The Fifth Witness is the twenty third novel that has been given to us by Michael Connelly and the fourth to have the great lawyer Mickey Haller as its centerpiece. This latest offering into the world of Michael Connelly and his characters was released in 2011 by the Little, Brown and Company.
Having read previous novels by Michael Connelly, I anticipated an excellent read as I grabbed my coffee, turned on my music and sat in my reading chair. I am happy to report that once again, I was not let down at all as I was enthralled from the get go with this book and finished it within a very short period of time.
This was my first introduction to the character of Mickey Haller, a complex lawyer and the conflict that is with him at all times. Even though he is a lawyer, Michael Connelly has made him an everyday man with every day worries that we all can relate too. His offices are made up of very close associates that pull and push for each other.
In the Fifth Witness, Mickey Haller and his associates are presented with defending a client from murdering the figure head of a company foreclosing on her home. Is she guilty or innocent? The question is never asked as Mickey Haller does not want to know, just do the job he was hired to do. This walks him through not only the twists and turns given by his personal life but his professional one too.
While coming up with the client’s defense, you care not only for the main character but the people that have surrounded him; from an ex-wife her is in emotional conflict with, a daughter he truly loves and even the client herself. Each and every one of their stories and background is given to us and we relate to them all.
Even as this novel is about the law system, Michael Connelly never over explains the process and keeps it all simple for us the reader instead of introducing us to the complexity of the language of law.
This is a recommended read for anyone. After all, it is the only way to find out the ending and the few surprises in there for you.
Four paper cuts out of five.