The Fifth Witness (The Mickey Haller Series) by Michael Connelly

As we know only too well, the devil is always in the details and Connelly is excellent with details.  I had to wait in line (in 24th position) to read Connelly's latest book or to be precise, the fourth book in the Mickey Haller series, The Fifth Witness, released in April 2011.  But it was worth the two-month wait!  The plot reflects what a lot of people are facing at the moment in this global economic downturn ie the home foreclosure crisis and the huge losses to which all lenders are now exposed.  This book is a courtroom/legal thriller and has Connelly's outstanding trademark stamped all over.  Nearly all reviews of The Fifth Witness from major newspapers and professional book bloggers are positive and enthusiastic and who can disagree with them after reading this book.  The question is, is there going to be a movie made of this book just like The Lincoln Lawyer?

Here is a video by the author introducing his new book:



Or you can listen to:

Conversations podcast with Michael Connelly on 23 May 2011 on ABC Sydney.


Hardcover blurb:  In tough times, crime is one of the few things that still pays, but if defense attorney Mickey Haller was expecting an uptick in business during the economic downturn, the reality is a different story.  Even people needing legal representation to keep them out of jail are having to make cutbacks, it seems.  In fact, the most significant part of Mickey's business right now is not about keeping clients out of jail but about keeping a roof over their heads, as the foreclosure boom hits thousands of people who were granted unrealistic mortgages in the good times and now face being kicked to the curb by ruthless corporations.

Lisa Trammel has been a client of Mickey's for eight months.  So far he's managed to stop the bank from taking her house, but the strain and sense of injustice are beginning to take their toll, and the bank recently got a restraining order to prevent her protesting against the bank's fraudulent practices.

But now their CEO, Mitchell Bondurant, has been found in the bank's car park with a bullet in his brain, and Lisa is about to be indicted for murder.  For Mickey, it's back to what he does best on the biggest stage of all, but if he thought defending Lisa Trammel was going to be a walk in the park, he'd be dead wrong.

Not only is he about to learn some startling truths about his client, but also about himself, and by the time the verdict is in, Mickey's whole world will have been turned upside down.

As always, you can check out Michael Connelly's official website for the latest information.  I cannot wait for Connelly's forthcoming book, The Drop (Book 17, Harry Bosch), which is going to be released in October 2011.

Rating:  7/5