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The Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly

The Lincoln Lawyer

Quick Answer

Start with "The Lincoln Lawyer" to begin the Mickey Haller / The Lincoln Lawyer Series. It is the essential series starter and provides the necessary foundation for the rest of the books.

Quick Verdict

✅ Safe to read now (Series Entry Point)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Verdict Insight: This is the essential series starter that introduces the Michael Connelly's core world and character arcs. It is required reading for all new fans.

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2016592 ppSeries Starter
<b>In this fast-paced legal thriller, charismatic defense attorney Mickey Haller takes on a slam-dunk court case involving a Beverly Hills playboy -- but as it spirals into a nightmare, he finds himself in a fight for his life.</b><br>Mickey Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers -- they're all on Mickey Haller's client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence, it's about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes it's even about justice.<br><br>A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney's dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career. Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal -- this time to save his own life.<br>This #1 bestselling legal thriller from Michael Connelly is a stunning display of novelistic mastery -- as human, as gripping, and as whiplash-surprising as any novel yet from the writer Publishers Weekly has called "today's Dostoevsky of crime literature."
Next Recommended Book

The Brass Verdict

Book #2 of 8 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Mickey Haller / The Lincoln Lawyer Series conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading The Lincoln Lawyer?

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Can I read The Lincoln Lawyer before other books in the series?

Yes, The Lincoln Lawyer is the first book in the series and is the ideal starting point for new readers.

Is The Lincoln Lawyer required reading for the Mickey Haller / The Lincoln Lawyer Series?

Yes, it is a core installment in the series reading order and contains critical character development and plot progression.

What comes after The Lincoln Lawyer in the reading order?

The next recommended book after The Lincoln Lawyer is The Brass Verdict (Book #2).