Every one of Michael Connelly’s numerous novels delivers a satisfying brew of tantalizing plot, deftly drawn characters, and clean, robust writing. That said, recent outings have begun to fray under the baggage of his series’ growing complexity. His third in the Jack McEvoy series, Fair Warning, slightly underwhelmed me, so I came to “The Law of Innocence,” the sixth Mickey Haller book, with a buzz of trepidation. I need not have worried, for this is a typical Connelly humdinger, in part because super-smart, attitudinal street lawyer Haller is a triumph of a hero. This time a policeman finds a leaking body in his boot (his trademark Lincoln, from which he plies his trade), and wham, Haller is buried in jail awaiting what seems like a slam-dunk murder conviction. Haller’s quest to prove he has been framed is fiendishly complex, and the plot, replete with legalistic issues and courtroom machinations, rockets along. If I were to issue a caveat, namely that there are so many side characters involved in Haller’s life by now (including one Harry Bosch) that a whiff of TV sludginess can be sniffed a few times, Connelly’s sure hand at the tiller ensures the customary satisfying ride. If you’re a Mickey Haller fan, you’ll love The Law of Innocence. If not, why not?
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