Book 3, in the Mickey Haller series Book 16, in the Harry Bosch series In The Reversal, Connelly reunites Detective Harry Bosch with his half-brother, defence lawyer Mickey Haller, but this time, Haller plays the part of a prosecutor and together they work as a team with the same goals in mind. The suspense is part legal thriller and part police procedural. We follow Bosch and Haller each an expert in their own field as they process the many ups and downs and twists and turns of a very controversial and demanding case. The author continues to push the boundaries of crime fiction by redefining and joining two exciting protagonists with different backgrounds into a legal quagmire. The story is told with chapters that go back and forth in time and alternate from first to third person, they condense decades of time into a compelling narrative that explores various elements of L.A.’s criminal justice system. The story reopens a twenty four year old case in which little Melissa Landy was abducted from the front yard of her Hancock Park home while playing hide and seek with her sister. At the time, tow truck driver Jason Jessup was convicted of her murder but modern day technology, DNA evidence has led to the reversal of Jessup’s conviction. But not everyone is convinced… Haller, a wisecracking cynic and highly competent grizzled veteran of countless courtroom battles switches from defence to prosecution and as readers we shadow him through countless courtroom shenanigans. The author portrays with a passion the grinding process and the emotions of everyone involved. Haller and Bosch share the spotlight with second chair Maggie McPherson and FBI profiler Rachel Walling who makes a cameo appearance. Melissa’s sister Sara who witnessed the abduction plays an important part. Both Bosch and Haller are fighting the odds, evidence gathered so far is not in their favour. They must prove without any doubts Jason Jessup is a sadistic killer and must stop him before he can strike again. Bosch is very adept at manipulating emotions and gathering facts, he is the driving force and the one most invested in nailing Jessup. “The Reversal” is a classic investigative plot with some interesting high points but the pacing bogs down at times with the long tedious court scenes. I enjoyed the teaming of the two protagonists as a change but I prefer seeing them in their own environment.

I've been a fan of Michael Connelly and his recurring character Harry Bosch since the first book - The Black Echo- in 1992. When Connelly introduced a new series featuring lawyer Mickey Haller, I was a little miffed that it wasn't a new Bosch book. I was wrong - I loved the Haller character just as much. Bosch and Haller have been appearing in each other's world over the last few books in each series and The Reversal finds them working together. Haller has been asked to lead the prosecution in the retrial of convicted killer Jason Jessup. He has served 24 years for murder, but recent DNA evidence may clear him. Haller asks Bosch to be the investigator on the case. Out on bail, Jessup isn't acting like an innocent man....And the defense attorney is crossing all sorts of lines.... As always, the case is intriguing and the suspense builds. I really enjoyed the courtroom scenes with Haller and the defense attorney verbally sparring. Connelly has taken Bosch is a bit of a different direction with the last few books. He has his daughter living with him and must now stop to consider her safety and well being first. It's a side of Harry that we haven't seen before. I thought the story would end differently, but upon reflection realized that it was right for the story.... and the stories that will follow. I chose to listen to The Reversal in audio format. The reader Peter Giles was excellent. He has covered previous Connelly books and does an excellent job. His voice is calm and modulated for Haller, but changes to a rougher tone for Bosch, effectively conveying the difference between the two and capturing their personalities. Another page turner for me, one that had me driving just a little slower on the way home from work, so I could start another disc. Connelly remains firmly on my must read list with both series. I can't wait for The Fifth Witness due out in April 2011.

I am a huge fan of Michael Connelly’s; I have read every Bosch book and enjoyed most of them tremendously (although the later books are not as captivating). I read the Lincoln Lawyer and thought that Connelly had surpassed himself and that it was his best book ever, and one of my all time favourites from any genre, I’m saying all of this because I thought that pairing both Haller and Bosch in one book would be fantastic…..sadly it was not. No suspense, no surprises, no twists, no plot to speak of, choppy writing, and a terrible ending. I wonder if Mr. Connelly has grown tired of these two characters, if so, please put them on the shelf for a bit and move on and create others – I don’t want to read an ordinary book with lackluster writing and characters, I want read a first rate and exciting thriller that I expect from Mr. Connelly, this one was not first rate, not exciting and not a thriller…..