which involves a “pimp” of sorts who is accused of killing one of the women who worked for him. The accused is named Andre La Cosse and he has contacted Mickey on the past recommendation of Gloria Dayton, the deceased. Gloria was at one time a client of Mickey’s.
The case brings Mickey into conflict with the DEA who was using Gloria as an informant. Mickey finds that if you start stirring up things with certain people within the DEA you are opening yourself up for a lot of trouble. This trouble not only extends to him and his client but also to his entire staff.
While this is going on you also get a look at Mickey and his relationships. Primary is his lack of a relationship with his teenage daughter, who lives with his ex-wife. Based on Mickey’s involvement with a not so innocent man in a prior case, he and his daughter Hayley are not communicating. This breaks Mickey’s heart and he is constantly attempting to repair this rift.
Mickey has another ex-wife and she now works as his office manager. She is also married to his investigator. Talk about strange bedfellows, but somehow Mickey is able to keep juggling those relationships to everyone’s satisfaction. He also maintains a cordial relationship with his half brother Harry Bosch. These two men are as opposite as day and night and Harry only makes a small cameo appearance in THE GODS OF GUILT.
Michael Connelly is a master writer of crime dramas and legal thrillers. He is so talented he could probably write romantic weepers too. He has a perceptive mind and when he creates characters the reader knows those characters.
In THE GODS OF GUILT Connelly’s talent doesn’t hit full stride until Mickey is in the courtroom. That is when the story really comes to life. All else is just preamble – good preamble but preamble just the same. When the courtroom procedures begin in earnest that is when the story gets really interesting and the surprises begin to fly.
There has never been a bad Michael Connelly book. He is just too talented to have one. THE GODS OF GUILT continues his winning streak and that is good news for Michael Connelly fans.
THE GODS OF GUILT is published by Little Brown and Company. It contains 400 pages and sells for $28.00.
