The Gods of Guilt--Free Preview: The First 8 Chapters

by Michael Connelly

Defense attorney Mickey Haller returns with a haunting case in the gripping new thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Mickey Haller gets the text, "Call me ASAP - 187," and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.

When Mickey learns that the victim was his own former client, a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on the straight and narrow path, he knows he is on the hook for this one. He soon finds out that she was back in LA and back in the life. Far from saving her, Mickey may have been the one who put her in danger.

Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey must work tirelessly and bring all his skill to bear on a case that could mean his ultimate redemption or proof of his ultimate guilt. The Gods of Guilt shows once again why "Michael Connelly excels, easily surpassing John Grisham in the building of courtroom suspense" (Los Angeles Times).

Genres: Mystery

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Michael Connelly decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. Once he decided on this direction he chose a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing — a curriculum in which one of his teachers was novelist Harry Crews.

After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, primarily specializing in the crime beat. In Fort Lauderdale he wrote about police and crime during the height of the murder and violence wave that rolled over South Florida during the so-called cocaine wars. In 1986, he and two other reporters spent several months interviewing survivors of a major airline crash. They wrote a magazine story on the crash and the survivors which was later short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. The magazine story also moved Connelly into the upper levels of journalism, landing him a job as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest papers in the country, and bringing him to the city of which his literary hero, Chandler, had written.

After three years on the crime beat in L.A., Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, The Black Echo, based in part on a true crime that had occurred in Los Angeles, was published in 1992 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America. Connelly has followed that up with over 30 more novels.

Over eighty million copies of Connelly’s books have sold worldwide and he has been translated into forty-five foreign languages. He has won the Edgar Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Los Angeles Times Best Mystery/Thriller Award, Shamus Award, Dilys Award, Nero Award, Barry Award, Audie Award, Ridley Award, Maltese Falcon Award (Japan), .38 Caliber Award (France), Grand Prix Award (France), Premio Bancarella Award (Italy), and the Pepe Carvalho award (Spain) .

Michael was the President of the Mystery Writers of America organization in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his literary work, Michael is one of the producers and writers of the TV show, “Bosch,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Michael lives with his family in Los Angeles and Tampa, Florida.

Reviews

[Shirlee Sloyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Mickey Haller is like an old friend, easy to be with and interested in hearing what he has going on. Nothing deep but you sure get an education about lawyering.

[Von Glitschka · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to police procedural there is no better author than Michael Connelly. No surprise since he was a crime beat reporter for the LA times for well over a decade. He thoroughly understands the mind of law enforcement, those who are caught in their drag nets and those who process the crimes in criminal court. But his latest book "Gods of Guilt" is not the fore mentioned genre, it's a Mickey Haller book (Lincoln Lawyer) and Connelly has proven he can write a law narrative just as compelling as he can a Harry Bosch novel.

There was only a few things that disappointed me about this book and both are just my own preferences. I wished his ex-wife and kid would have appeared in it more, I missed the family dynamic. But life isn't always that way so in that respect it was realistic. I was sad to see his driver get killed. Of course I picture him as the actor in the movie and I liked his street vibe so who ever they get to replace him I hope is just as urban smart.

I like Grisham but I'm starting to like Connelly more in this genre. Anytime a book can draw me in to the degree it runs a movie in my mind and I see everything clearly and it keeps me guessing, hoping, smiling, leaving me wanting more and regretting the end of the latest novel I know it's a good read.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

[Brian V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, a home run. The corruption of the criminal justice system is the central character, and the simple murder-suspect-conviction trope is undercut by the criminality of law enforcement at every level. Another dizzying, thrilling ride.

Bosch and Haller books, while ostensibly opposites---a detective and a defense lawyer---mine the same ground: corruption of the criminal justice system and the complexities of guilt and innocence. Is it justice if the cops engage in illegal activity to gain a guilty verdict when they are quite sure that the suspect is guilty. Is justice when the defense lawyer engages in deception and illegal ruses to acquit someone who he is not sure is guilty or innocent?


Mickey Haller gets the text, "Call me ASAP - 187," and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.

When Mickey learns that the victim was his own former client, a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on the straight and narrow path, he knows he is on the hook for this one. He soon finds out that she was back in LA and back in the life. Far from saving her, Mickey may have been the one who put her in danger.

Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey must work tirelessly and bring all his skill to bear on a case that could mean his ultimate redemption or proof of his ultimate guilt. The Gods of Guilt shows once again why "Michael Connelly excels, easily surpassing John Grisham in the building of courtroom suspense"

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook which included December 2, on December 1. Maybe too much violence for me and Mickey is a shit. Assortment of characters and satires woven together. I like Bosch better. Probably most women do. We know Mickey's type all too well.

[Gary Grimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining book that really is a thriller not a mystery. Part of the Lincoln Lawyer series I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to get lost in fiction and to be entertained.

[Jean-Jacques · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find this book as being a pale copy of a John Le Carré. The caracters lack caracter, very superficial. I stopped after 30 pages.

[David Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Maxence Matteau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficile de croire qu'un Connelly n'est pas dans la base de données de Goodreads. Ok polar juridique qui passe le temps, sans plus.

[Gail Gibson-milliron · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always 👍

[Bob Kartheiser]

The Lincoln Lawyer stories are great -- this one met my expectations.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series, read next law f innocence

[Mary (Marbear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Mickey book. Lots of twists and turns!

[Draft Prime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you have a beta reader for this.?

[Dorothy Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Preview

Great preview and very exciting legal mystery so typical of the author, Michael Connelly's books. Looking forward to reading more mystery of how the legal defense searches for clues and prepares for their client's defense and the outcome of all at the trial.

[Lloyd Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd reading

[Kathy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining and gripping.

[Vickie Koker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Anand Balakrishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed courtroom procedural...Easy and a light read