The Reversal by Michael Connelly

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved courtroom dramas; in fact I’ll go as far to say I grew up on them. There’s just something enticing and thrilling about a good antagonising duel between prosecutor and defence lawyers, both hell-bent on achieving what they see as a just verdict for their clients. Available in the United States from October 5th.

For obvious reasons I can’t remember most of them but a few stick out for me! Take “Murder One” starring Daniel Benzali for example, a classy production and if I recall it made huge waves both in the UK and the US – we won’t talk about the follow up series! We also have JAG (Catherine Bell and David James Elliot), part humour, part drama, and part Navy! Law & Order deserves a mention and finally who could ever forget the classics “A Few Good Men” and “12 Angry Men” – courtroom royalty at its defining best!

This leads me on nicely to Michael Connelly’s “The Reversal”, a wonderfully written tense drama that for the greater part is set in Los Angeles County CCB and its courtrooms.

Jason Jessup was convicted of killing 12 year old [Melissa Landy] in 1986 and has spent the last 24 years on death row in San Quentin State Prison. Following numerous appeals from his isolated cell, Jessup finally gets the break he’s looking for and his guilty verdict is overturned due to new DNA evidence. The District Attorney’s office decides to retry the case, turning to Mickey Haller the prominent defence lawyer who has never prosecuted a case in his illustrious career.

Haller is reluctant to take on the case at first believing he is nothing more than a scapegoat in the eyes of the DA.

“You want me to prosecute Jessup? From what I hear there’s nothing to prosecute. The case is a duck without wings. The only thing left is to shoot it and eat it.”

“Are we trying to put a murder suspect on trial or are we just trying to save the city and county a few million bucks?”

Supported by his ex-wife Maggie “Fierce” McPherson and his half brother Harry Bosch as lead case investigator the small tight knit trio set about discovering the truth behind the abduction and murder of the 12 year old girl nearly three decades ago. Opposing Haller is none other than “clever” Clive Royce, a gifted lawyer working pro bono for Jessup on the behest of Genetic Justice Project group.

The book is written in a relaxed style combining first person narrative for Mickey Haller and third person narrative for all other characters. The combination of styles works well and allows a fast paced book to keep moving forward with effortless speed. Indeed, when Haller takes centre stage I often felt I was reading a journal entry, such was Connelly’s easy style. It works well.

Connelly’s surprising decision to allow Jessup freedom at the non-contested bail hearing works well. It allows the author to introduce a wider story arc which serves to ward off any claustrophobic feelings that would have inevitably struck had the story been contained solely within the courtroom. The characters are believable and well thought out, not once did I feel a character was surplus to requirements.

The courtroom scenes are well thought out, the dialogue crisp and powerful. Connelly’s experiences as a police reporter have served him well in “The Reversal” and his knowledge of police and courtroom procedures complete the package.

Michael Connelly has a clear penchant for courtroom battles. “The Reversal” deserves to be a rip roaring success and is a magnificent page turner; the case will hook you in until the very last scene.

Published by Orion books, “The Reversal” is available from Amazon & Waterstones. Highly Recommended.