A few years back, Michael Connelly, born in Philadelphia in 1956, attended a baseball game and later explained via videoconference from his Los Angeles home that he sought a meeting with a lawyer who works from his car. That spark became the idea for Mickey Haller, the defense attorney who turns his Lincoln Town Car into a mobile law office. The author built a sprawling epic around this figure, and now Manuel Garcia-Rulfo stars in a Netflix series produced by David E. Kelley, known for Big Little Lies and Comeback, titled Lincoln Lawyer to adapt Decision. This is the second novel in the saga, published in 2008 and newly republished by AdN for this release.
Publishers delayed its launch to November, while Dark Hours, the latest chapter about the renowned and seasoned detective Harry Bosch, had originally been scheduled for those dates. A detective journalist who later found success with thrillers, Connelly has always drawn from real life. “I talk to lawyers, detectives, and police officers, and they become the starting points for many stories I tell. In The Verdict, I begin with a little-known fact about a case where the defendant was found not guilty and then murdered in the street—justice sometimes unfolds in unexpected places. That seed grows into the conspiracy you see beyond the street as judgments of the judicial system come into play, with parallel courts and different notions of justice.”
Connelly has been outspoken about concerns regarding the current judicial system. He notes that corruption exists and that money can shape outcomes; the care a person receives often depends on whether they can afford a strong lawyer. Haller’s adventures explore these cracks through which the system slips, offering a lens on how legal processes can be influenced by wealth and access.
In both The Verdict and the television adaptation, a judge tells Mickey Haller that he has taken over the cases of a murdered colleague, and a roster of powerful figures—such as industry magnates—becomes entangled in the narrative. The Night Session adds a real-life voice from a cop, detailing how two predators with similar psychological profiles might align. In the pages, the Midnight Men threaten the balance, while Renée Ballard, another stalwart from Connelly’s noir universe, enters alongside Haller and Bosch. On screen, Haller and Bosch appear as siblings in spirit, even if their TV and film paths remain distinct. The creator notes that these projects are separate, and the Netflix series focuses on Haller while Bosch continues on Prime Video. Whether future crossovers could occur remains uncertain.
Connelly has sold more than 80 million copies of his works across 44 countries. He emphasizes that there is no magic formula for success, attributing his own results to luck, storytelling talent, hard work, and a reliable team that amplifies word of mouth about his characters, plus his ability to write for both TV and cinema. It is worth noting that the first Haller novel was adapted for the screen in 2011, with Matthew McConaughey in the lead role.
“My eyes are on Ukraine, and I fear the country is becoming more divided than ever.”
Four years ago, he voiced concerns about the political climate and climate change. He remains watchful today, keeping a close watch on Ukraine, worried about what lies ahead as global tensions rise. He sees Russia and Putin’s actions as shaping global narratives, and through his characters, he channels these worries into his storytelling. He observes a country that seems increasingly fractured, with a split between the conservative right and the liberal left, complicating any path toward reconciliation.
“There is a flood of misinformation online. Critical thinking is essential.”
Haller notes that everyone lies in some way: cops, lawyers, witnesses, and victims. A trial, in his view, is a contest of veracity. Still, even the most skillful deceivers reveal themselves eventually. The core of the books rests on the premise that truth must be pursued within a web of lies, a noble but demanding mission. Connelly observes that the internet can overwhelm with information and inaccuracies, and people may accept what aligns with their worldview without challenging it. He calls for more critical thinking to analyze what appears on screen and in feeds with a discerning eye.
The Night Session author also believes cinema will endure. If audiences drift away from theaters, it may reflect a disconnect with what audiences want to see. He notes a current trend toward big-budget superhero movies, yet many people still crave grounded, character-driven stories. A series format provides time to develop a richer plot, often extending to ten hours or more, which can be the perfect vehicle for his style. With this approach, he sees a path to introducing a fresh and compelling protagonist for his novels in a new era of storytelling.