Series · legal thriller

The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller)

The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series by Michael Connelly has 8 known books (8 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Lincoln Lawyer (2005). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is The Proving Ground.

Books: 8 known books (8 novels)
Published: 8
First published: 2005
Status: ongoing
Shelved under: Thriller
Last checked: 12 September 2026

Start here: The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

The Lincoln Lawyer (2005)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

Book 1:
The Lincoln Lawyer
Novel2005
The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) introduces Mickey Haller, the LA defense attorney who works from the back seat of a chauffeured Lincoln -- later filmed with Matthew McConaughey and reborn as a hit Netflix series. It set the series' template: a lucrative 'franchise' client whose case turns lethal, at 472 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Lincoln Lawyer
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Book 2:
The Brass Verdict
Novel2008
The Brass Verdict , written by Michael Connelly, is the second book in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, published on October 14, 2008. It is the longest book in the series at 534 pages. It arrived 3 years after The Lincoln Lawyer.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Brass Verdict
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Book 3:
The Reversal
Novel2010
The Reversal , written by Michael Connelly, is the third entry in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, published on October 5, 2010. It runs 472 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Reversal
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Book 4:
The Fifth Witness
Novel2011
The Fifth Witness , written by Michael Connelly, is number 4 in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, released on April 5, 2011. It runs 421 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Fifth Witness
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Book 5:
The Gods of Guilt
Novel2013
The fifth entry in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, The Gods of Guilt was published on December 2, 2013. It is the shortest book in the series at 387 pages. It was written by Michael Connelly.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Gods of Guilt
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Book 6:
The Law of Innocence
Novel2020
The Law of Innocence , written by Michael Connelly, is the sixth book in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, released on November 10, 2020. A 7-year gap separates it from The Gods of Guilt. It spans 408 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Law of Innocence
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Book 7:
Resurrection Walk
Novel2023
Resurrection Walk (2023), 432 pages, has Haller working innocence-project exonerations alongside his half-brother, LAPD detective Harry Bosch -- the seventh entry, arriving three years after The Law of Innocence.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Resurrection Walk
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Book 8:
The Proving Ground
Novel2025
The Proving Ground , written by Michael Connelly, is number 8 in The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller) series, published on October 21, 2025. It is currently the newest book in the series. It runs 398 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Proving Ground
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About The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller)

Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who works out of the back seat of a chauffeured Lincoln Town Car, hustling between courthouses from Van Nuys to Compton. The son of a famous defense lawyer he barely knew — and half-brother, as the series reveals, of LAPD detective Harry Bosch — Haller is a self-described legal gunslinger: cynical about the system, devoted to working its angles, and haunted by the defense attorney's nightmare of failing to recognize a truly innocent client. Around him Michael Connelly assembles a repertory cast: case manager (and first ex-wife) Lorna, investigator Cisco, prosecutor and second ex-wife Maggie "McFierce" McPherson, driver-turned-associate Izzy, and daughter Hayley.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) — filmed with Matthew McConaughey and reborn as a hit Netflix series — set the template: a lucrative "franchise" client whose case turns lethal, courtroom sequences of chess-match precision, and a moral reckoning underneath the showmanship. The sequels push Haller everywhere a defense lawyer can go: prosecuting for once in The Reversal, defending himself from a jail cell in The Law of Innocence, working innocence-project exonerations with Bosch in Resurrection Walk, and, in The Proving Ground (2025), taking a landmark civil case against an artificial-intelligence company. Alongside the Bosch books, the Haller series forms the courtroom half of Connelly's interlocked Los Angeles — and some of the best legal thrillers written this century.

How to read this series

Publication order, starting with The Lincoln Lawyer: story order and publication order match, and Haller's shifting marriages, partnerships and reputation build book to book. The eight Haller-led novels stand well alone, though — each case is complete — so joining at a later entry works if you accept mild personal-life spoilers.

The series is deeply threaded into the Harry Bosch universe. The Brass Verdict (book 2) is where Haller and Bosch discover they are half-brothers; after that, the pair share cases in both directions. For the complete Haller experience, add the Bosch novels where he co-stars — The Crossing (2015), The Wrong Side of Goodbye (2016), The Night Fire (2019) and Desert Star (2022) — slotted by publication year. Netflix viewers can start the books anywhere: the show adapts books 2-5, but the novels' timeline and cast details differ.

Frequently asked questions

How many Lincoln Lawyer books are there?

Eight Mickey Haller novels, from The Lincoln Lawyer (2005) to The Proving Ground (2025). Haller also appears in several Harry Bosch novels.

What order should I read the Lincoln Lawyer books in?

Publication order, beginning with The Lincoln Lawyer. Story order matches publication order, and The Brass Verdict sets up the Bosch connection that runs through the rest.

Do I need to read the Harry Bosch books to follow Mickey Haller?

No — the Haller novels stand alone. But the two series share a universe (Haller and Bosch are half-brothers), and Bosch novels like The Crossing and Resurrection Walk's follow-ups feature both men, so many fans interleave them by year.

Is the Netflix Lincoln Lawyer series based on these books?

Yes — Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer adapts the novels starting with The Brass Verdict (season 1), while the 2011 film adapted the first book.

When is the next Mickey Haller book coming out?

No new Haller novel is currently announced. The most recent is The Proving Ground (October 2025); Michael Connelly's 2026 releases feature Detective Stilwell and Renee Ballard.